PUT ON YOUR SAILOR HAT

The economy is having as many ups and downs as an ocean liner. The news is so dismal it’s enough to make anyone spike their water with Prozac (or vodka). And, to add fuel to the economic fire the retail predictions are even drearier. But not all is lost during this recessionary blizzard (unless you are Macy’s).

We just spoke with Kokin (who owns a retail shop in Manhattan’s Upper East Side) and found out that he did more business last weekend than in any whole week in December. Kokin himself (he prefers one name a la Cher) sold a leopard print cap with matching gloves to a gal who was on her way to Monaco to attend a Charity Event hosted by Princess Stephanie of Monaco. She also bought a lace covered top hat with veil and sequin turban (the total cost was $3,400).

According to Kokin, “there are some bright spots on the horizon, but too few to make a rainbow. Also, the cold snap helped enormously.” Kokin also had this to say: “The best part about the store is: I will not have Spring merchandise in the store until its Spring outside, and while my competition in town will not have cold weather on the floor, I will have plenty of fur and cashmere to help the girls come in out of the cold!” (Bravo KOKIN).

If there is a lesson here it is that a good salesperson (Kokin is the best) can sell ice in the winter (my retailer father used to say that). You need to have upbeat positive educated sales people on the floor with the right mix of merchandise.

Let’s face it, when times are bad people will still shop, but they buy what is exciting. And hats are exciting now – and luckily – most people don’t have a closet stuffed with hats (navy blazers yes).

Kokin is also a hat manufacturer who tends to the fashion needs of the fashionable and fabulous. If you want to read more about him, check him out in our new 2009 Hat Life Book (he won a Hatty Award as well).

Blu Kokin of Kokin