You get a flaw business model thats what.
When you think of supermodels such as Naomi Campbell, Elle Macpherson, Claudia Schiffer and Christy Turlington do you also think of steak and chips or fish and chips?
No?
So why would these supermodels think that opening up a chain of restaurants with a high-end fashion theme would work?
I guess copying the Planet Hollywood theme style restaurant concept would guarantee it would work right?
The beauties decided to call their chain ‘Fashion Cafe’ where one could hang out with other dedicators of fashion and when hungry order fish and chips to go with the champers.
Why they would have menu options such as fish and chips of which the calorie intake for that dish would be a years worth for a model is beyond me. Though I am impressed with Naomi’s gastronomic contribution called “The $20 Salad Extraordinaire”, which reportedly consisted of a glass of champagne, a pack of Newports and two slices of tomato accompanied by an iceberg leaf.
Not only was the food menu a contradiction to the restaurant theme of starvation for art, but they also hired famed restaurateur Tommaso Buti to manage the chain. Buti over-franchised the chain and Campbell and MacPherson accused Buti of stealing $25 million after asking the two to invest in the chain.
By this time the models bitchiness started to percolate through – Claudia Schiffer walked out of the venture, blaming ‘old problems’ with Naomi. ‘Instead of promoting our cafés Naomi only thinks about collecting lovers’, Claudia told Italian newspaper Il Messaggero.
Fashion Cafe lasted a few years and in December, 2000 the Federal Government of the United States filed charges against the founders, accusing them of conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering.
The take-away from this saga is just because your good at one thing does not mean you will be successful at all your business ventures so know your limits.