Thursday, October 8, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
The Working Wardrobe Interview
http://theworkingwardrobe.com/on-the-job/theworkingwardrobe-talks-with-dawn-del-russo-on-her-new-book-and-her-timeless-style/
Encore Magazine Interview
http://encoreblog.tumblr.com/post/205161756/5-tips-to-look-fierce-for-fall
--
--
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Dawn Del Russo Stylist for Gen X and Gen Y
Dawn Del Russo leads the field as a fashion stylist to savvy young trendsetters of gen X and gen y (dawndelrusso.com). She ambitiously turned her childhood dream of a “luxe” boutique into reality after completing her B.S. in Business Management and study at Parsons. Dawn Del Russo targets the fast paced generations with services like Web Cam Fashionista and celebrity styled “What’s Hot” looks. Del Russo scours the internet like many Gen X and Gen Y ‘ers researching trend and getting of the moment tips through social media like Twitter, Facebook, mayspace, and blogging of course. Dawn has been featured in national print media, InStyle, Teen, Life & Style Weekly, Us Weekly, Elle, and Lucky, as well as televised media Fox 5. Del Russo's knowledge and style advice has successfully lead her to style trendy, chic, and desirable fashions recognized international at www.belladawn.com. Dawn vividly recalls the genesis of creativity at age 7 designing outfits and daring fashions, for her first model named Barbie, Del Russo’s youthful passion became her reality.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
When Experience 2.0 meets Web 2.0
WHEN EXPERIENCE 2.0 MEETS WEB 2.0
By: Rich Largman
By: Rich Largman
Del-Sano Contracting Corporation is building the first Silver-LEED certified residential structure in New Jersey. Its CEO, Angelo Del Russo, drives a hybrid car and eats organically. However, what might be most interesting is the “business ecosystem” he and his entrepreneurial daughters are developing. Despite the disparity of their respective industries and professional roles, they operate their businesses under a single roof, an arrangement that has fostered a strong, mutually beneficial dynamic between the generations and delivered bottom-line results to both father and daughters.
Angelo Del Russo founded Del-Sano Contracting 34 years ago. Since that time, he has weathered many economic storms, seen business relationships come and go, and learned many business lessons the hard way. His business, which now ranks among New Jersey’s 25 largest contractors, has grown into a successful $50+ million firm with 25 employees. The time and experience Angelo has gained has matured into a wisdom which he happily shares with his two daughters – Denise, who joined the family business and serves as Del-Sano’s director of marketing, and Dawn, who, like her dad, is an entrepreneur at heart and started her own stylist business and specialty boutique http://www.belladawn.com/ in 2003.
As an example, Denise and Dawn are now bringing their father into the Web 2.0 world. They have persuaded him to move Del-Sano Contracting beyond the old “Mom and Pop” ways of doing business typical of the construction industry, and dive into the power and value of today’s social media trends. Since his daughters have entered the business world, Del-Sano has established an Internet presence, started a email marketing newsletter, begun work on a downloadable e-book, created a profile on Linkedin.com, and is developing strategies to leverage its web presence for new business development.
This Internet presence has been further fortified by a newly initiated public relations campaign that was inspired by his daughter Dawn. After her own success with public relations, Dawn urged her father to engage a PR firm for Del-Sano’s own branding and promotion efforts, which Denise now runs. In just six months, the return on investment is already evident, with a 400% increase in media mentions within Del-Sano’s targeted geographic market. Denise’s marketing leadership has helped develop the Del-Sano brand into a bigger name than it was 20 years ago.
Angelo has also had a significant influence on his daughters, perhaps the largest influence being the foundation he has built for them upon which to live and approach business. His daughters credit him for teaching them perhaps the two most important business lessons there are: design your life around what you are most passionate about, and never allow yourself to think “I can’t” and “I don’t know” when running your business. From this launching pad, Denise and Dawn found that success was a choice and was theirs to either create or lose.
Angelo’s influence on his daughters can be further seen in the everyday advice and support he provides within their business ecosystem. Angelo continues to teach Denise the fundamentals of business, which in combination with her communications degree, has helped her develop new business for Del-Sano by networking with potential clients and securing projects. The most potent example of the value these lessons have provided to the company is the recent contract signed for a $27 million, 70-unit residential apartment complex in West Caldwell, New Jersey. The project, the company’s largest to date, was nurtured along by Denise’s networking and client contact on a previous project.
Maybe the most unexpected result of this ecosystem and their coexistence under one roof has been the new target market Dawn has stumbled upon for her boutique – walk-in male traffic! Almost all of the male employees in Angelo’s firm, and many of the vendors that come to visit the office, stop into Dawn’s boutique to purchase something for their wives, girlfriends or daughters.
