Pierce Mattie Public Relations Fashion Beauty Public Relations, Health PR and Fitness PR -Lifestyle & Wellness Media Relations: October 2005 Archives

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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

You STRAIGHT.JPG

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.

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.

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

public_relations_events_m&m.jpg

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