Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York

Two years ago, by chance, I came across Elke von Freudenberg on a group that we both happened to be apart of. Without knowing too much about her, beyond her love for cosmetics, we began a friendship. One that I cherish deeply.

So when Elke told me she was asked to be the Makeup Artist for Harper's Bazaar China, I knew that when the November edition came out, I wanted to be the first to proudly boast about it to the world.

Today I had the chance to briefly interview Elke:

I've been a Rocketboom viewer since the beginning (and persecuted for my advocacy of the lighthearted daily news by friends and colleages): I think I tuned in on her 3rd podcast on iTunes. Not a iTunes subscriber? Check your Tivo; Rocketboom is now available to most Tivo subscribers. Like many loyal followers of "citizen journalism," it was sad to see her leave Rocketboom. The good news is now everyone can see her on the boob-tube; watch for Amanda on ABC, maybe even prime time! Again, congratulations. Yesterday's headline read:

Amanda Congdon, the former host of the Rocketboom video blog, has been hired by US TV network ABC.

Congdon is also in the process of developing a show with US cable channel Home Box Office (HBO).

The Back-story: Congdon left Rocketboom in June this year claiming that she was fired, but Baron alleges that she quit to pursue an acting career in Los Angeles.

Baron apparently gave Congdon a 49 per cent share of Rocketboom. The two are currently in a dispute as to whether the agreement still stands.

In true Congdon spirit, here is an interpretation of perky quirky "news babe" memorable highlights. You may get a kick out of it if you watched Rocketboom since the beginning.

"I am going to be video blogging for Disney ABC, specifically ABC News," Congdon said in a video message on her Amanda Across America blog.

"I'll be the first person to fulfill that role for the network. Because ABC is continually pushing ahead and innovating, I'm super excited to be a part of their team.

"I'll also be appearing on ABC's News Now from time to time and occasionally I'll pop up on Good Morning America, Nightline and 20/20 to serve as an Internet correspondent."

Jeremy Wright is a serial entrepreneur, some have even said a blogpreneur for his focus on communications-oriented ventures. He has been involved in IT, programming and the business side of IT for nearly a decade. Jeremy is the President/CEO of b5media, a prominent blog network. He is the author of Blog Marketing, a business book on blogging and writes Ensight, a popular business and technology blog. Jeremy consults on blogging, communication, IT and time management.

What was your vision when you first had an inkling that you wanted to start b5media?
While it'd be nice to say there was some grand vision when b5 started, the truth is that it was a simple idea by Duncan Riley: partner with a bunch of bloggers to get more advertising. Then if we were going to sell ads, why not join them into a network? And if we were going to start a network, why not start new blogs? And if we were going to do that, why not hire authors?

So yeah, no clear vision initially, just a bunch of guys trying to have some fun and make some money. Who knows where it'll go though? We certainly have a vision and an amazing team and a fantastic group of bloggers that continue to astound me every day, but who knows what the future will hold, eh?

What do you feel are the benefits of being a part of a network?
There are obvious benefits. More traffic. Better traffic. Better ads. More ads. Higher paying ads. All of these mean that a blog that joins b5, or is started for b5, will almost always earn more money than it would on its own. It's kind of like hiring a book agent: sure, you give up 15-20% of your advance and royalties, but if they get you a deal that's 80% better it's a real no-brainer. And if they take all the heavy lifting of landing a book deal off your shoulders so you're less stressed, all the better.

Beyond that, you get free hosting, access to some of blogging's leaders like Darren Rowse and Brian Clarke, and you get to do it all while blogging about something you're passionate about and making some decent bucks for the privilege! It isn't really that hard of a sell when we have to pitch bloggers.

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.

In our continued effort to support bloggers and citizen journalists we are opening up our vote for Publicist of the Year to you. In the past we have only asked the media and producers to participate. If you've worked with any of our publicists, please vote today.

There are many milestones in a young man’s life. I can remember my first kiss, the first time I tried to drive a stick shift and the day I left my small hometown of Pearl, Mississippi for the bright lights of Broadway.

As I celebrate my third year anniversary at Pierce Mattie PR, I’ve hit two more milestones. I’m now one of the seniors at the firm, and as a result, Mr. Mattie has given me my first Louis Vuitton bag to commemorate the occasion. Just think, a few days ago I couldn’t even spell Louis Vuitton, and now I own one of their Epi leather briefcases.

As I think back on my time with the firm, I have many great memories. Aside from the day-to-day work, which I love, I’m most fond of the people. Nikki Walker, last year’s Publicist of the Year always brightens my day with her big smile and cheerful attitude. And no day is complete without the musical stylings of Miss Lauren Branche. But the person I have the most admiration for is Pierce Mattie himself.

Pierce will never admit this, but I often get the feeling that he cares more for his employees than himself. Even when he’s critiquing our work, I know that he’s doing all he can to help give the team all the tools we need in order to be successful. Whether it’s a gym membership to help stay in shape, a bonus to show his appreciation for the work we’ve done all year, or simply a “great job,” Pierce always goes above and beyond when it comes to taking care of us, and that is one of the major reasons why I’ve flourished so much in my career over the past three years, and why the firm has grown to a bi-coastal company with firms in New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta.

So for me, the Louis Vuitton bag is not just a milestone in my path to becoming a more fashionable publicist, it’s a stepping stone to the next level of my career journey at Pierce Mattie PR. And no matter where the road takes me, I’ll always look great while pounding the pavement and securing the placements.

I decided to share what the topic was at "show and tell" time in our weekly management meetings in the New York Office. This weeks discussion was a review of Liz Wilson's Telling It Straight article. I will post the article here, then invite Pierce Mattie members to comment along with any comments you may have.

What quality do employees most want from business leaders?

A clear vision of the way ahead, perhaps? A charismatic leadership style? Political or business acumen?

Of course, we demand all those qualities in leaders. But a recent piece of research points to a different quality as being the top priority for many employees.

A survey of over 1,000 employees found that what they most want from their leaders is authenticity, honesty and clear communication. In other words, straight talk.

Many professional communicators already sense this and are counselling business leaders to adopt more open communication measures. But this message isn't always getting through. "Too much value is placed on charismatic leadership: Boards select leaders for their dazzle and the biggest plaudits are saved for those whose profile is often bigger than that of their organization," notes CHA, the consultancy that commissioned the research.

The straight talking survey identified four communication styles among business leaders:

Controlling
Understated
Charismatic
Considerate

Controlling Communicators don't really communicate at all. They are perceived as arrogant, cold and insincere. In the workplace environment, they are seen as strong on business acumen but failing to provide staff with enough information. Rupert Murdoch, boss of News Corporation, is cited as an example.

Elizabeth Shoemaker is only 24 years old, but through her Photography and articles on the subject, she brings a sense of worldliness, maturity and knowledge that is so refreshing. Elizabeth is one of those diamonds that sparkles so bright she captivates you from across the room.

