« September 2005 | Main | November 2005 »

October 28, 2005

Walking The Green Carpet...Environmental Media Association

Attending the EMA Awards (Environmental Media Association) last week. The ambience was just like being at the Oscars, the production, teleprompters, cheesy scripts, and all! The theme was a family environment and almost every star that got up to speak or present an award had along their children, niece or nephew. They gave awards to shows that demonstrated an environmental message in their programming such as King of the Hill, and the West Wing. Although A list stars like Cameron Diaz, Nicole Richie, Daryl Hanah, Alicia Silverstone, Harrison Ford and countless others graced the green carpet, my coo of the evening was seeing Peter Reckell of Days of our Lives, a show I have been watching for 19 years. The night also was spent by honoring Cindy Horn and Lyn Lear, the EMA’s founders.

Friends for years, both women were pregnant when they started the cause. They did not like what they saw in the world and they wanted to make a change, one that would preserve their children and future generations and encourage them to live a more eco-friendly way of life. The best part of the evening was when Rob Reiner spoke about the founders, Cindy and Lyn. He was just as quirky and funny as his 80’s classic romantic comedies (When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle).

The food was truly delectable and of course carried the theme of the night, environmental chic. They had several vegan, and vegetarian dishes that were prepared by the best chef’s, me being a vegetarian for the last 15 years I was in heaven! There was even a silent auction benefiting the cause. At the end of the night celebrities gathered around product booths to fill an environmentally sound bag provided by Toyota and their Hybrid vehicles, with faboulous items such as Zia Natural Skincare’s Ultimate Day Renewal, Whole Foods shopping bags, tee shirts, headphones and various other goodies. It was a night to remember and one I know I will never forget I have never been elbow to elbow with so many celebs at one time!

Posted by Missy at 06:15 PM | TrackBack

Go Organic this Flu Season

With the flu season slowly creeping upon us and the new “bird flu" already flocking around, it’s about time we take serious health precautions. Last week I felt a cold, possibly the flu approaching as my eyes began to itch and the aches started up. I trekked cross-town to the New London Pharmacy in Chelsea to pick up one of the most exclusive remedy lines in the world, The Organic Pharmacy.

Owner, Abby Fazio picked out the Immune Support Tincture for me to take as one of the more popular products she suggests to her patients. The product receives amazing reviews as within 24 hours, patients feel more than a 50% improvement. Abby has been encouraging the use of immune boosting products this season, as strengthening the immune system before illnesses set in is the best way to stay healthy. Only 15 drops 2-3 times a day in a cup of water was the pharmacist recommendations. And after 24 hours and a night of NYC nightlife, I woke up the next morning a different person feeling completely rejuvenated.

The Organic Pharmacy is based out of England and growing rapidly due to its ingredients and healing capabilities. A necessity of Madonna, she is a huge fan of the Detox regimen and recently stocked up while creating her new album in England. The New London Pharmacy is one of the few establishments to actually carry the line in the U.S. as exclusivity is very high and supply is limited. For more information, please visit www.newlondonpharmacy.com or www.theorganicpharmacy.com.

Posted by Ryan Michael at 05:44 PM | TrackBack

Project Precious: Complete

The moment every Park Avenue princess has been waiting for has finally arrived. The highly anticipated Essence from Crème de la Mer has hit counters at Bergdorf’s and has already drawn up an extensive waiting list. The $2,650 face cream is an intense three week treatment designed to be applied beneath the Crème de la Mer face cream and promises to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

The product is comprised mostly of fermented algae, a derivative of the narcissus bulb, rosemary, vitamin C and soy and has been in the works for several years and kept highly confidential. It has even been given the name “Project Precious” from the folks at Estee Lauder, the parent company of La Mer products.

For such a hefty price tag and only one and a half ounces of The Essence, it better take your mind and your skin back to its infancy. At the risk of sounding opinionated — a stance I take most of the time — I would have to be highly convinced that this product would give me better results than an intense facial, medical grade microdermabrasion or cold light therapy. Advances in skin care technology have come a long way, but for the price of a semester of college at a state school, or the opportunity to do some good with that kind of money, I’ll take a fine line or visible pore anyday.

Posted by Constance Wherrity at 05:14 PM | TrackBack

Broadcast Pitching For Entertainment Professionals

Pierce Mattie brand advocates attended yesterday’s Entertainment Publicists Professional Society panel titled “Wake Me Up Before You Go.” Producers from ESPN’s Cold Pizza, NBC’s The Today Show, CBS’ CBS Sunday Morning and WB11’s Morning News discussed broadcast pitching techniques with New York publicists.

After spending at least six hours a day on the phone pitching to print and broadcast networks, it is often discouraging for those in the public relations world to continue pitching when they often get shot down. We must remember that the producers and editors are bombarded by countless pitches each day, and therefore you can only image the level of interest that remains for MORE pitches at the end of their day. So, it only makes sense when the panelsits swore that although they might come off as insensitive and blasé on the phone, they are interested and their busy days have just gotten the best of them.

It is important for everyone in the public relations field to keep in mind that when you are pitching, it is best for you to act like a producer by laying out the entire story line and always making the pitch relevant to each network’s particular audience.

After an hour of pitching suggestions, the luncheon ended with role playing between the panelists and audience members, encouraging publicists not to give up, just to try harder.

Posted by Keri Carmen at 05:12 PM | TrackBack

October 26, 2005

YOU, Me and PHYTO

If you are a woman of color, there are certain hair problems that are ever present: breakage from over processing, drying from product inefficiency and dull looking hair whether color treated or not. Ladies, you are not alone. Even an űber PR Pryncess like yours truly must suffer through the hard times. But no longer do women of color have to live with dull hair! I have found the answer!

PHYTO!!!! Well, not all by itself, YOU Hair Care from Luster (not yet on the market. You mere mortals must wait until January) was part of the formula. I used a mixture of YOU Straight and Phyto Phytodefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm on my wet hair, wrapped it and went to bed. I woke up to a straight, shiny magnificent mane! Three different people stopped me on the street today to ask how I got my hair so shiny! OMG! You MUST try it.

Scoot, scoot…Go get your two year supply of Phyto and I promise to let you now when YOU Straight hits the shelves.

Ciao, beauties!

Posted by Nikki Walker at 10:14 AM | TrackBack

October 25, 2005

“Sex” Degrees of Separation

I’m not one to gossip, but when it comes to rumors about Paris Hilton, the heiress that has been linked to many of Hollywood’s hottest leading men, they probably aren’t that far from the truth. Today I made my weekly pilgrimage to Best Buy to see the latest DVD releases. As a horror fanatic, I of course picked up the new House of Wax DVD [widescreen edition]. Say what you will about this remake from Dark Castle Entertainment, but Elisha Cuthbert and Chad Michael Murray both give great performances as a brother and sister team that fight back against a masked killer. The highlight of the film is when party girl Hilton gets impaled. This brings me to my point.

Am I the last one to hear the rumor of Chad Michael Murray’s alleged infidelity with Paris? I wouldn’t put this past the star of the infamous sex tape, but Chad already had a beautiful wife (co-star from WB's One Tree Hill), that by all accounts is 100 percent natural. Paris on the other hand looks like one of the wax figures from her film. Nothing about this Barbie incarnate is real, but with a successful movie under her g-string I’m guessing this isn’t the last time we’ll see her starring, and I use that word loosely, in a big Hollywood production.

Posted by Lance Buckley at 02:34 PM | TrackBack

October 24, 2005

LA Fashion Week

This New York Fashion Week veteran has witnessed shows big and small, inspiring and established. Almost all shows give me butterflies, and each has its own energy and vibe. Though fashion week here in Los Angeles is very different it still brings me back to that feeling I wait for twice a year.

LA fashion week is widely viewed as a celebrity forum; Publicists eagerly push to have the A-list in attendance for all of their shows. More than New York, LA Fashion week is about celebrity faces and fun. Obviously LA doesn’t cater to the “fashion media elite”- top fashion editors and publishers. LA Fashion Week embraces LA’s style of freedom—partying, watching for fun and judging which designer gave the better gift bag. LA’s bigger sister show—actually, more like the mother of all shows (next to Paris)—in New York is much larger, extremely organized and seriously all about the work. Editors line the front rows and are there to take note of all the newest fashions and trends, mindful that this is their business.

The differences in venue also have an effect on the flavor of the lines. The highlight of LA Fashion Week was the Antik Denim show. You would think they had the cure for cancer stashed away in that little room. The mob lined up in the hundreds just to get a ticket to stand in line, fully aware that they may never get in. As my co worker and I seemingly slipped through the line, passed the ropes and made a slight turn passed the VIP room where countless celebrities depart from, we walk right passed the guards and into a vibrant, and fully packed crowd waiting for the big show. The show starts and the feminine, frilly cowboy theme engulfs the room. Bare breasted women in cowboy boots and the hottest jeans the market bares sway down the runway. The grand finale is a brazen model riding a mechanical bull at the end of the catwalk, brings me back to the classic Hollywood movie…Urban Cowboy.

Posted by Missy at 04:45 PM | TrackBack

October 21, 2005

Congratulations Pantene!

Could this be why Pantene won three "Best of Beauty" Awards in Allure???

Posted by Constance Wherrity at 05:49 PM | TrackBack

How to get your client covered

Often PR practitioners have been pitching a particular reporter without any success, not even a response. They have sent faxes, e-mails, voicemails and messengered press kits to the editor, but to no avail. What could be done to get their attention?

1) Go up, go down. Try the reporter’s assistant or editor. Often the reporter is too busy to return calls or is merely out of town.
2) Sweeten the deal. Offer the editor something special like an exclusive or first option.
3) Verify. Make sure the reporter is the right contact by researching past articles they’ve written and checking with the editorial assistant.

Posted by Michael Rogers at 05:15 PM | TrackBack

World Series '05 Showdown

With the World Series starting tomorrow (Saturday), we’ll get a chance to view an unlikely pairing of two large scale national markets for the first time on such a widely televised stage. The Houston Astros will appear in their first ever World Series as the Chicago Whitesox are making their 6th appearance.

With predictions already rolling in and forecasts showing Whitesox in six according to baseball legend Ryne Sandberg, the most anticipated Fall event will be the icing on the cake for these two pennant winners. The key to this series is the pitching, the main factor that’s gotten both teams to this point. Which pitching staff will prevail? Stay tuned to FOX to find out!

Posted by Ryan Michael at 05:13 PM | TrackBack

Bypassing PR Obstacles

As PR practitioners, we’re often put on the spot by clients who want editorial coverage, but there is nothing newsworthy going on with the client, i.e. no customers, no distribution, ergo nothing new to say. The PR team is in a tough corner. They must meet the client demands and get coverage for the client, but they also don’t want to pitch a non-story and risk valuable media contacts.

With a little brainstorming, and creative thinking, a solution could be found. For example, the PR team could position the client as a thought leader or expert in their field. The PR team could also go after different types of media. Instead of focusing on consumer press, they could go after business press presenting the client’s business model or recent client win. And don’t forget about trade press! Trade press can be invaluable to a client in increasing distribution, creating awareness among peers and professionals, and establishing a solid brand identity.

Very few PR obstacles are insurmountable. With a little creativity and critical thinking, solutions can be found. Finding solutions to problems can be exhilarating. That’s the beauty of this profession and why I love it.

Posted by Michael Rogers at 05:12 PM | TrackBack

American Eagle Spreads Its Wings

In an attempt to diversify and widen its clientele, American Eagle Outfitters plans to open Martin + Osa, a retail line targeted to 25 to 40 year olds in fall 2006. With classic and affordable styles, Martin + Osa will feature sportswear, denim and shoes catered to a more mature audience while maintaining American Eagle’s commitment to providing customers quality clothing that is affordable. With a majority of their target demographic getting older, this is the latest effort in American Eagle Outfitters keeping up with the ever-changing fashion of today’s generation.

Posted by Keri Carmen at 05:10 PM | TrackBack

Lose Weight, Feel Great!

