Mickey Drexler Quotes

Powerful Mickey Drexler for Daily Growth

About Mickey Drexler

Mickey Drexler, born on March 17, 1945, in New York City, is an American businessman and retail executive who has significantly influenced the fashion industry with his innovative strategies and entrepreneurial spirit. Raised in a Jewish family, Drexler's interest in retail began at an early age when he worked as a stockboy at Abraham & Straus department store during his teenage years. This experience laid the foundation for his future career in the retail industry. After graduating from Syracuse University with a degree in marketing and advertising, Drexler started his professional journey at Macy's. He then joined Gap Inc., where he played a pivotal role in turning around the struggling company. As the President of Gap Brand, he revolutionized the brand by focusing on basics, simplicity, and quality, making it a household name. In 1997, Drexler was appointed CEO of Anthropologie Group, where he successfully expanded the brand's footprint both domestically and internationally. In 2002, he became the CEO of J. Crew, where he implemented strategies that revitalized the brand and made it a leader in the fashion industry. Throughout his career, Drexler has been recognized for his contributions to the retail industry. He was inducted into the Retail Hall of Fame in 2013, and in 2015, he received the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). Quotes by Mickey Drexler reflect his business acumen and passion for retail. One of his most famous quotes, "I'm a designer and a merchant first; I'm a CEO second," showcases his commitment to the creative aspects of the industry alongside his leadership role. Another quote, "You have to be passionate about what you do, but also realistic about what your business is capable of doing at any given time," encapsulates his pragmatic approach to business.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The best revenge is massive success."

The quote by Mickey Drexler suggests that instead of focusing on seeking revenge when faced with adversity, it's more productive to channel energy into achieving great success. This success serves as a powerful response, proving the naysayers wrong, silencing criticism, and ultimately outshining those who may have caused harm or difficulty in the past. It encourages individuals to rise above negativity and focus on personal growth and achievement, demonstrating resilience and determination.


"Retail is like show business: It's all about telling a story."

Mickey Drexler's quote suggests that retail businesses should aim to create an engaging, cohesive narrative or experience for their customers, similar to how stories are structured in the entertainment industry. This means that merchandising, store design, marketing, and customer service should all work together to communicate a consistent message, evoke emotions, and provide value to consumers, rather than simply selling products. Successful retailers understand that building a strong brand identity through storytelling can lead to increased customer loyalty and long-term success.


"I don't believe in the word 'fail.' You either win or you learn."

Mickey Drexler's quote emphasizes the importance of learning from experiences, rather than seeing them as failures. In essence, he encourages a mindset that views every situation as an opportunity to grow, improve, and develop new skills. This perspective can foster resilience, adaptability, and continuous learning, helping individuals to approach challenges with optimism and determination. Instead of dwelling on the perceived negatives or disappointments, one can focus on the lessons learned and apply them to future endeavors, thus increasing the chances of success.


"You can't be afraid to take risks. It's the difference between making progress and standing still."

This quote by Mickey Drexler emphasizes the importance of taking calculated risks for growth and progress. The message is that staying in one place, or 'standing still', can lead to stagnation, while taking risks offers the opportunity to move forward and make meaningful progress. It highlights the idea that fear of failure should not prevent us from seizing opportunities for personal or professional development. In essence, the quote encourages boldness and resilience in pursuing our goals and dreams.


"The only way to do great work is to love what you do."

This quote by Mickey Drexler highlights the importance of passion in achieving excellence. When one loves their work, they are more likely to be motivated, dedicated, and persistent. Passion fuels creativity, innovation, and the ability to overcome challenges, all of which are essential for producing great results. Therefore, if you want to do great work, find a way to love what you do – not just for the sake of success, but because the joy derived from meaningful work is a reward in itself.


Service drives a lot of my decisions.

- Mickey Drexler

Service, Lot, Drives, Decisions

First, as I've always said, it all starts with product, which means having the right assortment, styles, and fits. Second is price, where we strive to offer the best quality, style, and design at a fair value. This is critically important, given the highly promotional environment we are operating in. And third, traffic.

- Mickey Drexler

Best, Fair, Second, Critically

Everything has a trend to it; I don't care if it's appliances or engines. I always ask, 'What has a company done in the past five years that somebody's noticed?'

- Mickey Drexler

Trend, Always, In The Past, Engines

We buy and sell goods. We buy low and sell higher - that's what we all do to make a profit. But I consider a merchant someone who has a certain intuition and instinct, and - very important - knows how to run a business, knows the numbers.

- Mickey Drexler

Business, Instinct, Very, Profit

Don't be buying out of emotion. Buy less if you love something but feel it's a risky item. We don't want overstock. And remember: No profit, no fun!