When did you begin your career in Photography and what was the image that inspired you to do so?
It wasn't a particular image that inspired me to get into photography. My mother is an art connaiseur-- I grew up with signed, limited edition prints on my bedroom wall instead of posters. I've always loved visual art and always been perfectly awful at it. Actually trying photography never occured to me until my roommate bought a digital camera, but I guess the most powerful photographic experience I had was in high school. I was very much an outsider, even inside the typical "outsider" cliques, and didn't really bother with stuff like fashion or makeup. When it came time for my senior pictures, I chose someplace cheap on the outskirts of town-- it'd been ingrained in me that I wasn't that attractive and I didn't want my parents to waste money on pictures. It turned out that the photographer who worked with me was phenomenal-- I got goosebumps when he showed us the proofs. I remember my hands shaking when I picked up my favorite one. That feeling of "Oh my God.. Is that really me? Do I really look like this?" was life changing. I thought photography was all about pushing a button, that it was the poor man's art: I had no idea it could be revelatory before then.

Is there a perfect picture, perfect scene or perfect image that you continue to strive for?
I don't know. There are a ton of concepts on my to-do list; things I want to create but don't have the resources for just yet. I have a lot of ideas. I think, though, that what I strive for the most is a certain emotion-- pretty pictures are nice, but someday I want to take a picture with that amazing heart-in-your-throat quality, something you can't stop staring at. It's a huge thrill when I get a reaction like that from the subject of a portrait. Now my goal is to get that reaction from anyone who sees the portrait.

What are your thoughts on the beauty and fashion magazines photoshopping so many of the images we see?

The first time I'd ever heard of airbrushing photos was years ago, when Kate Winslet went after GQ for photoshopping her legs thinner. She was offended because she loved her curves! That was awesome. I think that drastic photoshopping in fashion and beauty mags was much more detrimental to self-esteem before so many people learned how to manipulate their own images. I don't like to do much at all to any of the images I take, even the rare self-portrait-- but just the widespread knowledge of what is done to those pictures, and the basic ideas of HOW, might actually be good for women as a whole. Smart, empowered women can look at those pictures and know they're not real--and if that small, insecure voice in their head says, "I wish I looked like that!" logic can respond with, "You WOULD look like that with the right photographer and digital artist."

Karen A. Newman is Editor in Chief of Global Cosmetic Industry magazine. Global Cosmetic Industry magazine is the business and marketing magazine read by cosmetic, fragrance and personal care product manufacturers and brand owners who look to the publication for the strategies behind the industry success stories. Karen also writes GCI's blog called Beauty Union.

Where do you see cosmetic packaging trends in color cosmetics going in 2007?
One interesting trend we see is in making it easier to apply makeup. Applicators are being refined to meet a very specific purpose for everything from foundation to eyeliner. The new lipstick packaging from Cargo is a hint of what’s to come in recyclable packaging.

What popular scents are being used in fragrances for 2007?
Among recent releases, a broad range of floral and citrus scents are represented, as are musk, sandalwood and patchouli.

Which brands do you seem to get the most press releases about?
We get a lot of press releases from professional beauty brands – and mostly hair care. We hear regularly from Pureology and Thermafuse as well as Graham Webb International, ISO and Joico, but we hear from a wonderfully broad selection of marketers in every category – and we never get tired of hearing about the new things companies are doing. There’s a lot of passion in the beauty industry.

What do you think was the best product launch of 2006?
There were a few that I especially liked. The Yves Saint Laurent Perfect Touch Radiant Brush Foundation offers a built in brush, which speaks to the packaging trend question. Freeze 24/7’s Ice Shield Facial Cleanser with SPF 15 is interesting because it is the first product to commercialize a new delivery system that helps ingredients such as sunscreens bond with the skin so they can be left behind after cleansing. John Frieda’s Luminous Color Glaze puts a salon treatment into at-home use at a mass price.

Any changes taking place for GCI in 2007, editorial content, advisory board, etc.?
We introduced a new editorial advisory board at the end of 2006. This is exciting for us as it is a great group of industry professionals who are going to help us create content that is smart and spot on for our readers. The group includes: Roger Caracappa, The Estee Lauder Companies; Beth Ann Catalano, twist.new.brand.venture; Peter Gallagher, Unilever; Liz Grubow, LPK; Tina Hedges, twist.new.brand.venture; Camille McDonald, Bath & Body Works; Debbie Murtha, Macy’s Merchandising Group; Art Rich, A. Rich Development; Marc Rosen, Marc Rosen Associates; and Laura Setzfand, The Hain Celectial Group Personal Care Division. We’re really excited to be working with this stellar group!

Do you see the faux botox craze stopping?
I don’t see it stopping as long as consumers can find products that give them the temporary smoothing they are looking for.

Some of us are blessed with one talent in life, and others were given many. Jason Jobson is one of those multi-talented professionals with many talents you'll want to know. For starters, this native New Yorker has been a print, television and fitness model for many years. He ran the NY marathon in 2002 and a marathon in Paris in 2005. You may have already heard Jason's voice as a voice-over talent for commercials, podcasts and pilots all while working for one of the most recognized fashion brands in the world: Chanel.

“Ground Control” is the name of a pilot he has developed as a gardening/home improvement show that he is currently pitching to the networks. You may have seen his face on Sex & The City, Law & Order, Guiding Light or in 13 Going on 30. Jason’s newest role is full time Manager of Training and Special Events at Chanel and so I decided to tap into this multi-talented individual to learn more about him and what's new for Chanel this year.

With so many projects and talents, where does your passion to push your creativity come from?
I think that some people just see things with different eyes. I'm inspired by the simplest things and then also the most beautiful. I just saw the "Glitter and Doom" exhibit at the Met and the colors were incredible. My mind was racing with design inspriation. On the other hand I was in Mexico over Christmas and I saw this stack of empty glass soda bottles that were beautiful. I had to stop and take a picture and I got a few strange looks. Sometime the hardest thing is keeping myself focused on current projects. I think in New York it's easy to spread yourself too thin if you are not careful. We are obsessed with taking on one more project. It's hard when you want to move forward in different directions sometimes. Some things must be put on hold while you go in another direction.

What has working at Chanel taught you that you didn’t already know about the fashion industry?
Chanel is an unbelievable company overall. The thing that has impressed me the most is just how big the scope of all the projects are. I've worked with major houses from Italy and France over the years but when Chanel uses the word "global," they truly mean it.

What are some of the new things going on at Chanel?
That is the other thing I have learned - there are always 10 new things happening at Chanel! You almost have to pick a category and dive in - for instance in the fragrance division, the house is launching an ultra luxe group of scents called "les exclusifs de Chanel". There are 10 scents that each have a special meaning to the legacy of Coco Chanel.

Accessories are also on fire at the moment. There are a group of exotic tote bags launching next month that are going to set Chanel apart from any of the luxury exotic bags on the market.