When employed as an executive in Fashion and Beauty PR, it is definitely assumed that one is both fashionable and beautiful. After all, I would never have my hair styled by someone who looked like they just rolled out of bed. (BedHead, of course, is only cute when it is expressly intended with use of product). Now, we all know that I have the beauty part under control thanks to the lovely Mr. and Mrs. Walker and when I really need to put it on, I can certainly make a statement in a great black suit. BUT high fashion doesn’t work on me. Sadly PRADA, Fendi, Dior and the other luxury hi fashion designers are not interested in suiting up a “plus sized” diva.

Please don’t be confused, I’m not the Star Jones “before picture” diva, but I’m not the Oprah Winfrey “after picture” diva either. So, when my overly considerate boss called the executives into his office to have a frank discussion about the new “No McDonald’s Rule” and the ever present “Executives MUST attend the gym three times a week rule”, I decided not to fight it. Instead, I had a turkey sandwich and took my Diva-luscious self to NYSC on my lunch hour.

SCARY!!! This was my first time in the gym in almost a year and, well….”ouch!” So many machines; people running, sweating, grunting. The horror! But again, instead of fighting it, I climbed aboard a friendly looking treadmill and walked for 40 minutes-up hills, down hills and in the “forest mode” until I, too, was sweating. For what it’s worth, I feel great and I have committed to doing a workout three times a week for the next three weeks. Hopefully that and my revived Nutri-System plan will have me on the road to Halle Berry “normal picture” in no time!

Posted by Nikki Walker at 04:36 PM | TrackBack

October 20, 2005

Groom It Like Beckham

David Beckham is hailed as one of the best soccer players in England, but it’s his proficiency with grooming and fashion, and his killer good looks, that garner him so much attention in the media, not his plays on the field. Guys and women everywhere recognize him as the epitome of the well-groomed man, and major organizations are using this to capitalize on the grooming industry.

In an announcement today, The Football Association revealed their plans to launch a range of England-branded grooming products. The line is the latest in a string of licensing initiatives The FA has signed onto in recent years. The brand was developed in hopes of cashing in on the World Cup finals in Germany next summer, and with men now making up approximately 50 percent of the buyers in the personal hygiene market, it is safe to assume that the brand will take off.

The line will be launched at the Brand Licensing Show at Earl's Court on October 25-26. The products, available first in Sainsbury’s this winter and across England in 2006, will incorporate deodorants and shower gels with elements such as water bottles and hacky-sacks.

Posted by Lance Buckley at 05:14 PM | TrackBack

October 19, 2005

Beauty in Colors

African-American women, like most others, turn to the pages of our favorite glossies in search of what’s hot, what’s not, and what’s next in fashion, beauty, and all things glam. Unfortunately, many often close the covers of mainstream mags feeling slightly let-down because while the make-up suggestions look good on Paris, Jessica, and maybe even Beyonce and Halle, we know those colors don’t compliment every complexion. Some even try and follow editors’ tips only to find that recommended foundations leave them looking uber-BLAH. So what’s a gal to do when she doesn’t look good in the newest hue?

If supermodel Iman has her way, women of color will find the solutions to their beauty dilemmas on the pages of her new book, The Beauty of Color: The Ultimate Guide for Skin of Color (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2005). It not only features tips on foundations and color combinations, but also shares insight on caring for a variety of skin types. Make-up suggestions range from faux-naturale to avant-garde, but they focused more on timeless than trendy. Still, some are more for reel life than real life.

Speaking of reel life, Film Life’s 2005 Black Movie Awards recently took place and will air on TNT October 19th. The Red Carpet photos on AOL’s Black Voices are clear evidence that African-American screen gems are veering away from flashy and toward fresh in their make-up decisions. Showstoppers like Nia Long, Vivica A. Fox and Taraji P.Henson (of Hustle and Flow fame) wore elegant, jewel-toned satin gowns but kept the colors on their faces to a minimum. The most outstanding feature was the blush that highlighted almost every cheek in attendance. It seems rosy cheeks are the next big thing in Black beauty.

Divas who want to jump on the bandwagon without breaking the bank will now find it easier than ever. More mass market cosmetic manufacturers, including Iman, are offering products specifically for women of color at affordable prices. Brands like Black Opal have even solved the common “I have 3 different skin tones on my face, and I can’t find a foundation to even them out” problem faced by many African American women. They now offer color-combined powders that blend multiple shades.

Now, women of color have no excuse for not glamming up. With Iman’s advice, Hollywood’s example, and the more-affordable lines of beauty products tailored to our needs, we can enhance our own natural colors, no matter what beautiful color we may be.

Posted by Nafi Saboor at 10:38 AM | TrackBack

October 17, 2005

Client Agency Relationships

Public relations is all about relationships with clients, editors and the public. What can make or break any PR effort is the client-agency relationship and in order for a partnership with a client to work, there must be a level of trust. The client must trust its agency and be willing to take a risk. If the client trusts the agency and the agency representatives, then the client is willing to risk the success of the project. But if there is no trust, the client would not risk the project with that agency.

There are many elements that are involved in trust. The client must feel that the agency and its representatives know what they are doing. Further, the client needs to feel like the agency is managing its time well, charging a reasonable fee, and is attentive to the client company needs. An agency that does the above badly looses trust with the client and eventually the job.

In order to establish trust with the client, the agency should go over its experience in the industry, task at hand and be willing to talk about similar scenarios with past clients. This lets the client know the agency knows what it is doing and has the skills and know how to succeed. Agency representatives need to show up on time, be available to the client when needed, and complete tasks on schedule. An agency that is late, unavailable or always goes over deadlines will lose trust with the client.

Posted by Michael Rogers at 06:13 PM | TrackBack

October 14, 2005

Gotham Magazine's Bachelor Party at Marquee

As what seemed like thousands of Gotham magazines flooding the tables of the white hot nightspot Marquee, guests began fumbling through the pages searching for the infamous list of the NYC’s top 100 hottest bachelors. Eye contact of a familiar kind began echoing through the rooms as women began to hunt down their favorite bachelor. Some gay, some straight and some not interested, but all were in fact, bachelors. With an open bar, bartenders were bombarded with hundreds of 20-somethings looking to secure a free drink before the midnight deadline and a mate (if lucky) before close.

I walked in with fellow bachelor Joshua Blaylock, accompanied by 5 beautiful women, but unfortunately no red carpet. Greeted with a pen and Swiss Army knife from Victorinox, the first thing I thought was, “are they really giving out knives at a club?” Nonetheless, the night was filled with curious glances and seductive dance moves that brought even the most subdued bachelors out to the dance floor. Oh, and if you’re wondering, Alec Baldwin wasn’t there and neither was David Copperfield. Well, maybe he was, but I guess he was just doing his famous disappearing act.

Posted by Ryan Michael at 05:25 PM | TrackBack

Fashion & Style The New York Times Multimedia Sections are Stunning

I’ve always been a fan of the New York Times audio slide shows. The fashion photos are gorgious, and of course Cathy Horyn gives a top notch commentary with that sexy strong voice. She needs to do audio books... I love her voice!

Paris Fashion Collections
Cathy Horyn reviews the Paris collections.

Behind The Scenes At Fashion Week
New York Fashion Week hosted 180 designers. A look behind the scenes, backstage with the designers, models and stylists.

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 04:51 PM | TrackBack

Rosemary's Baby: Katie Holmes Sporting "Naval Nipple"

On the current cover of Life & Style, Katie Holmes is pictured showing the first signs of a pregnant belly. Notice her perky "navelnipple." I find it odd that her bellybutton is already protruding. I’m no expert on this matter, but I do have three sisters, all of which have had several children, and none of their stomachs, or bellybuttons for that matter, started to show this much until they were well into their sixth month of pregnancy.

I know that all women are different, but the size of Katie’s belly leads me to believe that the Tomkat duo has known about the pregnancy for months prior to making the official announcement that shocked the world. Could it be they held off on going public with the pregnancy until recently to help garnish some positive press right before their summer films hit stores on DVD? After all, Batman Begins will be available next Tuesday, and War of the Worlds is due out November 22nd. Both films did relatively well at the box office, but failed to draw in the projected crowds.

If you need your baby fix now and can’t wait until the TomKitten litter arrives, get into the Halloween spirit with Rosemary’s Baby, a horror classic, directed by Roman Polanski, in which a young “desperate” housewife, played by Mira Farrow, gives birth to the son of Satan. It’s a baby cruise straight to hell.

Read more about this topic

Katie Holmes has been photographed showing off a sizeable bump - sparking speculation she is more than three months pregnant as previously rumoured.

The pictures of the actress relaxing with fiancé Tom Cruise in a park show her silky blue top clinging to her bulging tummy. .

The smitten pair announced they were expecting a baby earlier this month, and it was thought 27-year-old Katie was around 12 weeks pregnant. .
But an onlooker who saw the couple at the Los Angeles park told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper: "She had a very considerable bump, and you could see her belly button through her floaty top. To me she looked more like a girl who was five months pregnant than three.

"If she does still have six months of her term left to go, she is going to be as big as a house by the time the baby arrives".

Last week it was revealed the brunette beauty is set to give birth in silence. As devout disciples of cult religion Scientology Katie and her husband-to-be would have to maintain a vigil of total silence in the delivery suite.

The bizarre ritual - which Scientologists believe prevents children from turning mad - is nothing new to Cruise who insisted the biological mothers of the adopted children he had with Nicole Kidman have their babies in silence.

Posted by Lance Buckley at 01:50 PM | TrackBack

October 12, 2005

iPod Pumps Up

Today Apple Computer Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs announced a new version of the best-selling iPod that, in addition to playing music, will also show videos. Riding the tailcoats of this announcement is the new pink nano that comes pre-loaded with Madonna songs, making it the first iPod product to be linked with a singer since the U2 limited series black iPod.

The new video iPod will have a 2 ½” color screen, allowing for clear, bold graphics. Since iPod launched in 2001, more than 28.2 million units have been sold. One million of this total comes from the nano, all of which were sold since the launch last month.

At present, iPod accounts for more than 70 percent of the market for digital players. As Apple’s stocks continue to climb in value, other companies are cashing in on the success by launching an array of accessories including special headphones and portable speakers. One of the most unique accessories for iPod is a new fitness program called PumpPod; a collection of more than 40 workouts in JPEG formatted images that are downloaded to your image-ready iPod, along with Treo, Tungsten, Zire, etc.

The brainchild of Craig Schlossberg, a pioneering software engineer, and Declan Condron, an exclusive New York personal trainer, PumpPod is different than other programs as it gives you step-by-step instructions and images instead of just audio explanations. The best part is you can listen to your music while you workout, and with dozens of programs already launched and dozens more in development, you’ll never get bored. It’s like having an iPod on steroids.

To read more about iPod's announcements, click here.

Posted by Lance Buckley at 05:51 PM | TrackBack

I Saw Jigsaw -Halloween and horror films

When it comes to Halloween and horror films, no one is as insane about the two as me. So I was “thrilled to the bone” when I got an invite to a party for SAW II and the new SAW (Uncut Edition) DVD, which features never-before-seen deleted scenes and the original short that inspired the franchise [out next Tuesday]. I couldn’t think of a better way to kick off the fright-fest season.

Hosted at Orchid in NYC and sponsored by my friends at STUFF magazine, the event was a macabre sight for horror fans, with bloody stumps/hands hanging from the rafters and strewn around on tables. One of the many highlights of the evening was meeting Donnie Wahlberg, formerly of New Kids on the Block, and the Jigsaw Killer, played by Tobin Bell. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any better, I ran into Leigh Whannell, one of the stars from the first SAW and writer of both films. And for those die hard horror fans who hate water-downed sequels, SAW II promises more blood and enhanced death traps to keep you on the edge of your seat.

The climax of the evening was getting a sneak peek at the soon-to-be infamous “Venus fly trap” contraption. The scene starts with our victim waking up from a drug-induced sleep. His right eye is covered in blood and around his neck is a medal mask that looks like an iron maiden torture device, not yet locked together. His only chance for survival involves a scalpel and a key logged behind his eye, put there by Jigsaw while he was passed out. As if that’s not enough to get our hearts pounding, a timer is counting down the seconds until the mask closes. We’ll have to wait until Halloween though to see if our pretty boy sacrifices an eye to survive or becomes yet another bloody piece to Jigsaw’s bloody puzzle.

