Paris Hilton’s party girl reputation hasn’t diminished her endorsement clout, at least as far as New York-based clothing company Dollhouse is concerned.
The firm was marketing the hotel heiress’s new line, licensed by Beanstalk Group LLC, last week at the junior contemporary market at the California Market Center.
Buyers from most of the major department stores including Nordstrom, Macy’s, Dillard’s, J.C. Penney and Lord & Taylor were all represented. The minimum purchases, which range from 500 to a million pieces of a given sample, are the largest seen at the California Market.
It’s a big week for L.A. County-based junior contemporary brands like Hot Kiss, Paris Blues and Chinese Laundry. The market was ushered in with a Directives West Fashion Show featuring junior and kids’ looks from Steve Madden and Hot Kiss, along with Hilton’s new line.
Deke Jamieson, senior vice president of marketing and licensing for Dollhouse, said Hilton was a natural choice to partner in the line because of her well-known love for fashion and nightlife, and her business savvy.
“Paris is a serious business person,” he said. “She’s not afraid to have fun. But she’s got a dignity about her, too.”
He added that the heiress was very involved in developing the line of dresses and playful casual wear. She made scrapbooks for the design team and even postponed a trip to Switzerland to be at the market.
“She understood how important it was for her to be here,” he said.
Jamieson wasn’t able to report any significant sales for Dollhouse, however, and not all of Hilton’s endorsement deals have ended happily. Nightclub mogul Fred Khalilian famously fired Hilton early this year when she failed to make scheduled appearances at the Florida clubs named after her.
Out-of-town brands were also in town to vend their wares. These companies pay the market center for temporary storefronts during the market. California Market Center doesn’t release attendance figures, but this season’s show, which ran from April 10-13, was sold out.
Passing the Torch
Changes are afoot at An Tran Co., the parent company of Crustacean restaurants and the An Family’s other businesses.
The family has launched a catering company, plans to open new locations in Orange County and Japan, and recently signed a deal with a major retail chain, but declined to disclose the details.
Part of the reason for these rapid-fire changes is that the family’s third generation has taken the helm. Helene An’s daughter Elizabeth recently took over as chief executive at An Tran, and her sister Catherine is also involved.
“This is an exciting time for me and my family,” Elizabeth An said. “It’s the right time for us to expand and go in new directions. We’re financially strong and business has been steadily growing.”
An has made time to work on the company flagship as well. The Beverly Hills restaurant recently completed a renovation, and is launching an “immunity boosting menu,” heavy on vegetables and Vietnamese herbs.
She’s also working to transition the business name away from “Crustacean” to “The An Family.” While the Crustacean name has brand equity, it doesn’t necessarily jive with plans for the future.
The company is developing a line of teas that will bear the family’s name, rather than that of the restaurants that have made them famous. The transition will be gradual, but comprehensive. The new catering business, for example, will be called An Family Catering.
“Marketing is one of my passions and it’s so exciting for me to put into action ideas that have been accumulating,” Elizabeth An said.
She’s committed to a location in Tokyo and is scouting locations. She’s also developing a bistro concept with a retail chain, which would have exclusive distribution rights to the An family food and tabletop lines, and home accessories.
New Posts
Michael Krouse is LA Inc.’s new senior vice president. He will manage the organization’s client services and convention sales and will have direct oversight of the Los Angeles Convention Center sales. Krouse was previously vice president of sales and marketing for the Interstate Hotels and Resorts. Susan M. Stalley is the new director of sales at the Oxnard Convention & Visitors Bureau. She was previously general manager and director of sales for the Casa Sirena Hotel.
Staff reporter Emily Bryson York can be reached at (323) 549-5225, ext. 235, or at
[email protected]
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