WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.879 This is a noncore performance of Always in Fashion. 2 00:00:03.879 --> 00:00:06.759 This show is produced and hosted by Mark Webber. The 3 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:09.439 show is sponsored by G three Aparo. The views expressed 4 00:00:09.480 --> 00:00:11.919 in the following program are those of the sponsor and 5 00:00:12.039 --> 00:00:16.359 not necessarily the opinion of seven ten wor or iHeartMedia. 6 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:21.559 Who is Mark Weber. He's a self made business executive 7 00:00:21.640 --> 00:00:24.199 here to help you find your success. From the New 8 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:27.920 York City projects to the Avenue Montaigne in Paris. His 9 00:00:28.039 --> 00:00:32.359 global success story in the luxury world of fashion is inspirational. 10 00:00:32.600 --> 00:00:37.320 He's gone from clerk to CEO twice. Mark is classic 11 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:41.240 proof that the American dream is alive. And well, here's 12 00:00:41.320 --> 00:00:45.240 your host of Always in Fashion, Mark Weber. Mark Weber. 13 00:00:45.719 --> 00:00:50.000 I've been called a character. I've been called a character again, 14 00:00:50.840 --> 00:00:54.079 and it's your fault. Your fault because I have to 15 00:00:54.240 --> 00:00:58.399 entertain you. Now leave it to me to blame someone 16 00:00:58.479 --> 00:01:02.759 else for my own behavior. Wait, I hear something, Mark, 17 00:01:02.799 --> 00:01:05.799 I'm your conscience. I have some one in my head 18 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:08.760 talking to me. My little conscience is talking me and saying, 19 00:01:08.760 --> 00:01:12.079 you can't blame any one but yourself. Mark, can't blame 20 00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:15.719 any one but yourself. If that's the way you are perceived. Oh, 21 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:18.319 you don't have to agree. But there is a reason 22 00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:21.959 we don't like humans, and that's that little voice in 23 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:23.280 my head, and I want to get it out of 24 00:01:23.319 --> 00:01:25.799 the way. I became a radio and podcast host and 25 00:01:25.959 --> 00:01:28.879 entertain and make no mistake about it, I have to 26 00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:32.640 hold your attention. My motives might be pure, get a 27 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:36.719 lot of listeners, drive consumers to the sponsor's product, help 28 00:01:36.799 --> 00:01:40.439 the ratings for the station and the podcast network. But 29 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:43.840 I decided on this personality. I came out from behind 30 00:01:43.879 --> 00:01:47.920 the curtain. I forego being a recluse. I picked this style. 31 00:01:48.239 --> 00:01:51.079 I have to live with it. Now. I guess that 32 00:01:51.200 --> 00:01:54.239 little voice isn't through with me yet. But here's the frustration. 33 00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:58.359 Forty years climbing the ladder to the top of the 34 00:01:58.400 --> 00:02:04.359 corporate world PVH president, board member, CEO, no one would 35 00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:07.159 have ever called me a character. I wouldn't have made 36 00:02:07.159 --> 00:02:11.039 it eight years at LVMH, a CEO, member of the 37 00:02:11.080 --> 00:02:16.360 executive committee in Paris. Never a character style. Yes, was 38 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:19.960 a scene, yes that I have a point of view, yes, 39 00:02:20.159 --> 00:02:23.759 but a character. Never they would say I was a 40 00:02:23.800 --> 00:02:27.719 person of character. I wouldn't have been hired, I wouldn't 41 00:02:27.719 --> 00:02:31.240 have lasted a week. You are how you package yourself? 42 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:35.560 Where have I heard, then, hmm? Being called a character 43 00:02:35.719 --> 00:02:40.199 now because I'm entertaining, because I'm promoting a show, I'm 44 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:46.800 now a character. That it's not fair, Mark fairs for kids, 45 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:51.759 Mark perception is reality. Well I don't accept it. Let 46 00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:54.560 me see those detractors who's so quick to call me 47 00:02:54.599 --> 00:02:57.919 a character? Perform a radio show and podcasts with original 48 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:02.080 content thirty two type pages preparing me for getting this 49 00:03:02.120 --> 00:03:08.120 stuff that organized, interesting and insightful, performed as well. Good luck. Now, 50 00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:09.759 I'm sure all of you out there are great at 51 00:03:09.759 --> 00:03:12.159 your jobs. I was great at mine, and if you're listening, 52 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:14.319 you know I'm great at this third career. You have 53 00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:21.560 no idea how hard this is to do. Character few. 54 00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:25.719 I've lived a life of being underestimated. I went from 55 00:03:25.719 --> 00:03:31.199 a good looking guy in a suit to a mature lightweight, questionable, 56 00:03:31.319 --> 00:03:34.800 incapable yep, all the while climbing the ladder, the small 57 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:38.800 running back running through the offensive line, scoring the touchdown. 