Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York

Furniture and home accessories retailer Bombay Co Inc said on Monday it hired David Stewart as chief executive officer effective immediately.

Stewart, 67, who also will join the company's board, served as president of Blockbuster Video Canada, a unit of Blockbuster Inc, from 2000 until April 2006, according to Bombay.

The company's former CEO James Carreker was to leave the company on June 3, Bombay said in a statement on May 15.

The Food Network is stirring things up in the kitchen and ready to take a big piece of the retail pie. The cable channel that whipped up major successes like Rachael Ray announced today that they will launch Food Network-branded cookware, dinnerware and kitchen gadgets in Kohl’s stores nationwide and online starting in the fall of 2007.

The deal comes just a month after Kohl's announced plans to launch a fashion and lifestyle brand created by Vera Wang. The Food Network deal marks the first national home merchandise launch for Scripps, the company that owns the Food Network, HGTV, DIY Network, GAC and Fine Living.

According to Kohl’s president Kevin Mansell, “[The deal] is yet another way Kohl's continues to deliver on our mission of brands, value and convenience while further differentiating in the marketplace."

Food Network president Brooke Johnson said “the development of a housewares line will enable us to reach new consumers as well as the passionate and loyal viewers of Food Network."

What does this mean for the public? If you love to cook, you’ll now have quality products from the celebrity chefs you know and love. And if you own stock in Scripps, your shares have already risen 8 cents since the announcement this morning, bringing the value of each share to $47.72. It sounds like a sweet deal to me.

Many savvy shoppers rely on magazines to help guide their purchases. We often assume that editors know best when it comes finding dazzling new products in beauty, fashion, and perfume. Thus it isn't surprising that one of the newest trends to show up on the frenzied Manhattan shopping scene is the curated magazine sponsored shopping event.

Yesterday New York Magazine hosted a Best Bets Shopping Event. Women lined up to shop discounts from vendors who had been labeled "best bets" by New York Magazine.

It was a hodge podge of potential shopping targets with high end hand bags next to Method soap.

Admittedly it felt like an event where advertisers were given a chance to hawk their wares to unsuspecting women who had actually paid for the privilege rather than a truly editorial driven event. The event surely generated its fair share of controversy as New York Magazine is not the only one to host a shopping event.

Next month shopping bible Lucky Magazine will host its own Lucky Shops event which is going to be quite a bit bigger and hopefully better. After all it is easier to trust a magazine with one proven vertical, fashion, than a magazine like New York Magazine that plays host to many sections.

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.

Ralph Falon Builders: At first glance, Fallonbuilders.com looks like a typical offering of Who We Are and What We Do. But instead of a copy-intensive approach it, like many architectural sites, relies on photography to tell the story of this builder’s work. The focus of the site is a 172-image gallery of notable projects. It’s an easy to update, XML-driven and -tagged compilation of photos with a related hierarchical format that connects project attributes. Because the result is the creation of unique, on-the-fly galleries (similar to Flikr and del.icio.us) it offers an interesting and engaging way for visitors to browse. And, because the content is easily updatable, it consistently offers an accurate representation of the company and its craft.

With its gallery-like presence, it’s neither superfluous nor trendy. It’s a great example of how to use simple and contemporary technology to create a unique experience for a small, niche business.

Dan Coe, creative director
Dave Snowball, interface designer
Mark Potnick, Flash developer
Coexist, site design and development

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.

There are all sorts of buy/sell sites out there these days, but none as unique as Ruby Lane. While many buy/sell sites offer a wide variety of products to choose from, Ruby Lane is very specific to those who love Antiques, fine art, collectibles and jewelry, thus making sure that their site not only offers high quality products, but gives the advantage of having high quality sellers as well.

Purchasing products online from an individual can be tricky and involves a lot of trust. Ruby Lane insures nothing but trustworthy sellers by having a rigorous Quality Assurance program in place. Each seller who wants to set up a shop on Ruby Lane is pre-screened by their in-house arts and antiques professionals and must meet specific quality and professional standards before they can open their shop, unlike other sites where anyone can simply give themselves a screen name and start selling products.

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.

