Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York

A large study has found that women with breast implants show a lower-than-average risk of breast cancer, adding to evidence that silicone implants do not contribute to the disease.

In a study of more than 24,000 women who underwent breast augmentation in the 1970s and 1980s, Canadian researchers found that the women had a 43 percent lower rate of breast cancer compared with the general population. They also showed a lower-than-average risk of developing cancer of any kind.

The findings, published in the International Journal of Cancer, echo those of past studies showing that silicone-gel implants do not appear to be a cancer risk.

With the popular show Weeds now a nationwide hit, we have seen the return of Hemp to retail in more ways than one. I have actually been seeing more and more products pop up again. I remember a couple of years ago when Hemp was big in accessories-remember those chokers that caused massive “ichiness” and left your neck red and disturbed? I don’t know what was worse, the trend over all or the fact that once it was tied on, it was almost impossible to remove without cutting it!

Anyway, I have actually been working with a line called Hemp—it is a hair care line, a not to toot my own clients horn, it is actually pretty fabulous. The packaging is great and it smells pretty good. I ended up sending the sets to the cast of Weeds to celebrate season 2—don’t miss it! Not only does beauty have Hemp lines, but I saw on MTV.com today that interior designer Jessica Helgerson has opted to use hemp, in her designs (along with other environmentally friendly materials.) She says she has been inspired by all of the scary environmental truths that have come about lately (i.e. Al Gore’s book) I think this concept is great—not only is hemp a pop culture favorite but it can also help save the Earth! What do you think about that Mr. President?

Here is the first segment of the Fashion and Beauty Bloggers Event. Unfortunately we had to brake it up into a ten-pack, 10 min segments because of the YouTube file size requierments. If you want to automatically be notified when we post the rest of the segments just subscribe to our YouTube channel. In this segment you will find:

- Introduction to Host and guest speakers - How did the the fashion and beauty blog community of 180 industry blogs start? - Who are the bloggers in the community? - Treating bloggers with the same respect as journalists and editors and what bloggers should do to earn that respect when a blogger has no formal journalism training or experience working with publicists. - The basics, fact checking - RSS feeds make it hard to retract bad facts in posts - The value to a blogger working with a publicist

We invite you to join the discussion on the site and participate in educating bloggers and publicists on how to work together professionally, ethically and effectively in this "new" publishing platform. Get more information at on the Public Relations Roundtable website.

Other links: Flickr | Myspace | YouTube |

Click On Pink Tab To Download Registration Form

ISPA Knowledge Networks are a venue for spa professionals to openly discuss current circumstances and to create practical solutions for business. Expert speakers; Mary Bemis, Rona Berg & Pierce Mattie will address pertinent industry-related topics, while also providing time for in-depth group discussion. Regardless of your level of experience, the education offered at the ISPA Knowledge Networks will be invaluable. Each Knowledge Network includes a Marketplace on the first evening providing an opportunity to network and learn about the latest products.

The ultimate goal of the Knowledge Networks is to provide spa industry professionals with the opportunity to build relationships in a one-on-one environment with their peers. View Invite">We encourage you to join us for the final 2006 ISPA Knowledge Network & Marketplace.

Last week I was out for cocktails with a few other business owners in the service industry. One was a skin care manufacturer, the second was a clothing line designer and the third was the owner of a large fitness chain of health clubs.

We got into an in depth discussion about managing client relationships

We were discussing how to repair a client relationship where things have gone wrong, for example clients whose expectations are unrealistic, clients who are abusive towards the staff and those clients who for whatever reason have become dissatisfied with their service.

The Wall Street Journal had run an article on entrepreneurs a few years back where I was quoted by saying “My New Year’s resolution as a business owner is to only work with people, places and things I really care about and that respect my team, work and over-all business ethics.”

1. Choose clients carefully

4. Live Up To Your Own Standards. Give What You Expect, Set The Example.

If you have done all your work working with your clients and have defined what you can achieve and there are still insurmountable problems, then it is time to re-evaluate whether that client is appropriate to have.

About a month ago we had a client call the office and demand that I get on a conference call. The brand was new to the market, had very little distribution (only one salon in New York) and the consumer awareness was simply not there (she refused to do salon events with us). The owner had worked with two other PR firms before us (our biggest competitors) for about two years who both did not secure the regional and national glossy press that the client was looking for. We were given about 3 months to change her entire media platform and correct the damage that the other PR firms had done during the course of two years. Naturally I slipped off my dress shoes, undid my tie, sat back in my chair practiced my breathing exercises and then took her call.

Do you ever find yourself watching infomercials from guthy renker or mesmerized at the celebrities launching there own line on QVC? I haven't made a purchase from any of the television shopping networks and yet I'll still watch 10-20, 30 minutes of the show observing the strong production and presentation skills in the program segment. Is it just me?

Have you noticed national advertising campaigns are starting to mimic the formats of the successful television shopping networks? The numbers don't lie, they're reaching a lot of people and putting quality consumer goods at a good value in the homes of millions via a convenient familiar medium. The television. Out of all of them, QVC is one of the best and If you're like me, a confessed infomercial voyeur, beauty addict or hair care / skin care blogger you may want to set your Tivo to record the WORLDWIDE LAUNCH OF OJON's NEW PRODUCT. Monday, October 23rd. To see the launch tune into QVC on October 23rd at 1am, 11am (2 hr show) and 10pm.

Ojon's worldwide launch of it's exclusive, brand new Ojon ‘Rare Harvest’ TAWAKA Ancient Tribal Rejuvenating Cream – the ultimate rejuvenating treatment for dry, aging skin and hair. Ojon will also be launching a new limited edition Holiday 5 - piece Ojon Hair Ritual Kits, they make the perfect gift for anyone on your list (or yourself)!

Here are some of the issues I have that I continually have to work on everyday:

* My hair—It can dry out easily or become overly moisturized, it is always a fine line of balancing. When the balance is out of wack, it contributes to its frizziness, and frizz is always an issue with me.

* My face—During the winter my forehead and between my eyebrows tend to get dry and need extra attention, otherwise all year round I have a t-zone that won’t let up. Ever since I can remember, I have always only gotten acne on my chin and being pregnant just makes it worse.

* My skin—I have Keratosis Pilaris on my arms and legs. It is a skin problem that was passed down to me through genetics and which seems to worsen being pregnant, but also if my skin gets dry. Winter is obviously the worst months for my skin, summer is not so bad since I am always slapping on my sunscreen.

* My body—My chest is a big issue with me, both size and their appearance. Now being pregnant with baby #4, stretchmarks are another issue I have to contend with.

It sounds very cliche, but while all of these are truly issues that I have to work on everyday, I don’t let it get me down. I absolutely believe 100% that my beauty is not only on the outside, but that once people get to know me, they will see it radiates from the inside out.

On a weekly basis, I will share my reviews with you of products I have been using or have tried out to resolve some of the above issues. Hopefully you may find a solution to your problem too.

I have been in the beauty industry for about 12 years and doing beauty pr for about 7 years. And in all of my years of experience with press releases especially those that that go out on the wire I have never ever seen one as damaging as the one that Russ Fons PR in Las Vegas ran today about their client; National Toxic Encephalopathy Foundation (NTEF) and their opinion on Clarins Cosmetics. You can view the horrific release here.

In this release the NTEF states in great detail on the extensive damage and misleading labels of the Clarins brand, so they claim.

What’s odd though is that John Sheppard the director of the foundation states that you are putting your health at risk if you use these products. I don’t know about you but I see a huge lawsuit taking place from Clarins. I am sure executives at Clairns are beyond miffed about this release. What’s even odder is that all of the ingredients used by Clarins are found in most other top selling brands. One would assume that NTEF is crucifying Clarins based on a personal agenda and not on logic.

However was John Sheppard not aware that Clarins recently acquired Kibio an organic skin care manufacture who has gone into negotiations on creating new products together? I posted about this on my other blog a few weeks back. You can view that post here.

Life Clever (tips fro design & life) by Chanpory Rith: 5 Writing Tips That Don't Suck (via) Copyblogger

A PR Guru's Musings: Q&A on innovations in public relations

John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing "Longs for a good publicity stunt"

BusinessWeek.com: Wal-Mart: A "Reputation Crises" The giant retailer has been trying hard to improve its image and reignite sales

Idea Grove: Introducing Spin Thicket: Media Orchard "Easier way to keep up with the news"

Eric Eggertson:
Mutually Inclusive PR and Strumpette: Backlash Against Crayon's Second Life Launch

Still warming up to Second Life? I am asked about it almost daily and wanted to get some basic info posted for those friends who read our blog consistently. Backstory is here. Follow the links.

New World Notes

From April 2003 to February 2006, I was a contract writer for Linden Lab, creators of Second Life, primarily hired by the company to cover SL as an embedded journalist in an emerging society-- its controversies, its personalities, its innovations and ambitions, along with larger themes of identity, social norms and organization, and cultural expression important to online worlds in general.

