June 21, 2009
(From left to right: Madra, Nirvana, Moksha)
A few weeks ago, I was approached by Meukz with some of the hottest handbags that will take you from summer to fall and day to night. The line caught my eye for their innovative design and use of materials. In this economy, it is important to set your product apart from the competition and invest in quality materials, which Meukz has perfectly captured.
The Meukz collection is based on a concept of thin wooden sculptures stitched on leather and other textures. The wooden sculptures are hand sculpted by artisans in Chennai, South India. Meukz designer, Mukund, spotted their ability to carve on wooden sheets and thought it would be an interesting concept to apply to accessories. He explains “the process is quite cumbersome and hence makes only 300 pieces in each design.”
Prior to founding Meukz, Mukund, spent six years working for Lesage Paris, a unit of Chanel, involved in product development and manufacture of high end textiles and embroideries for luxury brands including Bill Blass, Chanel, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana. Earlier, he spent five years in India in the design, product development and manufacture of textiles and garments for various mass market brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY, Ralph Lauren. Mukund also attended L’école de la chambre syndicale, Paris and NIFT, Chennai where he studied Fashion design. He also studied graphic design and Mathematics in Chennai and had a short stint of graduate work in Marketing at ESCP-EAP School of management, Paris.
For up-to-date information on Meukz, follow the line on Twitter @Meukz.
May 16, 2009
Crisis communication is one public relations activity that is rarely implemented but always important to have in place. When a product fails, an outbreak occurs, financial crisis arises or whatever the case may be, crisis communication plans keep the peace and give direction in a time of chaos.
During major situations, crisis communication relies heavily on outsourcing PR professionals to man multiple phone lines and computers to address all questions and concerns. Now with the new wave of technology and social media, crisis communication could become less of a cost to outsource.
Using Twitter to communicate in real time while using Twitpics to show live footage of a situation allows public access in light speed. Media has the opportunity to log on to Twitter and cover a live stream of information from the source. With the addition of public replies and direct messages, journalists can ask any of their questions – in less than 140 characters, of course.
“Thanks to the Internet and social media applications, such as blogs, Facebook and Twitter, the public is able to seek and share information quickly during a health or safety crisis,” said Keri Stephens, assistant professor of communication studies at The University of Texas at Austin.
“Emotions are high during a crisis and people find comfort in information—regardless of the quality of that information,” said Stephens. “The swine flu situation was an example of this. Thousands of people turned to Twitter to query each other and share news of the latest developments in Mexico and the U.S. Twitter status updates ranged from ‘Could it be germ warfare?’ to ‘Don’t eat pork from Mexico.’ Fortunately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did a good job of communicating quickly and clearly.”
With the use of iPhones and Blackberry phones, public relations professionals can be anywhere at anytime covering any situation and sharing it with their audiences simultaneously in a concise manner. Media consumers are so sick of biased journalists with added fluff. People are yearning for those 140-character messages and turning away from print and broadcast media.
April 28, 2009
Zappos.com isn’t just offering shoes anymore. Recently, the online retail Web site expanded to fashion, beauty and home decor. The company is kicking off these additions in celebration of Mother’s Day by offering free shipping and even free overnight upgrades with a 365-day return policy.
Searching for new avenues and opportunities is a perfect example of evolving with the economy. Rather than keeping to one single product, Zappos is offering more to their already loyal customers and giving potential customers a new opportunity to shop with their company.
It’s important as public relations professionals to look outside the box and take off the blinders. Offering new business ideas and new opportunities will improve your clients bottom line while contributing to job security.
April 21, 2009
Thrift stores are thriving in this economy and beating out the competition of big name retail stores. As people go green and hoard their cash, thrift stores are seeing a boom in business!
The mndaily.com reports, “While other businesses are reporting decreasing sales, Goodwill stores have seen at least 10 percent increases in same-store retail sales compared with October 2007, Goodwill Industries International spokeswoman Lauren Lawson said.”
“the economy has not hurt donations, Lawson said. For the first nine months of the year, the number of donation drop-offs in North America increased by 9.6 percent over the same time period last year.”
The green movement has also sparked the rise of thrift store spending. MSNBC explains, “A growing ‘green’ ethos among American consumers has also propelled the industry. ‘People are really savvy now,’ said Angie Heidenreich, owner of LuLu’s Consignment Boutique in Fletcher, N.C. ‘With consignment you make money, you save money and you recycle. It’s a no-brainer.’”