58 00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:43.759 And yes, those people were offensive, but I enjoy looking 59 00:03:43.800 --> 00:03:47.080 at them in my rear view mirror. The truth is 60 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:52.120 disrespectful is disrespectful, regardless of how you package it. Sometimes 61 00:03:52.199 --> 00:03:55.319 I'll give it. It's innocent, sometimes it's arrogant, and it's 62 00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:59.919 definitely not fair. But like so many things in life, 63 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:03.199 managing disappointment could be your road to success, and I 64 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:07.520 often looked at it as opportunistic. I was often disappointed. 65 00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:10.319 I questioned the behavior of my fellow humans. I never 66 00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:14.599 accepted anyone dissing me or downplaying my role in corporate America. 67 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:19.160 I certainly never accepted anyone disrespect to me. But most importantly, 68 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:22.920 I respected myself. I knew who I was, I knew 69 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:26.519 what I knew. Being underestimated for me was a superpower. 70 00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:29.519 I'll accept good looking guy in a suit if I must. 71 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:31.680 At least I was good looking, even though you didn't 72 00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:33.759 think I had anything to go with it. But I 73 00:04:33.800 --> 00:04:36.600 knew when I opened my suit jacket unbuttoned my shirt 74 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:40.399 that big Superman uniform was underneath it. But my uniform, 75 00:04:40.439 --> 00:04:43.759 my custom, was a logo with a big sea for confidence. 76 00:04:43.959 --> 00:04:46.800 So call me what you will, call me a character. 77 00:04:47.240 --> 00:04:50.319 I'm happy doing what I'm doing. I'm always happy, and 78 00:04:50.360 --> 00:04:53.360 there are lots of people who've benefited from Mark Weber 79 00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:57.879 along the way. That's my boy, Mau. There we go. 80 00:04:57.959 --> 00:05:00.480 The voice in my head talking to me again tonight. 81 00:05:00.519 --> 00:05:03.399 I have some stories to explain. Can you imagine a 82 00:05:03.480 --> 00:05:07.800 forty year career of excellence. It can't possibly be summarized 83 00:05:07.800 --> 00:05:11.000 as he's a character. They don't get it. Can you 84 00:05:11.120 --> 00:05:15.199 imagine the finest sophisticated, luxury European company in the world 85 00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:17.959 putting up with a character that would be out of 86 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:20.639 character for them. I would bet the last word to 87 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:23.839 describe me in that organization would be that I was 88 00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:27.639 and always am a serious, well thought out businessman with 89 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:31.360 a track record of minimal mistakes. I put my record 90 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:35.759 up against anyone. I'm well thought out. I'm understated considering 91 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:40.199 the unintended consequences, always regarding my decisions. I was tough, 92 00:05:41.160 --> 00:05:45.839 very but fair a character. H I'll admit I was 93 00:05:45.920 --> 00:05:49.120 never boring. I have a personality. I smiled more than most. 94 00:05:49.399 --> 00:05:52.399 I've lectured and tutored more than most as well. Where 95 00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:54.720 are the people who stand up and talk Mark Weber 96 00:05:54.839 --> 00:05:58.800 that way, I lived a life being underestimated. In hindsight, 97 00:05:58.879 --> 00:06:02.040 I'd haven't know the way, don't know if I would 98 00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:03.720 have made it if the people thought I was a 99 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:07.120 person to be reckoned with Corporately, while the others killed 100 00:06:07.160 --> 00:06:11.040 each other off. They set up the blocking and tackling, 101 00:06:11.199 --> 00:06:13.279 and I found a way to run through the holes 102 00:06:13.319 --> 00:06:16.399 from the backfield. I certainly was not boring. You couldn't 103 00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:19.360 help but see me, Yeah, good looking guy in the suit. 104 00:06:19.480 --> 00:06:26.399 Nothing upstairs except for those special few who recognized the 105 00:06:26.439 --> 00:06:31.920 simplicity in my execution, my uniform, the perfect tailoring, subtle colors, 106 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:35.839 and peccable quality. Not so much standing out but being 107 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:40.240 seen still. Often when I was in the room, the 108 00:06:40.279 --> 00:06:42.399 initiated would wait for those who they thought were the 109 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:45.920 decision makers. I'm standing. They never dreamed I had the substance, 110 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:49.319 but as a young man, I often had a cadre 111 00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:52.079 of older executives that actually worked for me and took 112 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:55.519 their direction from me. I was serious. I played to win. 113 00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:58.040 I played for all the marbles. Go figure. This is 114 00:06:58.079 --> 00:07:02.040 what I'm being said now, often after it was too late. 115 00:07:02.600 --> 00:07:06.120 Then they saw me coming. Now that I'm irrelevant, Now 116 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:08.879 that I can't defend my place in history, Now that 117 00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:11.439 I become an entertainer, and now that I seek sponsors 