Baby, If You Look Good, You Play Good
February 25th, 2008
In another life I had buddies who always said, “Baby, if you look good you play good.” These guys spent more time primping their battle gear and hair than my daughter, but, they were right … they looked good, they in turn felt more confident, and they in turn played good.
Some of you have asked me about buying a suit in China because you want to look good. Below is an email excerpt from a trip alumni. We can talk more about this at one of our Spring meetings, if you wish. But for now, what are your business take-aways from the below? E.g., a number of your are taking negotiations now, but that is far from the only class the below ties into. (Please, please, please don’t say something silly and ethnocentric based on a sample size of one such as, “This just shows the Chinese are ruthless, cunning, dishonest and you can’t trust ‘em.” — the below, or something like it, also happens in the West, Asia, South America, Africa, etc. about a gizillion times a day.)
And sorry, Ladies, I don’t know of a good tailor in China who does ladies clothes. You are on your own.
>Chris,
Sorry about getting back to you. It was a very long week at work.
When XXXX and I went to the Pearl Street Market (I believe that is what it was called, it was on the business cards you handed out), we were acosted by sales people trying to sell us suits (this was on the bottom level of that giant indoor market). We began by looking at fabrics, all the while making sure to point out that suits were way too expensive for poor students to afford, and especially on our last day in China. The saleswoman (who I assume works for the fabric maker, and not the tailor) started at over $1,000 US. We laughed and she pointed out that these were custom made suits composed of very expensive Cashmere. She also pointed out that she had sold 3 suits for the same low price already that day.
XXXX and I balked and began looking at her competing neighbor’s line up. She came over and got us and cut her price in half. XXXX began to get more interested, but I being very frugal still had my reservations. Eventually XXXX and she agreed upon a price of about 1000 RMB’s for a suit. He gave her half as a downpayment and then began walking around contemplating a second suit.
Meanwhile, she went to work on selling me. Finally, we settled on 800 RMB, conditioned on the fact that I lie to XXX and tell him that I paid the same as he had. It was about 4 in the afternoon, I gave her 200 HK Dollars as downpayment, they took our measurements, and then we went on our way.
Then at midnight, a man who spoke very good English showed up at our hotel room. He had our suits ready, and we tried them on for the final fitting before he finished the hemming. He was pretty young, about our age and very professional about his business. I paid him about $20 American Dollars, and the rest in $HK (I didnt even have to exchange the money). He left and told us our suits would be ready when we woke up in the morning.
I have no idea if they make shirts or not, but i would assume so.
He was in the hotel room for maybe only 15 or 20 minutes, since he had done all of the work at his shop. His turn around time was from 4Pm to 7AM the next morning. So half that for one suit.
I dont know if he was the tailor the whole time or if he was just an assistant who did final measurements. I would have to look around and try to find my receipt somewhere to get his contact info. I know YYYY knows who he is because she said her dad buys suits from him, and pays about what XXXX paid.
I would think that he would be able to handle 15 suits at once, he is supposedly very popular in China. The Flight Attendant in America recognized my suit. I am not sure if he would just contract out to another shop though.
The best thing about it those is that apparently he keeps your measurements, so apparently if I ever find my receipt, I can email in an order.
Let me know if i can be any more help.
ZZZZ
Yeah, Baby. You look good, you play good.
Entry Filed under: Pre-Departure, Beijing, China
34 Comments Add your own
1. Steve Munio | March 10th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
I find it amusing that with all the incredible culture, monuments, historical architecture, artwork, food, etc. to see in China, many men I’ve talked to coming on this trip are most looking forward to these cheap suits. Of course we are all itching to negotiate an incredibly low price as well. I’ve heard that it isn’t too far-fetched to expect to be able to buy a well tailored silk or wool suit for $30. I suppose these plans quiet our complaints about labor rights if we are just waiting eagerly (whether we realize it or not) to get our chance to jump on the exploit-the-Chinese bandwagon.
2. Chris Carr | March 12th, 2008 at 11:24 am
$30 for a suit? Even in China, not gonna happen. Or if it does, the thread count will be so thin it will fall off you after a one hour wearing. For something decent, figure $100 up. Look at the quality of the fabric you are buying.