Pervert place ... Jennings hid in a cavity under girl's bed

A paedophile seduced a girl of 12 — then lived in her bedroom for three months without her mother finding out. Scott Jennings, 22, cut a giant hole in the bottom of the youngster’s divan bed, then used it as a secret den to evade detection if somebody came into the room. This stuff actually happens! It's time to think Design=safety! I've listed one of my favorite sites below that is sure to help keep pervs, or the idea of the boogie man out of mind and out of reach.

Designer Abad Diseño Design Group From Design Within Reach
Most conventional leather beds, like their sofa counterparts, suffer from overstyling and excessive padding in order to denote luxury or comfort. Taking a more restrained approach is the Loja Leather Bed (2004), distinctive in its pared-down, sleigh bed form. Skillfully produced in Spain, the bed features light padding over the entire frame to create a soft, cushioned surface that surrounds the user. Large panels of silky, oil-tanned leather the warmest and most supple of cowhide leathers are used to upholster the frame and are neatly stitched with welted perimeter seams. The headrest features a slight pitch to accommodate comfortable reading or TV viewing. An inset wood-slat platform enables the mattress to nestle snugly in the frame and sit just slightly below the footboard. Inset metal legs prevent toe stubbing. Platform is delivered in pieces for easy maneuvering through doors and hallways. Compatible with the Sonno Mattress. Made in Spain.

If your a true foodie then you're well aware of the brand name Viking, one of the original all stainless steel (I still prefer stainless steal finish to the new trendy bronze finish ) professional line of stoves, ovens and refrigerators. Viking has been around long before Chefs were rock-stars, the food network and it was trendy to have professional food industry preparation stoves in your home kitchen.

While they may have lead the trend in the early 90's, Viking might need to make a few new changes to the classic design if they're going to continue to be a leader. Viking is not the only choice anymore. I have cooked on many different Viking stoves and encountered this same flaw, you cant read the knobs, you have to get a leg workout squatting down to look at the flame and adjust the knob. It's true, it's not like the knob has detailed data on it, your looking at the flame and most Pros only need to calibrate by sight of the flame. However, the weighted line printed on the knobs IS NOT VISABLE. Why put any data on at all if you have an obstructed view? While I have many good things to say about Viking stoves, I share in Hayman's frustration.

Other "elite" prosumer kitchen stove brands are well designed and Viking would be smart to listen to loyal customers. If they don't, shame on them. In today's competitive market even mega status brands like Viking can't afford to ignore good design. I would choose and recommend another brand (I know many interior designers who would agree with me) if Viking chooses to ignore prosumers. Please check out Aza Rashkins Get Humanized blog where he discusses stove knob placement design.

It's Friday, time to peep the New York Times Personal Shopper for ideas on how to stash, aheem, organize your stuff for winter.

Up to 30 pairs of shoes can be stored in the Shoe Wheel, which tucks into a closet and then rolls out easily; $65 at rakkudesigns.com or (800) 517-2558.

I often get asked where my phone skills come from -- as a publicist, I can pitch over the phone like no one's business (toot-toot, goes my horn). Little do some know that I spent my senior year of high school as a telemarketer selling timeshares on the beach over the phone. Yes, in less than two minutes, I would talk, pitch, book and invite you to come to a new condo complex on the Gulf of Mexico to meet with a realtor. Today those phone skills are used daily and I encourage our team to "get on the phone." Email over the years has replaced the pitch calls.

However, trends come and go and this season, the phone will re-establish itself to become "the new email." This holiday season, the next marketing call consumers receive may not be from a credit card company or a politician. A growing number of apparel chains are making personal-sounding phone calls to tout sales events or the arrival of new merchandise, according to Marshal Cohen, chief analyst at NPD Group Inc., a market research firm.

Automated calling services or store clerks who might otherwise be folding sweaters are dialing past customers - using phone numbers gleaned at the cash register - in an attempt to woo them back, he said. Some might even address the former customers by their first names to establish a kind of pseudo-familiarity. Cohen noted that the number of retailers vying for customers by phone has risen from about six to more than two dozen in the past year and a half. Chain stores such as Victoria's Secret, Limited Too and Lane Bryant started adopting the approach during the back-to-school period last year, he said.

