In Conversation with Jennifer Cook

Tell us about your background:

I began my fashion career working in retail management for Abercrombie & Fitch (I graduated from college in 2009, and was just grateful to get any job at that point), but after a few years of cutting my teeth on the sales floor, I knew I wanted to move closer to the business side of the industry. I then went to Paris to get my Master’s in Fashion Communication, where I interned in PR for Stella McCartney. Following graduation, I made my way to New York City, where I started as a Wholesale Assistant at Zac Posen and learned the ropes of selling and merchandising in a sometimes chaotic but really exciting environment. From there, I worked at various brands and showrooms on the wholesale side of the business, eventually ending up at Westerlind where I ran their multiline showroom. While I was there, we expanded rapidly, and I was fortunate to dip my toes into operations, buying, merchandising, visual merchandising, creative direction and styling, and of course, retail again! That opportunity allowed me to recognize that my heart was no longer with wholesale, but rather with buying and merchandising, so this past spring I embarked on a new adventure with ONS Clothing as their Buyer.

One of my favorite things about working for small companies that straddle many sides of the business is the exposure you’re able to get to various job functions, projects, and learning opportunities — of which there have been plenty at my current and previous job! Now, on the side, I have been fortunate enough to pursue additional projects — I recently launched a Substack (called Mom Friend) focused on style, retail, shopping, and motherhood (I’m a new-ish mom!), and am excited to be expanding my consulting offering to focus on buying and merchandising, and I am hoping to pursue that further in the hospitality space. I love being able to work with brands and retailers of all shapes and sizes, as I will always and forever be a believer in the power of both product and brick and mortar spaces to communicate with customers.

What do you wish you’d known when you started out?

That there is no “right” path or straightforward line in a career. There are so many twists and turns and experiences that one can have, and should have, as life is too short not to explore things that you find interesting! Instead of focusing on the actual job title or salary or what was “supposed” to come next, I wish I would have focused on what brought me joy and sparked my creativity earlier.

Best career advice you've ever received?

Just be nice! Relationships are everything in this business, and despite it being a rather large industry, it's actually quite small in the end. Word travels fast, and it's rarely about your quality of work, but rather about who you are as a person. By operating from a place of kindness, it's easy to see that there is room for everyone here, and that has allowed me to move through my career with empathy, compassion, dedication, and a desire to see everyone succeed - which in turn has led to some of my successes.

What leadership qualities are important to you?

Empathy, honesty, a willingness to learn (and be wrong), and decisiveness.

What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far?

I truly don't know how to pick just one, as there have been many! But learning to get my confidence back after a series of toxic work environments and difficult managers has been a consistent challenge. Although I've generally always known deep down my worth, my expertise, and what I can bring to the table is solid, finding that spark again after working in difficult environments is really hard — which is why finding mentors and friends in the industry is so important!

And for fun, what is your favorite wardrobe staple?

A perfect white tee shirt (and a flattering pair of jeans).

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-cook-b4495422/

Website: jennifersandra.com

Instagram: @jennifersandra