Women helping Women - Empowerment Funds

As I sit at my desk and try to think of the number of women in business and those running million dollar businesses, I get stumped.
I wonder at the number of women out there who are brilliant, have brilliant minds but somehow are stuck. I have cinsistently toyed with the idea of setting up a womens fund and have women contrubute to women all over the world, who share a passion and a mind for business. Like a scholarship fund.
My initiative would be aimed at women who can give at the million-dollar level and above but every gift at every level is important.
The hope is to create greater commitment to women and girls and every gift matters. Also, we do want to start getting used to thinking about the word "million." Some women can write a million dollar check, but five hundred women can each write a $200 check.
We can pool our resources! Women all across the socio-economic spectrum are uniting their dollars in women's funds. We are amplifying each other's impact and leveraging each other dollars. But let's all raise our thinking!
We have a chance to create a contagion of meaningful gifts for women and girls. Whatever your level of giving, fund women first. In doing so, we're making history.

Women's funds bring me hope. It is bringing to the foreground a greater chance for peace on earth and the prosperity of all. As donors and activists come together to make funding decision, we sharpen our thinking and our solutions have greater impact. Instead of programs that keep people in a perpetual victim cycle, I see programs being developed that are breaking the cycle of poverty.
Funding women first and raising the bar on our giving makes it all possible.

Make mine a million $ business.

While checking in on my news subscriptions, as I try to every morning. I ran across this piece of information.

The program began in 2005 by Count Me In, a New York-based operation offering micro loans to startup businesses run by women. Founder and president Nell Merlino was dismayed to learn women-owned businesses were not growing faster or more lucrative in the three decades they have been in the work force. Only 3 percent of 10.4 million women-owned companies achieved or surpassed the $1 million mark. A vast majority, according to Merlino, made $50,000 or under.

Make Mine a Million $ Business is a program of Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence — and founding partner, OPEN from American Express®. The program provides a combination of money, mentoring, marketing and technology tools that women entrepreneurs need to help grow their businesses from micro to $millions.

What a concept- their goal is to support women in small businesses and encourage them to seek out growth in their business and make a million dollars.

Understandably as a woman in business, support is ever so limited and everyone just thinks it is a hobby. With the demands sometimes of family etc. it almost becomes hopeless to see an end.

The program is full of women from different parts of the business world.

Says one of the awardees “As part of Count Me In, you are the sum of a whole. You are constantly in touch with women who are achieving a lot. It makes you want to make the best of each day.”

Nandini says that her ongoing goal is to live life on her terms. She defines success as “the freedom to make my choices, attain my goals and work toward my dreams—taking my future in my own hands.”

Do check this out. There is a conference in Burbank, California in 2008. I will be attending. It will be like a revival- I am sure.

$135,000 in debt and spends $400/month on Starbucks? and you thought you were hopeless.

This mom has $135,000 in credit card debt and spends $400 a month on Starbucks. See her on Oprah where on a scale of 1-10 of financially disastrous situations, Suze Orman ranked her 1,000.
Her daughter says "When I grow up, I want to be just like Mommy"
A lesson for us all.

Where do I start? Trading for dummies...

Now, I know for a fact, that most women are like me and not at all savvy about this financial investment stuff. When the dow rises, we just hope it does not mean the bread is ready for the oven.
My option to navigate this market ever so gingerly, is fashion. I am in this business, it interests me and I can read up on it for quite a while before I turn glassy eyed. Pick your industry - my sister is a Pharmacist and I suggested she track drugs" You just do drugs" I gently advised. I truly hate these dummy books- they are stating the obvious.

My friend Shirley is into wines - You just do wines first - I insist. None of these advise quite sounds right.
I opened a dummy portfolio on Yahoo Finance while I continue to research those publicly traded companies and the non. This just means you cannot buy the shares if they are not publicly traded. Hmmm- so, go easy on that Chanel Bag, clothing etc.- they won't give you anything back. On the other hand, Luxottica which handles Chanel sunglasses and prescriptions is.
Also note, a lot of companies that sound vastly different are owned by the same company e.g Kellwood owns Baby Phat, Koret, Claibourne, Nautica,XOXO,Hollywould etc.
While Limited owns Victoria Secret, Limited among many other brands.
In short, do your research!!

Track my starting portfolio - Wow! Retail truly is lousy. Yikes.

Tommorrow, I sign up online.

I'll be a bag lady. A Fendi bag lady, but a bag lady..