You’d be surprised to find diamonds in the rough while searching through previously owned goods. Just a few days ago, my mother found a Dolce & Gabbana belt for a few bucks! One fashionista’s trash is another fashionista’s treasure!
Share your thoughts on thrift store shopping! Have you had big success? Any tips and tricks?
April 17, 2009
Baby Phat is holding its first ever Baby Phat “Fab Photo” Contest until April 22. Since April 8, Baby Phat Facebook fans have been styling and posting photos of their most fabulous looks.
Fans of the Baby Phat Facebook fan page are invited to submit a photo of themselves wearing their favorite Baby Phat outfit to contest@phatfashions.com.
One Grand Prize winner receives a $500 Baby Phat wardrobe and the opportunity to have their name and photo posted on the Baby Phat Facebook fan page! Please keep in mind that this contest is exclusive to fans of the Baby Phat Facebook page.
All entries must include their name, e-mail address, telephone number and include a close-up photograph of themself taken within the last 30 days. All photos should be in one of the following formats: .jpg, .pdf, .tiff, or .bmp. All photo entries submitted will also go into Kimora’s personal fan photo album.
So, get going and channel your “fabulosity!”
April 8, 2009
Social media is the best tool to effectively communicate messages in the shortest amount of time, but it can be difficult to directly generate revenue. Measuring the success of a social media campaign can take some time and is very subjective. Of course, social media tools are free to use and need little to no investment, but wouldn’t it be wonderful to make a profit?
Advertising is one way to generate a return on investment, although, as PR professionals know, word of mouth marketing is more effective than placing an advertisement. So, how does one generate revenue and measure the success from disseminating messages through social media?
It’s simple, communicate exclusive deals and information to your followers, fans and readers. Give your audience an incentive to frequent the social media sites while opening shop online. In addition to creating an editorial calendar and tweeting the most up-to-date company news, brainstorm special offers and sales exclusive to online viewers.
The best way to measure the success of your social media campaign is to give the exclusive offers a significant promotional code. For example, tell your audience to mention a key word in order to redeem the special offer. Track every time a customer uses this promotional code and vuala! You will soon be able to measure the ROI on your social media campaign through the revenue it has generated.
Once a company has created a blog, Twitter account and Facebook page, the question of measuring the return on investment becomes of utmost interest. Your boss has only one thing in mind and that is making money, so be conscious of your ROI measurement.
March 12, 2009
I’m proud to announce Saurette, New York based children’s clothing company, is now available for purchase in stores across the U.S. and available online at www.mysaurette.net! It was only last January I covered the star attention Saurette received during the Golden Globes. Now, the coverage and attention has paid off with Saurette launching a full fledged in-store debut.
This is a prime example of earned media coverage resulting in a return on investment. Creating a buzz with media coverage such as events, social media and print will enable a brand to leverage itself while breaking into their target markets. Recognition is everything when it comes to selling a product because it gives customers the promise of quality.
As far as ROI goes, it can be difficult to measure public relations activities for every dollar. A PR campaign needs time to develop and become established before you can truly measure the investment and distance of dollar. Research is one way to measure success, aside from ad equivalency, because it shows the change upon impact of public relations activities. Take a snapshot of the company before you embark on a campaign and compare your results. This method will provide necessary tools to communicate ROI.
As a public relations professional, it is important to show your results at all times. Companies will put more trust in your services and in turn build your reputation and clientele.
Find Saurette in a store near you! Also, Saurette is offering free shipping from www.mysaurette.net just in time to order those Easter dresses for your little girls! Usethe following code at check-out: SAFRSHP
Filed under Uncategorized
Tags: ad equivalency, advertising, case study, Children's Clothing, measurement, measuring PR, measuring public relations, PR, Public Relations, return on investment, return on objective, ROI, Saurette
March 10, 2009
Photo: What to wear to the office
Many people have recently asked for my advice on breaking into the public relations industry. There are many students eager to graduate and hop into their dream job. Don’t get me wrong, having a fire in the belly is a wonderful thing but you must be careful. It is a different world out there and nothing is what it seems. Everyone is fighting to save their job or land a job, so it is important to be smart and careful.
Are you graduating soon and planning on job searching or currently seeking a new job? Here are a few things to remember before tackling the job market during this economy:
#1 Know the market. It is important to asses the nature and activity of top companies within the industry. Lay-offs, budget cuts and even stock prices determine whether or not there is better chance for you to score a job in fashion or consumer public relations.