Do you have any predictions for color and style for Fall 2007?
I think that most designers are really going for more vibrant, deep colors for Fall. Spring was clean and bright, but Fall will be deeper gem tones. Deep reds, and purples. I think American women have started to embrace the idea of wearing color. Not just when they go out at night, but introducing pieces of color to mix into thier wardrobe in an irreverent way.

Are there any styles from years past that you think will be making a comeback?
Looks from the 60's were a strong theme for Spring 07. I think sometimes designs are timeless. If a building is designed in a modern style, it should look modern a hundred years from now - I think the same is true for fashion design. The A-Line dresses from the 60's still look just as new and fresh today.

Is there anything new or coming up on the Chanel website that people can look forward to?
The website is always being tweaked and reborn. So much so, that I have to log on all the time so I don't miss something! One of the coolest things recently was the podcast made available of the pre-fall 07 collection that was shown in the Opera house in Monte-Carlo. Something about this little jewel box of a theater being featured in a podcast is such an incredible twist on what you expect. Now that is inspiring!

Where you can find Jason: MySpace, he also has a out of date website that he's been trying to update for years, found at JasonJobson.com.

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.

Holly Houk always viewed illustration art as a hobby and thought that most people who wanted to earn a living from their art were fated to be “struggling artists.” Her perception changed when she began working at an advertising agency as an art buyer. Through her job duties and contacts, she began to see that many people made a viable living from illustration art. It was when her employer had a hard time finding the right fit to some accounts in need of illustration art that Holly felt the courage to submit her own artwork. Her employer was impressed and began to ask her for more illustrations.

One day while searching Craig’s List she found an ad by KMC looking for illustration art for an upcoming project. After calling in books from New York agencies, KMC still hadn’t found the right artist and posted the job. The art would be used for their nail polish company Artessa. Here in the US, Artessa’s sister company is Dashing Diva, which I recognized immediately as I have some of their polish myself. Holly was selected over 30 other illustrators being reviewed for the project and was awarded the account. The client was so thrilled with the results they blew up the images 5 feet tall and featured them at one of the world’s largest beauty tradeshows, held in Italy.

Her previous work also includes Airwalk footwear and the Boston Greater Real Estate Board. You can also see Holly’s art on our Beauty Pro blog, and this month she launched her new website, HollyIllustration.com

Holly told me that she gets her inspiration from film, fashion magazines and photography books and keeps a digital camera with her at all times. She even has a folder in her car to hold the random inspiration she picks up along the way – scraps of paper, spreads from magazines and “pretty little brochures.” This year Holly’s goals are to continue to build up fashion and beauty accounts so that five years from now she is working exclusively with high profile long-term clients.

Please be sure to check out Holly’s website, I assure you that you will be just as impressed as I was with her gorgeous artwork.

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).

To say that Billy Brasfield, known as "billy b" in the beauty industry, is simply a Makeup Artist would be an understatement. While some things in Billy's life have been black and white, such as his decision to leave Mississippi for New York, there is much more depth to billy b that goes beyond skin deep.

A world renowned Celebrity Makeup Artist painting faces from the Red Carpet to the small screen, billy b has never forgotten where he came from and is on a mission to revitalize his hometown of Aberdeen, Mississippi. I have been a long time fan of billy b the Makeup Artist, but now I can firmly say that without a doubt I am an absolute fan of billy b the person.

Shannon: Before venturing into the beauty industry, was there another career path you had set for yourself?
billy b: I ventured into the beauty industry by accident. For me, it was a matter of survival. I moved from a tiny Mississippi town (Aberdeen), and only knew NYC was where I wanted to be. I faked my way through the audition process for The American Academy of Dramatic Art, but had never thought of being an actor and had no experience whatsoever. It was a just “way” of getting to NYC, with my parents paying for it. I attended 1 semester and dropped out. My parents were not happy with the move and insisted I return to Mississippi.

After quitting school, I was forced to move out of housing, my parents cut me off financially, so it was sink or swim. I moved into a YMCA in Times Square and only had experience in retail, so I went to Macy’s Herald Square (because it was the only store I knew of from watching the Thanksgiving Parade on T.V. while growing up in Mississippi. They had a job in cosmetics so I lied and said I had experience, got the job and luckily discovered my talent there doing makeup on real women.

Shannon: When you began doing makeup, who were the makeup artists that you admired for their work?
billy b: To be honest, prior to my retail job selling makeup at Macy’s, I had never given any thought to who actually did makeup for magazines etc. I always liked fashion etc., but was so naive from Mississippi, I had never thought about it until I started doing makeup and then of course became aware of Kevyn Aucoin. He was already a working makeup artist then. I knew he was southern, so I was intrigued. He became my makeup hero.

Shannon: Are there any emerging makeup artists now whose talent you marvel at?
billy b: There are so many incredibly talented makeup artists out there known and unknown! I always say in my classes that every Sunday there are thousands of incredibly talented singers in church choirs that can sing circles around Mariah Carey and Celine Dion, but will never have record deals or be famous. It is the same with makeup artists. There are so many talented artists (known and unknown) who are unsung heroes.

Shannon: Which do you enjoy more: creating a story for a photo shoot, creating a story for a video or creating the look of a celebrity for the red carpet? Why?
billy b: The answer to that question depends on so many factors, but I enjoy it all. I think the best thing about our job is that it is something different everyday! The answer for a photo shoot depends on the photographer, the model, the hair, the stylist, the magazine, what type of makeup I am asked to do etc. For a video it depends on the video concept, the director, the director of photography, the singer, the song etc. For the Red Carpet, all of the same factors come into play. Making a magic image isn’t just left up to the makeup artist. As a matter of fact, making magic is a RARE thing and absolutely a "team" effort, but I LOVE the challenge every time.

Shannon: You just launched your own brush collection, billybBeauty Paint Brushes, what inspired you to create your own collection and how are they different from other brush lines on the market?
billy b: I’m glad you asked this question! I have always been very particular about my brushes. I think tools make all the difference in the world. For me, there are several factors, but the MOST important is that the brush help me do what I want to do. The shape, density, texture of the hair etc., but I also wanted to do a brush that is comfortable to use (ie. the length, weight, etc.) All of those factors are important. I designed the brushes for me; brushes that I use everyday to make my job easier. I am making tools that I love and use with the hope that others will love them, but I made them for myself. How they are different for me is that I incorporate some aspect of every great brush I found. Now I love every aspect of every brush I have designed; they are meant to be light and comfortable to use. This collection is ever evolving and what you see is not the final collection. I am in the process of designing a retractable lip brush and I'm sure I'll be inspired to design more brushes in time.

Shannon: You are a keynote speaker at The Makeup Show run by The Powder Group and now you will be doing The American Beauty Tour with them, as well. Do you find that you enjoy being out in the spotlight teaching pro's and non-pro's your techniques more so than being "behind the scenes" for your work, or is it equally rewarding?
billy b: This is a good question! I don’t know how this whole “teaching” and “speaking” thing happened, but I do enjoy giving back. I didn’t have anything like this available to me when I started out and if I had had the opportunity to learn from someone “who had been there” it would have helped me so much. When I speak/teach, I just try to be honest. I just “tell it like it is” and people seem to enjoy it. That makes me feel good, yes. I receive the most incredible letters after speaking. It always amazes me what exactly helps someone. It’s not always about watching me work or learning a tip about makeup. It’s nice to know I might validate, teach or inspire someone. It is a totally different type of satisfaction than creating makeup.