Posted by Lance Buckley at 03:14 PM | TrackBack

October 11, 2005

The Talk of Tinsletown

Every city encompasses a style of it's own, and dictates what fashion labels will be brought to that market. A city has a way of branding it's people, an identifiable look that labels an individual as a resident of that place. New Yorkers are known for their black, monocromatic look. While here in la la land, Angelenos strut the classic casual look; graphic tee, $300 jeans, Chanel sunglasses, Louie bag and of course the trademark $5 flip flops. Even though LA’s look is generally universal their citizen’s taste in clubs or hangouts includes a wide range of styles depending on the mood. If you are after the hottest and most trendy club set your sights on the Spider Club, with a Moroccan theme including plush surroundings, Persian rugs and even a bed included if you need to crash. The club use to be reserved for working actors and musicians and has now opened it self up to trendy model/actress look alikes. LAX is another elite chart topper. Inspired by its namesake, it resembles the LA airport, perfect for those who missed the opportunity to be stranded at an airport due to inclement weather such as a snowstorm or hurricane. Celebrity DJ Adam Goldstein aka Nicole Richie’s fiancé owns this neon lit club.

Element is another frequented venue that has a warehouse, airy feel and is host to most celebrity parties, if there is a gala or launch in LA you can bet it is here. For those of us who are old school and can’t seem to let 80’s rock die we are reminded of the Viper Room. It is known for the death of River Phoenix outside its walls, but also host to countless VIP musicians such as Pearl Jam and Iggy Pop who stop by and perform occasionally. The Whiskey A Go-Go is home to old rock legends like Jim Morrison whose poetic lyrics are written on the bare black walls. The Whiskey has an enormous sound system and inspires up and coming acts to recreate the music inside the landmark. If you have spent all night parting or the club circuit is not your scene and you just want to relax and sip cocktails pool side, the premiere hang out is the Tropicana at the Roosevelt Hotel. The setting is old 50’s Hollywood. Industry big shots, actresses and wanna be starlets read their scripts while lounging on the linen lined bungalows. No matter where your taste requests, being out and about in Tinsletown is all about seeing and being seen.

Posted by Missy at 02:27 PM | TrackBack

October 07, 2005

Fashion & Beauty Embraces Larger Sized Teens

Fashion and beauty media has basically ignored the needs of larger sized teens and tweens. We all know those are some of the most important to our self image and self esteem. To be ignored during those years, when weight may flux, by the ones we look to for guidance and advice sends out a message that we either don’t exist in their eyes or aren’t important enough to acknowledge. Finally, a change is being made and someone is stepping up!

The managing editor of Teen People, Amy Barnett asks readers to send her questions every month via text message, and she answers them in the “Behind the Scenes” section of the mag. In the October issue, one reader said, “Amy, I’m plus size and always have trouble finding cute clothes. Could you put some clothes for big girls in your mag?” Amy’s response: “From our last issue on, we’ve pledged to include clothes for all body shapes and sizes. I hope you find something you love!”

The proof was on page 82, where they made some fabulous affordable suggestions for larger girls on a budget. Seriously, no matter her size, a girl still wants to look good, and now it’s a lot easier. Seventeen featured a plus sized model in their “Just Flaunt It!” section, which shows girls how to show of their favorite body part. She highlighted her calves in a knee-grazing full skirt, rocker tee, and denim blazer.

Huge kudos to Teen People, Seventeen and other mags like them for finally including girls who don’t fit the typical mold. Equally large props to clothing companies like Old Navy, Torrid, and Avenue that have made a commitment to producing trendier clothes in larger sizes.

Posted by Nafi Saboor at 06:00 PM | TrackBack

Sports PR/ An Inside Look at how the NHL is Using Community Relations to Bring the Fans back to the Rink

We’re only two days into the new revamped NHL season and the evidence of the rule changes are already crystal clear. The game is definitely quicker and more exciting and as for increased scoring, that’ll take some time to have definitive answers. But how does a professional sports league bounce back from a year off the radar and expect the fans to be as passionate and interested as they once were?

Well, by using PR strategies of course. NHL teams have taken efforts off the ice to attract fans back to the ice. By using community relations and public outreach, players are making strides to physically connect themselves with the fans. Organizations took the summer to conduct press events and player signings to get the fans back on track with the upcoming season. The New York Rangers, for example, held a fan appreciation day that rewarded attendees with free tickets to a game of their choice and an opportunity to meet and speak with some of the players. This and other like events are as a result of organizations’ public relations and community relations departments, areas that have never been this useful and important until now.

Whether we look at professional sports as entertainment or one of our passions, in the end, it’s a business (at least from the owners’ side). When the NHL went down for a year, they took a major hit both in the wallet and in the minds of fans. This type of occurrence happens everyday in business. A product fails or a plan of action doesn’t come through and the businesses need to conduct crisis management plans to help regenerate positive feedback and an optimistic reputation.

Whether we view professional sports as an industry for the fans or the owners, there are times when actions off the playing field can directly affect the credibility and appeal on the field. Let’s just hope that the players come through on their own end of the bargain. To love what they do and play as hard as they can, because when they were 10 years old playing everyday to get to that professional level, there were no signing bonuses or collective bargaining agreements, just raw passion. Let’s make a deal. We’ll watch and attend games, if you play like you never heard of the word “contract.”

Posted by Ryan Michael at 04:44 PM | TrackBack

Men's Grooming Brand HOMMAGE Wins Prestigious Design Award

Each year, JIDPO, Japan’s premier design promotion body, holds a competition for its Good Design Award (G-Mark). According to JIDPO’s own survey within Japan, the average recognition rate of the G-Mark is 65% nationwide, rising to 80% among older, higher-income urban residents. When making a choice, consumers opt for products with the G-Mark, citing that the mark represents ‘superior functionality/performance and attractive design,’ among other attributes.

This year, over 3,000 entries competed for this prize in multiple categories. In evaluating the entrants, judges look for superior design qualities, aware that the public has an increasing interest in good design. Criteria include aesthetically superior, original, meets the needs of consumers, good functionality and performance. Pierce Mattie PR is proud to announce that HOMMAGE, in its first year of existence, has won an international design award for their premiere Monaco Center [razor set].

Posted by Lance Buckley at 10:29 AM | TrackBack

Is Google The Devil.... Am I a "Fuddy Duddy?"

Does anybody else think it’s creepy that Google wants to provide the City of San Francisco with FREE WiFi (wireless internet service?)

I dig the Google search engine, If I type in "Fashion Public Relations" or "Beauty Public Relations" it’s fun to see who is in our space so quickly. I thought Gmail was launched well (exclusive and by invite only) and the first to give you so much space online. Then Google purchased that Teraserver-like company, the one that has mapped the globe and has Satellite imagery on it. They built it into Google maps, I like that, to be able to enter in your parents address on the website and to see old satellite photos of your backyard and see if your family was laying out at the pool the day the Satellite flew overhead and snapped the picture. Neto …but kind of creepy.

Now they want to provide a city that that is home to a huge portion of Americas technology industry with free WiFi. Meaning, many good things for Marketers and Advertisers in San Faransico. Not so good for the local Newspapers. And what if Google IS THE DEVIL?!!!!

Would I use it if I lived in San Francisco? Yes, absolutely –I’m a gadget junkie and would love the convenience of being on the grid all the time for no cost. I struggle with hypocrisy, I admit it. But I also have that feeling inside, you know the one that you see on the faces of those “fuddy duddys” on footage from Americans being afraid of technology, or communism. I am not a communist and love technology but I do have this “gentle terror” that Google is turning into the computer first seen in Space Odyssey (HAL 2000) or the more recent SkyNet on Terminator.

You might be thinking “what is Steve so worried about, what does he have to hide?” and I would say to that… nothing, I pay my taxes, open about being a mid-level cult leader in the past, comfortable with my sexuality and don’t mind if people realize I beam transmissions to my home planet late at night.

Perhaps it is just me, I’m going to go take my Zoloft and run to the gym. Have a good morning!

From Media Daily News

IF GOOGLE SUCCEEDS IN ITS bid to provide San Francisco with free, city-wide WiFi, analysts say that telecommunications firms and Internet service providers won't be the only companies feeling threatened. Local newspapers, which generate much of their ad revenue from local businesses, could find themselves competing directly with the global advertising giant for local ad revenue. Preston Gralla, a former editor in chief of a chain of local newspapers and a blogger for Networking Pipeline, writes that a Google-powered WiFi network could spell financial ruin for many papers, because a city-wide network would enable the sponsored listings provider "to deliver ads literally on a block-by-block basis." "Hop onto a free Google hot spot," Gralla said, "and ads may tell you about a good lunch deal around the corner, a sale at a nearby sporting goods store, cut-rate discounts at a local electronics shop." Gralla added that local ads are keeping many small papers afloat, but "if Google can better deliver targeted ads to free hot spot users, we may see some papers go under."

Media economist Miles Groves of MG Strategic Research agreed that competition for local ads and classifieds could intensify if Google is allowed to bring free WiFi to San Francisco. "The city has already been hit by Craigslist," he added.

Craigslist--a global online classifieds site that started in San Francisco--is free for most consumers and businesses, except in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, where it charges for posting help wanted ads. A December 2004 study by media consultancy Classified Intelligence estimated that Craigslist costs newspapers in the San Francisco Bay area $50 million to $65 million in employment advertising revenue.

Peter Zollman, founding principal of Classified Intelligence, agreed that Google's entry into Internet delivery would pose yet another "big threat" to newspaper revenues, but he was quick to add that local papers and Yellow Pages companies still have one big advantage: their relationships with local advertisers.

"These [companies] know what local advertisers need; they've been selling to them for decades--centuries," Zollman said, adding: "Google cannot field a local sales force in each market"--which he said makes a big difference to businesses that don't have the time or the resources to manage complicated marketing campaigns.

However, Zollman noted ominously that "Google could certainly afford to buy a Yellow Pages company if it wanted to."

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 10:27 AM | TrackBack

Harry Potter and the “Closet of Skeletons”

According to breaking news on CNN, Reverend Graham Taylor, a former Anglican cleric turned top-selling author of Shadowmancer, was thrown out of Penair School in Truro, southwest England, after he made a remarkable statement about the boy wizard, Harry Potter. While delivering a talk to children at the school, Reverend Taylor stated, “…Harry Potter, well, he's not the only gay in the village,” referring to the popular English series, Little Britain, which premiered on DVD in the states in August.

He continued by saying, “the villains in Rowling's blockbuster series are ‘wimps’ and called TV ‘crap’ compared to books.” I guess that’s one approach to get children to read, but personally, I think Rowling’s has been a much bigger inspiration for promoting literacy among younger adults. And as for what’s in store for Potter, only Rowling’s knows the secrets that lie ahead. Now if only she could conjure up a spell to release the skeletons in Tom Cruise’s closet.

Read the full story here.

Posted by Lance Buckley at 10:15 AM | TrackBack

Greenlight Given for 'Men’s Vogue'

Update On Male Grooming, Fashion Lifestyle Magazine, Men's Vogue.

In a show of confidence in what’s proved to be a challenging time for publishers, Condé Nast has given the green light to a title that launched as a test this year. Conde Nast Publications said it will proceed with its foray into a Vogue for George Clooney types everywhere. Men’s Vogue, whose single September issue sold an estimated 150,000 copies on the newsstand and contained 164 ad pages, will publish one spring issue next year, go bi-monthly next fall and print 10 issues during 2007. It will have a rate base of 300,000 and a cover price of $4.95.

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 09:15 AM | TrackBack

October 06, 2005

Fresh Faces In Fashion - Fashion Public Relations Event Update

Gen Art and Schick® Quattro® for Women™ present the 8th Annual Fresh Faces in Fashion Los Angeles Show, on October 14th, 2005 at The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. Featuring the collections of 12 of Los Angeles' hottest emerging designers on the runway. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit www.genart.org.