That contractual relationship has ended, but the story continues here. -Wagner James Au

Second Thoughts Do's and Dont's for Big Business.

"Every human being is interested in two kinds of worlds: the Primary, everyday world which he knows through his senses, and a Secondary world or worlds which he not only can create in his imagination, but which he cannot stop himself creating." W.H. Auden

Second Life Herald The Second Life Herald was founded on October 23, 2003, by philosophy professor Peter Ludlow. Its mission, as described the next day, was to observe, record and study "the legal, social, and economic implications" of life in the virtual world. Originally established as the Alphaville Herald and reporting for the most part on life on the Alphaville server of The Sims Online, the Herald soon branched out into coverage of other massively multiplayer online games and virtual worlds -- helped along by the murder of Herald publisher Urizenus (Ludlow's avatar) after Electronic Arts got wind of the stories the newspaper was printing about the scams and cyber-prostitution that were taking place within its game, and the company's indifference to reports of real-world violence.

My first encounter with Joico hair products came this past July when it was one of the many gifts my friend Elke gave to me as an early birthday present. I honestly had never heard of Joico before, but knew that if Elke felt the products were good enough to give to me as a gift, then they must be something really special.

I received the K-Pak Smoothing Balm, K-Pak Liquid Reconstruct, Deep Penetrating Reconstructor and Daily Hair Care Shampoo. Can I just say? My hair has never been the same and I am a girl who takes great pride in her hair as evidenced in a picture you can find here of my bathroom cabinet. Honestly, I don’t know any woman who says, “Frizz? Yes, please.”

While I love all of the products, the Smoothing Balm has got to be my favorite. My hair tends to break, split and frizz easily (photo not me!). The Smoothing Balm is light and silky with a very light scent. It wasn’t weighty and didn’t make my hair greasy. It simply reigned in the frizz and added shine from the Mica in their balm. My hair is just past my shoulders and I only need to use a dime size amount. It’s 3 and a half months later and the bottle feels as if it’s barely been used. This is a product I simply cannot live without.

This year about 564,830 people are expected to die from cancer. That is 1500 people per day. I can confidently say that I am sure anyone reading this has been affected by cancer in some way, shape or form. Cancer has been a destructive force in my and my husband’s family. My husband lost his sister to Liver Cancer 6 weeks after being diagnosed in her senior year in high school. Recently his aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer. For me, it was my Great Grandfather passing away from Lung Cancer and my friend Maureen from Sarcoma. There are many other people between the two of us who have either battled or passed away from cancer, but it’s just too many to list.

I was recently able to speak with Kim Erikson, President of the Board of Directors for the Wayne County unit of the American Cancer Society for whom I am coordinating Shop for a Cure with. Ms. Erikson, whose mother is a volunteer for the Look Good, Feel Better Program for the ACS in Wayne County, shocked me when she told me that my local area of Northeast Pennsylvania was in the top ten for the highest cancer rates in the country. In fact, when I looked up the information on the American Cancer Society’s website, it appears that PA is in the top 5, with a projection of 73,630 new cancer cases for 2006. Other states in this top 5 are California, who ranked the highest for projected cancer rates, followed by Florida, New York and Texas.

I know this isn't exactly breaking news for everyone. However, for those who have lives and don't live and shop online exclusively, this may be news to you, it was to me. Many "recommendation" sites are popping up all over the Internet, yesterday a Fashion blogger referred me to one that is getting kudos in the New York Times; ThisNext.com. I was impressed just how organized this site was and even more impressed to find fashion and beauty bloggers I know doing Shopcasts there, such as Kristopher Dukes, The Jewelry Weblog, and Lola is Beauty.

What's a Shopcast? It's basically shopping and broadcasting combined. It's a playlist of products you recommend and you run them on a badge on your site and they also run on the ThisNext site, as well. You can create wishlists and also make recommendations by downloading a few buttons for your browser.

There are some really great recommendations just waiting for you to discover them, or if you feel so inclined, for you to make them at ThisNext.com

Do you seem to be losing customers lately? Is your customer base and sales simply not increasing? Consumers are telling you all of the time what they want, but are you paying attention? Do you genuinely listen to what they want? Or do you feel comfortable with the way things are?

Here are five things that consumers want from a business both online and offline:

Any woman can tell you the color and scent of a Victoria’s Secret store. Branding a business by color has been around forever, branding a business by scent deliberately is a rather new practice.

We have become inundated with never ending commercials, advertisements, pop-ups and infomercials, smart, progressive businesses realize that the use of scent is another way to make their business or brand not only stand out, but be remembered and associated with a certain positive experience or product.

While color may be an easy branding tool and will surely distinguish you from your competitors, such as that yummy, chocolate brown trademarked as "UPS Brown", scent can be a little touchier. Scent can either turn someone away or reel them in. It's a scientific fact that women are attracted to an ever so slight smell of skunk. Too much, and they are repulsed. Repulsion can be a good thing if your an international airport and you need to clear a building fast. Scents of danger need no interpretation. The scent of coffee can calm people, the new car smell increases sales of vehicles, Victoria’s Secret puts you in the mood the minute you walk into their store with the scent of a woman (or a man in drag) that remind you of romance and desire. Pierce Mattie's Media Oasis has a branded scent, complete with a high tech scent delivery system. Scents that relax you and put you in the mood to shop can increase a businesses bottom line.

Three cheers for men who know what it is a woman wants...and then delivers.

I found an article today about a straightening iron set up like a vending machine, and found in public bathrooms. You pay a small fee and can then defrizz your hair with the straightening iron, basically saving women everywhere from a bad hair day.

This product is called the Straight Up Vending Machine and is made by Beautiful Vending Company. However, this item can only be found in the United Kingdom right now. Still, this just shows that people respond when you deliver a product that provides a solution to a problem. In this case, it is women who want perfect hair all of the time, no matter where they are.

A well planned exit without the use of a publicist? Atoosa Rubenstein, Editor-in-Chief of Seventeen magazine announced last week that she’ll be leaving the publication. Her next move is to launch several teen-centered projects including a web business, a book and a consulting firm.

She told the New York Post, “I’m a risk taker. I don’t play the game in a safe way. I’ve never been driven by power or money. I’ve always had a very strong relationship with our audience, and I hope to develop that in a more immediate and visceral way.”

Before her announcement to leave Seventeen, Rubenstein already started branching out of her Editor-in-Chief post positioning herself as an advocate for teens by appearing on MTV’s Miss Seventeen reality show and also as a guest judge on America’s Next Top Model, a favorite show among Seventeen readers.

Is Rubenstein leaving Seventeen another sign in the decline of teen publications? In the last two years, YM, Teen People, and Elle Girl have been shut down. Teen People and Elle Girl are still online – a good move since most teens are tech-savvy. At least we’ve still got COSMOgirl! and Teen Vogue! We’ll have to wait and see who will take over the EIC post at Seventeen.

Read more about her decision to leave Seventeen on her MySpace page and some speculations from Jossip.

MenEssentials President, James Whittall has some helpful advice for hairy men who want to be smooth all over and shave like a man: This may surprise you, but at least one-sixth of the search engine referrals we receive each month are for men — ordinary guys, like you and me — who want information on how to shave their privates.

Squirm all you like. There's an immense subculture of eroticists who claim a bald bag makes for better sex. Indeed, when I went online to research this subject, I counted no less than a dozen serious human sexuality web sites with entire sections devoted to the art of sensual shaving.

Unfortunately, few of these resources offers tips on how to safely and hygienically perform this most delicate of procedures. Never one to shrink (pun intended) from the outrageous, I hereby offer my thoughts on the subject.

A Disclaimer
Personally, I think genital shaving is ill advised. A botched job can lead to intense irritation or, worse, permanent falsetto. Don't say I didn't warn you.

And a Warning
If you have sensitive skin that ordinarily reacts to shave creams or gels, then do not ever shave your pubic area or testicles. This region is much more sensitive than your face. Your allergic reaction could be spectacular.

• Personal Care Appliances - Global Strategic Business Report : This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Personal Care Appliances in Thousands of Units.

• Spinduggery, The Flack: Peter Himler posts about Jeff Jarvis' snarky comment insinuating PR professionals have dishonesty in their DNA. Jeff Jarvis, being the 'spin'-ster he is, should love the quote "you can’t polish a turd."

• KFC Logo Relaunch - From Space, Near Area 51: I know all of you are saying "I thought of that months ago." Ever since Google launched satellite imagery on its maps, I've wanted to pitch this idea to a client. While not the first, KFC is doing it on a grand scale; a nice publicity stunt. For those of you who know my New York address, you can see me on the roof of my apartment building with my dogs, frozen in time from space.