Amy Stephens, MS, RD, CDE has been working as a Clinical Diabetes Nutritionist for nine years specializing in diabetes & weight management. She's primarily worked as an Outpatient Diabetes Nutritionist for Dr. Andrew Drexler at NYU, as well as maintain her own private practice. She is a certified Diabetes educator, has also lectured to doctors and patients on nutrition with Diabetes and maintains a blog "Nutrition in the City."

Shannon: When did your interest in diet and nutrition begin?
Amy Stephens: I have been interested in nutrition since college. I had many gastrointestinal issues that were corrected with adequate nutrition.

Shannon: Why did you choose to become a Nutritionist?
Amy Stephens: I decided to study nutrition when I learned more about the field as a career rather than a hobbie from my sister's friend at Syracuse University. I was so excited to learn that I could make a career from a hobbie that I loved. The opportunites with a nutrition degree are endless - chef, clinical nutritionist in a hospital or private practice setting, and so on.

Shannon: Do you feel there are any misconceptions or misunderstandings about what a Nutritionist does?
Amy Stephens: Absolutely. Most patients think they see a Nutritionist "to be put on a diet." Patients don't realize our eating habits are much more complex. I like to think of myself as an educator and coach to help patients overcome obstacles, food misperceptions and misperceptions from food advertising. Most patients misunderstand the food-diet-health-weight loss relationship; our food choices are 80% psychological and 20% knowledge. Patients know what to eat, they just don't know how to incorporate it into their lifestyles permanently.

Shannon: What do you enjoy most about being a Nutritionist?
Amy Stephens: I like helping people achieve their nutrition goals. I feel more like a coach and enjoy it when patients do well.

Shannon: Do you find that as society has become more health consciencious, that there is an increase in demand for Nutritionists and a growth in your industry overall?
Amy Stephens: I think it's trendy to eat organic, but I don't think people understand the health benefits. It's more important to achieve a healthy weight and exercise than it is to have organic strawberries. Also, food marketing is geared at making the consumer believe if it's organic, you can eat as much as you want.

Shannon: What are your thoughts on the recent trends in the food industry changing the way they market to children to tackle childhood obesity?
Amy Stephens: The food industry is focused on making money, not making us healthy. We'll be healthier if we eat less, not more foods/portions.

Shari Weber has been in the music industry for 13 years. She got her start by doing a favor for a friend; she worked a concert as a local assistant by running errands for a band--taking the group to and from their hotel, setting up their dressing rooms and getting them take away Chinese food. That band was the Counting Crows. It was then that she was introduced to a Florida Promoter and he started using her for all of his shows. Shari's career as a touring production assistant has taken her all over the world logging over 840,000 miles in just the last eight years alone. She's been on tour with the likes of Celine Dion, Coldplay, The Go Gos, Def Leppard and many more.

Shari's years of globe trotting has made her an expert in travel, creating and sending digital postcards from each of the sites she visits. Her travels and time spent with musicians and their production crews have given her plenty of material to write her thoughts out in her online diary "Catch Her If You Can." Shari's insight of life on the road, human behavior and oftentimes witty prose makes reading her updates addictive.

Shari just completed a tour with Def Leppard, and also Evanescence, that kept her busy from January up until only a few days ago. Set to go out on the road again at the end of this month, I took the opportunity to get an inside view of what life is like as a touring production assistant and jet setter.

Shannon: How does it feel to have spent more time on a plane than you have in a car?

Shari: It's crazy to think, but it's absolutely true. I've also spent an equal amount of time in a tour bus. I don't care for the tour buses but I do enjoy flying - flying has become a mental cleansing for me. I fall into the time warp of travel; I can catch up with TV shows on my iPod. Watch a movie, eat & have a glass of wine and take a nap - then magically wake up in another country - its quite amazing still to me after all this time. I prefer flights over 6 hours - that's when I can really relax.

I'm rarely ever in a car. I go usually 2 months before I sit behind the wheel of my own car and its a strange sensation - its like you forget how to drive. Once I returned home from Australia and actually forgot, briefly, where I was and found myself driving down the wrong side of a parking gararge! Thankfully, no one was hurt and telling the story to my Mom gave her a great laugh!

Shannon: Female production crew members being in the minority, is there a bond between the women traveling?

Shari: Yes, there is. Even if you would never socialize with them outside of the tour - being thrust in an extreme environment makes people reach out for the familiar. Its nice to know you always have an ear to talk to and to be an ear for someone else.

Shannon: Did you ever think that just doing a favor for a friend so many years ago would be the beginning of your career?

Shari: I never thought a favor would amount to a career. I'm still dumbfounded by what I do for a living and to revisit the past and remember the day that started it all - makes me realize how lucky I am. I never thought doing a show for the Counting Crows in St. Petersburg, Florida would have open the door to traveling the world and working for the people I have. When days & schedules are challenging - I silently curse my friend, but honestly I am very thankful, its a world I never knew existed and I fit rather well in it.

Shannon: Describe what your typical day is like as a Touring Production Assistant.

Shari: This industry doesn't lend much to typical, but when touring North America & Europe, since we travel by tour bus, the average day starts by loading into the venue around 8am, setting up all production offices & dressing rooms - managing local assistants for the day. The entire day is spent sending the local assistants shopping for band & show needs, multiple Starbucks runs and so on. Usually the band arrives around 4pm for sound check and usually chaos begins once they're in the building. The "need" factor increases the moment the band is in the building. Usually, they take the stage at 9pm and show is down by 11pm. We load out & pack up - usually showering in a smelly locker room around 12:30am and climbing into my bunk on the tour bus around 1am. Driving through the night to the next venue and wake up there and start all over again. Its a bit different when in Japan, South America and Australia - the luxury is, no tour buses and a hotel every night with a private shower! Downside to that is being on a plane every 48 to 72 hours!

Shannon: Spending your days in a hotel room, eating room service and at restaurants, traveling by plane and bus—how do you keep yourself eating right and remaining physically fit?

Shari: It's a challenge- very much so. I seek out gyms before my days off so I have a game plan before I arrive the hotel for a non-show day. I go to the gym every day off and on show days, I will break out my roller blades and do a few laps around the building and sometimes, I will run up and down in the grand stands for a quick cardio work out. Most tours carry juicing machines so I try to make fresh juices everyday. Days off are usually the cheat days because after eating crappy catering for weeks on end - I always treat myself to a proper steak or sushi dinner on a day off! And yes, I do sneak in the molten lava cake!

