Tag Archives: Marc Herman

What is Z-Life?  At first glance it appears to be an ultra-hip & trendy Men's boutique that has the very best in denim, accessories and kicks, but when you look a little deeper, you quickly see it's much, much, more than that.   As the Retro Brand Retailer of the Month for May, I take that closer look in my interview with the man who puts the Zing in the Z-Life Denim Lounge, owner Adam Zuckerman.

Andy:  I love the wide selection of jeans & accessories in Z-Life, but it's the Lemon Heads and Fireballs that caught my eye.  What's up with that?

Adam:  I am an old school guy who simply wanted to have an environment in the store that would make my customers comfortable.  Having several candy jars filled with favorites from your childhood immediately gives the customer a feeling that they're in a happy place and makes the shopping experience that much more enjoyable.  More importantly, the kids love it.  We also have games for the kids to play with while their parents browse.

Andy:  Can I say brilliant?  What other nuances do you feel add to the Z-Life experience that make it stand out from other Mens boutiques?

Adam:  As people who have become regulars in the community would tell you, while I have a very low pressure sales approach, I have a very aggressive relationship approach.   In the five years we've been here, I've had the pleasure of seeing kids grow through their High School years and head off to college.  By getting to know so many families personally, I know what school this son or that daughter will be attending, and I make sure to stock my t-shirt shelves with those schools.

That is just one example that shows my customers know that I'm honestly more interested in helping them out & getting to know them and their needs, then simply closing a sale.   Retail is in my blood - It's who I am, and my customers know my dedication and passion.

Andy:  You just don't find that kind of attentiveness enough these days.  I know from my own shopping experiences that fakery and high pressure never work, and I HATE shopping.  The informal poll taken in my head presumes most men feel the way I do.   Am I right?  Since you cater mostly to men (70% Mens apparel 30% Womens), how do you handle the apathy?

Adam:  I'd say your partially right.  I prefer to say that men don't want to shop in a women's store, and women will shop anywhere.  Most men like to shop quickly, get in - get out, but are open to advice and talking about sports.  I'm a huge sports fan so it makes it easy to converse with them (and the women for that matter) whether it's what's currently happening in the world of sports, or more often than not, the good old days.  There is a huge flat screen TV in the store programmed to ESPN most of the time (I'll change to Nickelodeon for the kids, or anything else a customer might want to see) and I have several sports books and magazines that get referenced on a regular basis.  Of course the vintage Retro Brand shirts always get the conversation about sports going, which is one of the things I love about the brand.

Andy:  So between your one-on-one valuable input, the old school candy, ESPN, and Retro Brand vintage shirts, suddenly shopping isn't so terrible.  Thanks for the compliment too.  What are some of the other things you love about Retro Brand?

Adam:  I promise I'm not saying this just because you're doing a story on Z-Life, but when it comes to buying product for the store, there is nothing more enjoyable then sitting down with Marc (Marc Herman, CEO of Retro Brand) and going through the treasure trove of vintage Retro Brand graphics and talking sports.  So many of the logos and graphics conjure up great sports memories of my time growing up and events that customers my age remember.  Not only do the older customers feel a positive connection with the shirts, but the younger kids are genuinely fascinated to learn what they're about as well.  Retro Brand also allows me to be very timely in the shirts I buy -  from the NCAA Final Four, to spring break, to the Stanley Cup Finals.  Buying mens denim and womens blouses may pay the bills, but not nearly as fun.

Andy:  What would you say is the most rewarding part of your job?

Adam:  As you may have guessed, it's the relationships I've been lucky enough to have fostered over the years.  I truly cherish them.  I've found a comfortable niche in a fantastic community.  Also when I hear a customer say something like "This is a great store!"

Another part of the job that's pretty rewarding is being able to get up every morning and throw on a crisp pair of plaid shorts, a Retro Brand vintage shirt, and my favorite pair of sneakers and head into the store.   That's me.  That's rewarding.

Andy:  That is awesome, and you are awesome for taking the time to speak with me today.  Thank you!

To learn more about Z-Life denim Lounge, you can visit them online here.

We highly recommend stopping in the store if you are ever in the Rye Brooke, NY area.  You know Adam and his staff will treat you right.

138B South Ridge Street.

Rye Brook, New York 10573

store phone:  914-937-5433 (life)

fax:  914-937-5434

 

 

 

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These days, is there really anything better for you then a good laugh?  No, there isn't!  That's why we're very happy to share our latest interview with Comedians of Chelsea Lately roundtable regular, Comedian John Caparulo. 

Andy:  How did you end up becoming a professional comedian?

John:  I never really saw myself doing anything else, at least after about age 13.  Up until that point, the only thing I ever wanted to be was a professional athlete.  Football was my first love, but I was a very small kid, so my mom would somehow conveniently forget to fill out the registration forms every fall.  My parents knew they hadn't provided me the genetic necessities to follow my dreams of athletic greatness, so they would drop subtle hints in the form of terrible birthday presents, like kicking tees and books.  But they did notice that I had a talent for telling stories and making people laugh, and I seemed to enjoy it a lot more than riding the bench or having my shot blocked.  So, from about the time I finished middle school, I pretty much knew this is what I'd be doing someday.

Andy:  Well, we're happy it turned out the way it did (kicking tees..brutal)!  You seem so natural & comfortable in your delivery on stage and on TV.  I think most folks take for granted how hard that is to pull off.  Was there ever a time when you just got scared s***less while on stage/TV?  How do you overcome the fear (imagine everybody naked in the audience)?