Cohen said he expects a flurry of retailer calls after the holidays, when they will be trying to draw consumers into their stores to use gift certificates. "The bad news is the more stores that do this, the less effective this becomes" because customers may stop answering the phone or simply run out of money, Cohen said.

I often get asked where my phone skills come from -- as a publicist, I can pitch over the phone like no one's business (toot-toot, goes my horn). Little do some know that I spent my senior year of high school as a telemarketer selling timeshares on the beach over the phone. Yes, in less than two minutes, I would talk, pitch, book and invite you to come to a new condo complex on the Gulf of Mexico to meet with a realtor. Today those phone skills are used daily and I encourage our team to "get on the phone." Email over the years has replaced the pitch calls.

However, trends come and go and this season, the phone will re-establish itself to become "the new email." This holiday season, the next marketing call consumers receive may not be from a credit card company or a politician. A growing number of apparel chains are making personal-sounding phone calls to tout sales events or the arrival of new merchandise, according to Marshal Cohen, chief analyst at NPD Group Inc., a market research firm.

Automated calling services or store clerks who might otherwise be folding sweaters are dialing past customers - using phone numbers gleaned at the cash register - in an attempt to woo them back, he said. Some might even address the former customers by their first names to establish a kind of pseudo-familiarity. Cohen noted that the number of retailers vying for customers by phone has risen from about six to more than two dozen in the past year and a half. Chain stores such as Victoria's Secret, Limited Too and Lane Bryant started adopting the approach during the back-to-school period last year, he said.

Cohen said he expects a flurry of retailer calls after the holidays, when they will be trying to draw consumers into their stores to use gift certificates. "The bad news is the more stores that do this, the less effective this becomes" because customers may stop answering the phone or simply run out of money, Cohen said.

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.

Although Blogging has been around for years, approaching Bloggers to review or pitch your products is fairly new and growing in momentum. If you are thinking of approaching a Blogger to review your products, there is a protocol that sometimes many companies do not invest their time to understand and follow.

As a beauty Blogger, I receive many emails on a weekly basis from companies and PR firms big and small to find out if I am interested in reviewing their products on my two beauty blogs. There are some that exude professionalism both in the way they approach me through their emails, through the way the package is sent and in their follow up. Then there are the mass emails, lack of PR materials with the product, presentation of the product and lack of follow up. The difference between the two potentially means your emails go in my trash folder.

Things you should not do when you approach a Blogger:

Send out a mass email, most notably saying “Dear Bloggers” or having no greeting at all. While some newer Bloggers may respond to this, many seasoned Bloggers won’t. It is the sign of a company simply harvesting your contact information and not taking the time to personally contact you, as they want you to personally review their product. It is a two way street.

Have the expectation that the Blogger will want to review your product simply because you offered it for free. Bloggers know their readers and most will only review products that are 1. Related to their blog and 2. Something that would be of interest to their readers.

Insincerely attempt to flatter them. So many companies do it and many times I receive the same email to each of my accounts for my blogs when the company doesn’t even realize they are sending it to the same person. Bloggers can read between the lines.

The area in which I live is known to have character. Each house is different, or has historic presence, and stands out among other places nearby. There really is no “big business” in our area overcrowding every street corner and making their over domineering corporate-America presence known. This is a place that embraces entrepreneurs.

So when driving down a road I haven’t traveled in a while, I noticed something out of the ordinary; cookie cutter houses. A new development was being built and each house looked exactly the same. Their yards were the same, with the same tree in the same spot, and the grass all the same length. Nothing about these houses or this development had anything exceptional to them. They lacked character.

Chances are, if you are a lover of celebrity gossip or fashion, you are familiar with Popsugar and Fabsugar (my personal favorite), but did you know that there are many other facets to the Sugar Network? There are, in fact, 6 more Sugar blogs (with another 5 soon to be launching) and 1 Social Networking and Community site.

Lisa and Brian Sugar started the Sugar Network with $250k of their own money last year moving full speed ahead to find venture capital to cover the remaining costs to launch additional sites, which will feature a variety of videocasts and podcasts. Their network targets "trendsetting, passionate, smart women between the ages of 18 and 35." The Sugar Network is definitely one to be watching this year.

