Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York

Strike Two for Edelman PR as Their Second Fake Wal-mart Blog is Revealed, via B.L. Ochman's What's Next blog

WallStrip, via Repliqa is a RocketBoom format web-show that profiles a different public company on the stock exchange every day .

Sofia Speaks The face (errrr cartoon illustration) of the Holy Mud Company rants about beauty, fashion, art, pop culture and...Politics!

Next Generation Insights (Young Adult Panel) The panel itself is informative, the technology (video tag) is cool too.

In the past twenty years there has been a change occurring when it comes to Halloween. Back when I was growing up in the 70’s and 80’s, Halloween was a specific children’s holiday. Then in the mid-eighties things began to change and Haunted Houses and adult costume parties began to take off.

Adult costume parties and Haunted Houses continue to increase in popularity every year. What has gone from a one night event, now becomes an entire weekend of parties solely reserved for the young at heart and a month-long event for Haunted Houses and Haunted Hayrides. Even farmers have cashed in by offering haunted labyrinths through a corn maze.

Wearing denim has always been in style, but celebrities can’t seem to get enough of it. Skinny jeans are all the rage, and if you are a celebrity and have all the means to hire a personal trainer, why not show off your body in the hottest brands?

Lindsay Lohan has been known to strut her stuff in J Brand Jeans, as does Angelina Jolie, showing the world that not every mom has to wear “Mom Jeans.”

Kate Moss is the queen of denim and is known to love Bread Denim. Not familiar with Bread Denim? Come get introduced here.

While the guys love to wear denim, they seem to love designing them even more. Justin Timberlake just launched William Rast, a new denim clothing line he co-created with best friend/business partner Trace Ayala. While Tommy Lee’s tattoo’s were the inspiration for People’s Liberation September launch of “PL for TL” collection at Bloomingdale’s.

Do you have a love affair with denim? Which celebrity do you feel has the best taste in denim?

Opulent, sophisticated, romantic, glitzy, glamorous – Art Deco style epitomizes a sense of youthful and lavish aspirations. The style was bold and beautiful with a sense of sophistcated geometric order; it pushed the limits in it's day as ultra modern and today the hot style being very popular with celebrities and jewelry collectors.

It has always been, in terms of design, architecture, fashion, etc., among my favorite periods. That said, I am ecstatic this season’s jewelry and accessory trends seem to be taking cue from the art deco, Jazz Age with daring geometric lines and angular shapes, brilliant opaque stones, and plenty of crystal and black lustery detail.

Even the November cover of W Jewelry features a model with a bold 1920s-esque bob. While platinum blond, she could certainly be the striking, edgier 2006 version of Louise Brooks. The November issue of Elle Accessories featured more razzle dazzle deco details than I’ve seen in quite some time. It made me dizzy. I loved it.

The Pet Care industry has been growing rapidly in recent years. The way we treat our pets is mirrored through celebrities such as Paris Hilton, among others, who clothe and pamper their precious pets. No more sleeping on the floor, it’s a posh doggie bed for Fido.

Pets are beginning to be treated more like people then ever before, bringing true meaning to “Man’s best friend.” It seems as we change over to a more healthy lifestyle with better diet and eating habits, so has the way we feed our pets changed. Simple dog food like Pedigree is no longer the only way, but instead it is being replaced with healthier nutritious brands like Beneful or Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance. My two Parson Russell’s (formerly called Jack Russell’s), it’s the Raw Food Diet.

It doesn't stop at dog food. Whiskers, a holistic pet care retail store makes deliveries of formaldehyde free rawhide chews, toys, bedding and vitamins. That's just the beginning. As you want to look your best each day, you also want to take pride in your pet’s appearance. Trips to Petco for your pet’s grooming is no longer just considered a luxury, but now a lifestyle.

How many of you have purchased something that was a knock off? I admit it, I purchased knock off Chanel sunglasses this past summer from a vendor next to me at a local fair. Imagine my surprise when I came across this blog and the video it shows.

The buying and selling of counterfeit products is costing American businesses $200-$250 Billion dollars a year and the loss of 750,000 jobs according to The U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This is not only the knock off of sunglasses, purses and watches you can find on any New York City street corner, but it also carries over into cosmetics, movies, music and even clothing and footwear like Air Jordans.

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

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

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

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

No, you don't have a case of DEJAVU. Busy day yesterday. Google acquired Jotspot (we love Jotspot and use it) & Conde Nast acquired Reddit because Digg wanted too much from Condé Nast. Whats on sale next month? Will it be Lipstick.com or Coutorture? What are the next hot Web 2.0 venture capital opportunities?

