I remember when we would make our once every three year trip
to India as a child. There would be
lists of clothes we just had to have tailor made. There was no thought of readymade shopping;
it was all custom-made to suit our taste and style. Only recently have I noticed certain online
shops offering this service. Charles
Tyrwhitt gives you an option to choose the slim fit vs. classic, button collar,
cuffs, no cuffs, down to how many buttons you want on a blazer.
This service can make anyone feel special, but when it is
offered for many other items, it just makes life easier. I know there is not a day that goes by that I
think, I wish this dress had short sleeves or I wish this shirt was more of a
slim fit.
Reading about Fan Bi, he just had the right idea. Quality and time equals precision and
customer satisfaction. There may only be
45 shirts ordered a day but this will exemplify lean process in the most unique
form. No excess waste, no bulk
production. Allowing us as the consumers
to have the ability to create to meet our needs is the best form of customer
service these days. There is a feeling
of ownership and personal touch.
This approach to business can be a positive and financially
booming one but what if the person who started the company, set up shop in
Boston to cater to the young professionals in DC, NYC, Chicago, etc…giving
consumers the right to design and not pay European prices is sent back to his
country due to visa issues? If we are
trying to promote the idea of start ups, financial growth, and innovative ideas
which this country craves, then why not let Fan Bi just stay and play his part
in increasing financial gain and build and grow in the USA?
In The News: Putting Customers in Charge of Design (NY Times, May
14, 2010);
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