3. Andrea Muntzel | December 16th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I’ve already heard the rumors circulating about the inexpensive suits you can buy in China. A friend of mine got suits tailored in China when she went there a few years ago. I was jealous because my department store suits where not only more expensive, but were far from hand tailored.
As for business take-aways, I was struck by the business practices employed by the Chinese tailor. They were so good that we are writing about him right now! There were a few things—besides the obvious—that stood out to me:
1) The alum in the email spoke about his ‘professionalism’. Even though he was in a hotel room, and outside of his place of business, the tailor still represented his company while interacting with clients. The alum was unsure whether he was an assistant or the actual tailor. If he was just an assistant, he represented his employer and his business well.
2) He spoke very good English. The tailor clearly tried to connect and learn about his customers, even though they are very different from him. He traveled to their hotel room, showing an attention to customer service. Also, since there are surely other people who work for this business, the individual who spoke English well was sent to the English-speaking customers. Delegation of a task to an individual that has the correct skills and knowledge is a very important, but often overlooked, business practice.
3) The flight attendant recognized the suit. This shows an attention to marketing and branding. I’m not sure whether there is an identifying mark on the suit or not, but the fact that the suit is recognizable amidst a million suits in China shows that this company has used its quality product and customer service to make a name for itself.
4. Morgan O'Hara | December 19th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I’m now itching to buy a suit. At first, I was skeptical. I don’t like shopping or haggling. I’ve never gotten anything tailored, and I’m picky about how clothes fit me. I figure hurriedly buying a suit is a recipe for dissatisfaction. We’re only sticking around for a day – if I’m not happy with the result I’m stuck with it.
But now, after being assured that it is possible to get a good quality suit, I’m determined to buy one, if not two, come this summer. For those of you who haven’t seen my comment on the Lessons in Negotiating post, I vow to get the best deal out there. A rule of economics – competition amongst MBA classmates keeps prices at the Beijing market down.
On the importance of dressing well – it helps. You don’t have to be decked out in Gucci, but a professional appearance will make people view you in a more positive light. Case in point, at my last job I was hired along with another young guy. He proved extremely capable. He had an understanding of how everything worked in the studio, was great with a camera, etc. But they let him go, in part because he didn’t dress the part. He often came in looking disheveled.
Some people make careers off appearance alone, which is baloney. But our outward showing is one of the many aspects we need to develop.
5. Jenna Healy | January 7th, 2009 at 9:31 am
As much as I hate to say it, it’s true. If you take the time to look good, you feel good and therefore play good. An extreme example… if you woke up, didn’t brush your teeth, rolled out of bed and to a meeting with a sweat suit on, you 1. Won’t be received well and 2. Wouldn’t feel confident about your appearance that day. On the other hand if you wake up, have a coffee, a shower and put on your latest purchase from Banana Republic or the like, you will look and act more put together and will more so be received better.
So I think it’s two part… how you feel and how you are received. It’s too bad they don’t make women’s suits! Maybe we can track someone down? It’s clear by the way this business handled this transaction that the they are reputable and dedicated. It’s no wonder their suits are recognizable. Hats off to anyone who can make 15 suits in a day!
6. Nick Chamness | January 7th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
After talking to some of the Alum from last year, I got very excited about getting a custom suit made on our trip. With the prices we pay over here for an off the shelf solution, I will not hesitate to pick up one of the cheap handcrafted ones from China. I even saw one of the Alum here on campus about 2 months ago and he was wearing his suit. When I asked him about it he said he had never worn something that fit him so well, and was therefore so comfortable.
While I do not wear suits very often, there is usually some occasion where I need one. Renting is no fun becaue you have to wear some old smelly suit knowing that a million people sweated in it before you (kind of like bowling shoes). I have an OK set up I picked up a few years back, but like with any formal wear it does fit real well. I have the Chamness short arm and leg sydrome, which means that my legs and arms are not proportional to my body. Needless to say, I am looking forward to getting a suit that is custom made, which will fit for a long time (assuming I dont get fat).