John:  I don't think the nervousness ever completely goes away.  If anybody tells you he's 100 percent comfortable telling his life story to a group of drunk total strangers, there's something wrong with him.  But that's part of what makes stand-up comedy so much fun.  We all feel a little awkward at first-- the comedian, the crowd-- but that first moment when we all laugh together is pretty cool, and well-worth all the anxiety.

Andy:  That kind of answers my next question, but I'll ask anyway.  What do you love most about being a comedian?

John:  What I love about being a comedian is getting paid for something that I would do for free.

Andy:  Great answer.  You kill it on Chelsea Lately.  How'd that gig come your way?

John:  Chelsea Handler and I used to do shows together upstairs in The Belly Room at The Comedy Store.  They were all-female line-ups, but Mitzi Shore (Comedy Store owner) made them put me on because I was a door man.  I remember Chelsea stuck out right away for me because her comedy was so honest and unapologetic, and I think she remembered me for the same reason.  I think that's the type of comic she wants for the roundtable, people who can weave comedy into normal conversation instead of breaking off onto some shticky tangent.  Even though I know pretty much nothing about the Kardashians or Lindsay Lohan, I seem to be able to grab a few laughs without pulling out a guitar or a puppet, so I guess I fit in.

Andy:  No shtick is good shtick.  We're pumped and honored that you wear plenty of Original Retro Brand gear when you're on the show and when you perform.  What got you hooked?

John:  I actually got hooked on Original Retro Brand at the mall in Columbus a couple years ago.  I bought a Chevron shirt and an Indy 500 shirt, and the only reason I stopped there was because those were the only 2 XXL's I could find.  Less than a week later, my friend Josh Wolf (another regular CL comedian) saw me wearing the Chevron one and said his buddy Marc owned the company (Owner/CEO Marc Herman).  The next thing I knew I had a box of T-shirts on my front porch.  So, I guess wearing ORB is similar to doing comedy;  I love getting shirts for free that I was gonna buy anyway!  I actually feel like kind of a mooch asking for freebees of all the T-shirts I want, so I still place orders in addition to those little care packages I receive.  I love the Minor League teams, like the Durham Bulls and Springfield Cardinals, but lately I've been especially hooked on all the automotive shirts.  I'm a bit of a muscle car enthusiast and grew up the son of a gear head, so I can't resist buying every Trans Am and Corvette shirt I can find.

Andy:  Knowing you shoot Chelsea Lately in LA and that you graduated from Kent State University, which are you more excited about - The Kings winning the Stanley Cup, or the Kent State Golden Flashes making their first College World Series appearance (and eliminating the # 1 seeded Florida Gators in the process!)?

John:  I'm excited any time Kent State gets recognition for anything besides dead hippies.  I've never been a big hockey fan, but I've been wearing LA Kings stuff ever since I saw Chuck D do it in about 1989.  And it's really cool to see a team win that has that kind of fan base.  Kings fans don't go to those games because they wanna look cool-- they go because they love that team and that sport.  I look at sports like fine art, and I like when other people can appreciate them the same way.  Half the people with floor seats to the Lakers don't even understand what they're watching-- they're too busy ordering sushi and tweeting.  So I'm really glad some genuinely great sports fans were rewarded with a genuinely great season.  However, like I said before, Kent State winning anything trumps everything.  Go Flashes!

We'd like to thank John for brightening up our day, and hope he did the same for you!  You can stay updated on when & where John will be performing by visiting his website at www.johncaparulo.com  One more thing - Good Luck to your Golden Flashes against South Carolina tonight!

FOR UPDATES ON CONTESTS, FASHION, AND FUN FROM THE ORIGINAL RETRO BRAND,  LIKE US ON FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER.  CHECK US OUT ON PINTEREST AND INSTAGRAM TOO!

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Acclaimed actor, author and philanthropist Ashley Judd and the popular Original Retro Brand have joined forces to launch an exclusive vintage inspired clothing line for the famous University of Kentucky grad.  The Original Retro Brand Ashley Judd collection features a variety of women’s fitted premium t-shirt and sweatshirt styles paired with coveted images from authentic vintage University of Kentucky graphics  The collection will be sold at retailers including the University of Kentucky Bookstore, Alumni Hall and Fan Outfitters throughout Kentucky as well as online at www.originalretrobrand.com.

A celebrated actor and die-hard University of Kentucky fan, Ashley Judd has starred in 20 films, both box office hits and critically acclaimed independent films, and on Broadway.  Judd has also been an active advocate of humanitarian efforts throughout her adult life, the passion for which she discovered during her undergraduate years at the University of Kentucky.  While attending college, she majored in French and minored in Anthropology, Art History Theater and Women’s Studies and graduated from UK’s Honors Program.  Ashley is presently starring in "Missing," a new drama for ABC that premiered this spring.

As a devoted UK fan, Ashley can often be seen in the stands passionately supporting her UK Wildcats and has been a main stay for years during their much hyped March Madness appearances.  She demonstrates in the gym and in her life that her enthusiasm as a UK fan runs deep.

Ashley commented: “I have great passion for UK. It brings back so many wonderful
memories about my life on campus, as well as cherished family stories about generations of my family supporting the Wildcats and higher education.  I am very
excited to be working with Original Retro Brand to launch this special apparel line.  The images are inspired by my impressions from the 1970’s, listening to my grandparents, aunts, and uncles talk about the Big Blue, their wonderful t shirts from that era and UK images around the Commonwealth.  Original Retro Brand has captured exactly what I envisioned for this collection in terms of style and quality celebrating the history and spirit of UK pride.”