We're a day late, dear readers. But, we thought a short post yesterday, re: Katrina and the devastation she's wrought, was more appropriate. Now, we would like to get on with our normal world. Is that possible? No, of course, not. Nothing will ever be the same. We will still feel pain when we turn on the news, and we will continue to ache for those displaced by this onslaught from Mother Nature. Just as we continue, to this day, to feel pain for the victims of the Tsunami, and all those who have lived through the numerous earthquakes of 2004-2005. Once again, we ask that you consider helping out, in some way.

In the meantime, in order to help others, we must attend to business in the here and now. With that thought in mind, we present our Smart Couple Online today, and tomorrow. Steve and Erin, a young couple who are fashion savvy, Internet savvy, and cute. We hate to say it, but it's true. They are adorable! We met them ... well, we can't say where we met them. We only know that we're glad we did. Their new website, Amore' Fashion, is fabulous. Jane predicts great things will come from it.

And, we hear [through the grapevine] that Steve and Erin are building a blog! Stay tuned for that announcement, dear readers. There is much anticipation in the air... For now, read on to learn more about Steve and Erin and the business they're building called Amore' Fashion:

Lip-sticking: Tell us about Amore' Fashion-- how did both of you get involved in the fashion industry?

Erin: I'm a consumer of designer fashions. The shopping malls just don't do it for me. I like to look trendy yet unique and I am known for this among my circle of friends and co-workers.

I still work a fulltime job and will be graduating from Antioch University, with a major in business, in March 2006. I so understand that people don't have time to shop at malls to find the kind of styles, like those we sell at Amore' Fashion. So, I decided to design a website for people like me, with no time to shop, but who love fashion and love to be noticed.

Steve: Our 2 years of research and uncovered that the women’s demographic / women’s clothing market was the largest growing segment in online shopping and that it would continue to grow consistently for at least the next five years. Women love to shop and buying clothing online with all the added conveniences just makes sense. [Jane says, Whoohoo!]

I'm the principal and majority stockowner of Amoré Fashion. As such, I make it my business to consult with a variety of knowledgeable fashion experts in the field, to make sure our site is always updated with the latest fashions.

One reason I'm the principal, is that my background is in business, with fifteen years as sales professional. Most recently I was Vice President of Marketing for US Bank Oliver Allen Technology Financing, a Fortune 100 financing and leasing corporation, in Aliso Viejo, CA. I also owned and managed Bancard of Orange County, Irvine, CA. That company was an affiliate office of Bancard Systems, Inc. providing electronic credit card processing services directly to businesses. So, I have experience with e-commerce.

Lip-sticking: Why fashion? Why not pet food, or computers, or rapping? And, why these kinds of fashions? [Jane is lusting after some of your accessories!]

Steve: That’s where the excitement is, beautiful women wearing beautiful clothes. We liked the whole idea of this industry, not to mention the need for this service is definitely there. We felt we could deliver a service to the customer and do it in a fresh new and exciting way!

We also work with a consultant from a MAJOR fashion company, who confirmed the following:

-- Currently 6.9 million women shop online and that number is expected to continue to grow substantially each year for the next five years.

-- Fifty eight percent of all transactions on the Internet are done by women between the ages of 25 and 45.

-- The average Internet sale in this demographic is between $250.00 and $350.00 per transaction. These women are looking for the kind of high-end, eye-catching, contemporary fashions we offer on Amore' Fashions, which only launched, officially, this month!

Erin: Our focus was Internet based because according to our research on Internet Shopping, more than 31% of consumers surveyed plan to purchase gifts online this holiday season, compared with 18% last year. Plus, our top secret consultant indicated that women in our demographic love to buy!

Lip-sticking: We would like Zoom on your fashion pics, but...we must admit, being able to pose the models is really neat! Tell us when zoom is coming and...what new fashions are on the horizon?