118 00:07:11.480 --> 00:07:13.879 and sponsorships, now that I have to put out front 119 00:07:13.959 --> 00:07:19.199 rather than behind the curtain, I'm a character. It's your fault. Hey, 120 00:07:19.480 --> 00:07:22.000 I almost get it if I didn't have a history, 121 00:07:22.040 --> 00:07:24.759 and you wipe the slate cleaning. Yeah, I'm different. The 122 00:07:24.839 --> 00:07:27.680 people that actually listen closely to the stories on the show, 123 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:30.759 the lessons and the helping hand I offer, they'll find 124 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:34.000 my brilliance. I listen to you. I agree with every 125 00:07:34.040 --> 00:07:38.040 opinion you take. I get written to every week. Your 126 00:07:38.199 --> 00:07:41.920 tire show is about common sense. I never understood until 127 00:07:41.959 --> 00:07:44.160 I heard you say it. I read your book. I 128 00:07:44.199 --> 00:07:45.879 give it to my son to read. I give it 129 00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:48.560 to my daughter. She loved it. You say, once in 130 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:51.199 your life you were brilliant. I hear brilliance every week. 131 00:07:52.199 --> 00:07:55.319 Where are those people, the quiet ones, the silent majority. 132 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:59.199 I know how much it means to me to be appreciated. 133 00:07:59.199 --> 00:08:01.600 But when I hear from the others, the snobs, the elitists, 134 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:04.399 the boring, the uninformed, and the unwilling to consider that 135 00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:06.920 maybe they're not so smart and maybe they're not even 136 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:10.600 in on the joke, this character gets pissed off. I've 137 00:08:10.600 --> 00:08:14.959 been called lots of things, arrogant, ego, maniac, self promoting, wrong, 138 00:08:15.519 --> 00:08:17.600 but I live with it. You can't be a leader 139 00:08:17.639 --> 00:08:20.160 without being seen and heard. You have to have an ego. 140 00:08:20.360 --> 00:08:22.680 You have to drive forward for that which you believe in. 141 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:26.560 Not easy for a guy who self defines himself as 142 00:08:26.600 --> 00:08:29.199 a recluse. I can tell you that when you hold 143 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:33.519 him high rank, you must have character. You can be 144 00:08:33.639 --> 00:08:38.759 a character or a man of character. I chose the latter. Hmm, 145 00:08:40.519 --> 00:08:43.759 now a man of a peccable character. My lawyer, my 146 00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:46.600 co host, my son, Jesse Webber. 147 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:48.480 Well, you sound like you're a shot right out of 148 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:51.399 a cannon right from the get go. So someone says 149 00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:54.159 you're a character, and you just go off the rails, right, 150 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:56.120 I mean, that's what we're talking about here, because what 151 00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:59.759 it's worth, a character is not the worst thing to 152 00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:02.440 be called a character, is It can be a person 153 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:03.879 with a unique. 154 00:09:03.559 --> 00:09:06.720 Approach to the world, to life. I like the term character. 155 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:08.320 Then you live with it. I don't. 156 00:09:08.440 --> 00:09:10.480 It makes you distinctive, it makes you unique. 157 00:09:10.759 --> 00:09:13.840 Then call me distinctive and call me unique. Characters used 158 00:09:13.879 --> 00:09:15.799 as a slight and it's disrespectful. 159 00:09:15.879 --> 00:09:18.080 You know what, You're a real character. 160 00:09:18.840 --> 00:09:20.639 Funny, where are you. 161 00:09:20.600 --> 00:09:22.039 Going with this? Are you just going to talk about 162 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:24.080 the whole show? How you're insulted that people called you 163 00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:24.639 a character? 164 00:09:27.159 --> 00:09:31.039 Maybe you seem a bit sensitive. I never seen anyone 165 00:09:31.080 --> 00:09:33.559 treat you other than with reverence. So what if they 166 00:09:33.559 --> 00:09:36.000 call you a character? It doesn't change how people talk 167 00:09:36.039 --> 00:09:36.480 about you. 168 00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:39.320 It's like the show. This is a great example. Truck 169 00:09:39.399 --> 00:09:43.120 driver wrote to Wor I came across Always in Fashion 170 00:09:43.159 --> 00:09:45.720 by accident while driving. I really had no interest in 171 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:48.279 listening to a show about clothes, but I stuck with it. 172 00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:51.279 I was amazed how interesting this guy, Mark Webber was, 173 00:09:51.320 --> 00:09:54.519 and the show is really about life, not fashion. I'm addicted. 174 00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:57.279 Now that's a guy. In my opinion, a truck driver 175 00:09:57.399 --> 00:10:00.039 is smarter than any ceo I ever met. Yeah, a 176 00:10:00.200 --> 00:10:02.279 point of view, Yet he was open minded, gave it 177 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:07.000 a chance, gets my respect. That's tonight. A character or 178 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:11.440 of character? That's what I want to talk about, Jesse. 179 00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:12.480 You see the difference. 180 00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:14.799 I see the difference. I get it. 181 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:18.519 It reminds me very much of that scene in Goodfellas. 