An overview of each site:

* PopSugar- The insanely popular (and addictive) celebrity news and gossip site. It’s choc full of video comments, candid pictures, interviews and everything else you can possibly imagine to learn the dirt on your favorite celebrity.

* FabSugar- A fashion, beauty and accessory guide. Beauty and fashion mavens can hear all about the latest trends, style tips, must-haves and where to buy them.

* TeamSugar- This is the community hub and Social Network where all Sugar members can post comments, discuss what is being written about on the other Sugar sites, post pages of their own and share in all things Sugar.

I came across this really fascinating article today by Nellie Lide on the blog “Small Business Trends.” While her article may have been geared towards small business, I definitely see how these same trends she writes about can be applied to large businesses, as well. Consumer trends are something that doesn’t necessarily fit into one piece of the puzzle for business, but can be easily applied across the board regardless if you own a large department store like Sak’s or a fashion focused store like Scoop.

The five top shopping trends for 2007 that Lide lists are:

* Shopping as a Societal Force for a Better World

* Shopping for Temporary Ownership: The Shopper as Buyer AND Seller

As I read through each one of these trend forecasts, I couldn’t help but nod my head in agreement.

Shopping as a Societal Force for a Better World: This is one trend I have been speaking much upon lately here on our beauty, fashion and main blog. Lide mentions the RED program, a program launched by Bono to fight poverty, which you really are seeing everywhere (Gap, Apple, etc.), but there is now also an extension of this program called (Product) RED, whose purpose is to raise funds to eliminate AIDS in Africa. Businesses involved in this are Emporio Armani, Converse and Motorolla. We’re seeing businesses collaborate with charities to fight Global Warming such as Diesel and Lancome, and those going green to lessen the stress on our environment. Business cannot grow in a vacuum and many are foreseeing their growth by getting involved in projects that matter most to their consumers.

Spring is finally here and while there is still snow on the ground, I am looking forward to spending many gloriously sunny days out on my deck and in my yard. Outdoor furniture with fashionable, contemporary design has been more in demand so now we no longer have to relinquish our sense of style for when we take to the outdoors. Outdoor living is now a lifestyle and with it comes furniture and decor that stand up to the quality and craftsmanship expected ion luxury furniture and put that rickety wicker chair to shame.

In the past being outdoors meant a bug zapper, plastic garden chairs and pitched tent-like screened gazebos. There was no glamour, no aesthetics, simply functional accessories so that you could enjoy the day or evening without having to apply too much After Bite. If you are one who enjoys outdoor entertaining, the grills and outdoor living spaces of yore were lack luster at best.

STEP ONE: "THE MAN STATION" The Stainless Steel Jenn-Air Four Burner Grill is not your grandaddy’s grill. My husband is the chef of the house and he is master of his domain at the grill. Want to attract more men to your patio, give them something great to cook on. This Jenn-Air grill is like bringing the functionality of your kitchen outside while giving the neighbors something to talk about. It has storage drawers, an ice chest, a rotisserie and the style that make you or your neighbor look forward to another day of cooking, whether it be your typical burger for the family or gourmet fare to entertain your guests.

STEP TWO: "FURNITURE THAT FITS" Functional, comfortable, patio furniture makes or breaks the ambiance. You can give an outdoor space the look and feel of an interior room with carpeting, lighting, furniture such as sofas and coffee tables, outdoor fireplaces and much more. All decor still serves the same functionality, however they now are all water and weatherproof and durable enough to withstand the elements of the outdoors while giving you the illusion of relaxing in your living room. Colors and design no longer come in a one-type fits all and can cater to your need for an ultra-luxurious space with bold colors or something comfortable yet classic such as with the outdoor collections from Restoration Hardware.

STEP THREE: "PLAN TO PROTECT YOUR TURF"
Of course, with being outdoors we still have the heat and the mosquitoes. In keeping your outdoor space an oasis the EcoMist High Pressure Insect Repellent Patio Misting System has dual functionality to keep you cool while keeping the insects away. With a 60,000 sqft range and 20 gallon tank, this misting system in a 46 inch long plastic deck box will lessen scorching temperatures by 25 degrees while the fog mist organic Pyrethrum insecticide will repel and kill pesky mosquitoes. The Pyrethrum is safe to be around food, humans and pets as it is crushed Chrysanthemum seeds.