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.

Live Blogging isn’t something new, but it’s something that is beginning to pick up speed. I was a little clueless about this when one of my favorite blog reads, Joy Unexpected, mentioned the possibility of live blogging from an in home demonstration she was going to for an “adult” party plan company several months ago. In my naivety, I thought she meant she was going to make multiple posts throughout the party. Now searching the web, I realize that Live Blogging is something completely different.

Bloggers are the new media; there is no way around it. Companies are beginning to see that there is a goldmine waiting to be dug up in the blogosphere. Most Bloggers are everyday people, not corporate big wigs or media outlets with advertisers in their pocket. Bloggers will tell you how it is, from their eyes, with complete honesty.

Or do they? As blogging has become a way of life and is now etched into our society, marketers are finding that they can reach so many more people through a blog than through a billboard. We all know it's not just about exposure to the masses, but appropriate exposure to your target audience and influencers. Awesome traction means nothing if your not seeing the intended results!

For those reading this at the 2006 ISPA Conference & Expo, be sure to stop in the Professional Development Sessions at 2PM.

INDUSTRY TRENDS - Press Tactics & Topics for 2007 - Magazine Editors & PR Professionals Unite – Rona Berg & Pierce Mattie

I'm currently reading The Ten Faces Of Innovation (Tom Kelly) and thought Trekinetic’s K-2 All Terrain Wheelchair must have come from the cross-pollinator (a face of innovation identified in Kelly's book). It's part dirt bike and wheelchair, Makes me want to take it for a spin. It offers a design and beauty inspired departure from conventional manual wheelchairs.

• Front wheel driven with a singular rear trailing castor for stability
• The seat is of carbon fiber,
• A dynamic braking system for slowing down and steering
• Weather equipment is in the form of an attachable automatic umbrella

Professional trendwatchers are saying this falls under the Beauvalanche trend or could have easily been filed under Innovation Overload as well. Regardless, it does prove that everything can be beautified and reinvented! FYI, Trendwatching.com just released the Transumers briefing which is free to everyone.

• Communication Arts: This year’s interactive design winners were selected by our distinguished jury from a group of entries including Web sites, Kiosks, CD-ROM projects and PDA's.

• Strategic Public Relations: PR Industry: Improve Your Writing -Kevin Dugan

• Salon.com: Fake News, Fake Reporter: Why was a partisan hack, using an alias and with no journalism background, given repeated access to daily White House press briefings? -By Eric Boehlert

• Online Media Daily: Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Puts Edelman Public Relations on probation for creating fake Blogs (flogs) for client Walmart

• Customer Listening Blog: WOMMA Ethical Blogger Contact Guidelines: 10 Principles

You may have noticed more companies that cater to lifestyle industry are listening to customers by repackaging and redesigning ingredients in products as they watch consumer trends change, and I say it’s about time! Grocery store shoppers should be aware that you don’t need to pay higher prices for premium national brand names when they may be identical to the less expensive (generic) store-brand. 20 years ago generic store brands screamed for attention as they were all yellow, void of any branding and made you feel like a loser at the check out counter.

KNOW THE FACTS: If you're considering changing your packaging to make it "prettier" on the store shelf, then get ready for a marketing disaster. Packaging redesign is not a beautification project. It's about:

* Meeting the ever-changing needs of your target consumer group. For example, your target group may be aging. Also, younger and more affluent shoppers are entering the marketplace.

* Reviewing competitive products, new product launches and your category.

* Monitoring shifts in distribution channels, retailer formats and economic conditions.

* Optimizing both the graphic and structural elements of your packaging.

* Revitalizing a brand and product sales, maintaining or growing market reach.

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.

Most Americans think Europeans, especially the Italians "dress up." The way Italians dress is getting more and more relaxed as the years progress, but they definitely look better dressed than most of us stateside. If you've traveled abroad you have noticed how business casual is not in vogue, in fact it's been said that westerners dress like cowboys. Do fashion labels in Italy know how to fit their people better then Americans? Is there a worse feeling in the world than slipping into a new garment in a fitting room and finding it just slightly off? Nothing kills the buzz of finding a fantastic item of clothing that you are just dying to own more than realizing that you are not just any "body" but have unique bumps, curves, and "fiddly" bits!

You see as much as we live in a world of "ready to wear" clothing, few of us have ready to wear bodies. Thus, I have to ask, why is it that we are so reticent to simply have clothing tailored?