7. David McKinnon | January 7th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
At first I thought that I may not want a suit that was made on the streets of china, but then I realized that most of the clothes that you buy in departments stores come from factories overseas. I am looking forward to using the negotiating skills that we will be learning this term. Get ready to see some serious distributive negotiating!
8. Jimmy Spann | January 7th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
I have been looking forward to buying a custom tailored suit even since the notion was brought up in one of the Chindia meetings during the fall quarter. I love wearing a tie just because I feel an extra boost of confidence from wearing it and looking as though I may be someone of importance, when really I am just a college student. You notice that everyone you pass on the streets will give you the look as though to say, “Who are you and why are you dressed up? You must be doing something important.”
I definitely do think that it gives you a sense of confidence when it is made for you. I have an older brother and growing up I remember being handed down all of his clothing, especially his dressy clothing because it was more expensive to buy. I really hated it. I also have never had anything custom made for me, other than my subway sandwich.
I think that it is also just another necessity that I will need in the future for job interviews and work in general. I was talking to someone that went on the Chindia trip last year and he happened to be wearing the suit that he bought in China. And if he didn’t tell me, I would have never known. In fact the reason that he did tell me was because I was admiring what a nice suit it was. I think it will be a nice addition to my wardrobe and I am looking forward to having it made for me.
9. Oscar Merlin | January 9th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
I have never had a tailor made piece of clothing in my life, and perhaps while in China I might think of pushing myself to by a tailored made suit for the first time. My concern in this is not only on the quality of the fabric and the stitching that goes on with it , but on the fashionable quality of the suit. So I would greatly appreciate it if someone can inform me if those suit are worth their money and are made in to fit US fashion or at least international fashion, or if I am going to be sticking out like a sore thumb when I wear my suit here in America.
10. Patrick Johansing | January 22nd, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Sweet. This trip keeps getting better. Cheap suits on top of another negotiating opportunity. I am an admittedly poor dresser, so any chance to spruce up my appearances will be a blessing. All you fashion experts are welcome to give me what advice you can. What’s the verdict on top hats?
11. Mark Polydoris | January 22nd, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Business take-aways? The guy is obviously very good, but in a country of 1.3 billion people, you have no choice but to be really good. And if you’ve got a handful of Westerners talking about you on a blog halfway around the world, then you’re definitely doing something right.
Looking good take-aways? Looking good is good. Ron Burgundy said it best: “I look good. I mean, REALLY good. Hey everyone, come and see how good I look!”
There is definitely something to be said for dressing the part. And as far as ‘battle-gear,” I couldn’t agree more with Dr. Carr. There’s something strange about how dressing more professional makes you act more professional…which in turn makes you SEEM more professional. It’s kind of a like Halloween with a paycheck.
But I think looking professional is definitely in the details: ironed clothes, matching belt/shoes, clothes that FIT, not looking like you just rolled out of bed….all that stuff.
When I was a summer camp director, once every summer, I would wear a full suit and tie to camp (normally I would wear shorts and a camp T-shirt, and a whistle). It was hilarious to see the difference in how my own staff, the parents, and the kids in camp treated me on that day. I seemed to command more respect, and people even called me “Mr. Polydoris.” It was also good practice for feeling comfortable while wearing a suit…
12. Jessica Harris | January 27th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
As soon as my older brother found out that I was going to China in June he wanted to make sure that he gave me his measurements so that I could have a custom suit made for him. I guess he had heard a rumor around his office that China was well known for inexpensive, but extremely high quality suits. After reading this blog it seems that there is some truth to that.
Just like others have already touched on, if you feel good about the way you look, that confidence radiates off of you onto whomever you are doing business with. When you feel comfortable in your own skin, others feel comfortable around you. I, like Oscar, have never had a tailor made piece of clothing in my life and am sorry to hear that it doesn’t look like I will be getting one in China. Maybe I’ll just have to blow a whole bunch of money on a sari in India to get my first tailor made suit!
13. James McMillan | January 29th, 2009 at 12:02 am
There’s no question, tailored is so the way to go. Not only do you look better but you also move in the suite more naturally. So in addition to feeling confident you’re also more comfortable and when you have a long work day ahead of you with plenty of client interaction, it’s extremely important to have both.