Stay cool in the shade under a portable Gazebo. You no longer have to settle for the usual flimsy metal with white canopy, but you also don't have to pay a large sum of money to get that luxury oasis look. Target sells a variety of gazebo styles with my favorite being the Sean Conway Tiverton Gazebo. Hang a chandelier from the center and you have transformed your space into something luxurious.

I cannot wait for the warmer weather to arrive to watch my outdoor space transform into a place of serenity and comfort with all of the creature comforts of the indoors.

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.

Nowadays when we think of the Middle East, many thoughts come to mind—mainly it being a place of great conflict. The idea of traveling there for a vacation hardly sounds like a way to relax in a place of enjoyment. However, there is a hidden gem among the sand that has been quickly becoming a travel destination hotspot in recent years that is not only safe, but is the definition entertainment and luxury.

Dubai, a city that is part of the United Arab Emirates and home to more than a million people, surprisingly enough does not generate its revenue based on oil, but instead on economic development and tourism. Dubai has been able to make this transition through its creativity, innovative thinking and determination to be a world leader in business and hospitality. Dubai is a hub for such businesses as IBM, Microsoft and Oracle. It is also home to the Burj Dubai, a building that will soon be the tallest in the world.

The Burj Dubai currently stands at 123 stories and will be the first home to the Armani Hotel and ultra-luxury Armani Residences, which will feature the Armani Casa line of home furnishings. The Armani Hotel located at Burj Dubai will become the flagship for a new international chain and will incorporate various Armani fashions, furnishings and beauty collections; it is set to open in 2008. Burj Dubai will also be home to “The Residences,” which are luxurious Arabesque quarters that celebrate the ancient heritage of the region.

Interior Design is an art form to Atlanta style icons Darren Godbee and Darren Welch. Both accomplished designers whose love for color, texture and symmetry began at a young age, have turned a rare talent into a successful interior design company catering to those who wish have their home become a refuge and sanctuary representing their inner hearts and dreams.

Darren Godbee and Chad Welch have decorated and furnished some of the Southeast’s finest and most expensive homes. Their style is unmistakable. The DarrenChad brand is an effort to take this unique and successful design style and translate it into a worldwide lifestyle brand that will include furnishings, interior design, jewelry and more.

For a brand that only launched in 2006, their signature pieces and interior design have already become a success through their partnership with Tomlinson/Erwin-Lambeth to create intricate and luxurious handcrafted furniture. Both the Bella Vita Collection and Return to Decadence Collection were created with exceptional attention to detail.

The DarrenChad Bella Vita Collection, which means “the good life” in Italian, is a grand collection of intricately carved pieces, combining old world craftsmanship with classical lines and grandiose scales. Many of the pieces in this collection are hand carved mahogany and include the Bella Vita Oversized Bed, which is the size of two queen sized mattresses. The bed will be shown at market in a distressed aged leaf finish with a cream striped velvet upholstered headboard inset.

There is also the Palace Bed, which is a remake of last markets Palace Bed; only this updated version has a larger "claw" style foot, exaggerated curves on headboard and footboard, and the added detail of a shell carving at the top of the headboard. The upholstered button tufted headboard is shown in an elegant Taupe silk.

Of course, everyone needs a place to sit when they have company over and the Mustique Sofa is one that will bring you generous amounts of compliments. It features beautiful lines and elegant contours while a high back and arms compliment the corset like silhouette of the back. The sofa will be shown at market in a combination of custom nailhead trim and leather accents. There are 10 other pieces to this collection, all of which can be viewed at High Point in Atlanta.

The DarrenChad “Return to Decadence” Collection is a resurrection and celebration of some of the world’s most beautiful architectural styles and movements, chronicled throughout some of history’s most notorious cultural influences. The new line features 15 luxurious pieces, which were inspired by Italy’s Medici family, Louis XIII and the Catalonia region of Spain.

