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Hip and High End

An Interview with Charles and Joanne Teichman, Ylang23.com

EDITOR’S NOTE Joanne Teichman prominently on our web site. in ex- graduated from the University of Texas change, we look for exclusives and with a Journalism and Marketing the reciprocation of loyalty from our Degree, and received her Masters vendors. our relationship is always in Journalism from Northwestern with our clients in mind. University. She spent four years in Will there be expansion in the Brand Management at Procter & store area or because of the online Gamble, and then served as Vice strength, do you really not need President at three major New York ad- that today? vertising fi rms. Charles: no more stores. A Law graduate from Paris Law through our web site, our two big- School, Charles Teichman emigrated gest markets are now new york from Paris to New York where he and Los angeles. but Japan is our worked as a retail consultant. third market – we ship there daily. Joanne and Charles met and canada, France, and england are married in New York in 1980, opened also major markets for us. we also Ylang-Ylang in Dallas in 1985, and ship to some of the gulf countries renamed their company Ylang 23 in and recently had a fl urry of orders 2004. The company offers fi ne jewelry Charles and Joanne Teichman from scandinavia. collections from renowned designers Joanne: after 10 years on the including Cathy Waterman, Irene Neuwirth, client is the independent woman who can shop web, our web site is our flagship. we have and Jennifer Meyer. for herself. in a way, we perform a public ser- only scratched the surface, because now The Teichman’s charitable endeavors in- vice. when that woman puts on that necklace there are so many ways to build a web pres- clude donating a portion of their annual Cathy and looks at herself, she feels good. our cus- ence. china is of interest for us to explore. Waterman Trunk Show to The Family Place tomers have the means to purchase what they we also have a mobile site, which is an au- for battered women and children. Designer like, and they don’t have to depend on anybody tomatic redirect across every mobile phone Catherine Michiels created a “Chip for Charity” else to buy it for them. in the world. i’m working on adding ipad recognition charm that the Teichmans now From a price point of view, how broad and iphone apps. everything growth-wise sell exclusively, channeling all proceeds to the is your market? is now directed towards the web, including Food4Kids Program of the North Texas Food Joanne: our price point ranges from $100 social media and my blog (Joanne’s eye). Bank. Charles serves on the Board of the Dallas to $100,000 – we’re positioned as very hip and now, even the major luxury brands are go- Holocaust Museum. high end. our strongest competitor is barney’s ing online. jewelry department. Do you have the ability to ever get away When you created Ylang 23, what made you What are the key characteristics you’re from the business? feel there was a need and opportunity for looking for in the designers you feature and Charles: yes, our family life is our anchor. this type of company and that the timing how broad are the relationships? we just returned from two weeks in africa with was right? Joanne: First and foremost, we’re look- our children. Charles: we brought to new york what ing for absolute originality. we’re also looking Joanne: we love mentoring and cultivating was originally a French concept. america was for a long-term relationship with the designer. new design talent – it’s really rewarding, and we ripe for it. Joanne and i moved to texas be- cathy waterman, based in santa monica, is have devoted more of our time to fundraising cause it was the only big market where we our lead designer and now a personal friend. in dallas. were not represented. there were stores in her jewelry has been worn by key celebrities Charles: that’s probably the most re- most major u.s. cities, but texas was the best such as Julia roberts and Jamie Lee curtis, warding thing we’ve ever done. we decided opportunity, and we opened in 1985 and later as well as gwyneth paltrow, who was wear- two years ago that we were not going to split with our partners who had moved back ing one of her pieces when she received her send any more baccarat and Lalique crystal to France. oscar. to our major clients for the holidays. instead, Joanne: another reason was that i’m from we’re looking for beautiful wearable jew- we make substantial donations in our clients’ near texarkana, so i knew dallas and its fashion elry too. we know our client and we do some names. sense very well. i knew it was going to be a edgy things, but we are driven by originality, fi ne Joanne: what’s nice is that we received great market, and charles knew that as well, as workmanship, a close collaboration, and also how wonderful thank you notes that we never got he had been in this business before i was. the smart these designers are at running a business. for the crystal. it shows how good people re- timing was right. Charles: we also look for designers who ally are.• Charles: most traditional jewelers go after are as loyal to us as we are to them. we’ll give the husband or signifi cant other. our typical them space, promote them, and feature them The JKT Personal Collection