• Loyalty VS. Advocacy CRM Lowdown: Most companies think that their job is done when they manage to convert a regular customer into a loyal customer. They tend to forget the guy because now ‘he can take care of himself.' Wrong! Once you’ve converted a customer, your job becomes even more difficult.

• Link Karma From The Copyblogger: 21 Surefire tips for a successful blog launch, 10 things to consider when choosing a site meter, and the five W's of great content.

• Hotels offer lots of freebies during winter (just not in New York City), The Mercury News: Winter travelers can take advantage of a number of hotel deals. Properties are offering free nights, free gift cards, special rates and other perks.

• How To Stop Comment Spam Without Lifting a Finger, Tubetorial: If you're a wordpress user, you have to visit tubetorial. Quick, easy-to-understand flash video - enjoy.

• The European Newspaper Design & Concept Awards Europe‘s most innovative newspaper 2006: Look and learn. This year, Europe’s best designed newspapers come from Belgium, Norway, Finland, Portugal and Spain. 287 newspapers from 26 countries participated in the eighth European Newspaper Award.

It’s always interesting what you can learn about someone by looking in his or her medicine cabinet. We decided to run a profile on this suspect by examining the content of her cabinet. All we know is that she is a blogger.

Clumsy white female with disposition toward obsessive compulsive disorder? Looking at suspect's top shelf, I wonder if she is clumsy. All the bandages, Neosporin, and anti-septic foam make me wonder. It’s like a first aid kit ready to go to Iraq.

Suspect will appear to be glowing year round: We detected ModelCo Tan Airbrush in a Can, Neutrogena Build-a-Tan Face, and Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer. The suspect knows her stuff. It makes me wonder, does she just like a bronzed look or is she being health conscious by not soaking up the UV rays at the local tanning salon?

She works in a professional, somewhat stressful environment and has access to some of the best ingredients around. I can tell that she must have a stressful job, perhaps a frequent traveler due to the serums she uses on her face: Leontine Upset Skin Serum, Patricia Wexler MD MMPi Skin Regenerating Serum, Juice Beauty Green Apple Antioxidant Serum on row two, and Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate in row three.

Suspect works hard and plays hard. Overwhelming evidence of being a night owl (or a late night partier?) exists. See the eye depuffing products such as Benefit’s Action Eye Gel, Kiehl's Light Nourishing Eye Cream, and Kiehl's Cryste Marine Firming Eye Treatment.

It appears suspect is a trained chemist, definitely more than just a beauty addict, but also obsessed with her hair. (See OCD indicators in my report.) She has more hair products than a myopic Sasquatch: Fekkai Sheer Hold Hairspray, Carol's Daughter Tui Hair Oil, Very Irresistible Givenchy Tender Hair Mist, Chi Silk Infusion, Oscar Blandi Jasmine Oil Hair Serum, Fekkai Technician Glaze, and Neutrogena Triple Moisture Healing Shine Serum.

Detail-Oriented And Possibly From The UK. At least we know she isn’t leaving white marks behind with her Dove Ultimate Clear Antiperspirant. The Crest Whitening Expressions Lemon Ice Toothpaste tells me that Kristen likes citrus, which is a mood booster and possibly a way to wake up in the morning from late nights? I spy Crest Whitestrips also and a Crest Toothbrush, but where is her your floss? I presume suspect follows the same dental hygiene program as The House of Carters.

Unattached. The biggest thing I can tell from suspect's cabinet is that she is single. My deduction is due to the many top of the line, brand name products peeking out at us. She also spares no expense when it comes to the care of her skin and hair.

Naturally this post is all in jest, as suspect is a good friend of mine. You can tell that suspect is a little more than just “a little obsessed with makeup,” and that is why the girl is so beautiful. Continue reading this post for suspect's identity...

As I was washing my hair today I noticed that my ISO Shampoo had an expiration date on it. I thought that was unusual, as I haven't noticed any of my other shampoo's alerting me to when they would expire. I decided to look through some of my other products in my bathroom to see if any others would have expiration dates. I was surprised to find that half did and half didn't. All the products that did varied in expiration. For example, my Ojon Revitalizing Mist expires in 18 months; my Jane Iredale blush in 24 months and my Joico Silk Result in 12 months. Since I am one to horde beauty products until I have finished every last bit of them, I decided it’s best to note shelf life on your beauty products.

Craving for a new look? How about hairlash extensions? That’s what a Japanese Blogger did when she recently cut her hair. She created extensions for her eyelashes with her left over locks (and created hair gloves, as well...eww!).

She looks a bit like Cousin It. Plus, those hairlash extensions have got to be pretty darn heavy. I wonder, do you still have to shampoo them and if you don’t, will they turn into dreads?

Joanna Roche is the Senior Managing VP of Pierce Mattie Public Relations. She has a proven track record of success and corporate experience. She is high energy and passionate about her work, which makes her direct, up front, realistic approach with Pierce Mattie PR clients what makes her a true asset.

Joanna is a married mother of a 2-year-old son, who loves to run, cook and travel. The best way to describe her is balanced. She loves to dive into her work, yet still maintain the proper balance of her hobbies and family life. Joanna is goal oriented and believes that nothing is impossible.

Tell readers about a typical day as VP of Pierce Mattie.

There is nothing typical about being a VP at Pierce Mattie PR! Every day is different and it is one of the things I love about my job. Most days include working on new business, coming up with creative ideas to promote our brands, meeting with clients, nurturing the staff and helping them develop pitches and reach editors, and keeping abreast of trends and happenings in the PR world.

I’ve honestly never paid much attention to products that were celebrity endorsed, in high school, maybe a little, however there have been plenty of my friends who live by what products “Celebrity A List” says are the best. There was a time, back when I was very young, that I did follow what my favorite celebrities endorsed. One such product was Pepsi, simply because I was a very big Michael Jackson fan. Luckily, I wised up.

So when I saw one of my favorite fashion designers, Isaac Mizrahi, pitching StriVectin-SD in a commercial the other day I felt such utter disappointment. Strivectin-SD, which claims to be an anti-stretchmark cream turned anti-wrinkle cream, is trying to pitch their product to men through Mizrahi's popularity. Isaac is a talk show host and thus a "lifestyle advocate" however, as a person who admires Mr. Mizrahi for his outstanding fashion, I wonder why he had to go this route. Seeing him in a commercial promoting an anti-wrinkle cream made me lose a little bit of respect for him and I didn't want too. I'm sure I am not alone.

I believe there was a time when celebrity endorsements held clout, but the times have been changing, most especially as blogs have become more and more popular. There are so many blogs out there that review products and I am more apt to listen to the average Joe tell me their likes and dislikes over a product than to run out to buy a product because Mischa Barton has been using it. According to a survey done by Allure and Essence, the same holds true for many of their readers.

Kiss My Face was a green beauty company before green became an in thing. Every product they sell is organic without anything artificial at all. Yet going organic certainly doesn’t mean that quality is compromised at any point or that organic means a heavy price point. Most Kiss My Face users will tell you, their products are top notch and won’t break the bank in the process.

It’s not very often that you can go to a company’s website and read the background on how things were started, and if you can find one, you certainly will not find one so personable and down to earth. When you read the story behind how Kiss My Face began and their mission and purpose of their products you can’t help but feel their humor, lightheartedness, and of course their love for our great Earth. Their story is definitely a Squash to Riches story and one I think everyone should read.

Kiss My Face sells a variety of products for your bath, body and more. The products range from hair care to soap to facial moisturizers. Since we all know that organic is not only earth friendly, but also skin friendly, more people who may have a sensitivity to ingredients in other products may find comfort here.

If you use Kiss My Face, what is your favorite product from their line?

NYC Fashion Week is in full swing, which designer styles and makeup looks do you love so far? Here are some links from the last week around the beauty and fashion blogosphere, with a few checking in on Fashion Week.

Fashion:

+ Fashion Tribes shows off some spectacular photos with a summary of the Red Dress Collection at NYC Fashion Week.

+ Omiru: Style for All interviews Meghan Parsons, the designer behind the jack&marjorie brand.

+ Style Bites gives a review of Max Azria’s Fall 2007 Collection from NYC Fashion Week.

Beauty:

+ Beauty Hobby reviews High Performance Organics Spa Hair Conditioner and Raw Sugar Scrub.

+ Mystical Beauty’s Musings reviews Lumiere Mineral Cosmetics.

+ I am Pretty NYC gives some beauty tips on how to go gray gracefully.

Greg Cartwright has been a Massage Therapist for the past 8 years and Body Sugaring Expert for the last 4. He is accomplished in numerous massage techniques, including Shiatsu, sports and Swedish massage. Additionally, he is certified in Thai massage by the Traditional Medicinal Hospital of Thailand. Greg has been trained by top-tier cosmetology companies, such as La Prairie, Alexandria and SkinCeuticals - to use and administer their products. He achieved his Licensed Esthetician certification through The Aveda Institute.