Ever since Eddie LeVian joined the company in 1978, Le Vian® has grown and prospered through its entry into uncharted territory in the jewelry world, through Eddie’s eyebrow-raising marketing techniques, all to bring fine jewelry within reach of jewelry lovers – and would-be jewelry lovers – coast to coast. Today, Le Vian® collectors number more than 500,000, including royalty and billionaires but, more important to Eddie, jewelry lovers at middle income levels to whom he has opened a treasure trove.

Shannon: The Le Vian website is very unique with a great tribute to your father A. Le Vian and an all around feeling of warmth and love of family; I feel this sets you apart from other jeweler web sites out there. How did the concept of your website come together?

Eddie LeVian: The website is a collaboration of many areas within Le Vian including Marketing, Merchandising, MIS, Customer Service and more. My son Jonathan is the web master. My nephew Rafael is the graphic designer and web developer. Everyone involved in the web work knows the story of Le Vian first hand and maybe that is why the feel is more personal.

Shannon: You joined the family business in 1978, being surrounded by the jewelry business all of your life, was this something you had long wanted to do or was there a time when you wanted to venture out down a different career path?

Eddie: During college, I was not sure if this is what I wanted to do and in fact I was in search of my fountain of youth. Then I realized that of all of the things that you have in life, it is your jewelry that people keep from you and remember you by. So I realized that by having my name signed inside the pieces, my name will live on along with the jewel that is passed down the generations in the families. I realized that I had found my fountain of youth in my family business, where I have an excuse to see my brothers and sisters every single day. I decided to make the world’s most beautiful jewelry and make them available and affordable to everyone.

Shannon: Your website mentions that you have been responsible for many "eyebrow raising marketing techniques," can you share a few of them with us and explain how this has made Le Vian Jewelers who they are today?

Eddie: We made history with the first all precious tiara ever made for any pageant or parade, a $75,000 ruby and diamond one for the fiesta bowl that they used for 20 years. We have been the official designer for the Mrs. America Pageant for 17 years. We go to 1,000 cities and towns in the US each year with unbelievable trunk shows of the artist’s proofs and original pieces that are offered to our collectors. Our "Where to Buy" page can tell you every store we are in with maps to find the location. Each year we send personalized letters to our half million collectors at least twice a year and send roses and chocolates to the thousands of VIP’s. These letters give user names and passwords that allow our collectors to go to a private zone within our site called the Collectors Club where they can see the thousands of new designs a month that we do, as they come out. We even do a jewelry design competition with Jewelers for Children each year.

Piper Carter has worked as a freelance assistant for many of the top photographers in the world, and as a studio assistant at three of the top studios in the world: Pier 59, Industria, and Splashlight Studios in New York City. For three years she was assistant to maverick photographer Steven Klein working with him on some of the most famous projects of his career, including the ones featuring Brad Pitt and another with Madonna. She also assisted David Seidner on his last two projects before he passed away, including a series of famous portraits of Naomi Campbell and Leontine Price.

She graduated from FIT in May 2007 with a BFA in Photography & Digital Media. She completed her internship at Vogue Magazine in the Photography Dept. assisting the photo research team with editorial content for the magazine and the Poiret exhibition featured this past summer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Costume Institute.

Recently, Piper was on VH1's "The Shot," a fashion photography reality series and I took the opportunity to find out more about her.

Shannon: When was the very first time you picked up a camera, shot something and realized you had a knack for photography?

Piper Carter: I first picked up a camera (Canon AE-1) in 1992. I was attending Howard University at the time & had changed my major to Photography. I had no previous knowledge of photography & it kind of came to me naturally. I became hooked in the darkroom after I developed my first roll of Kodak 100 t-max, & watched in awe As my contact sheet miraculously appeared! I realized: Wow! I did that? I want to do this for the rest of my life.

Shannon: Thinking back to this moment, what was the image that inspired you?

Piper: My most inspirational image to date is a mermaid image I made a few years ago. My comrade Lenoid made an amazine denim skirt fashioned after a ball gown with rolls of ruffles. The model is Hollis: a beautiful creature with so much heart and passion. She works the brilliant red wig created by Ursula Stephan, a real artist. And she is slightly silouhetted against a white background. Make up artist Hiyiyatun Muqaribu makes us able to feel her buttery skin, & full lips. It’s a great project I really love.

Shannon: Many Fashion Photographers have told me that it is their love for art that guides them in how they capture an image through their lens and bring it to life, is this the same for you as well?

Piper: My inspiration comes from many sources: a combination of the French New Wave movement, The German Expressionist movement, the Blaxploitation movement, the Northern Renaissance, Octavia Butler, Shakespeare, & Stanley Kubrick.

Shannon: What is your favorite aspect to fashion photography?

Piper: My favorite aspects of fashion photography, besides great images, are researching the idea: looking up various resources, and the collaborative spirit of a good team all working together lending their expertise to the creative endeavor.

Shannon: Reflecting on the photographers you have worked with, what aspects of their knowledge have you incorporated into creating your own work?

Piper: I’ve worked with the best fashion photographers in recent history. One common factor they share is passion. They all are dedicated to making a perfect image & strong project. They all continue testing in their spare time Working on personal projects, trying new ideas, new people, expanding their scope. I follow this module in my life, “Keep shooting.”

Syd Curry is an amazingly talented hair stylist. Syd's career in the beauty industry has spanned 3 decades working on celebrities such as Debbie Harry, Ashley Judd, Madonna, Charlize Theron, Mariah Carey and Cindy Crawford. His trademark hair styles have graced celebrities at iconic events like The Academy Awards, The Emmy’s and The Grammy’s while his work has been published in every major magazine domestically and abroad. He was the creative behind the "black bob" wig for the model featured in George Michael’s video “Father Figure” and at present you can see his craftsmanship on Nicolette Sheridan as she graces the cover of Prestige Magazine. Syd Curry is talented, creative, innovative, but most of all...inspiring.

Speaking publicly for the first time, Syd Curry granted me access into his rise to the top, hitting rock bottom and how determination can never keep a good man down.

Shannon: When did you first realize that you had a talent for styling hair?

Syd Curry: At a very young age, it was just something I could always do. I started beauty school at 16 in Simi Valley, California. I was the only boy in school at the time and I took a lot of flack for it, but I was a good stylist and the boys who gave me the hardest time stopped when their mothers and sisters started coming to me.

Shannon: Did you ever think that it would take you all over the world?

Syd: No never. Who thinks that someday you’ll be going all over the world because you have a talent for doing hair? I had traveled all over the United States but when I worked for Mariah Carey I was lucky enough to travel all over Europe and to Japan. Billy B who was her make up artist at the time introduced us so it was amazing getting to see the world with my best friend. Ask him about the earthquake in Japan someday!

Shannon: How were you discovered?

Syd: My friend Ricky Castro needed hair done for a story in LA Weekly—we were shooting in a graveyard and old theater and his agent came by and asked me to call her. My first print work was with Matthew Rolston and one of my first videos was for Buster Pointdexter in Las Vegas—this is where I met Billy B.

Shannon: What do you feel are the two most important products when styling hair?