182 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:21.399 Right, yeah, just a little bit. 183 00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:24.080 I think I'm a funny guy. I'm here to amuse you. 184 00:10:24.440 --> 00:10:26.240 Is that what it is? He never want to be 185 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:28.440 taken seriously. I get it. I get it. 186 00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:31.879 But you have to admit you on the radio are 187 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:35.320 very different than the Mark Weber in corporate life. I 188 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:38.639 think there's something to be said there. Your personality has 189 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:42.480 not changed, but been amplified. You're playing a different role. 190 00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:46.840 Then say it. Don't give me a broad brush. I 191 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:49.039 know I'm not a broadbrush guy. You want to say 192 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:51.600 he's a character in the radio, I'll live with that. 193 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:56.159 But for my entire career to be summed up in 194 00:10:56.200 --> 00:10:59.559 one sentence he's a character doesn't work for me. 195 00:11:00.360 --> 00:11:01.879 By the way, you think this is actually going to 196 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:08.279 stop people from calling you a character, No. 197 00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:10.440 But the reality is this character or this man of 198 00:11:10.600 --> 00:11:13.600 character is using this as a format to have an 199 00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:16.840 important discussion, which I'm ready to start if you want. 200 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:17.840 Okay, let's do it. 201 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:22.480 After three years after I started my career, I left PVH. 202 00:11:22.519 --> 00:11:26.120 Phillipson Using company to work at a small private label 203 00:11:26.200 --> 00:11:29.639 shirt company called Capital Mercury. I would guess they did 204 00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:32.240 maybe one hundred million dollars worth of sales. They would 205 00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:35.440 make all those products that you'd see in Macy's called 206 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:40.080 Alfani or bar three. Those are private label, their store labels, 207 00:11:40.120 --> 00:11:42.559 and they would either buy them themselves or they buy 208 00:11:42.559 --> 00:11:45.039 them from experts. In this case, Capital Murkey was an 209 00:11:45.080 --> 00:11:48.200 expert shirt maker and they can compete with anyone's price, 210 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:50.960 and they would buy the Macy's label from Capitol Mercury, 211 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:53.720 They'd sell to JC Penny, they'd sell to Nortchum. This 212 00:11:53.799 --> 00:11:57.120 celt in the entire community. The only difference was is 213 00:11:57.159 --> 00:12:00.600 that they weren't selling brands and if they were below 214 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:03.559 the radar anyway, make a long story short. I had 215 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:07.039 a very close friend business associated. He was the president 216 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:10.519 of a button company. His name was bud Winstrel, and 217 00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:13.320 bud Winstrel was one of those guys who saw me 218 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:17.000 beyond the suits. Because when the time came to negotiate 219 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:19.840 for shirt buttons, and the fact that I would not 220 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:23.080 tolerate buttons that broke, and the fact that he'd have 221 00:12:23.159 --> 00:12:25.759 to go back to his factory and recommend to me 222 00:12:25.960 --> 00:12:29.240 only those buttons, he should be sure of that when 223 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:31.840 people send their shirts out to be laundered and get 224 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:35.799 hit by a hothead master press in those cleaning stores, 225 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:40.480 those buttons wouldn't crack from that intensive pressure. He learned 226 00:12:40.519 --> 00:12:43.279 what I was all about when we negotiated. One day 227 00:12:43.320 --> 00:12:44.879 he comes to me says to me, I have an 228 00:12:44.879 --> 00:12:48.080 opportunity for you. Capitol Murcury would like to talk to you. 229 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:50.279 They have heard of you. I told them about you. 230 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:52.960 They're looking for someone, and I think you would do 231 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:55.039 well there. Why don't you go talk to him? I said, 232 00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:56.759 I love it here. I'm doing great here. He says, 233 00:12:56.799 --> 00:12:59.159 it's not about that. Mark. You're a young guy. You've 234 00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:01.320 been here three years. As you prove to the company 235 00:13:01.320 --> 00:13:03.759 you're good. I think you'd have a great career here. 236 00:13:03.799 --> 00:13:06.080 But I assure you, if you went to Capitol Merkeley, 237 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:08.279 they need you more than PVH doesn't. They'll pay you 238 00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:11.279 for it. So I went to Capitol