Thankfully, I did not pay an arm and a leg for my tailor suits because I got mine in Thailand. If the quality of the suits I got in Thailand a few years ago are any reflection of what I can get in China, then I’m definitely going to get another one.
China sounds very similar to Thailand when it comes to buying a tailored suite. In Thailand, just about every block has a tailor shop with workers out front trying to say just about anything to get you to come in.
I was skeptical at first but so many people recommended that if I didn’t already have a suite that Thailand was the place to pick up 2 or 3 given the quality and how incredibly inexpensive it was.
The bargaining process was a little exhausting but I eventually got what I wanted. I still wear the suites today which by the way are still in good condition.
I know I said in my previous blog that I didn’t care to bargain down too low but when I’m shopping for my next suit in China, I’m bringing my A game. It one thing to bargain down a t-shirt but another to bargain a suit. If done right you can really save quite a bit money.
14. Amy Cook | January 29th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
I think most women would agree that taking the time to dress up and look good makes you much more confident wherever you go. I’ve worked in office environments with a “business casual” policy and ones with a “casual” policy. I literally feel like I am more effective on days or in office environments when I am dressed in a professional manner. I also feel that the entire office is more productive when there is a policy of professional dress in place. It almost sounds funny and I love wearing jeans as much as the next person, but it’s an interesting trend I’ve noticed.
As for the letter, wouldn’t this Chinese tailor be thrilled if he knew we are all discussing his professionalism and impeccable customer service skills? As for the bargaining discussion it sounds pretty standard. One guy got a better price because he had a lower buyer value, and that isn’t ruthless or untrustworthy, it’s just the way things are done.
Reading this got me excited about shopping in China, (I’m a woman so shopping in general is exciting to me). Ladies, we have to find a tailor who can help us out on this one.
15. Andrew Welborn | January 29th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Looking good is always important in a business setting but applies equally well to daily life. I am of the idea that dressing up for an interview, work, or a date shows the other party that you respect them and took the time out of the day to show that you are serious and you want them to treat you with respect.
As far as business takeaways, this tailor did a phenomenal job in differentiating himself from the potential millions of other tailors in China. He obviously cares about repeat customers and on pleasing his clients so that they tell others how well they were treated. Based on the widespread popularity, I can’t imagine one single shop making so many suits, but that may be my ignorance of the industry.
As far as the sales tactics, it’s just good business. If someone is willing to pay $1,000 for the same suit, why not let them. That being said there is no way I am going to just roll over and hand them my money when we visit. I look forward to haggling over prices and getting my money’s worth.
16. Raquel Rusing | February 4th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
I’m intrigued about how this man runs his business. A mysterious woman measures you. Two suits are produced between 4pm and 7am. And then a mysterious gentlemen who speaks English personally comes to the customers’ hotel for a final fitting. He proceeds to do the hemming himself. What is his business model?
-He emphasizes customer service by making himself versatile in a different language and providing a delivery service.
-He wants to reach a large market, which is achieved by setting up a booth on Pearl Street Market.
-He is selling items at a low cost to appear more attractive against neighboring competition.
-He is attempting to establish and maintaining long term relationships by saving measurement information and offering email ordering services.
-He has differentiated his product (somehow) since a flight attendant could recognize the product.
And he was younger? That’s an impressive business he has. I wonder if he caters mostly to tourists and business men. How many people in China wear suits?
And for some background, I found a little history about the tailing industry in China from The Shanghai Star, which was the first English-published newspaper since the founding of the People’s Republic.
17. Justin Miller | February 8th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
I found this post really interesting. Like Nick, I talked to several of the people from last year and they all mentioned getting custom made suits. After hearing about this has become on of the events that I am most excited about. Not only the opportunity to get a custom fitted silk suite, but to be able to bargain and negotiate with local businesses. I think we will learn a lot from our company visits, but I think we will also learn a lot by just being able in interact with the local people.