Syd: Of course products are always important, a good hairspray and something to “set” the hair, but for me having the right tools are key. Irons, hot rollers good brushes and a tail comb. I’m old school and almost every thing I do comes out of the “sets” I learned in Beauty School, even if its beach hair I start out pin curling the hair. Of course I can do a straight, flat look, but what fun is that? But getting back to your question, if it works for me I use it. I don’t care if it cost fifty cents or fifty dollars.

Matthew Betmaleck owns a full-service set-design and art-direction studio, specializing in both commercial and editorial fashion photography. He brings a unique architectural sensibility to each of his commissions, whether designing a full-blown multi-set production or resourcing a specific prop element. After receiving a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Southern California, Betmaleck practiced with internationally-acclaimed design firms Pei Cobb Freed and Partners, Alexander Gorlin Architects, Kohn Pedersen Fox, and Pritzker-prize-winning Alvaro Siza Vieira.

Matthew Betmaleck Studio’s recent projects have included ad campaigns for A/X Armani Exchange, Vogue and Hotkiss, editorial features for Elle (Italy; Germany), Out and Cargo magazines, as well as commercial work for Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, DKNY and Macy’s West.

Shannon: How did you first learn about set design?
Matthew Betmaleck: My first introduction to set design and art direction for print/fashion photography goes back about 12 years; I had my first summer share in Fire Island in ‘96 and, through friends, met an inspired new friend who was starting his own foray into set design.

Shannon: When did you have that a-ha moment that this is what you knew you wanted to pursue as a career?
Matthew Betmaleck: Not until many years later… I received a Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) from USC in ’91, moved to New York later that year and practiced architecture for 6 years with a couple large corporate design firms, www.kpf.com and www.pcfandp.com; in early ’97 I jumped ship into the burgeoning internet scene, as so many of my friends and colleagues were, and ran the biz dev/marketing/sales division of a recently launched health information delivery website, www.thebody.com. I had a small equity position in that business, was bought out, made a little money and was trying to determine what I want to do next.

It was late ‘03/early ’04 and I had also entered into a new relationship with an amazing man/old social acquaintance who is a fashion photographer, www.deanisidro.com; I was doing a whole host of different consulting gigs at the time, in the pharmaceutical space, for a large outdoor media company, a boutique real estate development outfit… you name, I did it.

I was craving a creative outlet and intent on melding that desire with making a living. I was about a year into my relationship, when Dean was optioned to do a fashion editorial for OUT Magazine --- a beautiful painter’s story and to this day still one of my all-time favorites. He asked me if I’d be interested in helping out with the art direction and propping, and I LEPT at the opportunity.

Shannon: What made you choose fashion set design over film?
Matthew: That wasn’t a conscious or intentional choice. The flow was totally organic. It just happened the way it did. I’ve been approached to do television, but haven’t yet seen the right fit for me. I am open to anything, TV, film, theater: I would welcome any creative opportunity that has the right cast of characters.

Paula Romani has been working for many years as a freelance designer and illustrator. She works mostly in fashion, beauty, cosmetic, editorial and advertising. Nowadays she is focusing in digital lifestyle, people and fashion illustrations with a whimsical and contemporary style. I loved the carefree nature of her illustrations and wanted to learn more about her truly unique style.

Shannon: At what age did you first put pencil to paper?
Paula Romani: I can't even remember, as a child I loved to draw all the time and had a very distinctive style. I won several prizes. I used to draw lots of things, but my girls always had big eyelashes and my butterflies too. I studied graphic design and worked as graphic designer for many years, but a few years back I rediscovered my love for illustration and started working as an illustrator. That is my real passion.

Shannon: What was the first illustration you drew that you knew you could turn your love for sketching into a career?
Paula Romani: I guess some doodles I made as a teenager. It was some kind of big nosed comic character and his family, but I detoured into graphic design. One thing I remember as a teenager was how people's faces changed when they saw one of my drawings, usually a smile appeared and I loved that, I still do.That is the best compliment.

Shannon: Where does your inspiration come from for your artwork?
Paula Romani: It is hard to point out the inspiration source. Sometimes when I'm not focused on my work an idea comes to mind in a rather intuitive way. Sometimes it’s a book, a movie, a mag or a song that triggers the new idea. The street is always a great source too. I always have a notebook with me to write down ideas.

Steele Luxury Travel founder, Dane Steele Green, was born and raised in Manhattan. Dane attended New York University and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a major in Business Communications. Dane has held internships throughout his college career including El Al Airlines, Sally Fischer Public Relations, and iAmplify. He has been a part of the marketing teams at both JetBlue Airways and Alitalia Airlines. Dane speaks five languages including English, French, Italian, Spanish and Hebrew. Dane started his first international business at the age of 15 in which he would frequently travel to Italy and use the strong dollar (at the time) to purchase designer name brand items and sell these items on his own website in the US. Dane has a strong sense of international business and communication; a natural-born entrepreneur.

Shannon: How is Steele Luxury Travel different from other luxury travel services in what it provides to its users?
Dane Steele Green: Steele Luxury Travel is a brand new concept in travel. Geared towards the gay and lesbian market, Steele Luxury Travel is actually the ONLY exclusively luxury gay tour operator in the country. We specialize in vacations that are gay event destinations. A gay event destination could be a pride celebration, a specific time of year, or a LGBT friendly hot spot. For instance, Rio for New Year’s is a gay hot spot, Sao Paulo Gay Pride draws in over 3.5 million gay people from around the world while Mykonos has been a gay destination in the summer months for decades.

Steele Luxury travel provides a superior travel experience to all. Mercedes Benz airport transfers, business class flights, and 5-star award winning hotels are all part of the experience. A user will simply log onto our website, select their destination and select their add-on options and everything else is taken care of, a luxurious hassle free experience. Luxury is no longer a material item, it has now turned into an experience—a lifetime experience.

Shannon: When did the concept for Steele Luxury Travel first come to you?
Dane Steele Green: Growing up, I always wanted to work in the travel industry. I have held prior marketing positions at JetBlue Airways and Alitalia Airlines. Working in the airline industry allowed me to experience the world; especially the gay world outside of the United States. Any chance I had, I was on a flight to explore another destination. Whether it was Tokyo over Labor Day, Rio de Janeiro for Carnival, or European escapes in the summer… I was on a jet headed there. I would say that probably 70% of the time I flew in a first class cabin to any destination worldwide; there was another gay man seated in the same first class cabin. Many of them I recognized from Chelsea. Us boys and girls love to travel in style and comfort and stay in the finest hotels available. Steele Luxury Travel provides vacations to a niche market, to niche gay destinations, during niche times. We provide what the discerning traveler wants.

Shannon: What has the response been in the gay and lesbian community since Steele Luxury Travel’s launch?
Dane Steele Green: The gay and lesbian community are intrigued by Steele Luxury Travel. There are few competitors out there that provide a luxury travel service catering to the community. It seems to be appreciated that a concept such as this has become available to gays and lesbians across the country.