Greg has always been a person who loves working with his hands, is service oriented and understands building relationships with his clients. Prior to starting Downtime Massage and Skincare, he was a chef at the Ritz in London, Moomba in NYC and private chef to a CEO of one of America’s best-known fashion companies.

What prompted your decision to change your career from being a chef to becoming a massage therapist and esthetician?
The food industry is brutal and there is a certain lifestyle that goes along with being in it. After 10 years and an injury in the kitchen, I was ready for a lifestyle change. At that time I was introduced to Yoga and went to a chiropractor. It was at the Chiropractor’s office that I saw massage for the first time. I love doing things for others; using my hands and making people feel better. I saw that I could achieve this through massage and that is when I decided to begin training to become a massage therapist and eventually a licensed esthetician.

Organic Spa Magazine launched this January, published by Oceans Publishing Company, and is available year-round in a complete digital version found online at www.organicspamagazine.com . Co-founder and Editor in Chief, Mary Bemis, is the visionary behind the editorial mandate to integrate personal well-being with environmental sustainability. Her partner, Bev Maloney-Fischback, was responsible for bringing in 27 charter advertisers including Aveda, Jane Iredale, Laboratories Luzern, and Willow Stream the Spas at Fairmont.

Among the first magazines to debut in both print and digital formats, Organic Spa Magazine has a circulation of 40,800 and will be available by subscription for $12.95 for a year of the printed version; $9.95 for digital edition; and $16.95 for the combination.

The Queen of Green: Mary Bemis

You'll be also able to find Organic Spa at Whole Foods Markets.

I recently had the chance to ask Mary a few questions about OS and hear her thoughts on launching a magazine and the current focus on organics in general.

JR: What was your motivation to start Organic Spa?

MB: I really wanted to give something to the consumer. The consumer is so confused about the definition of SPA. The word has become a marketing gimmick pasted on everything from bubble baths to candles. The magazine is intended to communicate that SPA can be a lifestyle and show the consumer how to live that lifestyle at home. I was able to parlay my contacts and expertise into creating a magazine designed to teach the consumer how to incorporate spa into all aspects of their lives – home, rest, work, and play.

JR: What is your definition of Organic?

MB: To me, organic means “from nature”. The magazine is printed on recycled paper and with linseed oil ink. The digital version supports our philosophy of saving trees and paper. Organic is also the name of this growing “movement” that I am seeing, not just a trend identified by the media, but something that will be impactful and long-lasting.

JR: What’s the best / your favorite part of Organic Spa?

MB: Having created it – taking my vision to fruition, making it user friendly, developing meaningful content, and knowing it came from the heart.

JR: What do you see as the future for Organic Spa?

MB: I see the magazine becoming an important source of information for living the spa lifestyle, and I plan to aggressively grow the brand wherever it takes me.

JR: What do you see as important influences in 2007?

MB: Certainly there is attention to a growing organic / natural trend in beauty that needs to be fleshed out. Because there are no standard regulatory principles, it is exacerbating the level of confusion on the part of the consumer. I also see the developing trend as a backlash to the aggressive growth of the medi-spa category. Consumers are buying more natural and organic products across the board – whether it is food or the emerging clothing alternatives.

JR: What’s your greatest hope?

MB: That people take responsibility for their actions – and develop more awareness of the impact on our planet and our supply of water, food, and electricity.

JR: What is your greatest fear?

MB: Apathy and Laziness.

Fashion:

+ Fashion Rag reviews the 2007 oscars and it's fashion.

+ Denimology interviews Sass & Bide’s Denim Director, Mark Wiesmayr.

+ The Runway Scoop muses, “Let’s Bring Back Fashionable Flight Attendants.”

+ The Space Between My Peers gives you closet organizing tips for those clothes and shoes with “7 Days to a Cleaner Closet.”

Beauty:

+ Almost Pretty reviews Warren Tricomi’s Pure Strength Cabana Collection Hair Shield.

+ Kiss and Makeup reviews Tigi’s Catwalk Oatmeal & Honey Shampoo and Conditioner.

+ The Scented Salamander interviews Sylvie Jessua Owner & Artistic Director Of Ambregris.

We are all familiar with all the various bidding sites that are out there that bring consumer and seller together such as the highly popular website Priceline.com and of course its now defunct name your price grocery website WebHouse (which I sadly miss). Of course there are other variations of sites that look to capture an audience by allowing various businesses to compete for your business such as with Lending Tree and RentalCars.com (owned by Priceline). As more and more consumers are always looking for the best deals, a new trend has been emerging that Doc Searls dubbed last year as the Intention Economy.

The Intention Economy grows around buyers, not sellers. It leverages the simple fact that buyers are the first source of money, and that they come ready-made. You don't need advertising to make them. The Intention Economy is about markets, not marketing. You don't need marketing to make Intention Markets.---Doc Searls”

With this idea in mind, it opens another market and another way for brands to think outside of the box when it comes to getting exposure for their product. This is a market that is virtually untapped and one that many are beginning to see as a golden opportunity to connect in another way with their target market. One such example is in a specific part of the travel industry: cruises. Cruise Compete is a website that is similar in notion to Lending Tree in that Travel Cruise Agents compete to offer you the best deal on a cruise package. Although sites like Lending Tree, Priceline and Cruise Compete work with a limited amount of businesses to offer you the best deal, these sites still remain popular in this niche of price competition and continue to have a small amount of rival sites.

Fashion:

+ GlamSpree shows that fashion can be found at the (Helios House) gas station.

+ She’s a Betty rounds up 12 DIY ways to “pimp” your shoes.

+ The Budget Fashionista talks about UNIQLO bringing premium Japanese denim to the US for under $60.

Beauty:

+ The It List finds “hair powder” that’s good enough to eat.

+ Meg’s Makeup reviews Beauty Blender Season of Love.

+ The Beauty Newsletter reviews the soon to be launched Too Faced Status Gloss.

Simply say, “The Beauty Bible” and everyone knows I am talking about Paula Begoun. I recently was able to interview Paula, also known for her other best sellers: Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me and Don’t Go Shopping For Hair Care Products Without Me. Paula Begoun is also a syndicated columnist of “Dear Paula,” a column that can be found throughout newspapers in the US and the creator and innovative force behind her product line, “Paula’s Choice.”

When you first began to challenge the cosmetics industry, were you met with much resistance by them, or did they give off the attitude that you were simply one individual who didn't pose much of a threat?
I have always found the resistance the same, some people in the industry love my work and others think I don’t know what I’m talking about. In the long run, I don’t pose much of a threat, but that’s always true for an iconoclast.

As time went on and your books became best sellers (and you--a force to be reckoned with), did you notice that the brands you were challenging for false claims began to change the wording in their advertising?
No, if anything things have gotten worse. Cosmetic companies don’t even care what the FDA does, because by the time anyone notices, the next advertising campaign or product launch replaced the previous one.

In the beginning, were you surprised by the amount of women responding to you? Are you still surprised that it continues today?
I’m always surprised how many women know my work. Selling over 2 million books is really great for the ego. What saddens me, is when I feel nothing has changed and women are still wasting lots of money on misleading advertising claims.

You said (on your website) that Paula's Choice and your challenging of the cosmetic industry began as a personal quest. Do you now feel like an advocate for all women discerning fact from fiction in product claims?
It still feels like a personal quest, I find myself wanting to know more all the time. Being an advocate for myself, and having turned that into a business is a wonderful way to earn a living.

What makes Paula's Choice products stand out among its competitors?
It depends on who the competitor is. There are some really bad products on the market and in those instances my products are stellar with state of the art ingredients, air tight packaging (to keep the beneficial ingredients stable), and elegant formulations. But there are also brilliant products out there that are truly excellent and I feel strongly my products compete beautifully (and almost always, mine are far less expensive).

Mother’s Day is only a few short weeks away and happens to be, in my opinion, a day that all mothers look forward to for the pampering, the gifts and demonstrations of love by her family. With consumer spending for Mother’s Day gifts expected to be $15.73 billion, these last few weeks before the big day are a fantastic opportunity to get your brand noticed, especially online.

According to the National Retail Federation’s 2007 Mother’s Day Consumer Actions and Intentions survey, 20% of consumers are expected to do their Mother’s Day gift shopping online, which is a 3.1% increase from last year. Although the other 80% do their gift buying offline, many still use the internet to research and look for gift ideas. While Mother’s Day shopping and gift research typically begins at the beginning of April, far more consumers make their purchase much closer to the holiday, which occurs on May 13th this year.

