IT’S PERSONAL: The way Nicole Miller chief executive officer Bud Konheim sees it, nothing trumps a personalized shopping experience. With that in mind, the designer has fortified her ongoing partnership with 100 Women in Hedge Funds. Contrary to the number that the name suggests, there are actually 15,000 members — most of whom are time-starved, well-heeled women looking for a little style advice.
“Want to talk about a high-flying crowd? These are people who are able to buy anything anybody shows them at any time,” Konheim said. “But they have no time to shop, no time for this, no time for that.”
To try to whittle down their fall shopping lists, Miller hosted a private shopping event in her Seventh Avenue showroom for 100WHF, giving them first dibs on her just-off-the-runway fall collection. By providing their e-mails, attendees were also eligible for a $50 voucher for purchases that night. Their favorite selections included the designer’s silk off-the-shoulder $265 Rocky top and the ruched $275 “Sandy” pencil skirt.
This month’s gathering also launched the group’s 2016 philanthropic efforts, which are dedicated to Minds Matter National Inc., an organization that offers a three-year program that helps young people from low-income families prepare for college. Having a charitable aspect gives these types of events greater meaning and makes attendees more inclined to spend, Konheim said. Adding another dimension to the evening was “Fixers” author Michael M. Thomas, who talked up his novel about the financial crisis. The author, a former Lehman Brothers partner, knows Konheim from their high school days at Phillips Exeter.
“Everyone is moaning and groaning about how bad business is. They forget there has to be a personal connection. Our business is great.” Konheim said.