Also, More West Cost:
Charity Trunk Show To Benefit The INTL. MYELOMA FOUNDATION Sat, 10/8, 11-3pm at the Luxe Hotel at the Boardroom & Mezzanine 360 N Rodeo Beverly Hills- 2 hrs free parking across the street. Will feature shrunken furry jackets, silk garments, jewelry and more.

For more info contact Bellablu at: (562)423-3100.

Get the GenArt Pulse the new lifestyle & entertainment navigator.

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 11:30 AM | TrackBack

October 05, 2005

Introduction to the semi-red carpet

A Los Angeles native once told me every party in LA is deemed “red carpet.” This is something I thought to be exclusive to the Oscar’s, Emmys or some incredible, celebrity driven cause or star studded movie premiere. Alas this New Yorker has realized the truth in this statement. Every party I have been to has coined this term “red carpet,” which brings me to the latest party I have attended. WEHO (West Hollywood) magazine had their long awaited launch party that has been postponed several times throughout the summer.

The party took place just above Melrose at a trendy club called Prey, which was seen on the TV series Entourage. This LA hotspot is notorious for celeb gazing and “being seen.” Amongst the plush seating area and crimson walls, tall leggy model type girls strolled around the guests wearing go-go boots and not much more than a bikini top and a mini, mini skirt. They served stuffed mushrooms to the magazine staffers and friends, while all eyes were on the door most of the night in hopes of catching a glimpse of any celebrity that may enter. The Wu Tang Clan and Taylor Dayne were the top celebrities of the night. Ms. Dayne served up an amazing performance as she delivered her top hit “Tell It To My Heart.” The club was amazing inside, however the drinks were small and over priced so one would have to file bankruptcy to get a buzz. There was a silent auction benefiting the Katrina Hurricane Fund, which featured baskets filled with beauty products, watches, and spa packages from around the West Hollywood area. The magazine truly reflects its demographic, all that is West Hollywood. It features clothes, beauty products, ads and restaurant suggestions all reflecting the areas finest. Check out the magazine on www.wehomagazine.com.

Posted by Missy at 05:12 PM | TrackBack

Norma Kamali Teams with Spiegel

Norma Kamali has done it again teaming up with Spiegel to design an exclusive line for their spring catalog. The aptly titled Timeless Collection features three core pieces, the Tie Waist Skirt, the All in One Mini, and the All in One Dress, all of which come in either solid black or red, or black and red stripes.

I attended the photo shoot for the Timeless Collection, held this past Friday at the Hudson Studios. I was amongst fashion directors from some of the most prestigious women’s fashion magazines such as W, O, The Oprah Magazine, Women’s Wear Daily and Lucky Magazine. The fashion directors were offered a sneak peak at the collection and the Spiegel spring catalog as well as an exclusive interview with Norma and Spiegel president Geralynn Madonna.

The energy at the studios couldn’t have been more positive, and being in the presence of Kamali only added to the excitement of the day. As jaws were dropped at the mere amazement of speaking to Kamali, we were only further impressed by her vivacious and optimistic attitude as well as her innate sense of style and creativity.

Kamali proved her collection to be ideal for every woman, as she personally demonstrated how each of her pieces create infinite styles, effortlessly taking you from day to night with a simple twist of fabric. Kamali truly proved that her collaboration with Spiegel is a seamless strategic branding technique, as the Timeless Collection is Spiegel’s latest effort in keeping up with the needs of the ever-changing woman. Click here to read the full article in Women’s Wear Daily.

Posted by at 04:10 PM | TrackBack

Treos, Palm Pilots, BlackBerrys, OH MY!

There are over 3 million subscribers to the BlackBerry service and the company over the last year has added in excess of 500,000 new subscribers each quarter. This is an amazing advance for mobile devices and the number of applications increases daily. For example, the company recently announced the addition of “Mapquest Find Me” on BlackBerry 7520 handhelds. “Mapquest Find Me” lets users automatically find their location, access maps and directions, allows users to share their location with others and view the location of other users.

I love progress and anything that will make my life easier and more productive, but there lays the quandary. Is the BlackBerry ruining our workforce? YES! IT IS!!!

I admit, I have a BlackBerry. I love it, and I hate it. But I can’t get rid of it because I’m an addict. I am addicted to my “CrackBerry” as some have begun to call them. What would I do if I couldn’t get my e-mail at all times? And what would my staff do if they couldn’t get a hold of me?

We want to be connected so that we are accessible to work colleagues, clients, family, and friend at all times. We think they will streamline our lives, making everything easier, but we seem to feel more frantic, managing more things and have less time than ever.

Because we’re so connected, there is no need to think anymore. Instead of trying to solve problems or make decisions on our own, we now say, “Wait, I’ll just call or e-mail to ask what I should do or make sure what I am doing is right.” This only increases the amount of communication we must manage daily; removing any time saved, and dumbs us down as a society. We no longer have to think for ourselves, employees can wait and ask their supervisors what to do by calling them on the mobile or e-mailing them on their BlackBerry. This might cover their butts, but it does not prepare them for the future when one day the boss is them.

The answer is that we need to empower those that work with us to make decisions and be confident in them. When a wrong decision is made, as co-workers and managers we shouldn’t reply by asking why we weren’t contacted, but rather ask what logic was used to make the decision. In this way we can educate for the future, enabling a correct decision in the future, not more phone calls and e-mails.

Posted by Michael Rogers at 03:00 PM | TrackBack

Will & Grace: Art Imitating Life?

Now in their final season, Will & Grace Writers are pulling out all the stops. Stan is back from the dead and writers are foreshadowing a possible relationship and career change for Will, played by Eric McCormack. But where does that leave Grace? Will she find love? Could a new husband and baby be in the script for the final episode, considering the show filmed around Debra Messing’s real-life pregnancy? My guess is yes! With all the jokes made about Tom and Katie’s “Hollywood romance” in the first two episodes, the writers are going to have a field day making jokes about Tomkat’s recent pregnancy shocker, and I’m thinking they’ll act that out through their two leading characters. We’ll have to stay tuned to see if W&G will imitate real life.

Posted by Lance Buckley at 02:15 PM | TrackBack

Get A Good Bargain And Be Discovered!

CALLING ALL SHOPAHOLICS - FASHIONISTAS - GLAMOURITES - BARGAIN BABES
The Gastineau Girls and Friends Designer TAG SALE To Benefit Katrina Hurricane Victims

DATE: Saturday, October 8th 10AM - 2PM Location: MAO Space 580 Broadway - Suite 506 - 212-226-8510 $5.00 Donation at The Door

Come and join The Gastineau Girls and their friends for a day of designer TAG SALE shopping! Designer clothing at a fraction of the original cost!
Browse through racks and racks of designer and top brand dresses, coats, suits, tops, pants, jeans, outerwear, shoes, accessories...... Many Sizes - Many Styles -Many Designers Represented

CASH AND CARRY ONLY **Sorry No Checks or Credit Cards**
Special Guest Designers Are Donating Merchandise As Well
ALL Proceeds go directly to The New York City Mayors Fund For Katrina Relief
Complimentary Wine Bar Sponsored By Red Bicyclette Wine
www.redbicyclette.com

**Cameras will be filming a portion of this event for The Gastineau Girls Season 2 series on E! Questions? Contact Desmond Eaddy @ Classic Entertainment Group 212-367-7434
please RSVP @ TVCASTING@GMAIL.COM

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 01:41 PM | TrackBack

October 04, 2005

FCUK Sex Shock Sticker Ends - Fashion Marketing

Whenever a fashion label tries to boost their pop with a quick fix there is bound to be a fizzle. The company is ditching the brand from clothing and billboards after it said consumers were becoming tired of branding and slogans. The logo created a wave of controversy after it was first introduced in 1997 but has lost its shock impact in recent years, leading to a sales slip. The decision to cut back on the brand follows a 9% fall in like-for-like sales in the six months to July 31 when profits plummeted to £5.1 million from £16.2 million a year earlier.

Although the use of the brand will be significantly reduced, a spokeswoman said it will remain integral to the company name. Spokeswoman Lorna Perrin said: 'Use of the FCUK logo has been toned down and will be used in a much more subtle way. Branding on the recent autumn/winter collection has been significantly reduced and used in a softer manner.' She added that logos are no longer prevalent in fashion collections and consumers are now looking for something different from big name stores. The FCUK brand was designed by nineties advertising guru Trevor Beattie, the man who also launched the infamous Wonderbra adverts. Slogans included 'FCUK Fashion' and 'FCUK Advertising' and although the company was censured on a number of occasions by the Advertising Standards Authority, sales and profits initially soared. But in September this year, in tough trading conditions and with analysts saying that customers were tired of the slogans, French Connection was forced to extend its summer sale to shift surplus stock. It conceded that it was unlikely to earn much more than £20m this year following the fall in sales. This followed a profits warning in July, the second in eight months. French Connection, which operates around the world, has 74 stores, 30 concessions and 29 franchises across the UK and Europe. Shares were up 1p at 268p in morning trading.

Posted by Stephen at 01:28 PM | TrackBack

Paris Fashion Week - Fashion PR Update

There is one place on earth I will gladly work a weekend for... PARIS FRANCE! This week Pierce Mattie PR hit the shows with one flute of bubbly in one hand and a digi cam in the other.

This year's shows have been billed as one of the prettiest, most romantic seasons seen in Paris in years. I don't know if I would go that far. The dress featured above looks much like a bed skirt pulled over the body. What's her purse going to be a pillow sachel? This dress is from Dutch fashion designers Viktor and Rolf. Yes the dress flows and is elegant, but lets add it to a female and then 30lbs. What a mess your going to have on your hands!

Dresses and skirts -- which made their comeback last season -- will be all-important wardrobe items next spring. Most featured interesting draped, pin-tucked, ruffled or smocked details and empire waistlines. Empire isn't the half of it.

Posted by Stephen at 01:18 PM | TrackBack

How Publicists Can Increase An Email's Opening Rate - Change The Subject Heading

What's going on at the Pierce Mattie watercooler today? We at Pierce Mattie PR are always open to criticism. "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" or "shut up and learn somthing!" We are striving to make our craft better and become the best damn brand advocates the media world has seen.

We accomplish this objective by implementing new core values at Pierce Mattie PR. One of the principles is "listening and learning" weather it be from one customer upset about a brand, a client with a request, or a journalist with some advice on how to be a better publicist. We belive in order to give more... you have listen more. Sometimes when you stop and force yourself not to engage immediatly, you really listen and learn somthing. I applaud Nikki for listening and learning, even when it would be easy to dismiss such a sudgestion, let alone share it with the group of brand advocates.

Nikki Walker, one of our directors sent out a press release via email for a skin care lotion called; Immuderm!

Marlene Jaeckel replied giving Nikki some advice on how to get her press release opened by more editors. Marlene is a media blogger with some solid advice. Thanks Marlene!

To read Marlene's Media Maven Tip for today:

Dear Nikki:

I'm an online copywriter and freelance journalist who have signed up
for the Pierce Mattie mailing list a couple of months ago. Just wanted
to let you know that I've enjoyed reading your smart, funny and
well-written release, but I would like to offer some advice: You may
be able to increase the email's opening rate by changing the subject
line.

Simply using a product name increases the risk of hitting your
readers' spam filters. Something like "Immuderm: Keeping Hollywood
Beautiful" may be more effective.

With best regards,
Marlene Jaeckel

http://www.marlenejaeckel.com

Posted by Pierce at 12:10 PM | TrackBack

Addressing the trust deficit: A profound and unsettling trend

For a few days in early summer, it looked as if you couldn’t trust anybody, in the government, the media or anywhere else.
For instance:
• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control were backing off their claims that obesity kills 400,000 Americans each year. (The real figure, CDC decided was 26,000 — or maybe 120,000.)
• A U.S. District Court found that Gillette’s claim that its M3Power razor raises hair up and away from the skin was “literally false.”
• The Federal Trade Commission told Tropicana to stop saying orange juice lowers blood pressure and cholesterol.
• United Airlines reneged on its pension promises.
• Newsweek had to admit it didn’t know whether its own reporting was true.
• Some small PR firms misrepresent how many offices they have and misslead potential clients.
For a while there, the only person with any credibility left was a 91-year-old ex-FBI agent admittedly suffering from dementia who, 25 years ago, broke his oath to rat out the President for lying.