By utilizing the internet to spread the word about your product(s) as great gift ideas for mom, your advertising costs will be much less versus commercial and print ads and more likely to spread the word faster due to viral marketing. A few ways to utilize the web to get your products before Mother’s Day gift searchers are:

Press Releases
Advertisements on targeted websites
Advertisements on targeted blogs
Promoting them to blog owners

Online press releases are great for search engine optimization and will quickly get you picked up by the likes of Google and Yahoo when consumers do an online search. Using keywords in the title of your press release is a key factor. Key phrases to use are “Mother’s Day gifts” and “Mother’s Day gift ideas.” Some online press release services are PR NewsWire, Send2Press and PRWeb Direct. You can also use these same press releases to email to blog owners, but make sure to include links to your products (if you have an online site) and pictures as well.

I found this great article written in Good Housekeeping by Colette Bouchez: 5 Beauty Tips and Secrets Every Woman Should Know. It's a great article every woman should read.

Beauty Tip 1: Never Underestimate the Power of Moisturizer
Beauty Tip 2: Sunscreen Is Your Best Antiaging Product.
Beauty Tip 3: Choose Your Cleanser Wisely
Beauty Tip 4: Use the Right Tools for the Right Job
Beauty Tip 5: Update Hair and Makeup Every 2 Years

Fashion:

+ Trendible has photos of John Mayer doning designer duds in this months GQ. He looks utterly fabulous.

+ Fashion Chicks posts pictures of celebrities that seem to enjoy the feathers trend in dresses.

+ Suze at Glamour’s fashion blog is looking for six couples for Glamour’s next fashion shoot. If you know anyone that would be interested (including you and your mate), check out her post for details!

Beauty:

+ Beauty Blabber tells you how to recreate Katherine McPhee’s metallic smoky eye look.

+ Makeup Moxie review’s Ojon’s Rub-Out Dry Cleanser.

+ Cinnamon Kitten reviews Clinique’s SuperBalm Lip Treatment

Fashion:

+ Fashion Indie is calling for an Indie-wide ban on Britney Spears for her tasteless use of a Zac Posen gown as a doggy outhouse.

+ Bag Bliss writes about Gwen Stephani filing suit against Forever 21.

+ MetroStyleMen has a post that is really quite interesting and the “fashion” displayed is really quite…well see for yourself.

Beauty:

+ The it Lists reviews Fekkai’s Beach Waves.

+ Spa Blah Blah Blog gives some beauty recipes for a cucumber mask and toner.

+ Hello Dollface reviews GapBody’s Bath & Skin Collection.

Pierce Mattie Public Relations' innovative "Media Oasis" in Times Square has been tagged by Beauty and Fashion editors as an environment that promotes a unique learning experience, crossing and connecting the media and client in one versatile location of beauty and serenity. The Media Oasis' tranquil atmosphere sets a new standard in the industry by allowing brands to showcase their products and services to the media in an intimate setting fostering more in-depth communication between the two.

The origin of the Media Oasis stemmed from our clients asking us to provide services in a controlled environment where the brand's integrity would not be compromised with the media present," said Joanna Roche, Executive Vice President of Pierce Mattie PR.

"My vision of the Media Oasis was to have the feel of a very modern day resort, while still maintaining the function of a large corporate office. Pierce Mattie and I transformed what would normally be a nicely decorated corporate office into a retreat, not only for the many magazine editors that visit the New York office, but also for the employees of Pierce Mattie Public Relations. The results of which we are very proud of; part work, part relaxation, less stress, better living and going home with a peace of mind," said Edward Thornton, chief designer from Thornton & Associates; the architectural firm responsible for creating the revolutionary Media Oasis.

The Media Oasis is a 4,000 square foot custom built retreat designed to harmoniously blend the media and our luxury lifestyle clients. "The majority of our brands do not have corporate facilities in Manhattan. This often presented a missed experience when our team would go to pitch a brand to the press. We found ourselves renting hotel suites and taking over spas and hair salons to do events with beauty editors and shoot TV shows with segment producers. We wanted to bring this experience in-house. We are confident that Media Oasis is the right tool to maximize their media exposure," said Lance Buckley, Account Director at Pierce Mattie. Guests of the Oasis can receive exclusive facial treatments, body massages, manicures and pedicures, aromatherapy sessions, chemical peels and body treatments based on what brand is being pitched at that time. The clandestine milieu is also outfitted with a shampoo room fit for scalp treatments and hair processing.

This week top editors gathered at The London Hotel in New York City to celebrate the arrival of Joico’s Re:nu Age Defy Hair Care line. The new, unique, scientifically advanced system is the first of its kind and is designed to stop hair from acting its age!

Read the full post on Beauty Pro.

PR has long misused and misunderstood pitching to Bloggers, most specifically, mommy bloggers. Yesterday I caught the segment of the Today Show featuring mom bloggers Mir, Kristen, Jill and a live interview with Heather B. Armstrong. After watching Hota Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford totally miss the boat with "air quotes," backhanded compliments and asking Heather, "Is it all moms who are on your blogosphere," it basically solidified for me, if the media doesn't "get" mommy bloggers, how can PR expect to understand how to reach out to them either? Well, being a mom myself, I decided to do something no one else has seemed to do before--I asked them.

Erin Kotecki Vest who writes Queen of Spain, Elizabeth Thielke writer of Busy Mom and Jenn Satterwhite who writes Mommy Needs Coffee all graciously took the time to answer my questions when it came to pitching mommy blogs. If you are thinking of pitching your products to mommy blogs, it's definitely best to hear the right and wrong way to do it and avoid your pitch hitting the spam folder.

Shannon: How do mom blogs differ from a tech blog, beauty blog, foodie blog (besides the obvious niche differences)? Is there a difference in who the audience is?

Erin: We're not selling anything and odds are we don't review products or services. Normally we are discussing our lives. It's much easier to connect with a site that is in the business of discussing an 'industry' or category.

Jenn: I think every blog is going to have an audience that finds interest in the main topic of the posts. I think with mom blogs there is more of an interest in community and stories. However, there is a lot of cross over. Not all of my readers are parents. And not all the blogs I read are mom blogs. I just think people gravitate to what interests them most. Whether it be a narrow group or a large array or interests. Mom blogs are not the big influencers when it comes to products because many are now talking about them. Similar to the playground of our day when our moms would share opinions. We just share them online.

Elizabeth: A "mom blog" can be defined many different ways, the common factor is that they are written by a female who is a parent, but the content can vary widely. Many are exclusively about parenting, while others a more of a reflection of life in general, comedy, tech stuff or other topics mixed in the conversation. The audience is the same in that they are people who are interested in the writer and the topic. But, they are perhaps different in that a mom blog's audience is often people who are having or have had the same types of life experiences as the writer, where that's not usually a factor in other niche blogs.

Shannon: Why do you feel that PR firms and various brands are pitching mommy blogs and placing more value on them than the average niche blog?

Erin: There are many reasons-most of which have to do with stats. Women control .83cents on every household dollar. Women are now the heaviest web users. Women are turning off the TV and putting down the magazine in favor of being online. Women are the best word of mouth advertisers in the world.

Jenn: Two reasons: First: Moms do the majority of the household spending and are the ones who are going to go out and purchase most of the things that we are being pitched. We are the ones who are making most of the house hold purchases. Secondly, many women/moms look to each other for advice and recommendations on products before they buy. I will definitely take the word of a mom blogger I trust over any pitch, advertisement or branding tactic that comes my way.

Elizabeth: Moms often make everyday purchasing decisions for wide variety of items and aren't limited to a niche. With growing children, they will be making kid related and household purchases consistently over a long period of time. Additionally, moms are perceived as people who will talk to their friends about products and the reach is extended.

Pierce Mattie PR recently submitted an article to the Bulldog Reporter, which has been published in their Barks & Bites column, below is a preview:

PR has long misused and misunderstood pitching to bloggers. While it has long been the status quo of PR to send blanket impersonal press release type pitches to media outlets, blogs and social media are reshaping the way we pitch. Unlike print publications, blogs do not have advertisers to answer to and their blog is, in essence, their brand. PR has to invest the time to peel back the layers and research who they are, what they talk about and who their audience is before sending a pitch—or take the chance of their pitch hitting the spam folder (or worse, appearing as a slam on their blog).

There is no doubt that the social media scene is not going away. In fact, it continues to grow and become more influential. While print publications still lead the way as a client's preferred method of securing coverage, blogs and social media outlets tend to offer instant results with measurable ROI. While the initial results of a blog writing about your client may be fleeting, eventually that write up gets indexed and lives online in the search engines. In print, once you've had your moment in the spotlight, the next month it turns to someone else and that mention is long forgotten by the consumer.

As advocates for our clients, it is in our best interest to come to understand and navigate this often slippery slope of the blogosphere where one minute you may hit a homerun and in the next, strike out. In the new world of Communication 2.0, if PR hopes to find any success in securing publicity for their client on the web, then they need to devote themselves to reshaping the way they cast their net.

To read the complete article please check out the Bulldog Reporter. To see the original post that the article was summarized from please check out PR Tips: How to Pitch Mommy Bloggers.