Those of us in PR have all heard the chatter that print publications are a dying breed. Today another print publication, Quick & Simple, announced that at the end of this month it will only be found online. With so many people turning to digital media for their news and seeing more cut backs in newsrooms everywhere (ie. The LA Times) I wanted to get the perspective from one of the top dailies, The Philadelphia Inquirer, with its Executive Editor Chris Krewson, weighing in the state of newspaper publications.

Shannon: As an editor in the newspaper industry, what is the general feeling about more publications abandoning print and strictly going online?

Chris Krewson: I’m 31 years old – so I’m hardly the typical newspaper editor. When I speak to college or high school students, or young professionals in urban areas, they don’t “use” the daily newspaper. They don’t subscribe to it, don’t read it (much less every day) – but they ARE familiar with our brand, our name. Where we wind up engaging the bulk of them is on our Web site –philly.com – or they getting Inquirer content through other means (sharing it with emails, finding it on Digg or Reddit or StumbleUpon, clicking links other people post on Facebook, following us on Twitter, etc.). Now, people are using this content differently than they’re using the printed paper – they’re looking at our Web products for shorter periods of time, generally during the business day, instead of first thing in the morning.

Bottom line, I think printed newspapers will be part of the future – but I don’t think paid circulation is a sustainable business model, long-term. I think free newspapers disseminated at public transit stops that are derived from news and information first published digitally in a constantly updated, robust, multimedia platform that has arms online, on mobile, in video on demand, on Kindles, etc makes more sense.

Shannon: Have you found at the Philadelphia Inquirer that more of the job requirements of the editors is to be familiar with html and SEO skills?

Chris Krewson: We’ve had training to show everyone who writes headlines why print label heads don’t work with Google. For instance, “Sacred Ground” standing by itself on a Web page tells you (and search engines!) nothing, while in our Magazine section the presentation of that and a subhead (‘Beneath Independence Mall, story of early free black America’) gives our print readers every indication of what they’re about to read. Now, every copy editor writes a separate headline for the Web that works in that medium. HTML is not a common skill we teach in the newsroom – but we’re training all our graphic artists in Flash and CSS, so they can more effectively present their work on the Web.

Gilles Montezin encapsulates Couture in every essence of fabric that is lucky enough to be a part of his handiwork. Amazing talented with designs that will leave you breathless, Gilles Montezin's fashion has completely captivated me and made my head so dizzy with desire that I am now on a mission to own something from his collection. I was completely humbled today when he granted me an interview that made me smile and hang on every word. He embodies fashion, lives it, breathes it and talks about it with such passion and child-like wonder...

Shannon: What is your earliest memory that you can remember where you knew you wanted to work in the fashion industry?

Gilles Montezin: When I was an early teen I saw a picture of a dress by Anne Marie Beretta in a French "Depeche Mode" magazine and it was printed like wood and it had those huge pockets that are her signature and it was a revelation, I thought, "Fashion can be fun!"

Shannon: How did you eventually get your start designing clothes?

Gilles Montezin: After studying Haute couture and working for Christian Lacroix in Paris, I thought it could be nice to tell my own story of how I would dress women. I thought New York was, and still is, the best place to do so.

Shannon: To me, Couture is like art, how would you characterize it?

Gilles Montezin: Very few Couture house still exist. It is an experimental way of making clothes that is very close to art, indeed. You have to completely forget how to build clothes and start from scratch as if dresses never existed before. Then you create something that is art, in fabric, that women can wear. I cannot see Lacroix without thinking of him as a poet, a painter--the way he mixes the fabrics, the shapes and proportions, the colors, the way he explains his sketches is all a poem, a painting...

Armed with fifteen years experience as a fashion designer, merchandiser and stylist, Robert Mendolia has emerged as a major new force in the world of men's fashion, fitness and portrait photography. A graduate of New York's prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology with dual degrees in design and photography, Robert's images reflect an intuitive understanding of the relationship between these two disciplines.

Shannon Nelson: With your background as a fashion designer, what prompted you to make the transition to fashion photography?

Robert Mendolia: It really wasn’t a choice, with all the imports the garment industry in NY has become extinct. I needed to choose a new career where I would be happy doing what I liked and still be able to utilize my 15 years of skills obtained in the fashion industry. I always loved photography and decided to make the switch, luckily for me I seemed to have a feel for it and my career has taken off quite quickly. My fashion background has helped a tremendous amount on set in the styling.

Located on Main Street in Concord, Massachusetts, Cynthia Cosmetics & More recently opened its doors to "Bring out your inner Goddess..." I recently took the opportunity to interview Cyndi King to learn more about her and her beauty company:

Pierce Mattie: Tell us more about Cynthia Cosmetics & More.

Cyndi King: We offer authentic mineral makeup, chirally correct skin care and the art of Joan Terrell Smith in the historic Grist Mill of Concord MA. Refill, reuse, recycle is at the heart of the makeup studio philosophy located above Main Streets Market & Café tucked in with Nesting and The Muse’s Window at the top of the stairs. Cynthia Cosmetics & More offers 10% off your purchase when presented with old conventional, traditional makeup or skin care products for recycling. All of our product packaging is recyclable and many are made with the ability to re-fill and re-use the bottle, brush or container that contains the product. Proceeds from the sale of the Revitalash lash conditioner and the Clarisonic professional skin care brush system go to cancer research.

Pierce Mattie: Concord Massachusetts is known for its great literature that comes from that town. It is the biggest little place in America. Are you going to plan anything like; A Book & a Makeover? Or having any book readings at your store while consumers talk shop on lip gloss and sunscreen?

Cyndi King: Absolutely! Our local book store is independently owned; most of the historic Concord shopping district is inhabited by independent businesses. My greatest wish is that when Diane Ranger releases her biography that she does so here in Concord at Cynthia Cosmetics & More! I plan to offer a reading area focused on wellness, skin care and cosmetics education. I feature the art work of Joan Terrell Smith, a locally born, award winning artist, now living in France. More of her work will be on display during the Art Walk in Concord on Saturday, May 16th, 2009. www.joanterrellsmith.com

I recently had the great pleasure of interviewing Karen Adams and Karen Dubin, the creators and collaborators of Sniffapalooza. Serious fragrance lovers know that Sniffapalooza is the ultimate event to satiate their love and knowledge of perfume.

Pierce Mattie: What is Sniffapalooza working on for the Summer and Fall season?

Karen Adams; Karen Dubin: Sniffapalooza is working on many incredible events for the Summer and Fall 2009! In May, we’ll be having a Sniffapalooza at Malin + Goetz in Chelsea for the world premiere of their two latest fragrances and new candles. We’ll also be helping osMoz.com launch their first perfume kits, which is very exciting, as this project has been a work in progress for over a year!