We have no problem acknowledging that our personalities are unique, but when it comes to admitting that our bodies don't fit one given standard we get a little upset.

"Why it must be a fault in me that I can't fit into this blouse I picked up off the rack" we tell ourselves. But in truth few of us are ever going to have bodies that fit exactly into a given garment. I faced just that reality today when I realized it was better to spend a little bit more on a few quality pieces of clothing and have them refitted to my own body than to hopelessly buy tons of disposable fashion that only just "kinda" fits.

With the help of the Superfuture forums I found myself an incredible tailor on Mott Street named Ramone who not only helped me fit two dresses and a coat but he helped me refit my attitude as well. And you know what? Those clothes are going to fit me to a "T," making them actually "ready to wear."

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

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

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

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

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

As you can tell from my previous post about blogs becoming the new media, I absolutely believe that this is only the beginning. While companies are finding that sending products to a Blogger to review may increase revenue, they have also found that advertising on them can be just as good.

Any given company may not know how to advertise on a blog, be it not for all the companies popping up to support ads on blogs, and they sure are cashing in. One of the giants would be Google AdWords, which is not only website friendly, but blog friendly as well. Many niche blogs have found there is a great deal of money that can be made when placing Google Adsense (AdWords in action) on their blog, not only because of the advertisements, but because Google Adsense conforms to the content of your blog. The more focused your blog is on a particular subject, the greater likelihood that the ads displayed will fit in with your content and increase your chances of readers clicking. This obviously benefits the businesses placing ads through AdWords, as its target market sees their product or service.

• Edelman Public Relations Disclosure Follies (Raving Lunacy) Edelman to Fund a Second Life Business screams the headline over at Micro Persuasion.

• $6 Billion For MySpace? (The Blog Herald) Rupert Murdock, CEO of News Corp., told Australian investors that MySpace would sell for $6 billion.

• Users Respond To The Dove Evolution Viral I find the user created responses to Dove fascinating, it is as if through retouching themselves, and manipulating their own digital representation, users can reaffirm their feeling in their true body, and experience an apparent sense of liberation through mutating themselves, looking at it and being able to recognise how ridiculous and distorted standards have become.(Marketing Babylon)

• Pepsi goes organic with new product lines at Whole Foods Market (SpinThicket)

• B.L. Ochman Yawns At Big PR Firms Getting Into "Social Media" (B.L. Ochman)

Today's PRO-file is with Lianne Farbes, a former Model, current Makeup Artist and blog owner of The Makeup Girl.

Your bio says you got your start as a model. What made you decide you wanted to be a model and how long did you model for?

Actually I didn’t decide! My mother sent my photos around everywhere. I grew up in St. Louis and I don’t really remember how it happened, but before I knew it I was modeling for Stix Baer and Fuller (now Dillard’s) and Venture (like Target) everyday after school. When I moved to New York for college, someone saw me at a club and I started doing runway shows, and later moved on to catalog work. In all total, I think I modeled for about 12 years.

What was the first job that you finally felt like you were a makeup artist?

Oh that one is easy, when I started working as a custom blender for Prescriptives. I was able to really get the colors perfect and build looks around that.

Who are some of the makeup companies you are worked for?

Clarins, Prescriptives, Princess Marcella Borghese and Lancome.

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."

What is Beauty? Many great visionaries, writers, poets, philosophers, and artists have tried to express in words or in images the meaning of beauty. These thoughts are rich in the wisdom they express and they resonate with each of us differently.

Man makes holy what he believes, as he makes beautiful what he loves. -Ernest Renan

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched ... but are felt in the heart. -Helen Keller

A thing of beauty is a joy forever. -John Keats

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart. -Khalil Gibran

Beauty is not real. Beauty only exists in perception. -Unknown

Working in the beauty industry, our attention can be so focused on making the external beautiful - skin creams, lotions, lipsticks, mascara, hair extensions, serums, masks, gels, and the list can go on and on. These are products that help us feel beautiful, improve our looks, accentuate the positive, and give us confidence.

Women frequently struggle with how to integrate their external and internal beauty, and with all of the mass market imaging and airbrushed celebrity role models, it hasn’t been easy. But the times they are a changin’ and one of the foremost trends today is beauty integration. What does this mean? It means that women are more comfortable than ever with themselves and their looks. It means that when they purchase beauty products, they want them to look, taste, sound, and smell good - and the products must feel great on both the outside and the inside. External beauty has become experiential, it has become customized, it has become inclusive, and it has become multi-dimensional.