- Mickey Drexler

Love, Buy, Item, Profit

I define leadership as: Emotionally, you own your business. You own it with passion. And you either have or you don't have an economic investment. But when you have all three of those, you are the boss from Day One, and you care every single day more than anyone.

- Mickey Drexler

Boss, Own, Day One, Every Single Day

Every single day, I'm curious about everything. Curiosity is finding answers to things.

- Mickey Drexler

Curiosity, Curious, About, Single Day

Data is very important, but you have to be good at reading the data in an emotional way. If you look at a selling report, there's an emotional trend to what's selling.

- Mickey Drexler

Data, Trend, Very, Report

Creativity runs on automatic, no matter what's happening in other parts of my life. I can't help myself. It's been in me, and it evolves in me over the years. It's a condition in me.

- Mickey Drexler

My Life, Other, Over, Runs

You have to build a team, but someone's got to lead, and someone's got to be unpopular at times.

- Mickey Drexler

Build, Someone, Times, Unpopular

If you don't care about the lapel or the buttons or the fit, then you are doing a disservice to the consumer. We're all inside the tunnel, speaking the language of business, but we need to speak the language of customers.

- Mickey Drexler

Business, Doing, Buttons, Consumer

If you think you know the consumer better than anyone, then you're in real trouble. So we take a close watch. You spend time in stores.

- Mickey Drexler

Think, Stores, Then, Consumer

The British invented the classic look. Men's apparel was created in London, the great English style. You have to respect this country's suits, shirts, shoes, luggage.

- Mickey Drexler

London, Country, Created, Apparel

I don't size up their grades or their board scores. Because in America today, that's just an advantage certain people have. I size up the give and take, the speed of thinking, what I perceive as ambition. I say, 'Tell me about your high school jobs.' And I love people who worked in coffee shops who were waiters and waitresses.

- Mickey Drexler

Love, Tell, Scores, Waiters

I hire a lot of waiters, waitresses. Someone who's successful has a background that's not predictable.

- Mickey Drexler

Someone, Hire, Lot, Waiters

When I started at Bloomingdale's as a buyer, Alexander's was a discounter across the street, and every time Alexander's had something that we had at Bloomingdale's, we'd have to meet price. I didn't really want to be in a business where I had no control over my inventory, the value of my inventory.

- Mickey Drexler

Inventory, Had, Across, Every Time

My office has no walls. You can't be removed from your team to be successful. You have to be respectful of others.

- Mickey Drexler

Walls, Office, Your, Respectful

While 2015 was challenging, we implemented many strategic and operational initiatives to improve our business and better position J.Crew for the future.

- Mickey Drexler

Business, Strategic, While, Implemented

I've yet to see a correlation in my industry between great social media and great numbers.

- Mickey Drexler

See, Social, Correlation, Social Media

Growing up, I always wanted a bedroom of my own.

- Mickey Drexler

Growing Up, Growing, Always, Bedroom

You banter, and you talk, and you get a sense of the speed of thinking and flexibility... It's not terribly scientific, but I interview a dozen or two dozen people a week, and I get a certain vibe reasonably fast.

- Mickey Drexler

Week, Scientific, Vibe, Reasonably

I couldn't stand not controlling my own product from how it's manufactured to how it's sold.

- Mickey Drexler

Product, My Own, Sold, Controlling

It takes a long time to get a reputation for quality. There are people in our industry, they're basically copiers. Look at the cars on the streets. They all look alike. But if you put quality into a product, then have it validated, you have huge credibility.

- Mickey Drexler

Reputation, Streets, Our, Validated

We have secured names and trademarks with either loose ideas or intentions, or with our imaginations. Sometimes things come of it, or they don't.

- Mickey Drexler

Ideas, Sometimes, Intentions, Loose

Customers don't just want to shop: they want to feel that the brand understands them.

- Mickey Drexler

Want, Feel, Shop, Brand

In a business, you have a vision, and you follow the vision. You have to execute. And then you have to learn how to run a good business. And I think if you look at the characteristics of any successful fashion business, it's all about that.

- Mickey Drexler

Think, Characteristics, Execute

I think it's in my mind, and it's driven me my entire life, and it is to offer customers tasteful clothes at good value, meaning it lets the world - or more of the world - afford to dress well.

- Mickey Drexler

Dress, Mind, Think, Customers

There are too many retailers. There are too many brands. There are too many designers. There are too many discount stores, and the predator online companies are selling discount like crazy.

- Mickey Drexler

Predator, Designers, Brands, Discount

When you say something, and a thousand people are hearing it, you hope you leave an impression.

- Mickey Drexler

Say, Leave, Impression, Hearing

The person is a resume, not what's on a piece of paper. Whoever gives advice about resumes in college should be dismissed. Titles don't matter. GPAs don't matter, nor does what school you go to.

- Mickey Drexler

College, Advice, Resume, Titles

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