Raf Simons Quotes

I think that the way that Steve Jobs sought after love was to create products that people loved. And when people loved his products, in turn they - he felt like they loved him.

My entire youth has been Nasty Gal. My entire future is Nasty Gal.

I think I am one of the smallest surviving brands.

We're living in what I like to call the 'Thank You Economy,' because only the companies that can figure out how to mind their manners in a very old-fashioned way - and do it authentically - are going to have a prayer of competing.

I do find it a bit disconcerting when your name becomes a brand.

Go for a business that any idiot can run - because sooner or later, any idiot probably is going to run it.

Do I take criticism of Starbucks personally? Of course I do.

When the founders retire, it's always difficult for the second generation and third generation.

I think, because I started Virgin when I was a teenager, it has become a part of me, like my family, and I am motivated by ambition for it, almost as if it were a child.

The road is still very long. We want to concentrate for now on manufacturing in the U.S. If I don't succeed, my son will continue with it. If he doesn't make it, my grandson will.

I just want the business to continue to grow and for our brand to become one of the most respected household names in craft, both in the U.K. and around the world.

Now I have a business, artists to take care of. I want to make sure everything's going right, because at the end of the day, it's my name.

In a year's time, I was able to start a brand name and make it a household name. That's The Situation.

The rewards of my life have been great. I built a company; I left things better than I found them. I have a good reputation. I put the Vanguard shareholders and crew first. That's a huge thing.

I want to be known for the work I've done, as opposed to where I go on Saturday nights.

You know, if you make a customer unhappy they won't tell five friends, they'll tell 5,000 friends. So, we are at a point now where we have all of the things we need to build an important and lasting company, and if we don't, it will be shame on us.

Mistakes, scandals, and failures no longer signal catastrophe. The crucial thing is that they be made credible, and that the public be made aware of the efforts being expended in that direction. The marketing immunity of governments is similar to that of the major brands of washing powder.

Our children are extensions of ourselves in ways our parents are not, nor our brothers and sisters, nor our spouses.

Brand inside is more important than brand outside for sustained success.

To succeed in business, you must build a brand and never destroy it. One competitive advantage I had when I ventured into manufacturing was my brand “Dangote,” which I diligently built in the course of my trading commodities.

The great difficulty is first to win a reputation; the next to keep it while you live; and the next to preserve it after you die, when affection and interest are over, and nothing but sterling excellence can preserve your name. Never suffer youth to be an excuse for inadequacy, nor age and fame to be an excuse for indolence.

I just had to learn to look at it as a job, as opposed to identifying myself as a model and thinking of myself as a part of this industry.

Being good is good business

My first company was MicroSolutions. I worked 20 hours a day. I didn't take a vacation for 7 years. I didn't even take the time to read a fiction book. It was all about work. When I sold it, I promised myself I would never wear a watch and only wear a suit to weddings, funerals and to meet the President.

I think the company's [HP's] success will be my legacy. The company's failure will be my failure, with all the predictable consequences of that.