Being that as a nation we are about to celebrate Thanksgiving, a truly national holiday, meant for everyone, also integrative and inclusive, I suggest that we be thankful for how the meaning of beauty is growing to include what makes us feel good on the inside. Internal and authentic beauty will always remain rooted in our hearts, in our spirits, and in our ability to share ourselves with others unselfishly. Happy Holidays!

There is a new cult brand that launched about two years ago that has tech gurus and bloggers talking: Nooka. Marshall Sponder of Techcrunch 8 is one of Nooka's many fans.

Last night, my neighbor John Owens asked me to go to The Chelsea Art Museum for the launch of a new collection of timepieces from Nooka. Not expecting to buy anything, I went with an open mind. What did I find? The perfect gift for my best friend Shane Powers.

Shane is the hardest person on the planet to shop for. He never wears the conventional: no watches, jewelry, shirts with patterns, etc. Nooka is the ideal gift for that person who has everything. What are you giving them? A new way to tell time. Could Nooka be the next hot thing? I think so. On the design blog Core 77, Nooka is sponsoring a giveaway of 100 limited edition watches. Nooka watches work by battery operation and are largely made of steel or plastic. Nooka is made in the USA and starts at $175.00. What makes Nooka so special is the way that they tell time, by counting little blocks from left to right.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Like many women, I am a huge fan of shoes. For reasons almost inexplicable to your average man, shoes have a kind of emotional resonance that speaks to us deeply. One shoe that has just this power is the Bernardo "Miami" sandal.

Beloved by the jet set and regular women alike, this revolutionary shoe took the world by storm in the forties and fifties and has remained a style icon through several generations. But, in the seventies and eighties, the brand was nearly destroyed. Thankfully, the license was purchased by Dennis and Lynne Comeau and the line has been restored to its former glory.

Challenge: Gas prices are super high, how do you build brand loyalty when oil prices are ridiculous?

Advice:Take advantage of the high gas prices, bring more value to the customer then your competitor with cravable experiences.

Heightened customer experience is where it at. By now oil hungry customers know the service station is not making a huge profit off the gas. But the consumer still feels the hit to the wallet. A smart business owner will try to offset that "emotional hit" by providing more perceived value. Lowering the price temporarily doesn't build loyalty or lasting value to a car owner it just causes him to bounce all over the place looking for cheap gas. You need to create "Cravable experiences," cravable experiences and convenience will create lasting emotional traction that will help win consumer loyalty.

• Get better premium coffee beans and take beverage service seriously
• Buy nicer, thicker, insulated coffee cups with better more secure lids
• Order Krispy Kreme donuts and but a display up near the cash register.
• Offer organic "fast food" options
• Boast about having the best restrooms in town with the softest tolet paper
• Start a policy that if they have to wait in line for gas more then 3 min, a free beverage is on the house.
• Provide "old-fashioned" white glove (celebrity) service. Checking under the hood, looking at the oil level and tier pressure can all be done in 2-3 min, the time taken to fill a tank of gas. Customers are more likely to re visit your station and trust you if your looking over the car frequently.

If you can apply this concept of cravable experiences to a filling station and see dramatic results, you can most certainly can apply it to your next business promotion and see success. Good luck!

As a woman I can certainly tell you what I think about men’s underwear. I like a man in a fresh pair of clean, crisp white underwear. I prefer boxer briefs over anything else and my man better not be wearing silly underwear or outrageously colored, or else I will have to ask him to put his pants back on. I like to be the one wearing all the colors! I often wondered if guy’s thought of their underwear as an important piece of fashion. I know my very first boyfriend did not, as evidenced by some animal print silk bikini number he used to wear..."eww!" Laughing when you see someone's underwear is a sure fire way to ruin the mood…just FYI.

So in order to find out what men really think, I asked a few fashionable men at Pierce Mattie their thoughts. I was surprised at some of their answers. I've included 3 of the 8 full interviews for your review. Here is a summary of my findings:

• Pierce Mattie men prefer briefs over boxers.

• They wont spend more then $35 for a pair of underwear

• Sex played a role in purchasing first pair of fashionable underwear

• They say marketing and packaging doesn't play a big role in what underwear they choose, however the industry data all says marketing & packaging plays a huge role and influences what girlfriends / boyfriends say they like on a man.

• The office leading brands: Old Navy, 2Xist & Calvin Klein

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.

The December 2006 Trend Briefing is now online, and highlights GENERATION CASH, smart and creative consumers expecting to get paid (by you?) for their output. More on GENERATION CASH's context, examples, impact and opportunities at trendwatching.com

As the Holidays are fast approaching, the one item most girls wish for are diamonds. Diamond jewelers know this and you can see it through the increase in commercials as gift giving season quickly falls upon us.