Merkeley, and sure enough, 239 00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:14.000 overnight they more than doubled my salary. And as a 240 00:13:14.039 --> 00:13:17.519 young guy relatively starting out, I doubled my salary. It 241 00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:19.440 meant a lot to my wife and I and I 242 00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:23.639 decided to join them. To my credit, when I announced 243 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:26.919 my boss that I was leaving the company, a boss 244 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:28.720 that thought the world of me, knew what I was 245 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:32.399 capable of, was so disappointed that I was leaving. I said, look, 246 00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:34.879 I'm leaving for money, That's all there is to it. 247 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:37.799 I recognize that you have a pay structure here that 248 00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:39.960 you can't pay me what these people are paying me. 249 00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:42.679 I will be back to this company this is where 250 00:13:42.679 --> 00:13:44.840 my home is. I want to come back, and as 251 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:47.399 soon as it's feasible for me and for you to 252 00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:50.120 work that through, we'll work it out. Just look at 253 00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:52.639 me as taking a leave of absence, and however long 254 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:54.960 you need me to stay before I leave, I'll do that. 255 00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:59.120 And I stayed more than a month. I stayed five weeks, 256 00:13:59.159 --> 00:14:02.480 giving them time to find my replacement. Is that a character? 257 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:05.840 Was that a man of character? I ask you? So 258 00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:08.279 I went to this company, Capital Mercury, And the reason 259 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:11.720 I'm telling the story is the obvious character versus not. 260 00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:14.559 There were two people that I came in contact with. 261 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:21.879 One was a loud, boisterous seller, part owner in the company. 262 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:24.240 Thought he knew everything about the world, that had no 263 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:28.279 disrespect for anyone but his customers, and whenever I needed 264 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:31.559 to talk to him, I dreaded it. He was always 265 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:35.840 so unpleasant, always so talked down to me. I'll never 266 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:39.000 forget one particular time I had designed. I was a 267 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:42.759 designer at that time, a range of casual sports shirts. 268 00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:45.039 They were big shirts, that was the style at the time. 269 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:47.840 Capitol Mercury had never ventured in to that area I 270 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:50.919 had experienced with my formal life. I designed a handful 271 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:53.759 of them. That sales team showed them to J. C. Penny. 272 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:56.799 JC Penny wanted to buy one hundred thousand units of 273 00:14:56.840 --> 00:15:00.480 these things. We had were negotiating the price. I think 274 00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:02.399 we're twenty five cents off, and I had to go 275 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:06.320 talk to the SALESMANA just guy. Penny's in the showroom. 276 00:15:06.360 --> 00:15:08.279 I walked to his desk. He's on the phone. I'm 277 00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:12.320 standing by his desk. He turns around, puts his back 278 00:15:12.360 --> 00:15:16.120 to me while I'm standing at his doorway, and I said, 279 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:18.840 I'm sorry to interrupt, and he puts his finger out 280 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:22.679 of my faces. Don't you dare ever interrupt me when 281 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:25.000 I'm on the phone. And who do you think you 282 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:27.879 are standing out of my desk waiting for me like this? 283 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:33.080 Get lost? That's so mean. It's not even mean, it's disrespectful. 284 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:36.840 He had no idea that in the showroom, I'm sitting 285 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:39.399 there with an order and the sales executives. So I 286 00:15:39.399 --> 00:15:41.519 had to go back to the showroom. I walked over 287 00:15:41.559 --> 00:15:42.919 one of the cell you have to excuse me. I 288 00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:44.639 pulled him out, and he went over and said to 289 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:48.440 them blah blah blah. He came into the showroom shook J. C. 290 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:51.399 Penny's hand, did the deal, and left and never apologized 291 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:55.279 to me. You want to talk character or the lack thereof, 292 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:58.840 that's a great example. And I won't mention him by 293 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:00.480 