The other thing that I like is that you have the opportunity to get a custom made suite that’s affordable. Realistically, I’m not going to be able to have this done in the US for a really long time simply based on the cost. Also, even if I did have the money to have a custom made suite, I’m pretty sure I’ll have other things that I will want to buy. Ultimately, I’m really excited to have this opportunity this early in my life.
18. Scotty Hayes | February 11th, 2009 at 9:20 am
Although a suit is not extremely comfortable to wear (at least to me), looking good is important to today’s business person. Looks are a big part of a first impression and we all know of the importance of that. If the situation arises suits are just one of those things that need to be done wether you like it or not. I plan on buying one while our trip in China to see what all of this fuss is about.
19. Mark Wegemer | February 11th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
I have always been taught to dress the part. I have played baseball for over 18 years and one of the biggest things that I can take from that, other than my amazing arm, is what I learned about appearance. “You play how you look” It’s probably something taken out of a popular baseball movie like Bull Duram, but for the most part it was true. If you looked good, you played good. I’m sure the same thing works for jobs and interviews.
I, too, plan on purchasing a custom tailored suit in China. Like Jimmy, this was one of the things I wanted to do in China. Find a tailor and get a custom suit for a decent price.
20. Jason Larocco | February 14th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
In some ways it is unfortunate that our society creates assumptions about one’s abilities based on how they dress, but it definitely does happen and it is a fairly natural impulse. In this respect marketing is marketing and we are no different than any other product where appearance is a form of communication. A well dressed, clean cut person communicates a certain level of professionalism, an attention to detail, and if dressing well makes you feel confident, then that confidence will also be communicated. Although there is merit to the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover”, I also firmly believe in the saying “dress for the job you want, not just the job you have.” It is a simple way to communicate your aspirations on a daily basis in a relatively subtle way. At same you still have to remember that dressing well is NOT everything… take a look at this clip from the movie Step Brothers… youtube.com/watch?v=UT-j_LSWM_A … (you’ll have to cut and paste)
Business take aways… as others have commented I think the service they are providing is excellent. It amazes me how well the Chinese seem to navigate through what I see as near chaos. There is no formal store front with a sales person, contracted tailor, and a fitting room with perfect lighting and mirrors. There is a fabric sales “area” in a huge mall, where one person takes your general measurements, you pay them a cash deposit, and hope that somebody else comes to your room later and does the final fitting. The structure of business in China seems to be some much less defined (in respects to following strict business practices and contracts) than here in the states. In our organizational behavior class JF presented a statistic that suggested that in general American’s are much more comfortable with uncertainty than Asian cultures. Although this may be true in some areas of our lives I don’t think this is true with respect to business in China. Either that or what I see as chaos is really a set of deep rooted practices that I don’t understand yet.
21. Michael Mossman | February 15th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
It seems like this particular suit tailor really takes pride in his work and takes care of his customers while building a customer database. It is going to be interesting to see who can get the best deal on a suit and who gets ripped off, it is bound to happen. If I can get a good price on a quality suit you can count me in. We should try to get a group of people together and make a deal with one tailor for a group discount, it is just a thought.
It is true, if you are dressed to impress than you usually come across as more confidant and professional. When I am wearing a suit I always notice that people tend to take me more seriously and pay more attention to what I am doing. Wearing a suit to work or events really shows that you care about what you are doing and lets others know that you took the extra time to suit up and look professional.
22. Andre Ourthiague | February 15th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
I’ve gotten mixed reviews on the suits available in China. Some friends claim the suits weren’t particularily well-tailored (poor stitching, unsatisfactory fit, etc), while others are so happy they claim they will never pay US prices. I plan on getting a suit, but I need to put in some serious research before hand so that I’m not openly uneducated when it comes time to negotiate.
In response to looking good and confidence. I recently had an interview on campus and was told not to dress up because the interview would be laid-back and informal. I was unsure how to respond to this request and decided to wear a dress shirt and jeans (friday business casual). I went through the entire interview thinking about how under-dressed I felt. If given the chance to do it over, I would have gone with slacks and a tie in a heart beat; Dressing informally rocked my confidence before the interview even started.