Pierce Mattie PR is now hiring for our New York and Los Angeles offices. Please feel free to forward this post to anyone that may be interested. 

Open Divisions:
• Beauty
• Jewelry
• Women's Fashion
• Men's Fashion
• Food & Beverage
• Home Furnishings
• Resort & Travel
• Fitness
• Men's Lifestyle
• Women's Lifestyle

Open Positions:
• Account Supervisors
• Account Directors
• Account Manager
• Sr. Account Executives

Read more on how you can join our award winning team! 

As I watched the news this morning about Lehman Brother's filing bankruptcy, Merrill Lynch being bought, gas prices rising and devastation costs due to Hurricane Ike and our stock market looking like it's about to hit the toilet--reading a story in Cosmetics Design Europe about India's upmarket growth in the beauty industry was a welcomed positive story. With so many foreign investors coming in and taking advantage of our down economy, why not turn the tables here and take advantage of the emerging trends overseas that can be a benefit to us here in the states?

Pierce Mattie PR loves the beauty industry and actually, if you are familiar with Pierce's bio, this is where our firm got its start in Beauty PR. So keeping up to date on emerging trends and forecasting future trends is something Pierce Mattie is well known for. In fact, at the beginning of August, Pierce was interviewed by Cosmetique News in Paris regarding Pakistan being an emerging market for men's grooming products. So I wasn't at all surprised when I read the story mentioned above from Cosmetics Design Europe reporting on India's upmarket growth potential in the personal care industry.

So how can beauty brands in the states take advantage of this potential?

The results are in! The team at Pierce Mattie Public Relations has compiled their annual "What’s Hot, What’s Not" list for 2010 pertaining to all things beauty, fashion, lifestyle and media. What’s in? The stiletto heel, Jeggings, Minx Nails, diesel fuel and the use of condoms have made a major come back over the pill. And what’s out? Skinny jeans, Starbucks, Hybrid Technology and Zoloft just to name a few.

What’s IN:

Fashion –

Annabel Tollman
UNIQLO
Velcro
Navaho Prints
Stiletto Heels
Tie Clips
The Boyfriend Jacket
Jeggings

Beauty –

Blushing Nails
Bouncy hair that is air dried
neuLash & Latisse
Fresh Cut Cedarwood
Injectables
Goth inspired makeup
Violet/Carnation Scents
Minx Nails
Invisalign
Push-up Bra

Accessories –

House of Harlow
Metal Statement Necklaces
Bib necklaces
Alexander Wang handbags

Lifestyle -

How To and DIY stories
Blog stories
Brewing your own coffee
Berlin
Diesel Fuel
Condoms
Farm Weddings
Vampires
Pilates
Your real figure
Wine
Life Coach

Media -

Oxygen
Open source
Helpareporter.com
Real Housewives Washington DC
iRex
Wendy Williams
Glee
Megan Fox
Alexandra Wentworth (comedian)
David Baldacci (novelist)
Roberta Gellis (romance)
Taylor Lautner
Katie Cassidy

What’s OUT:

Thank God Linda Wells, Editor in Chief of Allure magazine was on the panel tonight to judge Shear Genius. Linda’s insight on runway hair was enough to cancel out Jonathan Antin’s negative output on Brig Van Osten’s final project. A collection of models that featured laminated hair in a striking array of colors.

For weeks we have been watching Brig get creamed by Janine Jarman. Is it just us or did anyone else think having Janine Jarman who is the official hairstylist to the Pussy Cat Dolls was a conflict of interest for the judges? Hello – Robin Antin (THE Pussy Cat Doll) is Jonathan’s sister.

Anyway – congratulations to Brig Van Osten you made season 3 memorable. This year the show was packed with some of the best stylists in the world from Oribe, Kim Vo, Kevin Mancuso, Robert Vetica, Tabatha Coffey and Ken Paves. All hair icons.

Our only beef with the program this time around was host Camila Alves. Who cast that one? I am sure it’s hard to fill Jaclyn Smith’s shoes, ok – it’s impossible. But we spent most of the time turning the TV set up and shushing the group so we could to try and figure out what the hell she was saying. Maybe Camila should be a little less concerned with hair coiffure and a little more focused on learning the Berlitz Method.  

Here are some of our suggestions for who we would like to see replace Miss Alves next year: 

• Cindy Crawford – get her back on TV, she can't act, but she can host.
• Maria Menounos – went to Emerson College, the girl can communicate!
• Christie Brinkley – goes without question.
• Daisy Fuentes - has gorgeous hair and will boost ratings with the Latinas.
• Veronica Webb - still has it going on.
• Susie Castillo - beauty queen meets on air host, the perfect mix.

Last week I watched a video interview of Richard Stacy, a social media consultant in London, on Cosmetics Design Europe. The headline that pulled me in was: "Small and medium-sized cosmetics players lead the way in social media." Before I even heard the interview, I nodded my head in agreement. It has been my experience over the years that smaller brands (regardless of niche) tend to be willing to try new things to expand their reach while larger brands have a tendency to "wait and see." Shoestring budgets often energize smaller brands to take creative approaches to marketing and publicity than a larger company would. Would you agree?

Here are some key points Stacy made regarding social media that I absolutely concur with:

After a long winter, summer is finally right around the corner – which means strappy sandals, sundresses, and that effortless-looking, day-at-the-beach hair that we try to recreate all year long.  Unfortunately, it does take a little effort to get the look, but with the right products and tips it can be easily achieved.

Instead of worrying about the sun fading your hair color, you can try a “summer at the beach” look.  JOICO celebrity stylist George Papanikolas – whose clients include Nicole Richie, Miley Cyrus, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Britney Spears – recommends a few strategically placed balayage highlights to give the effect of a summer spent at the beach, not in the salon.  The hottest summer hair color trend is Ombre hair, a look that has recently been spotted on celebrities and models such as Erin Wasson, Rachel Bilson, Shanae Grimes and Nicole Richie.  The effect is darker hair at the roots that fades into a lighter color on the ends, so for blondes it’s dark blond fading into light blond; for brunettes, it’s brown fading to caramel or dark blond; and for redheads it’s copper fading to golden blond.

The finishing touch for beach hair is tousled, beachy texture. Joico’s Design Collection Dry Spray Wax and Texture Spray are the perfect products to give your hair the illusion of a day filled with sand, surf and salty air!

Good customer service has always been the sure fire way to land the best publicity on earth. When economic times were good, many companies bypassed emphasis on this principle and strictly built value based on which publications featured their products. Certainly if they had a showcase of magazine hits here and broadcast hits there, that certainly was enough to make people buy (and repeat buy), enough to make people trust and enough to get people talking about their brand...right?

Maybe this was the way before, but in a want-it-now generation coupled with a troubled economy, there is a shift back to the "old school" principles of listening to what your customers want, then delivering. Or in other words, putting the customer first again. And honestly, I for one, love retro business standards. We could argue that the fervor around social media + business along with the demise of our economic stability created the perfect storm. 

On Wednesday, September 29^th the beauty team at Pierce Mattie Public Relations pulled off a successful launch event for JOICO’s new line—Clinicure. Upper East side restaurant, Rouge Tomate, hosted the event in a private dining room where guests enjoyed a seasonally inspired, locally sourced menu of breakfast treats. Attendance included top media from leading national outlets such as AOL StyleList, Glamour, Elle and Prevention as well as a producer from the CBS Early Show.

To kick-off, Director of Communications for JOICO Pat O’Keefe, welcomed everyone and introduced the first presenter, JOICO Director of Education Angelia Polsinelli. Angelia walked through her portion of the presentation in which she touched upon the background and causes of thinning hair. In conclusion she unveiled the new Clinicure Collection of Styling products, which flawlessly setup for the final presenter, Stylist Tammy Laimos from the Minardi Salon. Tammy was accompanied by three real models who had their hair styled with each of the new products. She walked the audience through each style and gave tips on how to achieve desired results at home.

On Wednesday, September 29^th the beauty team at Pierce Mattie Public Relations pulled off a successful launch event for JOICO’s new line—Clinicure. Upper East side restaurant, Rouge Tomate, hosted the event in a private dining room where guests enjoyed a seasonally inspired, locally sourced menu of breakfast treats. Attendance included top media from leading national outlets such as AOL StyleList, Glamour, Elle and Prevention as well as a producer from the CBS Early Show.

To kick-off, Director of Communications for JOICO Pat O’Keefe, welcomed everyone and introduced the first presenter, JOICO Director of Education Angelia Polsinelli. Angelia walked through her portion of the presentation in which she touched upon the background and causes of thinning hair. In conclusion she unveiled the new Clinicure Collection of Styling products, which flawlessly setup for the final presenter, Stylist Tammy Laimos from the Minardi Salon. Tammy was accompanied by three real models who had their hair styled with each of the new products. She walked the audience through each style and gave tips on how to achieve desired results at home.

