Zappos.com is one of the companies, which recognize that aspiring creative minds can be a powerful force for the business, and so it does its best to support new talents. The online retailer kicked off a new initiative called Emerging Designer Program to help young designers get their lines selling at the major retailer’s store. The same idea lies behind the contest launched recently by Walmart, which also encouraged people to submit their creations for a change to get them sold at the supermarket.
Photo: A snapshot from the Emerging Designers Program page, www.zappos.com
“Over the past 11+ years, Zappos.com has continued to grow thanks to the overwhelming support of our customers and our vendors. We want to turn that support around and help new talent get their first big break in the retail industry. It is our hope that by giving a national platform and exposure to millions of loyal Zappos customers, we can help give the next great designer, or brand, the chance they’ve been waiting for,” commented Alison Callaway, Trend Manager for Zappos Development.
Those who create apparel or accessories can show their creation to Zappos by emailing emergingdesigners@zappos.com (of course, the images of the line along with information about it should be attached). Zappos will select one designer each month and will feature him or her on the Zappos.com site, along with a boutique page, which includes a bio, video interview, product shots and more. The chosen designer will be put into the spotlight on the brand’s social media-channels and the company will also write an article on him or her, which will appear in a monthly ZN iPad app magazine, launched in late 2011.
“We recognize that there is so much undiscovered talent that exists in the fashion industry and we really want to be able to help designers that are at the beginning stages of getting their collection off the ground, to present their designs on a national level. To me, that’s what makes this program so unique and exciting—we’re helping to make dreams come true,” shared Zappos Trend Manager, Natasha Pace.