If your wish is for stylish indulgence with a mix of elegant functionality, DarrenChad’s refined yet comfortable fine furnishings and interior design may be what you are looking for.

Media Contact:
Pierce Mattie PR: Lance at piercemattie dot com

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! 

Good will towards men. It's at this time of the year that no matter what is going on in your life, that one sentence always resonates when you hear about or see someone less fortunate than yourself. With the current economic crisis the U.S. is experiencing, Project Angel Food's Divine Design is brilliant. Not only do you get enjoyment from purchasing products from your favorite designers, but all of your hard earned cash goes to men, women and children who have HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

Typically I would've been putting out this forecast on PR trends last month, but I think it's safe to say that the economy is turbulent and therefore what may be a great business and PR strategy one day may not necessarily work months down the line. While everyone may be all doom and gloom about the current state of public relations, I remain an eternal optimist and think that success lies in being educated, creative and having a willingness to let the diversified background of your team make you collectively stronger to meet your clients needs.

1. The spotlight can no longer shine on just one star, 2009 is about teamwork. Sure, we all have that one employee who is so amazing that everyone wants to emulate them, but look close enough, and you will find that each one of your staff has incredible talents, that collectively, make your firm a powerhouse. Find ways to help your staff let those talents emerge and yes this may take some investment of time by upper management to really identify each of your team members strengths (and weaknesses), but in this economy our best weapon is from within our own resources.

2.  Education equals vitality. No one can be ignorant any longer to the shift in the way the public consumes news and researches/purchases products. Everyone everywhere is looking to make cuts in their budgets, but educating your team should be considered a priority and not something that can be put on the backburner until the economy pinks up. Our industry will need to keep up to speed on how to work with and remain flexible during this time of transition.

2009 is already seeing a lot of change, and not surprisingly (or maybe so?) the axe is beginning to fall (a little too often) on print publications that had previously been considered successful. Back in November The New York Observer discussed the possibility of Domino folding, but today that rumor was met with reality as both WWD and The San Francisco Chronicle confirm that Domino has officially folded. It appears no one is safe in this economy regardless of success because when it comes down to it--it's all about relevancy and numbers.

With the current state of the economy, companies may be questioning the value of PR and how publicity can directly translate into increased sales. I understand this and all too often our industry sees clients cutting PR from their budgets when it is the one thing that is most important in an economic downturn. The economy has caused the priorities of public relations to begin a seismic shift and our main focus is no longer solely about consumer awareness, but now includes the added challenge of positively impacting the bottom line. For the industry to remain afloat here are some public relations strategies we implement here at Pierce Mattie PR that we've found to be successful:

My bedroom is my sanctuary, a place where I can so easily escape the chaos of everyday life. Don’t get me wrong, I love my crazy hectic life, but sometimes I crave some me time in an ultra chic, serene oasis.

When creating this peaceful environment, eliminate any clutter you may have in your space. Once that is complete, analyze your space, creating zones that will be designated for make-up, reading or anything that interests you. After these tasks are complete its time to shop! As many celebrities get inspired by old Hollywood glam and esthetics I choose to turn to

Pierce Mattie client; The Company Store for my essential items. With vibrant colors in rich hues, their sheet sets are amazing. Perfect for spring and summer, their 300- Thread Count Company bedding is my favorite. Its silky softness and low price points keep me coming back for more. When choosing a comforter I would opt for the 300- Thread Count Company Cotton Solid Bedding. Sure to liven up any room, this comforter coordinates perfectly with The Company Store’s solid sheet set.

Finally, when searching for the perfect knickknacks to complete my space I turn to A-list celebrity Nia Long, star of The Cleveland Show, for advice. Inspiring me to shop at flea markets she says, “Designers go at 5 A.M. and buy stuff there—then they refinish it and sell it at a 100-percent markup. If they can do it, I can too!"

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. 

Color blocking is an important trend that has transitioned from the runways to your bedroom. But before you start throwing color around, here are a few tips from The Company Store's Tina Pepe on how to incorporate color blocking with bright, vibrant tones that – while bold – will bring a harmonious, refreshing atmosphere to your resting place:

• Less is More: When color blocking in your home, try to keep the focus on splashes of color, minimizing other distractions in the room. For instance, if you decide to go with bright, spring shades on your bedding, keep the wall color a neutral white or grey.