On Wednesday, September 29^th the beauty team at Pierce Mattie Public Relations pulled off a successful launch event for JOICO’s new line—Clinicure. Upper East side restaurant, Rouge Tomate, hosted the event in a private dining room where guests enjoyed a seasonally inspired, locally sourced menu of breakfast treats. Attendance included top media from leading national outlets such as AOL StyleList, Glamour, Elle and Prevention as well as a producer from the CBS Early Show.

To kick-off, Director of Communications for JOICO Pat O’Keefe, welcomed everyone and introduced the first presenter, JOICO Director of Education Angelia Polsinelli. Angelia walked through her portion of the presentation in which she touched upon the background and causes of thinning hair. In conclusion she unveiled the new Clinicure Collection of Styling products, which flawlessly setup for the final presenter, Stylist Tammy Laimos from the Minardi Salon. Tammy was accompanied by three real models who had their hair styled with each of the new products. She walked the audience through each style and gave tips on how to achieve desired results at home.

On Wednesday, September 29^th the beauty team at Pierce Mattie Public Relations pulled off a successful launch event for JOICO’s new line—Clinicure. Upper East side restaurant, Rouge Tomate, hosted the event in a private dining room where guests enjoyed a seasonally inspired, locally sourced menu of breakfast treats. Attendance included top media from leading national outlets such as AOL StyleList, Glamour, Elle and Prevention as well as a producer from the CBS Early Show.

To kick-off, Director of Communications for JOICO Pat O’Keefe, welcomed everyone and introduced the first presenter, JOICO Director of Education Angelia Polsinelli. Angelia walked through her portion of the presentation in which she touched upon the background and causes of thinning hair. In conclusion she unveiled the new Clinicure Collection of Styling products, which flawlessly setup for the final presenter, Stylist Tammy Laimos from the Minardi Salon. Tammy was accompanied by three real models who had their hair styled with each of the new products. She walked the audience through each style and gave tips on how to achieve desired results at home.

Color-depositing shampoo helps maintain and brighten cool blonde and gray tones by neutralizing oxidation that can turn hair brassy or yellow. Try Pierce Mattie PR's beauty PR client; Joico and their Color Endure colletion. For more information on this brand or to receive a press kit please call our office 212-243-1431.

Year after year Joico’s K-Pak continues to come out as a top pick from beauty editors and stylists worldwide as the leading restorative product for damaged hair. Most recently honored with a Life & Style Beauty Award Joico’s latest expansion in the K-Pak brand continues with Color Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner.  For more information on these products please call our office 212-243-1431.

A phrase that was driven into my head as a young girl was, "You can't get by on looks alone." Occasionally I also heard, "You can't get ahead on your looks alone." Similar focus, just semantics really. I'm sure it's the same sentiment echoed in homes across America at one point or another and in a time when we're consistently re-enforcing substance versus image, it's very interesting that two similar books (backed by research) have come out supporting the theory that, yes, you can advance in your career, become more profitable and more successful based on looks alone.

Beauty Pays by Daniel S. Hamermesh and Erotic Capital by Catherine Hakim both explore how our society views beauty and attractiveness from a socio-economic standpoint. Hamermesh, an economics professor at the University of Texas, explores whether a universal standard for beauty exists and how it differentiates based on profession. Hamermesh also examines the commodification of dating and how physical appearance in a potential partner influences more than just the search for an attractive mate, but is based on their ability to generate higher earnings. Catherine Hakim's book, Erotic Capital, exposes that truth that sex appeal is an effective tool when looking to advance everything from your career to advertising (that part, we knew.)

Thought provoking and controversial, this topic is one that we all talk about, but has been taboo to actually admit the obvious--looks matter. Just the other week we blogged about Paul Kramer's new book Maggie Goes on a Diet, which, in a nutshell, says if you are obese you will be bullied and unhappy, but if you are thin you are liked and adored. While it's something I don't think we should be telling 6 year olds (his target demographic), he is only re-iterating what Beauty Pays and Erotic Capital are already stating: attractive is all the rage.

Be ready for your next beauty and fashion PR pitches--Wear this commanding suit if you want that raise! and Use this moisturizer and you'll successfully negotiate your next big corporate deal!

What do you think? Tweet us @PierceMattiePR.

If there is one New York City salon that fuses the perfect mix of luxury, aesthetic and talent, it is GARREN New York. Located on Fifth Avenue in The Sherry-Netherland Hotel near Central Park, the space is just as luxe as the clientel  GARREN New York services.

Garren has styled numerous models, celebrities and editors and his team of stylists and colorists can magically transform anyone from average to amazing. The salon is known to be consistently spotless and client focused. From the modern and intimate setting to the requirement that all the stylists and employees wear neutral clothing, it is clear that Garren has set the bar high with his attention to detail. 

Garren offers his own line of hair care products that covers all aspects of hair care, as well as numerous hair services like coloring, correcting, and styling, as well as manicures, pedicures and eyebrow shaping. They even offer services off the salon premises.

Have you experienced the luxury of being styled by Garren New York? Tweet us what you think @PierceMattiePR!

If there is one New York City salon that fuses the perfect mix of luxury, aesthetic and talent, it is GARREN New York. Located on Fifth Avenue in The Sherry-Netherland Hotel near Central Park, the space is just as luxe as the clientel  GARREN New York services.

Garren has styled numerous models, celebrities and editors and his team of stylists and colorists can magically transform anyone from average to amazing. The salon is known to be consistently spotless and client focused. From the modern and intimate setting to the requirement that all the stylists and employees wear neutral clothing, it is clear that Garren has set the bar high with his attention to detail. 

Garren offers his own line of hair care products that covers all aspects of hair care, as well as numerous hair services like coloring, correcting, and styling, as well as manicures, pedicures and eyebrow shaping. They even offer services off the salon premises.

Have you experienced the luxury of being styled by Garren New York? Tweet us what you think @PierceMattiePR!

Sally Hershberger:Sally Hershberger is a well-established hair stylist in which many A-List stars have had the pleasure of being of a client. In addition to being a celebrity stylist and working with high-end photographers to achieve the perfect style for a shoot, Hershberger has created her own hair care product line. Her line, entitled Sally Hershberger, has been a huge success largely due to her products offering professional quality results at a reasonable price. She has also opened up three luxurious salons, two located in New York and one in L.A. 

Sally has been featured on many TV talk shows and in fashion and beauty magazines, all of which applaud her on her remarkable work and success. To get a closer look at Hershberger’s technique take a peek at her hair tips videos, and follow her on Twitter @SHershberger for updates and ideas.

John Barrett: Celebrity hair stylist John Barrett is one of the most prominent stylists not only in the state of New York, but also among Hollywood celebrities. He is well known for styling celebs like Sarah Jessica Parker and Catherine Zeta Jones, before their big events and functions. Barrett’s salon, located in the penthouse at Bergdorfs, offers an extensive selection of treatments and styles. One of mine, and many other’s, favorite aspect is the Barrett Braid Bar where you can request any braid imaginable and walk out looking Oscar-worthy - Similar to the style worn by the adored Rachel McAdams. Braid bars are getting increasingly popular within luxury salons and represent a unique and exciting way to get your hair styled. Another fun aspect of Barrett’s salon is the offer of Beauty Parties where you and your group can enjoy the complete glamour of being pampered and the best part… champagne! To learn more about Barrett's salon be sure to become his follower on Twitter @JohnBarrettNYC, where you'll be updated on new clients, looks and styles.

Roy Teeluck: Roy Teeluck is an esteemed hairstylist who has travelled and styled in the fashion capitals of the world, Paris, L.A. London, and now, New York. Teeluck is admired for bringing glamour and ultimate beauty to his clients by not only styling their look, but guiding them on how to achieve a beautified look day-to-day. He has brought his worldwide knowledge and experience into his New York City salon which located in the heart of luxury next to Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent on East 57^th Street. Teeluck sculpts every client into the ultimate glamour-chic package, where he lets your natural and simple beauty shine through. The price to book a chair with Roy himself starts at $350, or you can transform your look with his other talented stylists who range from $120 - $200. To stay update on Teeluck's styles and salons, become a follower on Twitter @royteeluck.

Have you experienced any of these salons? Tweet us @PierceMattiePR and let us know what you think.

Sally Hershberger:Sally Hershberger is a well-established hair stylist in which many A-List stars have had the pleasure of being of a client. In addition to being a celebrity stylist and working with high-end photographers to achieve the perfect style for a shoot, Hershberger has created her own hair care product line. Her line, entitled Sally Hershberger, has been a huge success largely due to her products offering professional quality results at a reasonable price. She has also opened up three luxurious salons, two located in New York and one in L.A. 