Read the rest of Alan Pell Crawford artical in the PRSA News & Views, Public Relations Tactics

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 10:33 AM | TrackBack

Lawyers Warn of Advertising Law Disclosure Requirements

The good buzz on the nascent business of word-of-mouth marketing holds that it offers a low-cost, highly effective way to drum up positive chatter around a brand. The bad is that some of its more insidious practices could lead marketers to run afoul of longstanding advertising law.

Many of you know Jonathan Cheban from older epesods of VH1 "the Fabulos Life Of..." as a talking head, commenting on on many celebrity topics. The problem was that VH1 was not aware that he'd been paid by Evian to mention the designer water during a segment on "The Fabulos Life Of Cameron Diaz."

I remember him saying that the celebrity only washed her hair in Evian water. If this were true, I wouldn't have a problem with it. But it wasn't, and as you all know we no longer see Jonathan on VH1.

"VH1 was not aware that he represented Evian. We are no longer using him in any of our shows - this was a decision based on this incident. This behavior is unacceptable to us. We will pull the Cameron Diaz episode and reedit it before it airs again. We don’t tolerate this, and we won’t tolerate this.”

Disclosure issue
As marketers more frequently look to recruit consumers brand agents to spread goodwill for brands, industry attorneys view buzz marketing as a likely area of regulatory involvement, especially around the issue of compensating people to participate in buzz programs when they fail to disclose their connections to marketers and agencies. While there is no legal precedent specific to word-of-mouth marketing, there are Federal Trade Commission guidelines for ads that are likely to apply.
“If the motivation for [an endorser] is to profit from his or her endorsement, that connection probably needs to be disclosed,” said Douglas Wood, chairman of advertising and marketing law at Reed Smith. “But since disclosure undermines the value of buzz marketing, advertisers are in a Catch-22.”

Misleading consumers?
An FTC official said while word-of-mouth isn’t something that the agency is looking at, disclosing commercial relationships is crucial to avoid violating the law. “The real question is whether consumers are being misled someway,” said Rich Cleland, an assistant director of advertising practices for the FTC.

Read the rest of the story here:
IS BUZZ MARKETING ILLEGAL?
Lawyers Warn of Advertising Law Disclosure Requirements
By Matthew Creamer

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 09:57 AM | TrackBack

October 03, 2005

Donny Deutsch Kisses Heather Mill McCartney Ass

I accidentally found myself watching CNBC's lowest-rated show; The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, my brain was at the cleaners and I guess I was on cruise control. This show is anything but a big idea. More like a bunch of small opinions. Why hasn't this gone over to public access yet? I am sure it could clean up well on Robin Byrd's slot.

Last Night's guest; Heather Mill McCartney (double yawn). Sure, Heather is cute, does nice community work and raises money for numerous causes like loss limb rehabilitation. Good for you Heather and God bless those lives that you have improved. Human lives that is. She reminds me of a well spoken Janice Dickinson (say or do anything for press).

But Heather stick to our species and leave the animals alone. Jesus, for you and Donny to talk about not wearing fur in fashion. And how you personally brought Jennifer Lopez a note to not wear fur. And then Heather advocates not buying JCrew because they did fur this season. And then Donny, in that purple shirt to go into further detail on how bad people are who wear fur are. Are you two serious?

I know I am going to get a ton of hate mail on this one. But fur is fierce. Fur is good. I love fur. Heather elaborates that most rich women with an education do not buy fur and it’s only for the insecure, stupid and nouve riche. Hold up! Every senator’s wife, first lady, and women that shops at Bergdorf Goodman has at least a bachelor’s degree. And they wear fur! Yes animals are killed to make the fur. Heather went as far as to call Anna Wintour from Vogue - Cruella-Wintour (is she really like the 101 Dalmations diva?)

But Heather and Donny look at your hair color and makeup. Do you think that the cosmetics that were used to lift the color in your hair are animal free? I don’t think so. Heather’s lips were lacquered in some serious gloss, could it be petroleum based? I bet it was. Should I get on my anti-oil save the earth kick? Furthermore, if we were to smell your breath would we detect hamburger or a dose of vitamins that use an animal fat to package the ingredients in the vitamin? Where am I getting at with this? Stop whining about wearing fur. Unless your wearing organic cotton made in the USA and eating lettuce, you can’t say squat about wearing fur. You just can’t. I think sometimes celebrities like Heather do good work for one cause like the limb loss rehabilitation and then they get a little star struck from the attention of the charity. And then a god like complex sets in and suddenly they want to save the world from pollution, fur wearers, what’s next Heather? SUV's that fuel too much gas? Stay focused on what you do best. And let us wear our fur. Thanks

Posted by Stephen at 11:55 PM | TrackBack

Super Size Me! Marketing Idea Spawns A New Product Launch

Recently M&M's Brand introduced the newest member of the line. Mega M&M's look like bigger siblings of the classic color-coated candies. In actuality they are 55 percent larger than the original M&M's. They come in different colors too, This is HUGE! people (can you tell I went to a fancy design school?) -- maroon, teal, blue-gray, beige, gold and brown. They're also a bit misshapen, but there's something charming in that lack of perfection. In its press release unveiling the Mega M&M's, the company said the candies were designed with adults in mind.

According to M&M Brands, the larger candies are the result of listening to what consumers want. After the company had released the limited-edition "Ogre-sized" M&M's as a tie-in with the release of "Shrek 2," the company reportedly had candy lovers calling and asking for more, more, more. We love the word "More" around here. According to press materials, one in three consumer calls to the company asked that the bigger M&M's be available permanently.

Check out the M&M's website for some clever and fun promotional clips. From my agency experience I learned that most of the ideas you see in these promotional sections on websites are ideas that were pitched for national commercials or print but for whatever reason not used. So a fantastic way to use these ideas are in the web-based promotions.

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 09:39 AM | TrackBack

Swapping Makeup That Has Been Used on The Net?

So it's been awhile since we first heard about swapping makeup on the net. It might seem odd, but think about it. It's been going on for years, between mothers and daughters and sisters and friends. And now perfect strangers are getting in on the act, swapping makeup online, reports The Early Show's Consumer Watch correspondent Susan Koeppen. For me, I dont have a problem with it. It's sorta like those "dating" websites and using the internet to get what you want. I dont think I would personally swap, I'm the guy who likes to use those butt gaskets in public restrooms and brings hand sanitizer to the dog run also.

Lisa Stewart discovered a makeup-swapping Web site (see below) , and ever since she's been swapping makeup, lotions and hair products with women all over the country.

"Oh, it's definitely addictive. I think everybody likes to get something for nothing," says Stewart. "It's fun to get stuff in the mail."

Here's how swapping online works: You are ready to get rid of a product you don't use anymore. You find swappers who want it. You check out their lists of products. If you find something you like, you set up a swap. It gives you a chance to try new colors and new brands without having to pay for them. You only spend money on postage to send out the products you're swapping.

The Makeup Swapping Site: MakeUpAlley

For the rest of the story click here

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 09:11 AM | TrackBack

October 02, 2005

Michael Kors Is Back (damn)

There was one judge during Project Runway that made me flip the chanel; Michael Kors. I wish his attitude smelled as good as his fragrance. Bravo will launch the second season of the Emmy-nominated, premier reality series focusing on fashion designers, "Project Runway." The premiere episode of the thirteen, one-hour episode run, will pit sixteen designers against one another on the Road to the Runway. These contestants will compete in weekly design challenges at Parsons The New School For Design in New York City, until only three remain and face off once again at New York Fashion Week in February.

Eager to give aspiring designers a chance to break into the notoriously difficult-to-crack fashion world, supermodel Heidi Klum will once again head a panel of industry luminaries, including top women's and men's wear designer Michael Kors and Elle Magazine fashion director Nina Garcia, who will serve as judges and industry mentors charged with selecting and molding the budding designers. There will also be guest judges each week based on the specific challenge. Tim Gunn, Chair of the Parsons The New School For Design, will return to guide the contestants through each of their challenges.

"The first season of 'Project Runway' generated incredible buzz and even more incredible designs," said Bravo President, Lauren Zalaznick. "We are thrilled to bring back this high quality, high drama series with new design challenges that inspire the creativity from the designers that viewers expect."

The new season's sixteen designers are:

Raymundo Baltazar, 24 -- Los Angeles, CA
Kara Janx, 29 -- Johannesburg, South Africa
Chloe Dao, 33 -- Houston, TX
Emmett McCarthy, 42 -- New York, NY
Marla Duran, 51 -- Allentown, PA
Santino Rice, 30 -- Los Angeles, CA
Kirsten Ehrig, 37 -- Los Angeles, CA
Heidi Standridge, 25 -- Atlanta, GA
Diana Eng, 22 -- Jacksonville, FL
Nick Verros, 38 -- Los Angeles, CA
Daniel Franco, 31 -- Los Angeles, CA
Guadalupe Vidal, 29 -- Los Angeles, CA
Andrae Gonzalo, 32 -- Los Angeles, CA
Daniel Vosovic, 24 -- New York, NY
Zulema Griffin, 28 -- New York, NY
John Wade, 24 ? Los Angeles, CA

The winning designer will walk away with $100,000 in seed money to help them launch their own line and a 2007 Saturn SkyRoadster, both provided by Saturn. The winner's designs will be featured in a spread in ELLE, photographed by the magazine's world-renowned Publication Director, Gilles Bensimon. They will also receive a mentorship from the Banana Republic Design Team.

"Project Runway" is executive produced by Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz of Magical Elves ("Project Greenlight," "Last Comic Standing"). Heidi Klum and her managers Desiree Gruber and Jane Cha of NYC-based Full Picture also executive produce the series. Barbara Schneeweiss oversaw the production on behalf of Miramax Television and The Weinstein Company. Jen Berman oversaw the production on behalf of Miramax Television.

Bravo is the cable network that plugs people into arts, culture and pop culture with original programming, movies and by showing a whole different side of celebrities. Currently available in more than 79 million homes, Bravo is known for breaking exciting new personalities, shaking up the way we look at style, media, fame and Hollywood, pulling back the curtain on the creative process and making influential and inventive original programming. Its critically acclaimed and award-winning original programming includes "Inside the Actors Studio," "Celebrity Poker Showdown," "Project Greenlight," as well as the 2004 Emmy winner for Outstanding Reality Program, "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." The network's latest hits include "Project Runway," "Blow Out" and "Showbiz Moms & Dads."

Bravo is a program service of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Bravo has been a NBC Cable Network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980.For more information visit www.bravotv.com.

Posted by Stephen at 01:39 PM | TrackBack

Pucci Picks New Designer; Matthew Williamson And Says Goodbye to Christian Lacroix

What will happen to the look of Pucci now that it is jumping into the hands of a British designer? Will we see a more tailored appeal to Pucci? Matthew Williamson, the British designer who numbers Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna among his customers, has been named the new designer for Emilio Pucci, the Florence-based label. Williamson, 33, replaces the French couturier Christian Lacroix who has been at the helm for the past three years. Williamson, who will maintain his own label, will present his first collection under the Pucci banner in Milan next February. Born in Manchester, he is a graduate of Central St Martins.

Posted by Stephen at 01:33 PM | TrackBack

October 01, 2005

Mini Photo Look Book For Fall Fashion Trends - A Fashion PR Review

Fall is all about elegance. From the drape of the silhouettes, to the luxurious fabrics, to the finest details, this season's fashion trends are timeless. Here is a quick mini photo look book -Fall fashion for 2005. The elegant looks: Black and White is a sure thing, Animal Magnetism and Boho Vintage (bohemian but not messy looking) are consistent looks on the runway. The natural luxury look is also a fantastic fall fashion trend.