• All in the Family: For maximum impact, avoid mixing pastels and neon/bright shades. Pastels are pretty on their own, but can get washed out by brighter tones.

• Lighten Things Up: Create added depth in a room by bringing in extra light sources. Try glass or metal lamps on your night stands to help frame your bed with light and bring in another dimension to the space. Also, since your walls may be a neutral shade, try adding picture lighting above framed artwork to create another focal area.

• Mix ‘n’ Match: Don't be afraid of mixing bold colors together as everything doesn't have to match when color blocking. Try mix in bright pink with turquoise, and so on. Taking risks is all part of the design process. Have fun playing with color and you’re guaranteed to have a ton of fun in your living space.

Have you added color to your home?

*Disclosure: Lifestyle PR client

This year yet another industry is finding themselves tied into fashion, as consumers find ways to show extensions of themselves...and that is through home furnishings and decor. We've seen fashion trends tied into home accessories (The Company Store, Color Block), making home luxuries a hot trend right now.

The Pierce Mattie team has been gearing up for the latest and greatest in home design this season. When "The Nate Berkus Show" premieres Monday, September 13th (check local listings), viewers will have a new place they can call home, literally and figuratively, weekdays this fall.

The author, designer and regular contributor to "The Oprah Winfrey Show," brings a whole new point-of-view to daytime with a show that will help viewers love the life they live.  From amazing and life-changing transformations to the best solutions to life's dilemmas from trusted experts, and from blow-your-mind before and afters to inspiring stories of finding the courage to follow your dreams, "The Nate Berkus Show" will offer help, and heart, for viewers at home. 

Berkus said: "My whole life has been a conversation with women, so I wanted to create a show that reflects their lives and gives them something meaningful each day.  This is an hour of television that's time well spent – if a viewer gives me her time, she'll get something in return that will make a difference in her life.  We will laugh, create, transform, inspire, uplift each other and have a lot of fun each and every day."

Co-produced by Harpo Studios and Sony Pictures Television, and taped before an audience at CBS Studios in New York City, the all-new syndicated show promises to delight and entertain audiences with creative ideas, lots of takeaway information, and a style all its own.  During premiere week, viewers can look forward to the following:

On Monday, September 13, Nate unveils his Instant Design Studio, a killer new technology which allows him to share his vision for a space with the touch of a finger right before the audience's eyes. Based on one-of-a-kind 3-D gaming technology and custom-designed for use on "The Nate Berkus Show," the innovative application allows whatever is in Nate's mind to appear right on the screen – so just about anything Nate can think of can come to life.

If you’re working on a home furnishings story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.

If you’re working on a home furnishings story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.

Good Housekeeping features Pierce Mattie PR client The Company Store's new pillow collection. Made specifically for those with allergies! If you’re working on a home decor story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie lifestyle PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.

Good Housekeeping features Pierce Mattie PR client The Company Store's new pillow collection. Made specifically for those with allergies! If you’re working on a home decor story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie lifestyle PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.

Good Housekeeping features Pierce Mattie PR client The Company Store's new pillow collection. Made specifically for those with allergies! If you’re working on a home decor story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie lifestyle PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.

Good Housekeeping features Pierce Mattie PR client The Company Store's new pillow collection. Made specifically for those with allergies! If you’re working on a home decor story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie lifestyle PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.

Good Housekeeping Magazine features Pierce Mattie PR's client The Company Store. If you’re working on a home furnishings story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie home PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.

Good Housekeeping Magazine features Pierce Mattie PR's client The Company Store. If you’re working on a home furnishings story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie home PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.

TO QUALIFY:

• Home Furnishings PR experience
• Four year college degree in English, Communications or Marketing is required (BA)
  Graduate degree is preferred but not required. (MS/MA in communications/journalism/PR or MBA in marketing/branding)
• Minimum; 3 to 5 years PR agency experience (no exceptions)
• Existing print and broadcast media contacts with A+ shelter magazines and top home TV shows (including reality)
• Celebrity agent & celebrity interior stylist contacts for celebrity seeding
  

YOU MUST BE:

• Able to work in large teams
• Able to commit to at least 2 years (no job jumpers)
• Be a true inspiration to the team!

