An experienced tailor in Boca Raton, Florida, Eva Lea Klein spent nearly a decade sewing and altering garments at Banana Republic, a clothing and accessories retailer. Prior to this position, Eva Lea Klein worked at a retail store in Brazil, where she handled all managerial roles.If you work in retail, here are a few dos and don’ts to make your customers feel valued:- Do listen to them. Listening to your customers is important. Pay attention to their comments, and don’t make them feel rushed.- Don’t ignore their questions. If your customers send any questions or comments to you, respond right away. Any customers messages should be prioritized and responded to within the same business day, if possible. This helps customers feel as if they and their needs are important.- Do thank them. Make sure you genuinely and regularly thank your customers for their business. You can do this with a card or small gift during the holidays and by holding a customer appreciation event at least once each year.- Don’t hide your challenges. You are already comfortable sharing positive news with your customers, but sharing your challenges is equally important. When you quickly overcome an issue, share a quick anecdote about how your team handled the problem by being agile and adaptable.
Eva Lea Klein is a longtime south Florida resident with an extensive retail management background. Eva Lea Klein also has experience as a tailor and most recently engaged with Banana Republic in Boca Raton in the alteration and creation of garments. One of the key considerations in any sewing project is the quality of the thread. Cotton thread is generated by twisting the fibers of the cotton boll, with extra-long fibers adding strength and durability. A key advantage of cotton is that the natural fibers grab the fabric firmly and create a tight seam. Disadvantages include the expense of quality thread and the difficulty of telling the difference between high- and low-quality threads. In addition, non-optimal fiber length and processing can create a great deal of lint.Cotton threads are typically mercerized, which involves immersing them in a caustic solution. This results in the fiber swelling and enables luster-enhancing dye to permeate the fibers more fully. Another common process is gassing, or cotton polishing, which involves passing the thread at high speed through a flame. This effectively burns off the longest pieces of lint and results in a finished low-lint product.
A native of Brazil and resident of Florida, Eva Lea Klein has spent more than two decades in the retail and fashion industry. In addition to working as a sales professional in a retail store in Brazil, Eva Lea Klein spent eight years as a tailor for the Banana Republic store in Boca Raton, Florida.Though the retail market continues to be tight for companies that rely on traditional brick-and-mortar stores, Banana Republic and its parent company, Gap Inc., exceeded expectations for the Q4 earnings report in 2017. In March of 2018, the company announced that its sales and revenue had far surpassed analyst predictions, pushing up the company’s price.The higher-than-expected revenue was largely due, Gap reported, to an increase in holiday shopping at the company’s Old Navy locations, though other brands under the umbrella, such as Banana Republic, also saw a modest increase in sales. The company’s CEO stated during an investor call that he expects overall revenue to continue its upward trajectory; this is a result of the company’s strategy of shifting focus from its Gap and Banana Republic retail locations, to the more profitable Old Navy and Athleta brands.
A native of Brazil, Eva Lea Klein studied architectural design at Kafaat University and has worked extensively in the fashion and retail industries. Eva Lea Klein worked as a tailor for Banana Republic, where she designed custom clothing in addition to altering customers’ garments. Since retiring, she enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren and traveling to New York City, Texas, and Brazil.
When traveling in Brazil, it’s helpful to be aware of its unique customs. Here are a three etiquette tips to follow while in Brazil.1. Receive and offer friendly greetings. In Brazil, people often greet one another with a kiss or hug and typically touch each other by placing a hand on the other person’s arm or shoulder when speaking with them.2. Accept that less interpersonal space is normal. In crowds, it is not unusual for Brazilians to maintain less space between each other than that to which many North Americans are accustomed.3. Dress professionally in business settings. Although Brazilians, especially women, are known to wear bold, colorful, and sexy outfits, formal attire is the standard dress code for conducting business. Even when it’s hot out, men and women are expected to dress in full suits for business engagements. To gain access to shops and restaurants, smart, casual clothing is appropriate.
Eva Lea Klein is a Boca Raton, Florida, resident originally from Brazil whose background includes helping to manage her family’s department store business. An avid traveler, Eva Lea Klein often visits locations such as Texas, New York, and Brazil. One of the highlights for visitors to Brazil seeking escape from the urban grid are the country’s abundant beaches along its 5,000 miles of coastline. In Rio de Janeiro, Ipanema is perhaps the most famous beach, although it can be crowded on weekends and in fine weather. Those seeking a less touristy experience can continue along the coast, past the turnoff to Copacabana, to explore Arpoador. This sand beach is a favorite with locals, with both body surfers and traditional surfers taking advantage of the currents and waves, and the oceanfront restaurant Azul Marinho offering tasty dining and local music. A short climb to the top of the headlands offers an outstanding view of the length of Ipanema and the iconic Dois Irmãos mountain.
Eva Lea Klein studied architectural design at KAFAAT University in Brazil. After working as a manager in the retail industry, Eva Lea Klein served as a tailor with worldwide fashion retailer Banana Republic. Banana Republic was co-founded in 1978 by Mel and Patricia Ziegler. Making an initial investment of $1,500, the couple launched the business with a determination to make it different than any other fashion retailer in terms of its clothing lines and marketing strategies. The founders valued freedom of expression and originality as much as earning an income from the business.The Zieglers' original vision for the fashion line was to locate vintage military surplus fashion items and make them suitable for resale. However, the clothing brand eventually expanded to sell well-tailored casual clothing items made from natural fabrics. Since 1983, after being purchased by fashion retailer Gap, the company has existed as a division and now has over 600 stores in operation around the globe.
For more than 15 years, Eva Lea Klein worked as a seller at a Sears-like retail store in Brazil. During this time, she handled any responsibilities that her father needed help with and eventually took on all managerial roles at the store. After moving to the United States, Eva Lea Klein joined Banana Republic in Florida as a tailor. She held this role for nearly 10 years.Tailors are capable of making a lot of changes to various types of garments, but they can’t work miracles. With pants, tailors can maximize length by dropping the hem down as far as possible and finishing the inside. They also are able to remove the front pockets so pants appear slimmer. However, they can only take pants in or out by about two inches. Anything more messes up the balance of the pants and results in an awkward-looking garment. Further, tailors cannot stitch closed holes that are not on the seam. However, they may be able to recommend a good reweaving service for this particular problem.In terms of tops, tailors often shorten straps so that a dress or top fits the torso better and has bust darts that are properly placed. Blazer and coat sleeves can be shortened to fit a person’s individual arm lengths, and sheer garments can be lined. Tailors can also rework a neckline so that there is more or less skin showing. Tailors can’t make extreme changes to tops. Alterations that change a top by more than four inches are typically not possible, nor are alterations that adjust the shoulders when there is too much fabric.
