Interns Do it with Flair!

    GLENDALE, CA, October 05, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Viva Swag (http://www.vivaswag.com) a new online shopping experience for women ages 18-24 has taken an untraditional path toward managing its business. The company has turned over many of the major tasks for running the site to the interns.

Strapped for cash and feeling the pressure of a sinking economy, the site launched with the help of only three professionals and seven interns (and counting). It was a risky idea, after all, how much can an intern really bring to the table? Viva Swag says: way more than coffee!

Owner, Pete Sokoloff, who jokingly allows himself to be referred to as "Bossman", says "I think a lot of employers sell interns short. They don't realize the fresh ideas and energy they bring if you just let them have a little responsibility. Our interns are incredible. We listen to them, give them titles and push them to excel. We're rewarded with work that surpasses what we even thought was possible."

Most of Viva Swag's interns are fresh out of or still in school and there has been little turnover. Merchandising Intern and Affiliate Manager, Ronna Davis, says "I went to the Art Institute to be a fashion merchandiser. I'm sticking it out at Viva Swag even though it's tough to make ends meet on minimum wage because this is my dream job and I really believe in the company."

Christine Mehrabians, the Merchandising Intern and the voice behind beauty expert, Takahatchi, is also determined to stay and make the site successful: "I'd been looking for a job for a long time, I actually majored in Psychology and Social Behavior at UC Irvine. But Viva Swag opened the door and gave me a chance to learn merchandising. I'm really enjoying it. Best part is, I also get to write creatively on Takahatchi's blog and keep his social networking sites up! Deepak Chopra and the Dalai Lama are both following Takahatchi on Twitter!

Sokoloff's goal is to reward all the interns with a full time job and benefits once the site takes off. He also has set up www.18interns.com, a behind the scenes glimpse where interns are allowed to post whatever they want about their job.

ABOUT VIVA SWAG
Viva Swag (www.vivaswag.com), an on-line shopping experience for 18-24 year old women, encourages customers to "shop with personality," while providing an entertaining and interactive world. The site presents the hottest trends, brand names, newest up-and-coming merchants, coupons, discounts, and the best prices available on the Internet, all with a blend of panache, amusement, and fun.

Shops feature apparel, jewelry, accessories, beauty products, gourmet foods, luxury home, and electronic items. Shops are run by fictional Hollywood characters ranging from starlets to socialites and all of the items are handpicked. By offering visitors a selective look at the fashion radar, customers can browse products without having to weed through an endless array of dull product listings.

Viva Swag's sister site, VivaLaDrama.com, features the characters' personal blogs about their lives inside and outside Viva Swag. Also visit Viva Swag's Twitter profile "That's so swag! " at http://twitter.com/thatssoswag as well as the world's first Twitter fashion search engine "That's So Swag.com."

For further information, please contact Clarissa Jacobson or call (818) 937-1182.

Viva Swag is a women's shopping site which combines savvy shopping and Hollywood satire to provide an entertaining and personal shopping experience. For further information, please contact us at (818) 937-1182.

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