While most men give the basic colorless diamond (which if my husband is reading, I would not mind at all), why not be unique and set yourself apart from the status quo with a Natural Color Diamond? A Natural Color Diamond is one that contains color and its value is not placed on its carat weight, shape or clarity, but in the richness of its hues. The deeper the color, the rarer the stone. When you give a Natural Color Diamond you are making a statement to your giftee that she herself is a find.

These diamonds have been made popular in recent years by celebrities trying to impress their counterparts. Two that stand out are when Ben Affleck gave Jennifer Lopez a yellow canary diamond and Kobe Bryant gave his wife a purple fancy diamond.

Color in your diamonds can also have a different effect on your giftee (besides complete giddiness) when it comes to the color you chose:

Red, which in a diamond is the rarest of all colors, also conveys passion, optimism, vitality and self confidence.

Blue, second rarest in color, conveys serenity, calming and harmony.

Pink exudes femininity, comfort and relaxation.

Which color best describes the person you intend to give the diamond to? It is something to consider when making such a purchase. To shop for one, be sure to visit Angara.com or visit Fantasy Diamond online or ask your local jeweler to see fantasy diamonds or endless diamonds.

Eco-Fashion is an idea that has always been around, but really begun to take steam in February of 2005 at New York’s Fashion Week when Earth Pledge teamed up with 28 designers to create a special runway event called FutureFashion. This past Spring Oscar de la Renta, Halston and Elisa Jimenez showed off their echo-fashion designs at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) 2006 Conference. The response was overwhelming and the designs were again shown over the summer at the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing, where Stephen Burrows and Heatherette also added dresses to the collection of designs to be shown. With such great designers coming to understand that fashion can be earth friendly and design friendly, it is sure to increase in popularity among the world of fashion designers.

Eco-Fashion is clothing that takes into account the environment, the health of consumers and the working conditions of people in the fashion industry. You may not have know the exact term for this industry, but we have all heard and been up in arms over, the stories of big name celebrities having their clothing made in sweat shops only to sell them for top dollar. Taking into account the working conditions of the people who actually put the products together to get you what you purchase at the store is a part of Eco-Fashion.

We’ve been seeing this going on in the blogosphere for some time now and it’s been slowly making the crossover to the mainstream media. Frito-Lay has enlisted the public to enter into a contest by creating their own ad for Doritos that will air during the Super Bowl, now Dove is asking consumers to create an ad for their Cream Oil Body Wash according to MediaPost. Just like new Bloggers, consumers want to work with big name companies and are willing to hand over their creative talents for free. However, this is now Generation Cash and free is not going to last very long.

While it still may cost big media just as much, if not more, to run a contest and convert the amateur ad into a professional one, the lure of a consumer getting their face on television or their idea on television without monetary compensation, will soon die down as this approach continues to gain popularity and grow. As with most big media companies, if one is doing it, then they all begin to follow suit, except each one tries to outdo the other. The one thing consumer generated content is creating is something I like to call the “consumer-prenuer.” Consumers who use their basic know-how to generate an income through user generated content. While big media has played a role in it’s creation, it is something they will have no control over, as a consumer-prenuer works for themselves and not big media.

I’m sure big media is not losing sleep over the costs of the consumer generated ads in the short term, as long as they are following the latest trends in the advertising world and it is generating a buzz about their products. However, as with all things, novelty wears off, especially when the bottom line involves money.

What is your take on consumer generated media?

We all experienced the rise of “metrosexuality” a couple years ago, marked by an emergence of hair-care, skin-care, and grooming products in the men’s market. Heterosexual men were being told that it was now ok, and expected, to want to look their best and use the types of products they saw on their girlfriend’s bathroom counter. I remember my shock when I was getting a manicure in my hometown and in walked a guy I went to High School with- I hadn’t expected to have a male customer come sit next to me, but then again, it was the trend at the time.

Above: Marco Dapper, December 2006 Most beautiful Man

All trends come to an end, though, and this year we witnessed the apparent “death of metrosexuality.” To compensate for the lack of masculinity in recent years, the new trend is "macho"- men that are proud to say their beauty routine consists of soap, water, and toothpaste only. Advertisers are catching up with the trend as well, with popular brands trying to exude masculinity in their commercials. As just one example, Miller Lite’s “Man Laws” ad campaign this year included guys at a square table discussing the code of what manly men can and cannot do.