Steve: Zoom is on the way, as well as being able to see the clothing from at least three different angles. We are working on several new ideas to allow customers see the clothing they are interested in from a 360 degree vantage point. Sizing and being able to clarify if that size is the right size is all important in this medium. [Hear, hear!]

Lip-sticking: We notice you're completely Internet based, totally e-commerce -- was this a conscious choice, and if so, why?

Erin: I would love to open up a store in Fashion Island...someday.

Steve: When I originally thought of starting a new business, one of my many concerns was to minimize the headache of employee issues, overhead costs, insurance coverage, all of the expenses of having a traditional brick and mortar storefront. E-commerce was the answer! The idea of having a storefront isn’t completely out of the question, though.

Lip-sticking: Amore' Fashion...how long did it take you to come up with that? It's tres' chic! Jane is usually not partial to pink but you've done such marvelous things with it -- we declare, you're Female Friendly to the max! Now, lest our readers think we're part of a mutual admiration society, tell them you worked very hard to design and build your site and you are dedicated to providing the best. Which means...a lot of hard work ahead. Right?

Steve: Amore’ Fashion's name actually came about by good old fashioned research. We pulled out every fashion magazine we could find and starting doing word smithin. We were trying to find a name that had Chic and appeal, and that’s not as easy as one would think, not to mention trying hard to be original without being too removed from the main stream.

We were able to come up with five names that we thought were the best five. We then took our best five names and went to the shopping mall and asked women who were in our specific demographic for their opinion. Each and every time Amore’ Fashions was their first pick. Once again good old fashion polling to your specific demographic seems to have worked!

Erin: Yes, our original concept was to create a website that not only was visually pleasing but offered our potential customers more of everything! More choices, easy navigation, easy check out, customer loyalty and return programs, better quality photos of the merchandise and above all, "High quality designer name merchandise" at reasonable prices!

Amore' Fashions is not a quickly thrown together Hollywood style website. We have taken the time and money to do it right! Today’s savvy women know quality when they see it and I think most women would agree, Amore’ Fashions has a quality webstore that offers them more options and high end fashions they can trust! We want to not only earn your business but keep your business!

Lip-sticking: So, who does what? Steve....? Erin....? [notice we didn't say, "Who wears the pants in the family."]

Erin: I focus on the PR/Marketing/Buying and Steve coordinates photo shoots, the financial side of the business, Marketing/sales and website development. We work well together! We both know our respective roles and what needs to be done. We try not to get in each other's way but to assist each other however we can. We have our occasional moments of debate but when your life-partner is also your business partner, you get over things fairly quickly. Not to mention, [Steve says] I don’t like sleeping on the couch!

Lip-sticking: Be honest ... how often do YOU (either or both) shop online?

Steve.. occasionally, Erin...all the time

Lip-sticking: What makes you happier -- free shipping or a 2 for one sale?

Both at once: FREE SHIPPING!

Lip-sticking: We hear you're world travelers -- ok, maybe just national travelers. So, which is more fun: LA or NY?

Steve and Erin: NY...We have never been and all of friends tell us we would love it!! NY would fit our personalities.

Lip-sticking: Let's get personal...it's okay, we won't go too far -- Where would you rather go on your honeymoon-- Hawaii or Rome? The Bahamas or Paris? Greece or Switzerland? The attic or the basement? (just kidding about that last one.)

Erin: Jane you little tiger! Reeeeer! Actually, we have already scheduled our honeymoon to Bora Bora. We both love the tropics and hope to move somewhere in the south pacific one day!

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We liked the stats Erin and Steve provided, dear readers. We hope you could read between the lines -- not only do women spend time and money shopping online, and not only will this activity increase, it will help all businesses be proactive in non-profits and in gathering funds or help for disaster relief. Steve and Erin want all to know that 5% of sales made this weekend, Sept. 2-4th, will be donated to the Red Cross for Katrina's victims. In stressful times such as these, your presence can be the bridge between the east and the west. We ask you,

What's not to like about that?