Awkward email asking for help to move companies

hollywilde

Hi, so basically I work for a small clothing brand that sell on a large online fashion retailer. The company I work for are so terrible and driving the business into the ground (owner personally takes all the revenue for himself and then we can't pay expenses) and the retailer continually tells us the areas that need much improvement, like styling and brand aesthetic. All the info the retailer gives us seems so obvious and simple to me and I know what we're doing so wrong and how to make it a million times better. I get fashion trends and what our customer wants and what's cool, but everyone continues to just do what they've always done and no one wants my input or my mood boards ect. and I so badly want to work for another brand or the retailer itself.

I am composing an email to the woman from the retailer who has been assigned to mentor us as a new brand, professionally and politely asking for advice on how I might move companies and do a similar role somewhere where they would benefit from my skills and creative input without sounding too big headed or !!!!!y about my current company.

How would you advise I word it? How do I make my request clear and end it? This is my current draft:

Dear ...,

This is ..... from ....... . I have found your advice invaluable and I hope you don't mind me emailing you for some more advice.

I've been excited at the prospect of improving the boutique through styling the models and working with everyone to make our brand a lot more current and trendy. I have hung outfits with current fashion trends in mind and made mood boards, including some photos from your own boutique, as I believe that look is how our customer wears our garments and gives a potential customer a cool aesthetic to buy into. I would love to achieve the same level of style as I post on our Instagram in our boutique photos, and to consistently style all our models with the same attention that I style our curvier model on occasion.

Currently, I am not in a position to implement these ideas, so I would like some advice on how I could progress to working in an environment where I could put to use my styling skills, trend awareness and understanding of ........'s consumer, in a role that welcomes creative input.

Bogalot

hollywilde wrote: »

Hi, so basically I work for a small clothing brand that sell on a large online fashion retailer. The company I work for are so terrible and driving the business into the ground (owner personally takes all the revenue for himself and then we can't pay expenses) and the retailer continually tells us the areas that need much improvement, like styling and brand aesthetic. All the info the retailer gives us seems so obvious and simple to me and I know what we're doing so wrong and how to make it a million times better. I get fashion trends and what our customer wants and what's cool, but everyone continues to just do what they've always done and no one wants my input or my mood boards ect. and I so badly want to work for another brand or the retailer itself.

I am composing an email to the woman from the retailer who has been assigned to mentor us as a new brand, professionally and politely asking for advice on how I might move companies and do a similar role somewhere where they would benefit from my skills and creative input without sounding too big headed or !!!!!y about my current company.

How would you advise I word it? How do I make my request clear and end it? This is my current draft:

Dear ...,

This is ..... from ....... . I have found your advice invaluable and I hope you don't mind me emailing you for some more advice.

I've been excited at the prospect of improving the boutique through styling the models and working with everyone to make our brand a lot more current and trendy. I have hung outfits with current fashion trends in mind and made mood boards, including some photos from your own boutique, as I believe that look is how our customer wears our garments and gives a potential customer a cool aesthetic to buy into. I would love to achieve the same level of style as I post on our Instagram in our boutique photos, and to consistently style all our models with the same attention that I style our curvier model on occasion.

Currently, I am not in a position to implement these ideas, so I would like some advice on how I could progress to working in an environment where I could put to use my styling skills, trend awareness and understanding of ........'s consumer, in a role that welcomes creative input.

This person has been assigned to mentor the business, not you. What you are proposing is very unprofessional and has the potential to get passed back to your boss. I doubt your services would be required beyond that point.

If you want your own mentor then find somebody outside the business and their relationships.

xapprenticex

DONT DO IT!!!

1: Your Boss will find out and drop you like a bad habit
2: Its in the mentors best interest that the company you work for does well, her interest is not in people leaving the company and setting up competition, her loyalty is with the organisation she is paid to support.
3: Keep it to yourself, research, save, go into business yourself if you want to, its great, but dont discuss it at work with ANYONE because EVERYONE will find out that you want to become a competitor of the hand that feeds you.

gettingtheresometime

Your plan may seem like a good idea when you've had a few or are totally naffed off but seriously this is the quickest way I know of you becoming surplus to requirements.

If you've had enough then move by all means but I think you actually need to either seek out new positions yourself and apply for them or set up a company doing what you're doing now

DCFC79

A bad idea, a really bad idea.

Just dont do it, you will regret it. If you want to move jobs then apply for them.

paddyrg

You're clearly frustrated, but need to take a deep breath.

NEVER send an email that can be used against you. If you're going to open any dialogue, you need to do so personally and informally, and in a non-durable form.

Valli

And I DO hope your username is ENTIRELY fictional!

sangie595

You must know the other companies that are in the field. If you want another job then toy approach them. Not your companies clients. That's the fastest way to get sacked.