Manufacturers have also had to take note, in that packaging has become more and more important because it is usually the consumer’s first contact with a product. If the package hints at any type of femininity, a lot of men will steer clear. On the other hand, if the packaging conveys a sense of strength and masculinity, it will be accepted by a larger amount of the male population. One of our men’s grooming clients, for example, does a great job of providing luxury grooming equipment for men without coming across as “metrosexual.” Hommage’s line of shaving sets will not only help men look and feel their best, but will also ensure an image of masculinity and tradition. Take note ladies- with Christmas and Valentine’s Day on the way, these shave sets are the perfect gift for the "manly" men in your life.

There’s no argument that electronics and technology driven products have always been geared towards men. Commercials, print ads and the whole notion of using a techie product have always revolved around the male perspective. However, the tides are changing and women are quickly becoming more tech savvy and becoming the lead user of media and technology than men of the same age.

The Center for Media Research published today the key findings of a Customer Focus Tech Savvy study done by Vertis Communications. In a nutshell, they found that:

+ 26 percent of Generation Y women (born 1977-1994) plan to purchase a personal desktop computer in the next 12 months, compared to 20 percent of Generation Y men.

+ 25 percent of Generation Y women wish to purchase a cell phone with advanced features in the next year, compared to 14 percent of total adults.

+ 16 percent of women in the same group plan to purchase a digital video recorder within the next year, compared to 11 percent of total adults.

They also found that Generation Y women are leading the way with video game purchases, which I found very interesting. You can read the partial report on The Center for Media Research’s blog or the full report through a pdf they have put together.

We welcome your insight. If you are in the technology industry, what are your thoughts on these findings?

If you are going to a party or out on the town this weekend, of course you want to shine. To show how to add that sizzle to your outfit like the stars do, Dawn Yanek, editor-at-large at Life & Style Weekly magazine shared these tip with us.

Glittery drops:

• 14K white gold diamond earrings (2.02 carats), Endless Diamond Collection, $2,544 at Macy's, Zales and several independent jewelers nationwide.
• Bakers, $14, Bakers stores nationwide
• Express, $22.50, Express stores nationwide. For help finding an Express store, click here.
• Aqua, $28, Bloomingdales stores nationwide, or try Bloomingdales.com

So you made a New Year’s resolution to get in shape and be healthier, but you are overly addicted to grabbing that muffin when you buy your Starbucks coffee. Well no need to worry about your Starbucks addiction any longer, eating their treats such as muffins and doughnuts now became healthier on January 3rd, minus the trans fats.

While those in New York City are aware of the ban on artificial trans fats and their transition out of the food industry, Starbucks has decided to begin removing trans fats from their food menu across the country. It will begin in a few select cities, including New York City, Los Angeles and Philadelphia and then eventually have all 5,600 coffeehouses throughout the U.S. at zero trans fats. Trans fats are believed to be harmful and thought to be the reason cholesterol levels continue to elevate.

So will this draw an even larger appeal to Starbucks in the coffee wars? It seems logical, more so in these first few months of the year when New Year’s fitness goals are in full swing and possibly again when we jump into getting ready for bathing suit season. Certainly it is more alluring to buy a “healthier” muffin with that delicious Starbucks coffee than it is to drink a McDonald’s Green Mountain coffee and an egg mcmuffin.

John gets a car for his 16th birthday, while Vanessa gets a nose job. Sound unrealistic? It’s not and it’s a growing trend among the youth of our country and abroad. Actually, the high holidays are when most of these procedures are done so be on the lookout for very refreshed and well rested teen with effervescent perkiness! Plastic surgery as birthday gifts and graduation presents; what used to be reserved for adults and cosmetic purposes, slowly creeped into the world of those under 18. It began with microdermabrasion and facial peels to help with severe acne, then breast augmentation in respect to reductions or leveling out unevenness, but now has turned into something teens do “just for fun.”

The problem with teens is in how casual they take plastic surgery and do not understand the risks, or are mature enough to handle change or even worse, severe complications. In regards to maturity, most teens want the perfect nose, perfect breasts or to lose the extra pounds simply because they see their Photoshopped idols in a magazine and want to be just like them. Teens see plastic surgery as a quick fix.

The most sought after plastic surgeries for teens are liposuction, breast augmentation and rhinoplasty. The issue young teenage girls don’t take into consideration when opting to have the liposuction or breast implants is the obstacles later in life should they settle down and have a family. Such issues are not being able to breast feed if you have implants and the weight gain when you are pregnant which post-pregnancy may result in dimpling of your skin from liposuction. Should you be a candidate for bariatric surgery in your late teens, getting pregnant means that all of the nutrition goes directly to the baby and little to the mother, which then requires close monitoring and possible health risks.

