Introducing fashion wholesale representatives and successful business babes Susan Cooper and Heather Jansen of Susan Cooper Agency. After falling into the fashion industry by chance, Susan developed a strong love for fashion that eventually evolved into creating her own wholesale agency over 25 years ago. Susan has represented a multitude of brands throughout the years. Now, Susan balances her time between the business and raising two busy teenagers with her husband Drew.
Heather moved to Vancouver in 2000 to pursue makeup artistry after growing up in Kamloops, B.C. Heather was introduced to
What does babes supporting babes mean to you?
Susan: For me, I feel that babes supporting babes is a proclamation, a movement, a mantra, and an intention to do better and to be better. These really are words to live by and to strive towards. It’s about being conscious that what you put out into the world is coming back to you.
Heather: Babes supporting babes to me is supporting, uplifting and encouraging those around you. Society can be super judgemental and shallow. Treat others the way you like to be treated.
What’s one item you always have on your desk?
Susan: Pink roses.
Heather: My Swell waterbottle.
Do you have a life Mantra that you live by?
Susan: Our family mantra is “Tackle the Day” it’s a message we try to give each other in the morning before we all rush out of the door. It sets the tone for the day.
Heather: These days it’s “don’t sweat the small stuff.” Everything will work out the way it should, and if it doesn’t, it will only guide you to the right path.
What does your day to day look like?
Susan: It starts by trying to get two teenagers out of bed, then breakfast and lunches, and hopefully an on-time school drop off. I have a quick morning walk with our bulldog Lola, then I start the commute to my showrooms. I get to spend my day surrounded by amazing women and beautiful clothing. Then, it’s back into mom mode with a few kids sporting events, dinner with the family and a glass of wine to end the day!
Heather: Depending on the time of year, we can be getting the collections ready, or we can be selling in season. Right now, we’re getting the Autumn 2019 collections ready. We sell 6 months in advance, so we’re unpacking samples, booking appointments with our retailers, merchandising the showroom, and steaming samples. As soon as we’re ready to show the collections, we give our retailers a presentation on what the trends are. Depending on performance of the brands in the stores, we show each account what we think will work best for them.
This is definitely a small portion of what happens in our day to day operation but there are so many small jobs that have to be done to get to this point. We also have trade shows all over western Canada. We ship the samples, set up a booth and show our brands remotely with the other great agencies in our territory.
What’s your most used app?
Susan: Podcasts. I can’t get through my commute without it!
Heather: Class Pass, Instagram, and Google Chrome.
What product would you seriously stock pile if you found out they weren’t selling it anymore?
Susan: Okanagan Original Little Creek Dressing. I seriously put it on everything!
Heather: 100% lip gloss of any kind.
What inspired you to pursue the fashion industry?
Susan: I would call myself an “accidental fashionista.” While I was attending college, I was asked by a family friend to help part-time every Friday at an agency. I worked behind the scenes at one of the largest accessory agencies in the industry at the time run by a real original Boss Babe name Toby Rosen. Toby was a real trend setter in those days back when this industry was run by men. I was captivated by her style and love for the fashion industry. She used the industry as an expression of who she was and was loved and admired by all who knew her because of it.
Heather: I’m from Kamloops, and I moved to Vancouver to pursue makeup artistry, my other passion. I always loved fashion, and the school I went to offered a Fashion Merchandising program so I decided to take the course. I originally wanted to be a buyer or a visual merchandiser, however in Vancouver, buyers generally have their own boutique as most head offices are back east. Through friends, I started helping at a cash and carry in the Fashion Exchange building. Susan was looking for someone to help her out. I worked for Susan for three years, then moved on to a couple of other agencies along the way, and now I’m back. A full circle moment.
What emoji best describes you?
Susan: 🤷 The shoulder shrug!
Heather: 😏 The smirk emoji.
Who should everyone be following right now?
Susan: Everyone should be following a “babe” that’s inspiring and reflects real life. Someone who’s authentic about day to day life, it’s challenges and growth. I love following @TamaraTaggart for all of those reasons and more.
Heather: @thegoodquote for little quotes of inspiration that always seem to pop up when they’re needed most.
What’s your favourite place to travel too?
Susan: Maui, for many reasons. It’s a place we can go as a family, totally recharge and re-connect with each other. We all experience pure joy, while having our toes in the sand. Perfect family time.
Heather: Because of this job, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to Europe. The first time I went, it was such a soul-searching experience. Now, I have the opportunity to try to tag on a new country to visit whenever I’m there for work. I learn something amazing about life and about myself every time I go.