name because I had only even I want to give 294 00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:05.759 him the glory of being on the show. However, there 295 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:08.759 was another gentleman in that company, one of the founders 296 00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:11.440 and owners. His name was Donald Cooper. May he rest 297 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:16.000 in peace. Donald Cooper was a gentleman. He was respected 298 00:16:16.039 --> 00:16:18.679 and revered by all. As a founder, he came up 299 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:20.759 with the concept of how to build this company, and 300 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:23.879 he and another partner built a hundred million dollar company 301 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:26.600 on their own with good people. And I'll never forget. 302 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:28.519 When the time came that I did want to go 303 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:31.240 back to van Usen, I had to go in and 304 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:35.159 resign to him. I asked for an appointment. They got 305 00:16:35.159 --> 00:16:37.679 me in to see me immediately. I said, thank you 306 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:40.279 for seeing me. Mister Cooper said, Mark, sit down, let's talk. 307 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:43.399 What can I do for you? I said, mister Cooper, 308 00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:45.720 I have to tell you that the entire stay that 309 00:16:45.799 --> 00:16:48.360 I'm here, I was there for three months, everyone has 310 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:52.200 treated me brilliantly. I really respect the company. I really, 311 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:55.480 really enjoy my time here. But I have to tell 312 00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:58.960 you that I missed the van using company. I should 313 00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:02.200 have never left. I considered it home when I left. 314 00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:04.240 They didn't want me to leave, and I miss it. 315 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:06.839 I missed the people, I missed the brand, I miss 316 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:10.720 everything about the company, and I decided to leave. Donald 317 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:13.880 Cooper got up from his desk, walked around his desk. 318 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:15.279 I stood up. I didn't know what he's going to do, 319 00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:18.480 and he shook my hand and said, I can't tell you, 320 00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:23.759 Mark how happy I am for you. I congratulate you 321 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:27.359 on your decision, walked away back to his desk, sat 322 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:30.519 down and looked at me and said, now, how can 323 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:34.160 I convince you to stay? Now? When you want to 324 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:37.000 talk about a man with character, that's a man with character. 325 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:39.759 And I learned that lesson from him, and over the 326 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:42.640 course of time anyone who's ever resigned, I behaved the 327 00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:46.640 same way he did. There's one other thing I learned 328 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:50.319 along the way. You never want to leave people understanding 329 00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:54.160 where they are with you. And because of that, every 330 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:57.079 interview I ever held with anyone I ever interviewed, at 331 00:17:57.119 --> 00:17:59.759 the end of the interview, I did a summary. I 332 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:02.799 was not interested I told them, so they can move 333 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:05.759 on and not go home and wait hopefully for something 334 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:08.720 that wasn't happening. If I wasn't sure, I told them 335 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:11.440 I wasn't sure, and of course, if I was interested, 336 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:17.400 I negotiated to conclusion. This is a story tonight. I'm 337 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:22.640 a character or I'm a person of character. I'll take 338 00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:27.200 a break back in a minute. Always in fashion, my 339 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:31.359 favorite brand has always been ISID. My company at one 340 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:34.000 time bought that brand. The CEO of the company handed 341 00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:35.920 it to me and said, you better make it work. 342 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:40.240 And I put everything in my career to make EYESOD work, 343 00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:42.400 and I fell in love with that brand, and to 344 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:46.240 this day it is one of the most exciting endeavors 345 00:18:46.359 --> 00:18:50.400 I've ever gotten involved with. Isod is an incredibly strong 346 00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:55.200 golf brand. If you play golf, if you play tennis 347 00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:59.279 