Nicola Formichetti Quotes

I've had a great experience in the fashion business.

Retail is my game. I spend every waking hour thinking about it. I started in the industry at the age of 18 after trying various other things that were mind-numbingly boring to me.

I spend my time being a retailer, not an economist.

The people that are running the bulk of the comic shops in North America aren't business people and they don't understand sales. They don't understand good product.

I'm in the retail business, not the circus business.

I got into retailing because I wanted a real job.

If the store were your own business, you'd escort the customer to a product's location in the store and refer to the customer by name.

My first job was in retail at the age of 14, and I have worked in the industry ever since.

My strengths as a businessman lie in the design and sale of women's shoes, and I have never been comfortable with complicated or technical legal or business documents.

While at Parsons, I interned at Marc Jacobs, which was great. When I graduated, I went to work at J. Crew; that was also really great.

No one in my family had a retail or marketing background. They were professionals. They didn't understand just what I was doing by going into retailing. After I started, though, it got into my blood. I knew this was what I wanted.

A guy named Charlie Beacham was my first mentor at Ford. He taught me the importance of the dealers, and he rubbed my nose in the retail business.

The challenge of the retail business is the human condition.

I wanted to become an engineer, or get a masters in business. But I had the opportunity to do films when I was about 25 and it was a great way to express myself.

The jewelry business is a very, very tough business - tougher than the computer business. You truly have to understand how to take care of your customers.

I'm not from a retail background, but I am a shopper.

I never intended being a business person I wanted to be a fashion designer.

I had a great time being a salesman because of the pitches that I gave when I was selling shoes. However, I don't think I'm as well versed in shoes as I am in comedy. Being a salesman was all about being a people person, and I enjoy being around people. I also love talking to people - which is why I think I did so well.

I worked at Ikea as a customer service rep for two years and loved it.

As a Business Ambassador, I am delighted to help both new and established British designers receive the recognition they deserve in the global fashion arena.

American business has just forgotten the importance of selling.

I don't like department stores. I had a chain of department stores back in 1994 which was Lewis's and Owen Owen, only for a short time, and I found department stores personally difficult.

I am not a celebrity. I work with celebrities, and it is very difficult. When a celebrity wears a dress, it's good for business, so brands fight for the red carpet. Me? I don't like it, because fashion becomes a job about dressing celebrities. And it's a bit boring.

After leaving school, I got a job in a department store not dissimilar to Grace Bros in 'Are You Being Served?'

Spending time on the floor is really important. It's great to work out of an office, but working the store gives you contact with the customer.