Education of the risks, both short and long term, as well as the emotional changes are things that need to be discussed at length with a teen wanting to go under the knife.

As we become busier, so comes our need to find time to relax. Relaxing doesn’t necessarily mean vegging out on the couch. More and more people are taking the time from their schedule to indulge in posh spa treatments as the ultimate relaxation indulgence.

Going to the spa is like taking a step into a different world, it’s peaceful, it’s therapeutic, but it also speaks to luxury. As individuals continue to keep spa treatments in demand, more businesses are beginning to capitalize on this.

Hotels and resorts are beginning to offer spa services for their guests making what would’ve been an average hotel stay into an extraordinary one. One such resort that comes to mind that is local to me is Woodloch Pines Resorts. They recently opened their Lodge at Woodloch this past June, which is a Destination Spa that from its beginning stages, demanded high quality professionals for the ultimate in service. Woodloch wanted to stand out among its competitors and become a leader in the industry. They accomplished just that by being listed on the Forbes Top Most Luxurious Spa’s list, as well as being listed among the 100 Best Spa’s in the World by Insider’s Guide. Spa’s like The Lodge at Woodloch are thriving due to the growing demand for pampering in luxury and the overall concept of health and wellness.

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.

Here is your top 10 color predictions from Anne Telford from New York Fashion Week. Heidi Klum says, that in fashion "one day you're in, the next day you're out" but when it comes to colors- their popularity shifts with the cultural winds. Colors come into prominence from decade to decade driven by influence ranging from the state of economy to world politics and cultural phenomena- these factors examined by the color experts, and the prism through which they are viewed is the world of fashion.

New York fashion designers are flourishing in a season of new beginnings, using surprising neutrals with innovative splashes of corals, yellows and purples to create a spring in bloom. Tarragon is the freshly cut stem to the blossoming shades of sweet Strawberry Ice, warm Golden Apricot and violet-infused Hollyhock. Café Crème is the rich, creamy contrast to the serenity of calming Sky Blue or the deliciousness of refreshing Grapemist.

The yellow glow of gleaming Green Sheen and the blushing beauty of diaphanous Silver Peony reflect the infusion of life brought by spring. While cool Frost Gray was an important presence in fall of '06, the newest neutral for spring is found in glimmering Opal Gray, providing the background to spring's multifaceted, complex brights that can make even the most basic silhouette come alive.

PANTONE 12-1206 Silver Peony C:3 M:13 Y:15 K:0	PANTONE 13-0648 Green Sheen C:13 M:5 Y:72 K:0
PANTONE 15-0326 Tarragon C:37 M:7 Y:60 K:0	PANTONE 16-3929 Grapemist C:57 M:28 Y:1 K:0
PANTONE Opal Gray C:34 M:21 Y:28 K:0	PANTONE 16 -1220 Café Crème C:19 M:38 Y:45 K:5
PANTONE 14-1041 Golden Apricot C:8 M:26 Y:70 K:0	PANTONE 16 -1720 Strawberry Ice C:1 M:56 Y:29 K:0
PANTONE 19-2924 Hollyhock C:55 M:97 Y:14 K:3	PANTONE 14-4318 Sky Blue C:45 M:9 Y:8 K:0

For more informations register at www.pantone.com or visit the fashion trendsetter color trends section.

Last year we saw many brands launching anti-wrinkle campaigns and going after the baby boomer market. Why not? After all, they were considered the largest demographic out there. However, we are only a month into 2007 and the tides are starting to change. Brands are beginning to turn their interests to the children of baby boomers and finding that they have money to spend with the potential for long-term brand loyalty.

This younger generation learned well from their mothers, I should know, my mother is 55 and I carefully paid attention to all of the brands she purchased throughout the years. I watched at how well my mother took care of her skin and in turn, I followed suit becoming a loyal customer to many brands. This is just what the beauty industry is betting on resonating throughout the 17-35 year old demographic.

Super Bowl XLI takes place this Sunday when the Indianapolis Colts take on the Chicago Bears, but the spending and the hype have already begun. With 90 million people predicted to be watching the big game, half of which are women, electronic stores, grocery stores and yes, even florists and jewelry stores can expect an increase in sales this weekend.