SOLID UNDERSTANDING OF:

• Client relationships
• Team building
• Team management
• Project management
• Budgets
• Event planning
• Long lead glossy pitching experience
• Broadcast pitching experience
• Social Media

DUTIES:

• Co-Create PR Plans, Calendars, Schedules, Events, Budgets
• Media pitching
• Weekly and monthly reports
• Call sheets, media hits, goals, etc.
• Attend client meetings and conference calls
• Quality control on PR services

HOW TO APPLY:
PLEASE EMAIL RESUME TO SONYA@PIERCEMATTIE.COM, SALARY REQUIREMENTS, COVERLETTER HIGHLIGHTING YOUR WORK, PLACEMENTS AND BRAND EXPERIENCE

Coastal Magazine features Pierce Mattie PR client The Company Store. If you’re working on a home furnishings story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie lifestyle and design PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.

Layla Grayce is a company created by two friends who share an enduring friendship - Wendy Rossiter Estes and Tiffany Grayce Harris. They gained their inspiration through their travelling experiences, which enabled them to produce a company that appeals to everyone. Layla Grayce cultivates unique brands that offer household furnishing, clothing, accessories and beauty products keeping everything focused on antique and vintage style. My favorite aspect of Layla Grayce is that they offer one-of-a-kind pieces, which provide a quaint and loving display.

Some of their vendors products are absolutely darling, including their antique furniture - one of my favorites is their One of a Kind Antique Commode Swedish Midnight Blue, a three-drawer dresser.

They don’t just produce furniture, but wall décor, curtains, one-of-a-kind pillows, office and household supplies, and more! Every pillow they offer, among their endless supply, resembles a picturesque display. If you're looking for sophisticated serving ware Layla Grayce's silver serving trays are nothing short of luxurious!

One of their cutest selections are their kitchen accessories - consisting of aprons, towels, oven mitts, etc. One particular pair of their oven mitts is so charming! - Jessie Steele Oven Mitt Trim Antique Lace Black and Pink Bow. Layla Grayce also offers personalized office supplies with your initials. If you’re someone who loves making lists and keeping things organized like me, you will love their initialed clipboards!

Are you getting ready for a fall clean up and redecoration? Definitely check out Layla Grayce’s designs for antique and enchanting décor! Let us know what you think of their high-class vintage designs by tweeting us @PierceMattiePR!

Layla Grayce is a company created by two friends who share an enduring friendship - Wendy Rossiter Estes and Tiffany Grayce Harris. They gained their inspiration through their travelling experiences, which enabled them to produce a company that appeals to everyone. Layla Grayce cultivates unique brands that offer household furnishing, clothing, accessories and beauty products keeping everything focused on antique and vintage style. My favorite aspect of Layla Grayce is that they offer one-of-a-kind pieces, which provide a quaint and loving display.

Some of their vendors products are absolutely darling, including their antique furniture - one of my favorites is their One of a Kind Antique Commode Swedish Midnight Blue, a three-drawer dresser.

They don’t just produce furniture, but wall décor, curtains, one-of-a-kind pillows, office and household supplies, and more! Every pillow they offer, among their endless supply, resembles a picturesque display. If you're looking for sophisticated serving ware Layla Grayce's silver serving trays are nothing short of luxurious!

One of their cutest selections are their kitchen accessories - consisting of aprons, towels, oven mitts, etc. One particular pair of their oven mitts is so charming! - Jessie Steele Oven Mitt Trim Antique Lace Black and Pink Bow. Layla Grayce also offers personalized office supplies with your initials. If you’re someone who loves making lists and keeping things organized like me, you will love their initialed clipboards!

Are you getting ready for a fall clean up and redecoration? Definitely check out Layla Grayce’s designs for antique and enchanting décor! Let us know what you think of their high-class vintage designs by tweeting us @PierceMattiePR!

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.

Pierce Mattie PR Client The Company Store was featured in InStyle Magazine. If you’re working on a home furnishings story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie lifestyle PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.