Alumni
Grad is SVP and Chief Merchandising Officer at California Closets
Since graduating from FIDM in 1977 with a Fashion Design degree, Jill Larue-Rieser has played pivotal roles at Esprit, Amazon, and Williams-Sonoma, Inc., where she spent 16 years spearheading the growth at the Pottery Barn Kids and PB Teen brands. In late 2017, Jill was named SVP and Chief Merchandising Officer at California Closets, located in Richmond, California. We recently chatted with Jill about her FIDM experience, current role, and how she and the company is dealing with challenges brought on by Covid-19.
Where were you born and raised? I was born in Albany, New York, but my family moved to Southern California when I was a baby. I grew up in Palos Verdes Estates just south of Los Angeles on the coast. I have lived almost my entire life in California and have always enjoyed the outdoor life in California. I grew up sailing, surfing, skiing, and spent many days at the beach.
What was FIDM like in the early days of the college? FIDM was quite small and located in a building across from May Company, now a defunct department store, close to what is now the California Mart. This gave us close proximity to the Los Angeles Fashion District. The school had a very close community feel and for me it was really fun to be with other like-minded designers. The teaching was very one-on-one and the faculty came from professional jobs in the industry so they had great insights for us to learn from.
How did you choose your major? My goal was to pursue a career in fashion design. Before I decided to go to design school, I sold custom made bikinis and swim trunks. I partnered with a friend and we figured out how to make the patterns – not sure they were correct, but we learned by trial and error. I was also a big fan of Simplicity patterns and spent a lot of time at the fabric store. I made most of my own clothes, and it felt very natural to follow my passion for fashion.
Tell us about your current role as SVP, Chief Merchandising Officer at California Closets. I joined California Closets to strategize new product ideas to grow revenue for both companies owned and franchise. This allows us to expand our reach to new customer segments that are looking for storage solutions that are not custom installed. We have also been developing a direct-to-consumer business through a newly launched E-commerce site. I believe taking a customer-centric view by providing products that solve needs and allowing the customer to decide where and how they want to transact with us is key to our growth.
How are you and your company dealing with the impact of Covid-19? Customer service is a big part of our business model. We spend a lot of time in customers’ homes designing and installing our systems. We have revised our approach to help alleviate our customers concerns around safety. We now do virtual consultations and have revised our install process to add many steps such as utilizing PPE, distancing, and wiping down surfaces when the jobs are completed. We have also proactively reduced our overhead where needed to offset some of the business slowdown.
How would you characterize the 16 years you spent at Pottery Barn? I was lucky to be at Pottery Barn during very high-growth years. It was both fun and exciting to be a part of brands that were innovative and market-leading. The culture is achievement-oriented and I never stopped learning and always felt energized by my co-workers.
What excites you about working in the industry? I really have a passion for products and love the home space. It is fun to see how trends evolve out of the way we live our lives. We are going through another evolution right now. The Covid crisis has everyone spending much more time in their homes. It has really changed the relationship we have with where we live. It is a work space, exercise space, and where we re-energize. It excites me to envision what that might look like in the years to come! I also like the ever-changing world of retail. It never gets boring – I don’t think I would have it any other way.
What advice would you share with someone at the beginning of their career? Be willing to do the work that it takes to learn your field. Success will come from this. Spend time seeking out mentors and informational interviews to get a better perspective on career choices. Follow your passion – it will serve you for a lifetime and provide a rewarding work life. Build strong relationships and remember integrity matters. Always help others with their careers as you progress – it might be the most rewarding part of your career.
Categories: Fashion Design Merchandising & Marketing Alumni