#2 Be open to new opportunities. Of course you don’t want to flip burgers for the rest of your life, but what if you could flip burgers while offering your public relations skills to that burger joint? Aside from fast food, you may find yourself looking at thousands of non-PR jobs within your desired industry. Take a chance on one of those jobs and you may find out that the company actually needs PR! You can then offer your skills and gain experience!
#3 Stay active. Keep blogging and join PR organizations even if you end up at a job that does not involve practicing public relations. PRSA is a wonderful way to stay updated on the industry and build networks. Blogging and micro-blogging also exercises and refines your writing skills. Also, keep reading your favorite blogs and newspapers to stay current on trends and industry news. You never know when a potential PR job could present itself.
#4 Take your time. Don’t take the first job that falls in your lap. It’s also important to move on if you’ve been job searching for over three months without result. Moving back home with the parents or a few roommates will save you money and help build a nest egg. It’s never too early to start adding to your nest egg or emergency fund.
#5 Show your worth! Don’t be shy because modesty won’t get you anywhere in the world of public relations. Be confident in what you have learned in class, internships or previous jobs by building a portfolio of related work. Share every single piece of media you’ve earned and any tactics you’ve helped implement, even if you think your job was insignificant. Every helping hand is the building block for a successful brand!
#6 Stay positive. It’s always important to keep a positive outlook. Talk yourself up before entering into a job interview. I always say to myself, “You’re the best and they would be nothing without you!” I know, it’s a pretty bold statement but it tricks your brain into staying calm and collected. Also, remember to never give up. Don’t be discouraged if over five companies have turned you down. There’s a job out there for you, I promise!
March 1, 2009
Customer service is the springboard for successful public relations and marketing strategies. Anyone can act as the “customer.” Whether someone is a fashionista shopping for the newest pair of Manolos or a journalist shopping for a captivating story. Building and maintaining good relationships is key to public relations.
Nordstrom is probably the best example of placing customer service at the forefront of their business model. They even have their own urban legend about someone returning a set of tires!
During the current economy, department stores are slashing prices and high-end labels are creating lower priced lines. Now, luxury boutique stores are even throwing away their snooty image and starting to place importance on customer service.
Ray A. Smith at the Wall Street Journal explains, “as the luxury goods industry suffers a massive slump in sales – many sales clerks at designer stores who were famously haughty and patronizing suddenly have changed their styles.”
Smith also reports that “some [stores] do acknowledge that they’ve instructed their sales clerks to be less abrupt, spend more time with customers and refrain from being pushy. At Neiman Marcus, sales associates are being encouraged to be “more patient” with customers. “We have seen that customers are more anxious and there is some concern out there,” says Ginger Reeder, a spokeswoman for Neiman Marcus. “So it behooves all of us to remember to be a little more patient.”
If you care about your customer, the customer will care about you and keep your brand secure. As I have said before, in a time of recession, consumers are looking for brands they trust. They want to know that the companies are looking out for them and have their best interest at heart. Fashion brands will gain and retain business while setting themselves apart once they place more importance on customer service.
February 24, 2009
Converse’s newest 1HUND(RED)s for Spring brings a new meaning to DIY fashion featuring the creative talents from 100 internationally celebrated musicians, artists, designers and even you! Anyone can build their own pair of shoes and make a difference with the customizable “MAKE MINE (RED)” option. This is another way to use cross promotion with a CSR approach. It’s also a wonderful way to engage your target audience while joining in on a good cause like (PRODUCT) RED.
The Converse 1HUND(RED) initiative is a year-long global project celebrating their partnership with (RED) and commemorating the brand’s 100th anniversary to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. Also, the Chuck Taylor® ALL STAR® x Africa line uses canvas sourced in Africa and features African mudcloth designs, bringing global inspiration to the classic Converse style.
Lupe Fiasco, Grammy winning hip-hop artist, created his custom pair of Chucks, shown above, inspired by newsprint. The shoes feature the familiar phrase, appearing in French around the shoe’s midsole, “Extra! Extra! Read all about it!”
Andrew Mania, known for his conceptual work that riffs off famous art pieces featured in big name galleries in London and Chelsea, has designed his own shoe inspired by the famous artwork “This is not a pipe” by Rene Magritte. Andrew explains, “Clothes or sneakers are just another set of materials to play with. And the shoe can be a work of art, or something other than what it obviously is.”
View the entire Spring collection at (Converse)RED.
