by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
The Women’s Council of Realtors is preparing for its annual Fashion Show, but this year’s show will be anything but ordinary. First, fashion show committee chair Nikki Gullett is promising big names on the catwalk and, perhaps most important, she says ticket sales could double those of past shows.
“We are trying to take the fashion show to a new level,” said Gullett, .
The 2007 Fashion Show and Live Auction is from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Marriott Sawgrass Hotel. Tickets are $40 and include the show and lunch. With a portion of the proceeds going to the Hubbard House and the remaining benefits going to the Women’s Council of Realtors, this year’s show should easily prove the most beneficial to both the non-profit and WCR, which is a First Coast networking group for women in every facet of the real estate industry.
Gullett said the biggest addition to this year’s event is the pre-show entertainment.
“We have never done a show prior to the fashion show,” said Gullett, who is keeping a tight lid on any information about the pre-show, except for the theme: “A Girl for all Seasons.”
“It will feature calendar girls like you have never seen before,” said Gullett, who is president and owner of Title America. “It is going to be a hoot and people will be talking about it for a long time.
“I want people’s imagination to be running.”
In the past, the event has been held at San Jose Country Club, but is at the Marriott at Sawgrass in its grand ballroom for the first time.
The fashion will feature 10 female models and 12 male models with SteinMart providing the outfits. All of the model are Realtors, brokers and others within the real estate industry.
“Everyone who attends will be able to recognize the models,” she said.
Gullett added the fashion show also features a live and silent auction.
“We also took this (the live and silent auction) to a different level,” she said. “We have added things like vacation packages to the auction.”
Tickets are for sale and can be purchased by calling Evelyn Hopkins at 262-6400 or by e-mailing her at [email protected].
Gullett is expecting around 300-400 guests, up from the 200 or so that usually attend. The event is open to everyone, not just for those who work in the real estate industry.
Gullett is an affiliate member of the Women’s Council of Realtors and chairs the Social Committee and Fashion Show Committee. This is her first year as the chair of the Fashion Show.