23. Josh Hickman | February 18th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Wait I thought custom tailored suits were included in our tuition for this trip!? Ha just kidding Dr. Carr. Count me in for at least two suits though. I have never had anything tailored, so I am excited about that. Also, when is the next time we will have this opportunity to get something of custom fitted and (hopefully) good quality for a good price. I am definitely a bargain hunter and I know I always regret if I pass up a good deal (like the time when Playstation 3’s were 30% off at the late Circuit City three weeks ago and I didn’t buy one and found out the next day that they all sold out…) Also, in these harsh economic times there probably aren’t too many tourists in China buying suits right now so we need to be on our game to get a great price. I am excited.
24. Victoria Rodriguez | February 20th, 2009 at 12:18 am
I am impressed by the customer service that I have heard about - from these posts and other people. The presentation and material quality have gone down in suits offered in the U.S. stores in the last several years. I cannot find a suit that is not made from polyester, and yet the prices for these suits have gone up.
Maybe, we can ask a few of the ladies who went on the trip last year for places for us to get some snazzy suits made.
25. Xiaofei Song | February 21st, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Custom made suits sound like a luxury here, but in China, a cheap labor cost country, it is not impressive at all. I will never buy a custom made suit in anywhere. This winter, I was trying to buy a silk shirt, in Chinese called Qi Pao, which supposed to custom made only. I went to a store, which located in a 5-star hotel. The company is a very big franchises and has very good reputation in the industry. I went to the store, they have the samples that you can try for the style. After that, they measure and custom made your cloth. For each one of the skirt, it cost from 4,000 to 9,000 RMB, and all the samples they hanging there are well made. I picked the one I like, and pay them 40% for the down payment, and they told me to try the skirt after a week. One week later, my mom and I went to the store and try for my new skirt. To my surprise, it didn’t fit me at all…….. I end up taking the sample skirt from the store, which I feel have much higher quality than the one custom made.
26. Eric White | February 22nd, 2009 at 12:52 pm
When labor is cheap, service oriented businesses will thrive. Example: evolution of gas stations in the US. When labor was relatively cheap, gas stations differentiated themselves by offering great customer service. Someone would pump your gas and wash your windows while you waited in the car. As the cost of labor increased, it became more and more expensive to differentiate with service. When the cost of hiring those extra employees was greater than the extra revenue pulled in from their services, gas station attendants lost their jobs and gas stations had to find new points of differentiation. Today we are at the opposite end of the spectrum not coming in contact with anyone when we fill up. Now, ease of use and convenience is how a large percentage of products are sold in the US.
Now the question is how can this suit tailor make his business more efficient? From what Xiaofei is saying about the Chinese impression of custom made suits, it sounds like the tailor’s target market is travelers/foreigners. Sure foreigners come to the local market to make purchases, but the greatest concentration of foreigners is in hotels. I would suggest that he present his work to hotel managers to create a partnership with the hotel so that he can do business in the hotel. Since his turnaround time is so quick, he could benefit greatly from that type of partnership.
27. David Caldwell | February 27th, 2009 at 1:03 am
This is of the parts that I’m most excited about; I bought a couple of suits this year, but I had a lot of trouble locating something with long enough arms and a narrow enough torso - go custom measurements!
I can actually kind of relate to the title of this post. Most times when I’m at school and people complement me about how I look and ask why I’m dressed up, I truthfully reply that I had a bad day yesterday and wanted a self esteem boost - go sweater vests!
28. Jamie Hastings | February 27th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I used to hate to get dressed up. Sunday mornings going to church were awful and I dreaded getting ready. However, I think it is really pretty cool now. I kind of enjoy putting on a nice suit and trying to look good ( I don’ t know if I pull it off). It really hit home when this last year I was applying for a Fighter Pilot position for the CA Air National Guard. I got pretty far into the selection process and part of it was because I always looked sharp when I went to the base. One of the pilot board members even told me that I looked good and that it helped a lot because it showed that I cared to be there and that I respected the ranking officers. He also said that it set me aside from a lot of other candidates that didn’t look as dressed up.
I am looking forward to getting a suit or two in China if I can wing it.