Sally has been featured on many TV talk shows and in fashion and beauty magazines, all of which applaud her on her remarkable work and success. To get a closer look at Hershberger’s technique take a peek at her hair tips videos, and follow her on Twitter @SHershberger for updates and ideas.

John Barrett: Celebrity hair stylist John Barrett is one of the most prominent stylists not only in the state of New York, but also among Hollywood celebrities. He is well known for styling celebs like Sarah Jessica Parker and Catherine Zeta Jones, before their big events and functions. Barrett’s salon, located in the penthouse at Bergdorfs, offers an extensive selection of treatments and styles. One of mine, and many other’s, favorite aspect is the Barrett Braid Bar where you can request any braid imaginable and walk out looking Oscar-worthy - Similar to the style worn by the adored Rachel McAdams. Braid bars are getting increasingly popular within luxury salons and represent a unique and exciting way to get your hair styled. Another fun aspect of Barrett’s salon is the offer of Beauty Parties where you and your group can enjoy the complete glamour of being pampered and the best part… champagne! To learn more about Barrett's salon be sure to become his follower on Twitter @JohnBarrettNYC, where you'll be updated on new clients, looks and styles.

Roy Teeluck: Roy Teeluck is an esteemed hairstylist who has travelled and styled in the fashion capitals of the world, Paris, L.A. London, and now, New York. Teeluck is admired for bringing glamour and ultimate beauty to his clients by not only styling their look, but guiding them on how to achieve a beautified look day-to-day. He has brought his worldwide knowledge and experience into his New York City salon which located in the heart of luxury next to Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent on East 57^th Street. Teeluck sculpts every client into the ultimate glamour-chic package, where he lets your natural and simple beauty shine through. The price to book a chair with Roy himself starts at $350, or you can transform your look with his other talented stylists who range from $120 - $200. To stay update on Teeluck's styles and salons, become a follower on Twitter @royteeluck.

Have you experienced any of these salons? Tweet us @PierceMattiePR and let us know what you think.

Sally Hershberger:Sally Hershberger is a well-established hair stylist in which many A-List stars have had the pleasure of being of a client. In addition to being a celebrity stylist and working with high-end photographers to achieve the perfect style for a shoot, Hershberger has created her own hair care product line. Her line, entitled Sally Hershberger, has been a huge success largely due to her products offering professional quality results at a reasonable price. She has also opened up three luxurious salons, two located in New York and one in L.A. 

Sally has been featured on many TV talk shows and in fashion and beauty magazines, all of which applaud her on her remarkable work and success. To get a closer look at Hershberger’s technique take a peek at her hair tips videos, and follow her on Twitter @SHershberger for updates and ideas.

John Barrett: Celebrity hair stylist John Barrett is one of the most prominent stylists not only in the state of New York, but also among Hollywood celebrities. He is well known for styling celebs like Sarah Jessica Parker and Catherine Zeta Jones, before their big events and functions. Barrett’s salon, located in the penthouse at Bergdorfs, offers an extensive selection of treatments and styles. One of mine, and many other’s, favorite aspect is the Barrett Braid Bar where you can request any braid imaginable and walk out looking Oscar-worthy - Similar to the style worn by the adored Rachel McAdams. Braid bars are getting increasingly popular within luxury salons and represent a unique and exciting way to get your hair styled. Another fun aspect of Barrett’s salon is the offer of Beauty Parties where you and your group can enjoy the complete glamour of being pampered and the best part… champagne! To learn more about Barrett's salon be sure to become his follower on Twitter @JohnBarrettNYC, where you'll be updated on new clients, looks and styles.

Roy Teeluck: Roy Teeluck is an esteemed hairstylist who has travelled and styled in the fashion capitals of the world, Paris, L.A. London, and now, New York. Teeluck is admired for bringing glamour and ultimate beauty to his clients by not only styling their look, but guiding them on how to achieve a beautified look day-to-day. He has brought his worldwide knowledge and experience into his New York City salon which located in the heart of luxury next to Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent on East 57^th Street. Teeluck sculpts every client into the ultimate glamour-chic package, where he lets your natural and simple beauty shine through. The price to book a chair with Roy himself starts at $350, or you can transform your look with his other talented stylists who range from $120 - $200. To stay update on Teeluck's styles and salons, become a follower on Twitter @royteeluck.

Have you experienced any of these salons? Tweet us @PierceMattiePR and let us know what you think.

Here at Pierce Mattie, we certainly love a good head of hair when we see it. And we're also no stranger to only stepping foot into talking politics when it comes to personal care and fashion of the candidates. We did it for both the previous Presidential and Vice Presidential debates and we honestly can't pass up remarking on Mitt Romney's hair. Because you've gotta love a candidate who puts a serious investment into his locks.

Our hair says a lot about us-- we all regularly size people up by the way they style their hair. I recall when I had very long hair to my waist someone remarked that I looked matronly. Matronly was not the image I wanted to present, so I chopped my hair to shoulder length...suddenly I presented as youthful. It appears Romney wants his hair to present an image as well, one that fits with his campaign: committed, conservative, clean cut, loyal and knowledgeable. 

Presidential candidates don't want to take the focus off their message by changing up how they physically look (well for one because we all know the stress of being President changes that for you. I.e. Obama and grey hair.) Pundants will quickly analyze what it could mean (when it really may just be a simple hair cut) and it could throw your campaign in a tail spin. Our nation is honestly that obsessed with physical appearance (and Jenny and NutriSystem quietly rejoice) that we place value on how someone looks rather than how they can fix this country.

But I digress...What I love about Mitt Romney's hair other than the splashes of grey at the temples, is that he has been using the same hairstylist for the last 20 years, Leon de Magistris. Now, you want some dirt on this candidate? Ask his hairstylist. Because if Romney is like the rest of us, he's using Mr. de Magistris as a counselor.

The digital age may only be in its infancy still, but there is no denying that it is here and that there are things that will soon be considered relics just like cassette players, VCR's, landline phones and the US Postal Service. We've been talking about the debacle that the publishing industry has been in for several years now as print magazines shutter with the growth of social media, which really propelled digital to the next level. Anyone who wonders when the bubble will burst surely haven't seen my kid's curious faces when we get a magazine or toy flyer in the mail.

"Why do you get these mom?"
"To read them."
"But can't you just go online and do that?" they respond quizzically.

While many of us still enjoy the tangibility of being able to physically touch and turn the pages of our favorite magazines, convenience has trumped this as we want the ability to bring something up on our mobile phone or tablet at our beckon call. You certainly don't overhear conversations like, "Did you see our beauty client in this month's A+ magazine? Here, I brought the magazine with me," as the PR associate pulls it from their handbag. No, instead they are pulling out their iPad and at the touch of a finger, bringing up the bookmarked page in under 30 seconds.

Now, Time Inc., the largest magazine publisher in the US, has hired Laura Lang, a well respected thought leader in the digital space, to help the magazines under their name make that transition from print to digital all while maintaining the integrity of its brand and delivering measurable results back to its advertisers. If there has been one major thing that social media and digital publishing has provided that print cannot--it's actually showing the correlation between exposure and sales. In PR clients scream ROI like it's going out of style, yet they demand to be in X, Y and Z publication because their competitors are without really knowing if there is value behind it beyond image. If there is anything that coverage online has generated, it's the client having the ability to visually see the click throughs and how many sales were driven because of it. The demand is growing and while print still may be where many brands would like to hang their hat, they also like the measurability of the digital space. I believe Lang can do this for Time Inc. and maintain and grow it for another 80 years.

What are your thoughts? Tweet us @PierceMattiePR.

When you think of dresses, flowers, cake, dancing, friends and family all together what comes to mind? Need a hint? It is custom that two people say the words “I do” before puckering up. A wedding of course! And with wedding season quickly approaching it is only appropriate that new helpful tips and advice are being put on the market to ensure a flawless day.

Weddings are full of beautiful flowers, delicious food, and a night full of the best music and dance moves. Thankfully a photographer is there to capture all the best memories from the day. The photographer’s main focus is to capture the guests having a great time and to catch those beautiful newlywed moments between the new couple. With all these photographs being snapped everyone wants to look their best from heir head to their toes, especially the bridal party and the bride.

To help the bridal party and bride attain their gorgeous look for the day, and avoid one more expense at the salon, Gorgeous Wedding Hairstyles by Eric Mayost has recently been published. This book is full of beautiful pictures with step-by-step instructions for hairstyles that are easy for anyone to duplicate. From classic and elegant styles to more modern looks, Gorgeous Wedding Hairstyles has a look for every member of the bridal party to look their best on the special day.

What do you think will be the wedding hair trends this wedding season? Let us know @PierceMattiePR

Pierce Mattie PR Client John Masters Organics was featured in Whole Living Magazine. If you’re working on a beauty story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie beauty PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.

Pierce Mattie PR Client John Masters Organics was featured in Whole Living Magazine. If you’re working on a beauty story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie beauty PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.