Tell us about a babe that has supported you?
Susan: I’ve been blessed to have so many amazing women in my life supporting me and mentoring me, from generations of female family members to amazing friends. Every day, I get to meet so many female boss babes in my business, one of whom is Heather Jansen. This babe is always someone I can count on for everything and I would not be where I am today without Heather and her unwavering support. She’s the backbone to all we do here at the agency and I feel beyond blessed to get to spend so much time with her!
Heather: I am SO lucky to have such supportive babes in my life. I wouldn’t and couldn’t be who I am without them. However, I will dedicate this to Miss Susan Cooper herself. Thirteen years ago, Susan took a chance on me and gave me my first real wholesale job. At the time Susan had her agency in her house, had a two year old and her daughter Grace on the way. I found myself becoming not just an employee, but a part of her family. I’ve had a couple of other wholesale jobs in those 13 years, but Susan and I always kept in touch. She has always been such a mentor to me, not only in business but in life. She has supported me and believed in me no matter what stage of life I was in. Not only is she my boss, but she’s my dear friend — she’s truly a boss babe.
How would you describe your personal style?
Susan: I would call my style sneaker chic. I’m on the go from morning to night, sometimes in fashion mode and then right into mom mode with no time to change the shoes. What would I do without a great pair of sneaks!
Heather: Girlie florals meet band tees, mom jeans and vans.
What’s the most fulfilling part of your career?
Susan: It has to be all of the relationships I’ve created over the last 25 years in the fashion Industry. Without these I would not be doing what I’m doing today.
Heather: There are so many fulfilling aspects, I especially love the people I work with, my accounts and my colleagues. I’ve met some of my best and greatest friends in this industry.
Do you have a morning routine?
Susan: I love to steal 30 minutes in the morning to sit by the fire with my dog, sip on a cup of coffee and set my intentions for the day.
Heather: Usually I try to squeeze in a 6a.m. workout 3-4 days a week. I’m a breakfast person, so I love making my breakfast, having coffee and watching breakfast television.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Susan: It has to be reality TV. The Bachelor or Bachelorette, Housewives, and Wife Swap gets me every time!
Heather: Definitely red wine.
What quality are you working on yourself right now?
Susan: There have been many times in my life and business where I have made mistakes. Where I have not taken the “babes supporting babes” route. I’m a work in progress, trying to understand the thread between intention and the effects our intentions have in our day to day lives. I’m trying to listen more, react less and to have more patience in all areas. My Grandmother used to always say “what will be will be” and these are words I’m trying to live by.
Heather: Not to assume. You never really know how someone thinks, feels or what they’ve been through. I’ve also learned to ask questions when I’m not sure.
What’s the biggest hurdle that you’ve had to overcome in business?
Susan: I’ve had many hurdles. I think one of the biggest ones was the collapse of one of our biggest brands, one of our biggest customers. I felt in that moment like I was standing under an avalanche. They say that when a door closes you need to look for the window that’s open and I did just that. In the end, our hurdles can be things that help lead us exactly to where we need to be.
Heather: My biggest hurdle was an actual breakdown of my life, the only life that I had known at the time. I needed a personal change, I was running an agency out west that was a satellite office for an office in Toronto. The office closed in Vancouver and I was offered a position in Toronto. Within two months, I left my life in Vancouver, uprooted to Toronto and tried to start over. This made me realize that Vancouver was my home. Having taken the leap of faith and come back, I’m so thankful for opportunities like these. Moral of the story is that being uncomfortable is always a good thing!
What advice do you have for those trying to break into the fashion industry?
Susan: I would say go for it! Just remember that nothing worth having comes easy. You need to be willing to start from the bottom on whatever side of the industry you’re passionate about. Find a mentor — someone you can learn from and gather all of the industry experience you can, build from there. Use relationships and network, take chances, wish for it, dream it, work hard!
Heather: Don’t be afraid, anything’s possible. I went into this industry not knowing anything about wholesale and trust me you can’t learn this industry overnight. However, if you have drive, and you’re willing to work hard, and go above and beyond it could be for you. The industry isn’t glamorous, and you can’t be afraid of doing the not-so-fun jobs (lugging huge bins and hockey bags in and out of your car) but if you love to make relationships, travel, and fashion, this could be the right fit for you.
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Keep up with Susan + Heather on Instagram @susancooperagency + @hjansen6
Introduction written by Lindsay Pearce.
Photography by Ryan Pugsley.