29. Ashley Breneman | March 2nd, 2009 at 9:39 pm
I absolutely agree with the statement that if you look good, you will feel good. In general, anyone who fails to spend time getting ready and looking professional, will come across that same way to everyone else. As for the suits, I am so jealous that the boys get to have tailored suits for such an inexpensive price. Although there was nothing mentioned about girls suits, I am hoping to find inexpensive dress clothes in China to bring home. I am also very excited to visit the silk market.
30. Matthew Neal | March 3rd, 2009 at 12:33 am
I would definitely have to agree with the statement in the title. I know for me personally whenever I am more dressed up I feel a ton more confident and I believe I perform better in business situations, interviews, etc. The perfect example of this is the last job fair I went to. I had assumed that my suit was in my closet, so the night before went in to iron my shirt and make sure everything was in order for the next day. To my surprise my suit was missing, and then I realized I had forgotten it in San Diego on my last trip home. I then had to settle on a pair of slack and collared shirt. I know for a fact that my change of clothes through me off in the job fair the next two days. I always feel more comfortable when I am fully prepared, including what I’m wearing
As for the trip to China and the markets I am definitely planning on getting a suit. I have heard a ton of people that have said they bought a couple suits over there for really good prices, all custom fit. I would love to have a custom fit suit and think this would be a good opportunity to get one at a good price. I am however skeptical on actually finding a quality shop, so I’ll have to do some research to get a good quality place for a good price. Hopefully I will be able to find some information on the right place to go, and from what I hear I should be expecting to pay around 100. Looking forward to looking good so I can play good!
31. Cece Reyes | March 7th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Look good, feel good, without a doubt.
This year I have spent so much time in the lab I may burn my jeans for spring quarter. I have to say that I miss putting on nice clothes for work, and I am excited to find some dress shops while the guys barter for suits - they had some nice styles featured during the Olympics.
32. Matt Eves | March 11th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
From the excerpt it is clear that he is:
a good communicator, prepared, young but professional, has a strong reputation, customers refer others to him, a recognizable product, and innovative (saving measurements to make it easier for past customers to order more).
To me, that is wildly impressive. I don’t know many people I could say that about.
I imagine we will learn a lot of practical business knowledge during our trip. The little things that go a long way. For those of us who came straight from our undergrad and have little experience working I think we’ll be very impressed by a lot of practices because they actually DO business and practice it every day amidst heavy competition.
Dressing up is a sure way to show someone you care. No question I’m buying a suit, or two… the deals sound amazing.
33. Alex vanDalen | March 14th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
no need to convince me on this… i used to sell suits at Nordstrom…I am well aware of the respect and admiration that a well tailor piece of cloth can bring about … and yes I’ve had to measure men’s inseams … blah blah blah
My uncle has been going to HK for thirty plus years to get his suits custom tailored. They look really good for about a year… they do not however wear so well. Not sure if this is just due to the quality of fabric or something else, but since it is about a third of the price for a decent tailor ( no they are not 30 dollars even in Shanghai or Beijing) he seems to think that is worth his while as he likes to have the newest fashions on a regular basis. You can bring them fashion magazines and they will copy whatever you like for a price. I’ll see for myself when we get there… but since my closet is bit overloaded on suits at the moment… i think i might save my money for the eel buffet.
34. Logan J Travis | March 15th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
I really want to know this tailor’s cost of production. The saleswoman started at a $1,000 then dropped to 1,000 RMB. At current exchange rates that is nearly a 7-fold drop! Not to mention she lowered the price further to 800 RMB and the only condition was apparently a promise to not reveal the discount.
I may visit one of these shops to see how low they’ll go. It should be easier to do since I have no intention of buying. As much as they may be a good deal, I know good deals can be had in this country. Actually, they’re probably from the same tailors. My father dealt with a true Chinese entrepreneur who would spend a month or so traveling up and down the state taking measurements for tailored suits. He would send these to tailors in China and they would send the suits (plus shirts and other tailored items) back within several weeks. He apparently did very well catering to government employees especially attorneys like my dad. All of his advertising was word of mouth too. Just impressive.
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