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 09:53 PM | TrackBack

Trendwatching: Marriage Is "IN" (branding the lifestyle)

Celebrities (Demi and Ashton) are leading the way in getting hitched and soon-to-follow is the general public. Be on the lookout for larger Elegant BRIDE magazines, more staff changes at publishers, more advertisements, higher insertion rates, commercials cast with couples hawking products (a plus for more mature actors) and sitcoms with weddings in the story-line. We're sure to see more co-branding and spikes in television shows like Bridezillas. High-end real estate prices may rise for the super-“sell-elebrity” mega brand couples. How can this trend impact your brand? Give us a call and we'll let you know.

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 09:05 PM | TrackBack

Understanding The Opportunities Of Trends And The New Consumer - Consumer Marketing

The new phenomenon -- where every consumer has a voice on the Internet and it lasts forever. Where social networks are growing and associations are made at hyper speed. Generation C is adding tera-peta bytes of new text, images, audio and video every day. Information is being blasted to us, stored on our iPods and distributed at almost no extra cost. We are wireless. Ever so slowly but in huge mammoth steps emails are being scanned, sites are being indexed and profiles are being captured. We are learning faster then ever before what makes the consumer tick.

It’s not about one specific internet tool or trend, but rather, the convergence of many trends that makes for very exciting marketing and publicity opportunities for today’s brands.

I have mentioned Trendwatching.com’s website in the past. It is a fantastic brainstorming starter. We have used its observations to open up many valuable discussions in brand meetings and strategy sessions. If you’re a small brand with an in-house PR team and can’t afford expensive think-tank data services, Trendwatching.com is an invaluable resource when supplemented with contextual brand data and analysis. Please review the “customer-made” trend below.

Marketing
has finally become a conversation. Not, in most cases, as was intended,
BETWEEN corporations and consumers (that would make too much sense),
but rather a global conversation involving millions of consumers ABOUT
corporations. On sites like Planetfeedback.com, thecomplaintstation.com, Epinions, About.com,
on hundreds of thousands of blogs, community sites, forums, viral
emails, bulletin boards, and what have you, consumers relentlessly
exchange views, complaints, opinions and comments about products and
services, about brands, about companies, about YOUR company.

Why now? Because they finally can. For decades, consumers have been
saving up their insights and rants about the stuff they consume, simply
because there were no adequate means to interact with companies, or
with other consumers for that matter. No longer. These fickle, wired,
empowered, informed, opinionated and experienced holders of a MC
(Master in Consumerism) are getting used to 'having it their way', in
ANY way imaginable, which includes wanting to have a direct influence
on what companies develop and produce for them.



It certainly helps that these same consumers are also part of GENERATION C:
they're creative and increasingly have access to professional hardware,
software, and online distribution channels to show (and dictate)
companies what it is they expect from them, using text, sound, picture
and video in ever more powerful ways.

Sure, some companies ARE now engaging creative customers in new ways. Recently, brands like Coors Light and Mercedes Benz
invited customers to co-create advertising campaigns, with Mercedes
encouraging proud owners of a Benz to submit snapshots of themselves
next to their automotive objects of desire. And Mazda and Conde Nast
have just partnered to create a similar contest whereby contestants can
submit photos representative of their interpretation of Mazda's
"Zoom-Zoom" slogan. (Thanks, Adrants.com!)



These companies are clearly aware that tapping into the collective
intellectual capital of their customers yields great creative and
'real' content. However, let's not make the mistake to think that in
the end these conversations will all be about communications and
branding: how about extending this cooperation with consumers to
virtually everything a corporation does, by making the customer an
integral part of ALL creative and creational processes?

TRENDWATCHING.COM has dubbed the latter "CUSTOMER-MADE":
the phenomenon of corporations creating goods, services and experiences
in close cooperation with consumers, tapping into their intellectual
capital, and in exchange giving them a direct say in what actually gets
produced, manufactured, developed, designed, serviced, or processed.
The CUSTOMER-MADE trend
has been slowly building over the last five years, but with the current
onslaught of consumer activism and the rapid rise of GENERATION C, it
finally seems ready for its big moment in the limelight, where
TRENDWATCHING.COM expects it to stay for many years to come. It doesn't
hurt that Management Guru C.K. Prahalad recently published 'The Future
of Competition' an insightful and highly recommended book on
co-creation, which prompted us to move CUSTOMER-MADE to the top of our emerging trends list!



Mind you, CUSTOMER-MADE

is NOT plain feedback, it's not Do-It-Yourself, it's not customization,
it's not even personalization, as all of these happen after companies
have decided what the basics are, which products and services and
experiences they're willing to hand over to consumers, who can then (at
best) modify certain elements, change a color, replace a cover. That's
still pretty much a one-way conversation, business as usual.



So what DOES qualify as CUSTOMER-MADE? Check out the hands-on examples below; a random yet varied overview of CUSTOMER-MADE initiatives, both 'corporate' initiatives and grassroots movements, which should get you going.



• • • •

Last year, 120,000 people around the world signed up to join Boeing's World Design Team,
an internet-based global forum that encourages participation and
feedback while the company is developing its new airplane. Activities
include message boards, conversations with the Boeing design team, and
extensive discussions on what members like and don't like about air
travel today, as well as features they'd like to see in their dream
airplane. In Boeing's own words: "Flyers and aviation enthusiasts from
around the world are sharing the excitement of creating the airplane of
the future."



• • • •

Shoe designer John Fluevog has a section on his site entitled Open Source Footwear, wherein serious Fluevog owners can submit designs for future shoes. The winning design actually gets put into production. CUSTOMER-MADE at its best!



• • • •

A lot of talking and commenting goes on at www.niketalk.com,
the non-affiliated online sneaker community which so far has received
more than 200 million visits and 3.5 million posts. Every Sunday at 9
PM EST, their sister site, chat room NikeChat, welcomes Nike fans from around the world, to exchange views, tips and more.







A similar set up for new Mini Cooper owners can be found at www.mini2.com, for Lego fanatics at news.lugnet.com/dear-lego (BTW, Lego itself allows programmers from outside the company to access to the code that controls its Mindstorm

toy robot, leading to an increased range of activities the robot can
perform, in ways the company never imagined), and for TiVo users at www.tivocommunity.com.
About the latter: for the past four years, the 65,000 members of the
self-organized TiVo Community forum have traded ideas on 'how to
convince friends and family to buy a TiVo', 'how to deliver impromptu
sales training sessions to Best Buy employees whose sales pitches need
work', or 'how to be a better TiVotee'. CUSTOMER-MADE sales teams anyone?



• • • •

At www.ipodlounge.com,
avid iPod users (and aren't they all?) congregate not only to talk
about their favorite device, but also to show the world (and thus
Apple) what they would like the next iPod to do and to look like, or
adaptations they've already created in their basement or garage. A
fascinating combination of GENERATION C and future CUSTOMER-MADE
trends if we ever saw one. The site gets more than 5 million hits a
day, and if we were Apple designers, or Steve Jobs for that matter,
we'd visit iPod Lounge weekly to get a good dose of CUSTOMER-MADE inspiration, and probably recruit loads future employees while we were at it.

• • • •







TRENDWATCHING.COM is all in favor of conversations taking place in the vicinity of beverages. Which is why we think Philips Streamium Café
is aptly named. It's where owners of Philips' new WiFi TV sets and hifi
systems tell Philips where they think Streamium is going, and what
Streamium should be able to do. Current discussions involve everything
from the time format on the appliances' display to 'Support for Real
Player RadioPass + Real Rhapsody.' How long before the discussion turns
to the question of which OTHER Philips appliances should become WiFi
enabled?

• • • •









Online Lovemark Google has always been open to suggestions and comments
from its millions of users: Google's social networking site Orkut
includes two communities with over 1,000 subscribers: "What Should
Google Do?" and "What Should Orkut Do?" And on Google's own business blog, visitors are encouraged to send their suggestions to gblog@google.com. And, gasp, they actually reply. A CUSTOMER-MADE treasure trove: who does NOT have some strong (and cool) views on what Google should do next?

• • • •



To
prevent even more of you complaining about TREND-WATCHING.COM's
newsletters getting too long (see, we're listening! ;-), we will only
touch upon the now familiar CUSTOMER-MADE initiatives in the world of software. Let's not forget that Microsoft 'invites'
millions to download beta versions of its software to test and improve,
and don't even get us started on the Open Source revolution (under Open
Source, thousands of volunteer programmers communicate over the Net to
create, and continually improve, computer software products). At SourceForge.net alone, 883,000 registered users are cooperating on 80,000 Open Source software projects. We haven't seen anything yet!

• • • •



CUSTOMER-MADE
games anyone? From Wikipedia: "Mod or modification is a term generally
applied to computer games, especially first-person shooters such as
Quake, DOOM and Half-Life, but also to real-time strategy games such as
Warcraft III, Total Annihilation and the Command & Conquer series.
Mods are made by the general public, and are entire new games upon
themselves. They can include new items, weapons, characters, enemies,
models, modes, textures, levels, and story lines. They also usually
take place in unique locations."

One great CUSTOMER-MADE example is Counter-Strike,
which started out as a Mod for Half-Life about four years ago.
Counter-Strike is downloaded and then runs on top of legal versions of
Half-Life. It now sells more copies than the original game itself:
upwards of 1 million games per day are hosted on dedicated servers.

Other great Mod examples are TheForce.net, which collects Mods that make non-Star Wars games into proper Star War experiences, and Desert Combat,
a modern day military modification to the popular war game
BattleField1942 from EA. And with games quickly becoming entertainment
choice NUMBER ONE for the Digital Generation, you may want to learn
from CUSTOMER-MADE examples from this industry whether you're in FMCG or banking. This is where CUSTOMER-MADE excitement and innovation will blossom for a long time to come!

• • • •







And what about the open marriage between CUSTOMER-MADE and user-generated content? Check out four-year-old South Korean OhMyNews.
This online newspaper works with 26,000 'citizen reporters', who send
in stories and pictures which make up 80% of all content. OhMyNews pays
up to USD 20 per article, though for many citizen reporters, getting
their name in the paper is the real reward. Fiercely outspoken,
OhMyNews has successfully challenged the traditionally conservative
press in South Korea. CUSTOMER-MADE AND CUSTOMER-READ indeed!

In Holland, popular 24/7 news site NU.nl
encourages readers to send in breaking-news pictures (since virtually
everybody owns a digital camera or camera phone these days). The best
images are also sold to ANP, the country's main news agency, who then
pays these citizen photographers up to EUR 60 per shot.



• • • •

Yes, another Apple example, this one partly 'owned' by Apple. At Apple's iTunes store,
user-created playlists enable customers to upload their favorite music
selections and share them with other customers, who can then buy the
songs if they like what they hear.

Needless to say, it was Amazon.com who pioneered this kind of CUSTOMER-MADE
service, with their sophisticated recommendation system and customer
book reviews, resulting in some of the most popular features of the
Amazon.com site being entirely CUSTOMER-MADE.



• • • •

The travel community meets at the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree,
an online bulletin board with over 5,000 posts a day (Lonely Planet
also receives around 1,000 emails and letters a week from customers,
helping them to constantly fine-tune their content), and at Virtual Tourist,
where 400,000 members from over 219 countries share insights and
experiences to help each other travel smarter, from finding the best
place to get great airfares, accommodations or car rentals, to solid
insider advice on what to see and do. In their own words:
"VirtualTourist members are a friendly and helpful bunch and it's a
snap to use the collective experience and brain power of our members to
get the help you need."





OPPORTUNITIES

Is the CUSTOMER-MADE
trend spanking new? No. But with the gap between traditional business
practices and truly empowered consumers now reaching significant
proportions, the CUSTOMER-MADE trend will further accelerate, moving from fringe trend to mega trend. In fact, CUSTOMER-MADE
may turn out to be one of the most exciting and long term engines
behind change and innovation that the world of business has seen in
years: a way of thinking that has the power to redefine the
relationship between customer and brand, between consumer and producer,
something that taps into the most awesome reservoir of intellectual
capital ever assembled. If that's not enough to invoke spontaneous
brainstorming sessions, TRENDWATCHING.COM doesn't know what is.



