Like it or not, sometimes as we seek approval it is hard not to take it personally when we are overlooked time and time again. It is this kind of action that solidifies our fears of being "less than" within our reality.
What am I talking about?
I'm referring to the identity complex that most cities go through in their pursuit of achieving greater visibility.
This was never more apparent (again) than after A K Rikk's general manager, Jim Murray, was inquiring about having Grand Rapids listed as one of the North American cities officially sanctioned to be a part of Fashion's Night Out.
Fashion's Night Out, now in its second year, was initially created in 2009 as an awareness campaign to celebrate the economic impact fashion has, while motivating the consumer back to the streets in an attempt to boost not only the industry's economy, but feed the bottom line of other consumer-focused shops in New York City. Dare I mention it was fun, too, as thousands hit the streets to show some local love.
Fast forward to 2010, where after the request to add Grand Rapids to the event hit the New York organizer's desk, their verdict was swift, "ah….No."
Some people may have retreated with their tail between their legs, but not Murray.
He had just returned from NYC where A K Rikk's store was singled out as a leader in the United States clothing industry for sales, so to get a swift negative to his request just meant he needed to press harder for a better reason why. He needed them to take a closer look at our region.
After a short period of back and forth Q & A, the homework Murray was charged to complete was submitted and yadda, yadda, yadda, ta-dah, Grand Rapids is an official city of this international event.
I share this short story for two reasons:
One, I think A K Rikk's is damn lucky to have such a leader in Murray who knows who we are and has the spreadsheet to back it up in spreading the news outside to others who do not, but two, Murray believed that the city belonged on that list.
Now it is up to us.
We have to look at our options this weekend and take time from whatever events we may have already committed to and spend some time exploring what Fashion's Night Out can do for our region as we join this international celebration of local economies.
The Future Needs All of Us (to arrive fashionably on time.)
Tommy Allen, Lifestyle Editor
Email:
[email protected]Twitter Feed: @TommyGSync
Hashtag of the Week: #FNOGR
Click here to continue to this week's G-Sync events.Photo provided by
Brian Kelly Photography. Limited Edition Fashion's Night Out T-Shirt worn by Tommy is available at A K Rikk's stores including their @38 pop up boutique at 38 Commerce in downtown Grand Rapids.
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