.....Discussing this with her friends, Carrie declares, “Vacate? I’m homeless. I’ll be a bag lady. A Fendi bag lady, but a bag lady.” Here Carrie highlights her problem that will be the theme throughout the rest of the episode. Carrie has invested all her money in fashion, so while she may have a magnificent wardrobe, she’ll have no place for it because she has no money, no savings, to put a down payment on her apartment.
Now, we must invest differently ...........What are the best places to put our money. What money, you ask? You are living on air. How do you begin? How do you even begin to make that money you wish to invest. Now, this section may not be useful for those with enormous or suficient capital to do that. This, is for those of us who would like to- those who envision having our own money. Mind you, we are not broke(we actually look really good) but we have nothing.
We are going to be extremely disiplined. Remember, this will be a gradual process.
Step #1. Find another outlet to make money. There are lots of business opportunities out there. These also involve fashion. I will list a few of them here.
Sell clothing, shoes or accessories to your friends - you know how to put a spin on that. "I found this great clothing line"
Even Jones New York is capitalizing on it with Million Wishes - a direct network shopping line.
Essential Body Wear, The Carlisle Collection and an up and coming line Vivre by Vivre Boutique involving building around a caspular wardrobe,Juliana
For other suggestions, please email me at stocksandstilettos@yahoo.com
#2. Affiliate Marketing - There are dozens of companies out thre - Fashion companies who are looking for affiliates. All you are required to do is work really hard and diligently. As we all know, nothing good comes easy. "By leveraging the power of your affiliate network, you will turn your monthly income into annual income." Email for more info - stocksandstilettos@yahoo.com
#3. Do not spend this money. This is your get rich money. We will harness all these extra funds and direct towards an investment in due course.

Calling all female stockbrokers and money managers..

Who are we writing for ?
Remember that episode of Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City where she had a lot of Manolo's but there was a huge chance she would be homeless? She had spent over $40,000 on shoes and had no down payment for a place. In our opinion, that was the closest they came to reality on that show.
This is the place for the woman who is scared to ask questions and for the woman who always has the answers.
Whether you are the woman drowning in debt, or investing in the stock market, self-educating or taking responsibility of your financial destiny; no matter where in the spectrum you fall you have the power to inspire others.

We are here for the woman who is just starting out and for the woman who masks her unhappiness with the perfect shoes and bag.
We are here for the woman who has a lot of discretionary income, but spends her money on liabilities and the mother who fills her child’s bedroom with extravagant toys, void of any plan for college savings.

We are here for all women who are ready to step up and take control of their financial lives. Majority of women in my opinion, myself included would love to make money somehow but somehow, it does not matter how bright we are, we seemingly lag behind men in accumulating wealth. Why is this? We hope to share that knowledge somewhere down the line with this blog.

We are looking for female stockbrokers and women money managers to share your expertise with us and guest on this blog. We hope that those of you who know will be gentle with those of us who do not have a clue. Taking gradual steps will set a platform for success rather than taking drastic measures that tend to backfire.
Wealth is a mindset - ready to change yours?

Stock Index for fashion Minded Investors

Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF)
Armani

Bebe Stores (Nasdaq: BEBE)
Bluefly BFLY
Cartier
Chanel

Chico's (NYSE: CHS)
Chloe

Coach Inc. (NYSE:COH)

Coldwater Creek (NYSE: CWTR)

Dooney and Bourke
Gap (NYSE: GPS)
Gucci GUCG.PK
Guess? (NYSE: GES),
J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP

Kellwood Co (NYSE:KWD) Paby Phat, Perry Ellis, Liz Clairbourne, Nautica, Hollywould, Calvin Klein

Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. (KCP)
Limited Brands Inc. (NYSE:LTD) - Victoria Secret ,The Limited, Bath and Body Works

Louboutin, Christian

LVMH - Louis Vuitton
Luxottica - Sunglasses- Prescription ( Chanel, Bvlgari etc.)

Nordstrom Inc(NYSE: JWN).

Saks (SKS)
Target (NYSE: TGT)

Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT)

TIFFANY AND CO (NYSE:TIF)
Versace
Zumiez (Nasdaq: ZUMZ)

Canadian Fashion Business- Myth or Reality

In the dog eat dog world of fashion, Is Canada really a factor??? Is Canada being left behind? You decide.

For the first time, Canadian apparel suppliers and retailers will have access to a cost efficient means to secure information/feedback directly from consumers. The information is a result of a new interviewing service to be launched by the Apparel Development Centre and Trendex North America on January 3, 2008.

The service, to be called Canadian Consumer Apparel Insights will be based on online interviews conducted twice a year by Trendex North America with a nationally representative sample of 2,000 Canadian adults.

Randy Harris, President of Trendex North America noted, “just looking at the last few months, with the increase in cross-border shopping, it is essential that both retailers and suppliers understand Canadian consumer shopping patterns.”

“For too long, Canadian apparel suppliers and retailers have wanted to talk with consumers about their brand perceptions and shopping patters for their products, but were unable to do so for cost reasons,” said Elliot Lifson, President of Canadian Apparel Federation. “This new service couldn’t have come along at a better time. It offers companies a highly affordable, effective and timely mechanism for obtaining this valuable information.”

About Trendex North AmericaTrendex is the largest supplier of marketing information to the Canadian apparel industry. Its Canadian Soft Goods Index consumer apparel purchase tracking study provides ongoing information to in excess of fifty of Canada’s major apparel retailers and suppliers. For more information on Trendex, please visit www.trendexna.com or www.trendexmexico.com