In future updates on this trend, we'll address topics like what makes certain brands more suitable for CUSTOMER-MADE than others (could it be the Lovemarks concept?). Or how to use CUSTOMER-MADE

as a recruitment tool. And we haven't even spoken about the risks that
may exist in sharing everything with your customers (and thus
inevitably with your competitors); new competition from 'amateurs'
(think the already visible blurring between professionals and amateurs
in journalism, design and software); or the fact that consumers don't
always know what they want (even though they definitely know what kind
of service they need, or what constitutes a good experience!). We're
also not saying that everything and anything will be suitable for full
blown CUSTOMER-MADE
strategies. But the eclectic examples above should inspire you to find
at least one or two ways to apply this trend to your own business.



So, to get started, what's stopping you from setting up your own
ipodlounge.com, hiltonlobby.com, virgincabin.com, ingcounter.com,
saabbackseat.com, safewaysaisles.com or vodafoneconnection.com, and
inviting your customers to engage in CUSTOMER-MADE
goods, services and experiences? Are you ready to open up (even as an
experiment) one strategy meeting, one design process, one brainstorming
session to the millions of consumers who may have an expert opinion,
suggestion, new business idea and so on, simply because they're your
avid users, and, in the best case, true fans?



Oh, and if fear of a deluge of complaints and requests is holding you
back: rest assured the deluge is already happening, and that if YOU
aren't listening to your smart, able customers, someone else definitely
is! >> Email this trend to a friend.

RELATED TRENDS

GENERATION C

ONLINE OXYGEN

GARAGE INFLUENTIALS

Note: special thanks to Michell Zappa!



____________________

Picture by Bryan Boyer



"Get
ready for CUSTOMER-MADE: the phenomenon of corporations creating goods,
services and experiences in close cooperation with consumers, tapping
into their intellectual capital, and in exchange giving them a direct
say in what actually gets produced, manufactured, developed, designed,
serviced, or processed. Consumerism will never be the same!"

CUSTOMER-MADE is getting bigger and bigger. Sure, we were bullish on this trend when we introduced it last November (be sure to re-read our initial coverage), but still, the sheer number of new CUSTOMER-MADE spottings and insights surprised even us. To refresh your memory:



"For decades, consumers have been saving up their insights and rants
about the stuff they consume, simply because there were no adequate
means to interact with companies, or with other consumers for that
matter. No longer. These fickle, wired, empowered, informed,
opinionated and experienced holders of a MC (Master of Consumerism) are
getting used to 'having it their way', in ANY way imaginable, which
includes wanting to have direct influence on what companies develop and
produce for them.

It certainly helps that these same consumers are also part of GENERATION C:
they're creative and increasingly have access to professional hardware,
software, and online distribution channels to show (and dictate)
companies what it is they expect from them, using text, sound, picture
and video in ever more powerful ways."







What better way to become part of this trend than to learn from
companies who already have embarked on a quest to become co-creators
instead of obsolete DIY-ers? Please study the following new CUSTOMER-MADE
examples (spanning the B2C spectrum from potato-chips to cars, and the
globe from Brazil to Sweden), followed by a number of new CUSTOMER-MADE learnings. For your convenience, we're introducing five broad CUSTOMER-MADE categories: Consumer Marketers, Expert Outsiders, Amateur Outsiders, Remix Culture and User Generated Content 2.0.

There is no stopping the trend of creative consumers contributing to,
or even owning your advertising campaigns, both authorized and behind
your back. Why? To feature on a website or billboard, or have one's
home-made commercial downloaded by hundreds of thousands of fellow
consumers is just too much fun. We previously highlighted CUSTOMER-MADE campaigns orchestrated by Mercedes, Mazda and Coors Light, now add:

• While Nike
was basking in the glory of Tiger Woods' winning shot at the Masters
Golf (GA) tournament, which involved a swoosh-brandishing golf ball
getting priceless air time, Joseph Jaffe immediately created and
uploaded what no doubt will or should become the next Nike commercial: www.jaffejuice.com/2005/04/tiger_did_it_ak.html.

• Last winter, Dutch comedy TV show 6Pack,
(which brings together six people who have little to no television
experience), set in motion a more than successful quest for the best CUSTOMER-MADE
commercials, resulting in one million downloads for the most popular
submission, a Sara Lee commercial (Yo Oma), featuring a 50 Cent loving,
street-wise granny. Other brands participating in this contest that
were lucky enough to attract GENERATION C's inventiveness: Pringles,
Senseo, Clearasil, and ABN Amro Bank. Winning 'directors' were
guaranteed TV air time and pocketed EUR 2000. A new contest is in the
making (probably starting September of this year), and 6Pack, which is
sponsored by Heineken, will be rolled out internationally soon.
(Source: Springspotter Network, Maurits van Rijckevorsel.)

• The Converse Gallery should really have been part of our initial CUSTOMER-MADE piece, as it was launched last August, and has since then set the standard for CUSTOMER-MADE commercials. The site features dozens of 24-second films, CUSTOMER-MADE

by Converse fans, who are asked to express what Converse shoes mean to
them. The chosen films are then broadcast on Converse's website, with
the possibility of being aired on MTV and other cable networks. With
hundreds of submissions and millions of visitors ever since, this is
one tasty source of CUSTOMER-MADE inspiration.









• Going after the Converse demographics, Cadillac

invited members of GENERATION C to contribute to their series of five
second commercials, which illustrated the speed of its CTS-V model,
which can accelerate from zero to 60 in five seconds ("what ever you
do, don't blink"). Amateur filmmakers could submit their own 5-second
spots (and win air time), with one of the chosen directors also getting
the keys to a brand new CTS-V. (Source: Adrants.) While the initial
website now links to a CTS-V homepage, one of the 5 seconds ads can
still be viewed at Ifilm.



• And going from cars to crisps: In Turkey, Ruffles chips launched a football themed CUSTOMER-MADE TV commercial campaign, called Ruffles Idea-logy, airing the 10 winning commercial scripts on national TV and rewarding the creators with an iPod. (Source: Springspotters, Bilgen Aldan and Ozlem Hanoglu.)

Marketing and advertising sure is fun, but true CUSTOMER-MADE
involves co-created goods, co-created services, co-created experiences!
So, waking up to the fact that there are hundreds of thousands of
experts, innovators, inventors and so on outside company walls,
research labs and innovation units at large corporations are
increasingly NOT going it alone. Check out the following initiatives
aimed at tapping expert outsiders (often designers and artists) for
potentially lucrative new ideas:

• Last summer, Core 77, the industrial design site, teamed up with watch maker Timex
for a global design competition called Timex2154: THE FUTURE OF TIME
(celebrating Timex's 150th anniversary). Designers from more than 72
countries explored and visualized personal and portable timekeeping 150
years into the future, resulting in over 640 entries. Winners can still
be viewed online, and in the Timex Museum.

• In the same vein, Illy Cafe teamed up with Domus
magazine in April 2004, asking students and designers under the age of
35 to create new ways of enjoying coffee ("create a place for meeting,
discovery and encounter"). Over the course of 10 months, 704 entries
were received, roughly half coming from outside Italy. The best 14
projects were exhibited in Milan this month (April 2005). The winning
concept is an escalator which functions both as a coffee machine and an
art show. Coffee is served at the bottom of an escalator. On the way
up, customers sip their coffee and enjoy a brief art exhibition. At the
top of the escalator, they throw their plastic cup into a recycling
machine that instantly molds it into a ticket for an art exhibition or
show. Also noteworthy is the Illyvator, by Bryan Boyer. If this doesn't make you want to set up your own CUSTOMER-MADE contest, what will!? (Source: Springspotter Network, Michell Zappa.)

• The third Peugeot Concours Design

was launched in September 2004 at the Paris Motor Show, and the final
results were shown at the Geneva Motor Show last month. After aspiring
car designers were asked to design the Peugeot of their dreams for the
near future, 3,800 projects (compared with 2,800 in 2002 and 2,050 in
2000) were sent in, from 107(!) countries. This year's winner was the Moovie,
a two-seater vehicle for urban use by André Costa, a Portuguese
industrial design student. The full-scale model of his design will be
unveiled at Peugeot's stand at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September
2005. (Source: Springspotter Network, Özgür Alaz.)











• In South Korea, mobile carrier KTF

has held a contest to design new cell phones based on a "Cell Phone of
Sensibility" theme, with a focus on usability and style. Just last
week, 19 winners were announced, and a few of them may see their
creations end up in Korean stores soon. (Sources: Engadget, Slashphone.)



Note: yes, we know that design contests have been around for quite a
while, but what is truly new is the global scale on which companies can
now reach out to the best and brightest. If one key driver behind CUSTOMER-MADE is a consumer who demands to be involved and in control, the other driver surely is ONLINE OXYGEN, which enables this need.



• A more ongoing approach involving outside experts can be found at Procter & Gamble, which launched its dedicated Connect + Develop

program about five years ago, with the goal of having at least 50% of
its new products derived from ideas generated by non-employee experts.
Beside its own R&D employee base of 7,000, the company now has
access to millions of potential innovators. The results so far?
Everything from Swiffer Wet Jet, Olay Daily Facials, Crest Whitestrips
& Night Effects to Mr. Clean Autodry, Kandoo baby wipes and
Lipfinity. (Source: Tech Central Station, Industry Week.)









If 'experts' still conjure up images of bespectacled geniuses donning
white lab coats or black turtlenecks, it's time to get with the Pro-Am
revolution: in a world dominated by the Creative Class, we're all
amateur experts! So here's an overview of companies tapping EVERY
user's mind, not just experts, for divine inspiration and award winning
goods, services and experiences, bringing amateur outsiders fame if not
money:

• IKEA's "fiffigafolket"
contest (Swedish for 'ingenious people') which just came to an end, and
is now in jury-phase, asked amateur outsiders to send in clever designs
for storing home media (hifi sets, TV, DVD etc) in the living room. Out
of 5,000 ideas submitted, fourteen winners will be invited to IKEA
headquarters for a workshop, and will receive EUR 2,500. More
interestingly, the designs will actually get produced and end up in
IKEA stores for all to see, buy and assemble. (Source: Springspotter Network, Okee Williams.)

• Copenhagen's 3 star Park Hotel became the Hotel Fox this April 2, as Volkswagen

'adopted' the venue to promote its new Fox model. After inviting 20
street artists, graphic designers and illustrators to redo the 61
rooms, consumer-artists too were asked to submit designs for the one
room that is still in its original non-splendour. No word on the winner
yet, but he or she gets to spend two weeks in Copenhagen to implement
his or her ideas with the help of an interior designer. (Source: Springspotter Network, Jason Park.)









• CUSTOMER-MADE pioneer Jones Soda has been letting its customers create 'custom soda labels' by submitting their own photos for a long time now (their label gallery

now contains an astounding 285,285 pics); some of these are chosen as
permanent, wide-distribution labels for Jones soda. In true CUSTOMER-MADE style, the Seattle based beverage company also actively asks for feedback on possible new flavors. (Source: Springspotter Network, Charlene Rooke.)









• In Brazil, Kaiser Beer embarked on a CUSTOMER-MADE

adventure last year by asking their customers to co-create its Kaiser
Novo Sabor: a new premium beer reflecting the opinions and personal
taste preferences of more than 11,000 contributors in 130 cities across
Brazil. The beer was an instant hit, with the initial 11,000
contributors eager to play the role of brand ambassador. (Source:
Springspotter Network, Paula Rizzo.)





And the list goes on, from apparel to salads:







• At Threadless,
an ongoing t-shirt design competition urges users to submit shirt
designs, which are put into the running to be scored for seven days.
After those seven days, the highest scoring designs are chosen to be
printed and sold in the shop section. A similar concept is pursued by Dutch Buutvrij, while CUSTOMER-MADE fabrics can be found at

• There's cold hard cash to be made at OriginalSnowboartArt.com, where customers design snowboard graphics and receive a percentage of the proceeds when they're sold. (Source: Springspotter Network, Jason Sturgill).

