Working it from home
Few businesses promise 'Christmas' several times a year, but Melbourne's VM Agency is the exception, as Belinda Smart learned while discussing the ups and downs of a home-based career with founder Vanessa Mikulic.
It was 1996, and Vanessa Mikulic was battling it out in a national sales role for a company importing European fashion, having held down a stack of equally demanding roles for the previous decade, when one life changing experience - marriage - led smack bang into another.
"My husband with great faith and encouragement - as well as financial support - suggested I go it alone and work for myself. It was a big leap for me as I had always been an employee. The idea was initially terrifying, but it didn't take long to find my niche market and convince some fantastic local labels to jump on board."
Now securely aboard the good ship VM is a suite of womenswear designer labels including Rebecca Thompson, Eileen Kirby, Kirby Purrs, Espyr and Mia Mea. Each of them meets Mikulic's main requirement when taking on a label; that it should complement her other brands while not competing with them. In return Mikulic offers her labels expert knowledge of the local market.
"I know what areas work for certain product and which retailers suit that product. I have worked hard on ensuring that the buyers can trust my judgement on whether a new label would suit them and that I will not be selling a collection en masse or to a rival store."
VM Agency is located in Armadale, suitably enough a stone's throw from that independent strip shopping Mecca dubbed simply "High Street" by fashion mavens. Mikulic works from home, with a showroom and office in the double fronted Victorian that was gutted and rebuilt by her architect husband three years ago.
"It's a beautiful space with lots of natural light, timber floorboards and white walls and shutters to allow the colour of the seasonal collections to take centre stage." Despite its obvious comforts, working from home has by no means engendered the tempting slide into long, trackie-clad morning coffees over the newspaper.
"I am aware of the need to start work at a certain time and always ensure I am dressed for my working day whenever I sit down at the computer or go into the showroom."
The working day can vary depending on the time of the year, she says, meaning back to back appointments when she's showing ranges - as well as checking and re-jigging orders and writing reports. Between seasons she hits either the road - visiting clients and checking out new stores, or her desk - answering emails, taking re-orders and stock enquiries and "the worst part, paying bills and bookwork".
Mikulic describes un-bagging the new ranges each season as "like Christmas morning; and most times it is thrilling to see what the designer has come up with for the season, although it can also be shattering when it doesn't look so good".
By contrast, solving disputes between manufacturer or designer and retailer over faulty goods is one of the less alluring aspects of the agent's job, as is the "nightmare" of collecting money from slow payers. Being an agent requires not only phenomenal staying power, but the ability to be a go-between and peace-keeper between designers and retailers. It sometimes also requires a knack for slapstick comedy.
"I can remember an instance where one particular buyer popped in unannounced to view a range and I had to hide her upstairs with an unknown label while I quickly showed her rival the label downstairs. It was a massive juggling act, running up and downstairs entertaining both and trying not to let their paths cross. All the while I was trying to remain calm and ascertain who was going to buy what."
Adventures in French farce notwithstanding, Mikulic enjoys the set up. "Due to the flexibility of working from home my clients have watched my children, Ava (seven) and Jemima (10) grow up as they have popped in during showings over the years. There is no better mix in life than to enjoy your work and still have time to enjoy your family."
By Belinda Smart