Shinobu Kato, founder of Kato Sake Works, on scaling his business, organic customer growth, and finding a piece of Tokyo in Brooklyn
Thanks Refinery29! The Last Millennial in the Garment District is an excellent write-up about a father (Johnny) and daughter (Kim) who own and manage Johnny’s Fashion Studio, a sample and development factory in the Garment District that does work for cutting edge designers and well-known brands alike. Johnny’s has been in business for some time now, but survival is a challenge… As we know, cash is queen, and their small designer clients are hurting for it.
“All the bills and payroll are backed up a little bit,” she says. “Designers, especially if they’re young, will have a cash flow issue. It’s not like I have a $10,000 cushion where I can say, ‘Ok, just give it to me when you can!’ No, I chase people for money.” At this moment, she’s pissed at a certain designer who is two months behind on paying their invoice, but is still showing up to ask for things.
“Back when Johnny first started, there were no young fashion designers,” she says. But, the nature of manufacturing in the Garment District has changed. What was once large, reliable brands putting in huge orders season after season is now a sea of young hopefuls scrambling to make it with tiny collections.
Thanks Refinery29! The Last Millennial in the Garment District is an excellent write-up about a father (Johnny) and daughter (Kim) who own and manage Johnny’s Fashion Studio, a sample and development factory in the Garment District that does work for cutting edge designers and well-known brands alike. Johnny’s has been in business for some time now, but survival is a challenge… As we know, cash is queen, and their small designer clients are hurting for it.
“All the bills and payroll are backed up a little bit,” she says. “Designers, especially if they’re young, will have a cash flow issue. It’s not like I have a $10,000 cushion where I can say, ‘Ok, just give it to me when you can!’ No, I chase people for money.” At this moment, she’s pissed at a certain designer who is two months behind on paying their invoice, but is still showing up to ask for things.
Shinobu Kato, founder of Kato Sake Works, on scaling his business, organic customer growth, and finding a piece of Tokyo in Brooklyn
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