• Edible CUSTOMER-MADE examples include Olvarit and Sumo Salad, the latter inviting customers to mix it up and suggest new salads on its site: every month one new CUSTOMER-MADE salad is selected, ending up on Sumo's official in-store menus (source: Springspotter Network, Özgür Alaz.) Catering to a younger audience is Netherlands-based Olvarit, who urged mothers to send in their favourite healthy baby food recipes.

This resulted in a spanking new product line, Mama's Choice, which
features eight winning meals, from Josine's 'French vegetables with
ham' to Barbara's 'Fish stew with banana'. Needless to say, a picture
of mother and child appeared on the labels of the food they CUSTOMER-MADE.









• On a grander scale, and starting two years ago as a pilot, the BMW Customer Innovation Lab was BMW's first true CUSTOMER-MADE

environment. Participants were handed an online tool-kit, helping them
develop ideas and showing how the firm could take advantage of advances
in telematics, online services and driver assistance systems. From the
1,000 customers who used the tool-kit, BMW chose 20 and invited them to
meet its engineers in Munich. BMW worked with German CUSTOMER-MADE intermediary Hyve to set up the service, just like Audi did when it ran its Audi Virtual Labs
in 2001 and 2004. The Audi lab was focused on the development of
'infotainment' systems, gathering information about consumer
expectations, preferences and upcoming trends in the infotainment
world. A total of 1,662 consumers participated, designing their own
individual infotainment consoles, expressing 219 service ideas, giving
261 comments on a prototype console, and contributing 728 visions of
future cars. Not bad ;-)

Closely related to CUSTOMER-MADE,
with a healthy dose of open-source mentality added, is the burgeoning
Remix Culture, spearheaded by hackers, but now embraced by savvy
consumers who are either tired of having to deal with goods and
services that don't do what they want them to do, or who want to
combine the best features of various offerings. Think Paul Rademacher's
clever pairing
of Google Maps with Craigslist Classifieds, mapping by price range all
properties for sale or rent in specific areas. Which actually delighted
Google (no, not all companies freak out when users improve what's on
offer) who not too coincidentally just launched code.google.com, a new tool for the other Pauls of this world, giving access to free source code and lists of Google's API services.



• Remix Culture is also about clever programmers modifying Sony's
Portable PlayStation days after it hit the shelves Only days in the US
this March; remix fanatics have added chat and TV to the device's
functionalities, cleverly capitalizing on the PSP's WiFi connection and
other built-in, semi-locked online capabilities.

•
Is Remix Culture a techie-only affair? Nope. It works just fine for
sneakers, too: all over the web, sneaker freaks are uploading pics of
their 'remixed' shoes; check out French Shoes-Up, a gallery where Adidas customers display their own version of Adidas' Superstar line, celebrating its 35th anniversary (see picture above). And who by now hasn't heard of the Adidas Zissou

sneakers featured in the movie 'The Life Aquatic'. White/yellow
sneakers with light blue striping (see below), these fictional shoes
had thousands of sneaker freaks lusting after them, until remixers not
only designed and produced their own - the DIY guide is still online - but also put them up for sale on eBay earlier this year. (Source: Springspotter Network, Bertrand Carton.)

What if your customers would actually provide all your content, not
just a few TV commercials or one or two new products? For full blown CUSTOMER-MADE,
look no further than the more than turbulent world of media: citizen
reporters, consumer reporters, or whatever you want to call them, are
HOT. Check out:

• Tate Britain in London is running a Write Your Own Label
scheme. Visitors of the museum's website are asked to contribute their
thoughts on how paintings should be described, and the chosen
submissions are then displayed next to the paintings in the actual
galleries. There's a nice touch of GRAVANITY in here too! (Source: Springspotter Network, James Davis.)

• A decidedly grass-roots approach to publishing, JPG Magazine
features photographs taken by contributing (amateur) photographers who
primarily work online, but want to share their work in print. Each
issue is centered around a theme, and anyone can submit a photo via JPG's website.



• Taking a cue from CUSTOMER-MADE knowledge pioneer Wikipedia, Microsoft's Encarta

is now testing a system that allows readers to suggest edits or
additions to entries in its encyclopedia. Editors will still check
contributions for factual errors or evidence of bias. Meanwhile, the
number of topics/articles on Wikipedia runs in the hundreds of
thousands.



•
And to prove that user generated content is fast trumping any kind of
traditional guide, listing, or other limited overview, look no further
than IgoUgo.
The online travel community's 350,000 members offer what traditional
guidebooks can't: hundreds of thousands of opinions on more than 4,000
destinations across the globe, plus suggestions and photos for
everything from cheap eats and luxury accommodations, to must-see
attractions and worthwhile day trips. (Source: Springspotter Network, Elizabeth Miles.)



It's actually not hard to see how any business dependent on global, 24/7 content feeds will have to embrace CUSTOMER-MADE to stay attractive. Which then brings us to... major news organizations, forced to take a cue from the OhMyNews.com format, not to mention the blogosphere:

• The BBC
is actively encouraging customers to submit pictures and videos, which
may then be used immediately on any BBC News outlet, or end up in the In Pictures
of the BBC website. Cleverly, not only does the BBC tell citizen
reporters where to email their content to, they also provide a cell
phone number, so camera phone pics can be MMS-ed instantly.

• The Guardian
has launched an appeal to readers to get snapping with their mobile
phone cameras to generate coverage for the UK's forthcoming elections. The Blair Watch Project urges readers to email or MMS their pictures to The Guardian's Flickr account.
They'll be available for public viewing, with the best pics republished
in The Guardian's blog. (Source: The Mobile Technology Weblog.)

• A less temporary approach can be found at NowPublic.com.
From their website: "Seeing is believing, and you need to see more.
Corporate news is missing this story. Again. You searched and there's
no decent footage. You need NowPublic. Assign the story. Get photos,
video, audio files posted to your request by citizen journalists on
location. See the truth for yourself and show the world. NowPublic
makes it easy to track down the real story and get the proof you need.
Turn your blog posts into photo assignments. Watch fellow members vote
to prioritize your story and chase down the footage. Give them a budget
or recruit volunteers. Either way, the news is NowPublic."



• Promising to be equally entertaining (and disruptive) is Google Video Upload. Their tagline "Your work deserves to be seen" promises more GENERATION C meets CUSTOMER-MADE fun (not to mention another NOUVEAU NICHE

accelerator). From the beta site (for now, users can only upload
content; editors will be scanning and indexing the content before
putting it live): "Whether you produce hundreds of titles a year or
just a few, you can give your videos the recognition and visibility
they deserve by promoting them on Google - for free: we're now
accepting video from anyone who wants to upload content to us. As the
content owner, you decide whether you'd like to give away your video
for free or charge a price that you set for it. If you do charge a
price, Google will take a small revenue share to cover some of our
costs". Mmm... GENERATION C actually making money from their creations:
TRENDWATCHING.COM approves.









Which then brings us to CUSTOMER-MADE TV networks:

• On Al Gore's new Youth TV network, Current, programming will to a large extent be comprised of viewer submissions,
which can be uploaded to the network's website. From Gore's launch
statement': "The Internet opened a floodgate for young people whose
passions are finally being heard, but TV hasn't followed suit. We
intend to change that with Current, giving those who crave the
empowerment of the Web the same opportunity for expression on
television."



• The people of Engerwitzdorf, Austria are filming, editing and producing their own regional news channel. The channel, Buntes Fernsehen,
covers local politics, sports, events and anything that residents want
to film and are prepared to upload for others to watch on PCs.

• Canadian BITE TV
is taking the citizen's media/blogging approach to television. BITE
will offer viewers the opportunity to submit their own video content
including make-your-own television ads.

• Not to be outdone, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's ZeD
is a late-night, arts-and-culture program that mixes amateur movies
with independent film and studio-produced content. ZeD allows viewers
to shoot, edit and upload their own short-form videos to the show's
website. ZeD receives between 200 and 300 viewer-produced videos per
day, and employs a team of online editors to sift through the content,
check it for copyright issues and either publish it on its website or
pass it along to a producer who will give it a coat of professional
polish, if needed.



Expect the media business to seriously feel the impact of the CUSTOMER-MADE trend
in the very near future: thanks to an abundance of new channels
(mobile, IP based TV, online niche publishing), an insatiable need for
more content will fuel Consumer Generated Content 2.0. Consumers'
appreciation of more opinionated, authentic, non-corporate owned
material doesn't hurt either. And as everything avant-garde eventually
becomes mainstream, this is what you want to keep a close eye on, and
learn from the developments, before CUSTOMER-MADE hits your own industry full force.

Examples are useful to get inspired, AND convince other execs this is really
happening; insights and learnings are for you and your team who then
have to develop a kick ass strategy AND implement it. So here we go:

• Consumers are into CUSTOMER-MADE because they can:

- get and control exactly what they want and need at their own terms

- show off their creative skills or even become famous

- make money from their contributions and involvement

• If CUSTOMER-MADE
reminds you of some of your B2B strategies, you're right. In fact, the
way you're already closely collaborating with your suppliers may well
be applicable to your CUSTOMER-MADE strategies. More to follow on this in our next update.



• CUSTOMER-MADE

is a great alternative to traditional marketing: if you co-create
products, participants obviously don't need to be 'told' about the
product, plus they are far more likely to act as brand ambassadors.





• In a review driven and transparent world, the alternative to CUSTOMER-MADE
is finding out about your customers' feedback, suggestions, and anger
through publicly accessible name-them-and-shame-them sites.

• And in an almost ironic twist, CUSTOMER-MADE
is turning out to be a great vehicle for recruiting the next in-house
designer, guerrilla advertising agency or brilliant strategist. It's
the trend that keeps on giving ;-)

Yes, CUSTOMER-MADE is a Big Trend. So where on earth to begin? The many examples and insights above (together with our November overview), and rereading our GENERATION C
trend should provide you with a pretty solid starting point for your
own brainstorming sessions, innovation summits, strategic away-days and
what have you.



Next for the CUSTOMER-MADE revolution? How about CUSTOMER- OWNED? As the number of CUSTOMER-MADE

initiatives grows exponentially, savvy members of GENERATION C will
demand serious compensation if not a fair percentage of whatever it is
they've co-created with you. Soon, a simple iPod in exchange for
designing the firm's Next Big Thing just won't do. Also expect a slew
of intermediaries coordinating millions of knowledge exchanges between
producers and consumers, from talent brokers to project managers.



And if you're not sure whether all of this really applies to your
business, then consider this: one trait that all of our trends have in
common is that they seriously alter consumer expectations. Once
accustomed to CUSTOMER-MADE being an option, consumers (well, MASTERS OF THE YOUNIVERSE
really) will take even less kindly to corporations who don't
communicate, who don't respond to feedback, who don't use open source,
who don't act upon suggestions, who keep throwing new stuff over the
wall, hoping someone will like it. It's time to open up! >> Email this trend to a friend.



RELATED TRENDS

GENERATION C

ONLINE OXYGEN

GARAGE INFLUENTIALS



WANT TO LINK TO THIS TREND?

www.trendwatching.com/trends/CUSTOMER-MADE.htm

What is this?

A description of an emerging consumer trend that was featured in a previous issue of TRENDWATCHING.COM's free monthly newsletter.



Who wrote it?

One of TRENDWATCHING.COM's trend watchers, who scan up to 100 offline
and online sources on a monthly basis, roam the streets of cities
world-wide, relentlessly pester consumers about their likes and
dislikes, and all this to keep YOU (marketer, manager, consultant,
analyst) inspired and well-ahead of the masses!



Where can I find more trend descriptions?

You can browse through our archives for a selection of trend descriptions.

How can I subscribe to your free monthly newsletter?

Fill in your email address:

and subscribe! The newsletter is sent out each month and features about half a dozen emerging consumer trends from around the world.



Can I publish or reproduce this trend description?

Be our guest. Just make sure you credit the source, TRENDWATCHING.COM, and include the URL, www.trendwatching.com.

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 07:49 PM | TrackBack