I consider a merchant someone who has a certain intuition and instinct, and - very important - knows how to run a business, knows the numbers.

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.

Good taste shouldn't have to cost anything extra.

A merchant is someone who figures out how to select, how to smell, how to identify, how to feel, how to time, how to buy, how to sell, and how to hopefully have two plus two equal six.

I'm always looking over my shoulder, needing to stay ahead of the game.

If you don't get trained for your SATs in America today, you are at a disadvantage. Training is expensive and a lot of kids don't get trained, perhaps. So I also identify with the kid or the person who has grown up in environments like I've grown up in.

What matters is hard work, and emotional intelligence.