We’ll be speaking at the PXA Perfume Expo at the Javits Center, and managing the Consumer Day, and we‘ve got all sorts of surprises planned for that! We are in the midst of planning our activities for our week-long scent journey to LONDON in July, which is going to be an extraordinary trip. Our legendary Sniffapalooza Fall Ball , which is one of our two mega-Sniffapalooza’s that comprise an entire weekend of sensory stimulation and attract attendees from all over the world, will be happening next October. Fall Ball includes 10 stores,40 speakers,and over 165 guests! We are also planning our first Southern US Sniffapalooza at the Guerlain Boutique at The Breakers Hotel in West Palm Beach, one of the most elegant spas in the country!

And of course our famous Holiday Event – we always do something really special for that. Add to this list all of the other exciting events that pop onto our calendar – like our continuing Master Class Series, wine and fragrance tastings and perhaps even a chocolate and fragrance pairing event!

Wendy Lewis is an international insider to the world of anti-aging, skin care, beauty and cosmetic surgery. She is also the author of 10 consumer health and beauty books, including two editions of America’s Cosmetic Doctors & Dentists and her newest title, Plastic Makes Perfect; The Complete Cosmetic Beauty Guide. Her contributions to the beauty industry are vast, of which you can learn more on her website www.wlbeauty.com.

Pierce Mattie: In a recent article on Health News Digest you raved about Lumixyl. Would you say that it even works better than Tri-Luma? What do you see as the biggest difference between the two?

Wendy Lewis: Lumixyl is a newly launched peptide based skin brightening/lightening cream that will sell for around $120 US for 1 ounce pump. I love Tri-Luma, which is a prescription drug from Galderma that is modeled from Kligman's Formula and contatins 4% Hydroquinone, retinoid and a mild steroid. Lumixyl is a hydroquinone alternative, and the results of studies conducted at Stanford showed great results, and it is gentle for all skin types. Lumixyl is an OTC product sold through professional channels, whereas Triluma is an Rx and requires a prescription from an MD. I foresee that some dermatologists may put patients on a regimen that contains both of these formulations in some cases. 

Pierce Mattie: There are many aesthetic consultants in Manhattan, Palm Beach and Beverly Hills but no one who executes it as well as you. I have always said it’s your skill to really match up your clients with the right physician. What kind of research goes into your work?

Wendy Lewis: I am flattered Pierce, especially coming from someone who is a guru in the beauty biz. I take my "Knife Coach" brand very seriously and care about my clients and the recommendations I give them. I do a ton of research, attend conferences in the US and Europe, routinely interview and visit doctors in all specialties and read trade journals online so I am up to speed on all the latest developments. I have never altered from my original business model, which differs greatly from other me too "consultants" I have come across; my independence and impartiality is paramount, I treat all clients with total confidentiality, and I am not in anyone's pocket.

When I suggest a product or practitioner for a client, it comes from the heart and from my personal knowledge and expertise. I am doing more phone and webcam consultations today with private clients than face to face, both from an economical point and for convenience for the clients who are busy, active, and international. It's not perfect, but it's pretty close, and I have been at it now for over a dozen years.

Borghese's publicity and social media strategies have really caught my eye lately. As a big fan of their skin care products, I wanted to get the inside scoop from their communications and publicity team on what they have been up to and what products we can expect to see this fall.

Pierce Mattie: Borghese sure has caught on to the develops of social media. You have a Facebook fan page, a twitter profile and a flickr page. How has online communication been working for the Borghese team?

Borghese: The social media has been amazing for us. We are connecting with customers from all over the US. We recently launched our Community Page; our customers are sharing stories with each other on when they first discovered Borghese, their favorite Borghese product, etc.

Pierce Mattie: I actually get announcements when to head over to Lord & Taylor for facials, has Facebook announcements like this in the past helped fill the chairs at the department store?

Borghese: It certainly has helped in the past although social media has made it easier for us. Instead of sending out invitations (whether a bounce-back card or email which may be forgotten) to our events by city and state, we are now able to just list all our events and have our customers see it all at once when they log onto their pages with reminders, a list of who else is going, notifications to their friends, etc.

Pierce Mattie: Borghese is doing something quite special because you are remaining true to your loyalty of retail but actually helping the department stores to garner more consumer demand by stimulating customers with your social media strategies, what other ways have you been exciting the shopper?

Borghese: We try to connect with our customers in different ways; a good example is the shopping event, Shecky’s Girls Night Out. We alternate between having a physical presence at this shopping event and just a gift bag presence. With the physical presence, we get to speak one on one, not just with existing customers but new customers and customers who we may have lost. Our R&D is always working on developing new products which use the latest technologies. Also, we sometimes include an invitation back to our retailers for a complimentary facial or makeover in the event gift bags.

Francis Kirkdjian is known in the fragrance industry for his ability to create and launch memorable perfumes. At only the age of 25, he created his first perfume--"Le Male" for Jean Paul Gaultier. Since then he has crafted recognizable and memorable fragrances for Dior, Christian Lacroix, Escada, Lancome and Lanvin (to name a few!) With his forthcoming launch of his own line in France this September (which I predict will be enormously successful), Francis Kurkdjian graciously took the time for a Q & A with me.

Pierce Mattie: Tell us a little bit about your custom-made business, what is the process for a customer to have a fragrance created for them?

Francis Kurkdjian: The process starts with a telephone rendezvous, which helps me to understand my client, his needs and wishes. Then, there is a face-to-face meeting when I present my first ideas and we smell together some materials and fragrance accords. Three or four weeks later, I present the fragrances I have envisioned for my client. It can take up to six months to finalize and come up with the right fragrance.

Goal: Launch the Kodak Gallery Online

Strategy: Appoint a reality TV star to boost consumer interest by placing them in a room with a bunch of editors

Method Used: Retain Jill Zarin + friends

ROI: Bad behavior in front of the press accompanied by very negative remarks about the Kodak company and its stock value.

We sat in total horror last night watching Jill Zarin’s event for Kodak. As the housewives slung mud and carried on like school girls in the cafeteria, the Bravo team failed to edit out the negative remarks said about Kodak. They came mostly from Ramona Singer. The dialogue mounted as Ramona asked Jill why she would want to associate herself with such an antiquated brand. From a PR standpoint – we felt bad for the team at Kodak. Whatever PR firm put this on must have wanted to die.

It brought up a good question. Are these reality stars appropriate for endorsement deals when communicating messages? If you haven't noticed, none of the housewives except for Gretchen Rossi for Turbo Tax have landed any high paying brand ambassador deals. Though they are good at hawking their own products on the show; jewelry, t-shirts, makeup, etc. Do they understand corporate alliances and the art of crafting the right message?

Where was the PR team who wrangled this mess through the front door to pull the plug and ask the ladies to shut up? Why would you appoint Jill Zarin whose hypocritical, bitter, nasty attitude has done nothing but spew evil for the better part of the season to be a spokesperson for your brand? Who thought that one up? We would love a few names.

The bottom line here PR folks is be very careful who you bring on board to co-communicate your PR strategy. We wish the Kodak team the best in cleaning this mess up.  If they want to borrow a mop, we have several.