for that matter. They make a great polo shirts. I 348 00:18:59.319 --> 00:19:04.920 mean great. They're fit perfect. The material is unique because 349 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:08.480 it's a PK fabric that waffle leave, you see, and 350 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:11.640 it's made of a blend of cotton and microfiber that 351 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:16.640 allows you to stretch, and very often they are treated 352 00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:21.920 with solar protection as well, so they stretch, they're comfortable, 353 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:24.599 and they breathe well. And one thing about ISOC they 354 00:19:24.599 --> 00:19:27.200 always fit. They'll never tug on you. You put it 355 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:29.960 in your waist that they'll fit you great. The colors, 356 00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:33.880 patterns are sensational. Now I will also tell you ISAOD 357 00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:37.400 makes great shorts and great golf pants. You're a golf friend. 358 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:38.880 You want to look good. You don't have to think 359 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:41.559 about how do I look. You want to think about 360 00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:44.720 how you play, not how you feel. ISOD is the 361 00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:46.920 brand for you. I know I was there when it 362 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:50.240 was created. The strategy behind that brand is brilliant. It's 363 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:52.640 one of my favorite brands. While I talk about it, 364 00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:55.640 I should tell you about the man's sportswear. ISOD wasn't 365 00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:58.279 enough being a golf brand. It wasn't enough being just 366 00:19:58.440 --> 00:20:02.880 great polo shirts with low goes, without logos, incredible branded 367 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:08.640 story and history. ISOD makes salt weather programs. They have 368 00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:15.440 great printed woven shirts, short sleeves. They look excellent with colors, 369 00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:19.079 excellent with shorts, excellent with cotton pants, of which they 370 00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:22.519 also make. This whole salt order relaxed line from isa 371 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:29.079 whether it be fleece, cotton sweaters, knit polos, woven shirts 372 00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:32.640 and pants of a range of colors and fabrics that 373 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:34.839 are perfect for a guy wants to go casually in 374 00:20:34.839 --> 00:20:38.160 the spring and summer of this year. And here's the thing, 375 00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:46.400 ISOD is affordable. Everyone listening to me talk about this 376 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:49.720 brand can afford to buy it and know that there 377 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:52.039 are a lot of other brands that also have a 378 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:55.559 look like ISID. Although I don't believe it's fun as 379 00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:58.359 ISID is. The brand has a lot of energy in it, 380 00:20:58.400 --> 00:21:02.079 but at the price points no one can compete. You 381 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:05.960 can find eyaac at You're leading retails and online at 382 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:09.480 ion dot Com. Talk to you later, guys. I wish 383 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:14.079 you I are very happy springing summer, and I help 384 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:15.960 you by telling you if you were eya on, you're 385 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:16.599 going to look great. 386 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:21.240 Welcome back to Always in Fashion. Here's your host, Mark 387 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:22.559 webber Well. 388 00:21:22.599 --> 00:21:26.079 I've been spurred onarm this week because not for the 389 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:30.640 first time, I've been referred to as a character rather 390 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:35.119 than of character, and it drives me crazy. It's not 391 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:38.960 the way I expect to be identified. Nor do I 392 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:42.240 think it's respectful. I think it's downright disrespectful, particularly the 393 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:45.359 way that word is used as a weapon. There are 394 00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:47.839 no flukes in business I didn't get to where I 395 00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:52.359 got by being a character, a wise guy, whatever it means. 396 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:56.400 I had a lot to overcome when I think back now, 397 00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:59.440 I had the worst Brooklyn accent in a world of 398 00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:03.480 preps graduates from all over the country. I had to 399 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:05.920 lose as much as I could of that accent, so 400 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:09.680 at least I sounded a little bit more worldly in 401 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:13.119