Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York

ShelterPop a product of aol.com recently featured Pierce Mattie PR in an interview as home and lifestyle media experts on whether we thought Gwyneth Paltrow would trump Martha Stewart. One of our quotes made the article, read below for the remainder of our input that didn’t. Naturally we would love your input as well.

ShelterPop: Can anyone compete with Martha Stewart when it comes to helping women live better? Why or why not?

Pierce Mattie: Yes, competition is always needed to make industry experts go above and beyond, step out of their comfort zones and deliver what their audience wants. And we are not necessarily talking about “women” in general, rather a lifestyle where a mom nurtures the home, food, friends and family.

ShelterPop: How would you compare the two? Do you think they appeal to the same audience?

Pierce Mattie: We don’t believe they are remotely comparable; there is a stark difference between the two. Martha Stewart is an icon in the home industry and Gwyneth is an actress. While there may be some overlay in the audience they reach, we think there is a generational gap between the two that would make them appeal to different demographics of women.

ShelterPop: Goop has about 100,000 subscribers right now. Do you think Gwyneth and Goop could get even better? A national magazine, her own TV show, etc.

Pierce Mattie: While Gwyneth seems to have seamlessly parlayed her acting career into a lifestyle brand, she remains remarkably unremarkable. Unless she brings in talent to help her with more creative projects to sustain her readers, GOOP will not continue its growth. At least not to the level and at the rate which Martha Stewart can command between her magazine, television show, website, etc.

Shelter Pop: What does Martha have that many other aspiring domestic divas lack?

Pierce Mattie: Martha is not PC, she states it how it is and she strives for something very few of her followers can achieve—which is perfection.

ShelterPop: What would Gwyneth have to work on to become the next Martha?

Pierce Mattie: Gwyneth is a good follower in this space and a good vehicle for it to come together, but not a true leader or change agent in this outlet. Most consumers think of Gwyneth as a rodeo mom who follows her husband around on tour. She would need to have books, real TV shows, not just podcasts and most importantly she would need a line of branded products that people enjoy. Her references on Kabbala, Zen and long-term relationships are actually just skimming the service.

Shelter Pop: Lastly, do you think it's possible -- could Gwyneth be the next Martha Stewart? Why or why not.

Pierce Mattie: No, we really don’t see that happening. To most, Gwyneth will always just be a celebrity with familial roots in acting, whereas Martha has her empire based on what is aspirational. While we love both women, we can hardly imagine Gwyneth’s GOOP surpassing the success of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.