Another benefit Dawn has realized due this symbiotic relationship has been a significant savings in expenses due to shared resources. Everything from fax machines to computers to binding machines to storage space. Dawn estimates the savings to be several thousand dollars a year.
Angelo’s passion for his company infected Dawn at an early age, who at 23 and fresh out of college already had plans for her business, sketches of her store, and budgets. This passion was born from a simple habit he began when they were in elementary school. As a father who prepared the girls’ lunches each day, he would write quotes on their bags from famous philosopher’s and entrepreneurs, and even a few of his own. They served as inspiration to the girls when other parents were barely making any lunch at all. Denise and Dawn readily admit that these quotes have guided them through life in a special way. To this day, Dawn posts quotes on her website and sends special ones to friends and family. Recently, a banking division manager borrowed one of Dawn’s posted quotes to start a business meeting with her team. The quote originally came from her Dad.
I would like to suggest a look at the Del Russos and the lessons each generation has learned from the other. Both father and daughters can offer tips for business success based on what they have cultivated in their business ecosystem.
Angelo Del Russo founded Del-Sano Contracting 34 years ago. Since that time, he has weathered many economic storms, seen business relationships come and go, and learned many business lessons the hard way. His business, which now ranks among New Jersey’s 25 largest contractors, has grown into a successful $50+ million firm with 25 employees. The time and experience Angelo has gained has matured into a wisdom which he happily shares with his two daughters – Denise, who joined the family business and serves as Del-Sano’s director of marketing, and Dawn, who, like her dad, is an entrepreneur at heart and started her own stylist business and specialty boutique http://www.belladawn.com/ in 2003.
As an example, Denise and Dawn are now bringing their father into the Web 2.0 world. They have persuaded him to move Del-Sano Contracting beyond the old “Mom and Pop” ways of doing business typical of the construction industry, and dive into the power and value of today’s social media trends. Since his daughters have entered the business world, Del-Sano has established an Internet presence, started a email marketing newsletter, begun work on a downloadable e-book, created a profile on Linkedin.com, and is developing strategies to leverage its web presence for new business development.
This Internet presence has been further fortified by a newly initiated public relations campaign that was inspired by his daughter Dawn. After her own success with public relations, Dawn urged her father to engage a PR firm for Del-Sano’s own branding and promotion efforts, which Denise now runs. In just six months, the return on investment is already evident, with a 400% increase in media mentions within Del-Sano’s targeted geographic market. Denise’s marketing leadership has helped develop the Del-Sano brand into a bigger name than it was 20 years ago.
Angelo has also had a significant influence on his daughters, perhaps the largest influence being the foundation he has built for them upon which to live and approach business. His daughters credit him for teaching them perhaps the two most important business lessons there are: design your life around what you are most passionate about, and never allow yourself to think “I can’t” and “I don’t know” when running your business. From this launching pad, Denise and Dawn found that success was a choice and was theirs to either create or lose.
Angelo’s influence on his daughters can be further seen in the everyday advice and support he provides within their business ecosystem. Angelo continues to teach Denise the fundamentals of business, which in combination with her communications degree, has helped her develop new business for Del-Sano by networking with potential clients and securing projects. The most potent example of the value these lessons have provided to the company is the recent contract signed for a $27 million, 70-unit residential apartment complex in West Caldwell, New Jersey. The project, the company’s largest to date, was nurtured along by Denise’s networking and client contact on a previous project.
Maybe the most unexpected result of this ecosystem and their coexistence under one roof has been the new target market Dawn has stumbled upon for her boutique – walk-in male traffic! Almost all of the male employees in Angelo’s firm, and many of the vendors that come to visit the office, stop into Dawn’s boutique to purchase something for their wives, girlfriends or daughters.
Another benefit Dawn has realized due this symbiotic relationship has been a significant savings in expenses due to shared resources. Everything from fax machines to computers to binding machines to storage space. Dawn estimates the savings to be several thousand dollars a year.
Angelo’s passion for his company infected Dawn at an early age, who at 23 and fresh out of college already had plans for her business, sketches of her store, and budgets. This passion was born from a simple habit he began when they were in elementary school. As a father who prepared the girls’ lunches each day, he would write quotes on their bags from famous philosopher’s and entrepreneurs, and even a few of his own. They served as inspiration to the girls when other parents were barely making any lunch at all. Denise and Dawn readily admit that these quotes have guided them through life in a special way. To this day, Dawn posts quotes on her website and sends special ones to friends and family. Recently, a banking division manager borrowed one of Dawn’s posted quotes to start a business meeting with her team. The quote originally came from her Dad.
I would like to suggest a look at the Del Russos and the lessons each generation has learned from the other. Both father and daughters can offer tips for business success based on what they have cultivated in their business ecosystem.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)