You are walking down the street, minding your own business, head in the clouds, and then all of a sudden you spot that red, slim fitting dress of your dreams. Unfortunately it's not exactly in a display window, it's on a random woman heading in the opposite direction. You are now faced with a dilemma: Do you chase her down and ask where she bought it, or let her go and risk forever losing out on finding the ideal outfit for your upcoming date. Neither are attractive options, so what if there was another way.
See something you like, take your iPhone out, capture an image of the product, and then let Chic Engine do the rest. It analyzes the picture, detects the piece of clothing with a description attached, has the data sent to the website, and then search results are sent directly back to you. Simple, easy, and cost efficient.
Chic Engine is the solution.
Not only will users benefit from the speedy service, ventures of all different sizes will find this platform attractive as well. You may own a boutique in the middle of Bethesda with little to no exposure, but by using Chic Engine, your store name will be sent to the masses. As a small store, it's difficult to attain a great amount of traffic because there are so many fashion companies in existence, but Chic Engine ameliorates this problem by aggregating all fashion oriented businesses into one central location. Business owners import photos of their products into Chic Engine and end up alongside larger search results from Michael Kors, garnering more attention for companies that normally fall under the radar.
I had the great opportunity today to converse with the owner of Chic Engine, Adrian Rosebrock. As we bonded over our love for fashion, I couldn't help but notice how passionate Rosebrock was about his steadily growing startup. While he explained to me the story behind his fresh new platform that has the potential to shake up the fashion scene, I immediately imagined myself using the product. A visual search engine for men and women's apparel? Yes, please! Wearing multiple hats at Chic Engine, running the company all by himself, and attending the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in pursuit of a Ph.D., Rosebrock is a force to be reckoned with.
How did you come up with the idea for Chic Engine?
Honestly, I wanted to tackle the idea for a while. I saw a gap in the market. There was no way to automatically recognize clothing and images. So rather than continue to ask the monotonous question, "where did you get that shirt," I decided instead to create my own answer, Chic Engine. Anytime I went out and saw someone with a jacket or shirt that I liked, I was always curious about how much they paid and where it came from, key the use of Chic Engine.
Did you have any experience with startups prior to the formation of Chic Engine?
I've actually worked on multiple projects before. I own ShiftyBits, LLC, which received a research contract with the National Cancer Institute to help with detecting breast cancer. I create algorithms that have the ability to automatically analyze breast histology images.
I also have experience working with RateMyTeachers.com, developing a scalable and efficient ratings platform that is easy to customize.
How has Chic Engine transformed since its inception?
Since January we have redesigned it twice, but if you want some exciting news, we finally released our iPhone app yesterday. We have over 500 downloads on the App Store so far, but it's just the beginning. Stores now have the mobility to import their own products and make them searchable.
Who do you see as your audience?
Our target audience is women between the ages of 18 and 40 (they would benefit from it the most).
Why did you decide to create your own startup?
When I was 17 or 18 I worked for a large company and realized through experience that I didn't like the corporate world, so I decided the startup route was my best bet. After beginning my partnership with RateMyTeachers.com, I knew I made the right decision.
How has your feedback been so far?
We've had all positive reviews except for one with a two word response (not too helpful, eh?). Five stars is the norm for us and we've just heard that it works wonderfully. No real complaints.
Where did the name "Chic Engine" come from?
Project Runway. I think it was a quote from Michael Kors who claimed that chic was the word most associated with fashion.