According to Visa, sponsor of the NFL since 1995, florists and jewelry stores alone saw a 30% increase in spending on Super Bowl weekend in both 2005 and 2006. Visa suspects it is either consumers getting a jump-start on Valentine’s Day gifts or out of guilt from all of the spending on electronics and food for the big game. If this is the case, honey I would like those diamond earrings I have been eyeing up and I like Tulips not Roses.

Commercials this year continue to increase in popularity, especially with You Tube offering continued viral marketing and buzz by hosting SUPERVOTE. Not only will those watching the game be able to talk around the water cooler about which commercials they loved or hated, but they will be able to vote at You Tube giving advertisers some tangible data as to who was successful with their advertising campaign. Sports blogs and advertising blogs are also sure to keep the buzz going about which brand was most successful with their commercial. It will be interesting to see if anyone is collecting data on how much a brand’s sales increase due to all of the above.

In the age of Tivo, marketers have had to think long and hard about unique ways to deliver their brand’s message to consumers. Although Tivo did come up with a way to annoy its users by adding fast forward banner ads when they try to skip commercials, they can still be skipped nonetheless and the marketer's message lost. However, PumpMedia, an outdoor media company, has found a way to reach a captive audience: at the gas pump.

This idea of marketing at the gas pump has been creeping in slowly, as it is something I have seen here at my local Sheetz. While I pump my gas, a no-sound commercial plays showing me all of the sandwich and coffee selections in their mini-mart, there is even a screen where a customer can order one of those sandwiches right at the pump and have it ready and waiting for them when they go inside to the counter.

In a time when most gas stations have taken the “hold pump” mechanism off its pump handles, forcing you to remain at your vehicle while pumping gas, there is nothing much to do besides watching how much the pump will drain you for this time. PumpMedia found this a prime opportunity to reach consumers at a time when they are bored doing the mundane. PumpMedia says it will offer entertaining and informative content while refueling and also offer a new advertising medium for the auto industry. While it is unclear just which types of brands will take advantage of this new way to market to consumers, I’m sure it can be safely assumed it will involve auto makers.

What do you think of this new way to market to consumers?

L'Oreal is looking to add ayurvedic beauty products to its current skin care line up through acquisition of an Indian ayurvedic brand. Although L'Oreal hasn't identified a brand that it wishes to acquire just yet, it has been aggressively pursuing the ayurvedic market in India to tap into consumer's growing desire to use exotic beauty products. It was also reported last November that L'Oreal expressed interest in acquiring Ayusoft, ayurvedic software that they approached the CDAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) for customization and further product development of.

As I mentioned yesterday another French company, L'Artisan Parfumeur, will be launching Jatamansi next month. Jatamansi is their first venture into the skin care market and is one that is based on the Himalayan plant used in Ayurveda, an alternative medicine practiced in India. Beauty and personal care products that are ayurvedic are organic and promote healing and health without the use of synthetics or chemicals.

As was the case with high-end retailer, Lord & Taylor, JC Penney is giving itself a makeover. The difference between the two is that Lord & Taylor is rebranding from head to toe, which includes physical face lifts to their stores, as well as their merchandise and marketing campaigns, and JC Penney is simply shifting their focus to the middle-income consumer through a new set of marketing campaigns.

JC Penney’s new slogan is “Every Day Matters” and while its rebranding shifts their focus to a new demographic of consumer, they will remain a promotional department store with weekly circulars and direct mailings, something that has proven successful for the store into the present.

When consumer confidence seems lacking, brands are trying to recapture that essence of the excitement of shopping within their stores by listening to what their customers want and desire. JC Penney no longer wants to be looked at as the dated and drab department store, but wants to establish an emotional repore with its consumers and become a relevant part of their lives.

Fashion:

+ I am Fashion gives her review of the fashion that graced the Grammy Awards.

+ In My Bag gives her insight on some of the handbags in Zac Posen’s Fall 2007 line up.

+ Styleology 101 gives you some ideas on what products will brighten up your Spring this year.

Beauty:

+ The Organic Beauty Expert reviews Mixed Chicks Shampoo.

+ Scentzilla interviews David H. Pybus, author of "The Chemistry of Fragrances."

+ The Makeup Bag discusses the MAC makeup trends seen on the runway during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

Erbaviva first began its organic line of products to focus on babies and with its success, developed a line for mom’s to be. As success of their products has grown, they have added Aromatherapy and Bath & Body lines that have been sold in high-end boutiques and spas. Now Erbaviva has created their USDA Certified Organic line of products called Erbaorganics and have partnered with Target to sell the brand.

In the realm of beauty where there is no FDA regulation and in an industry that relies upon policing itself, Erbaorganics gaining the USDA’s seal of Certified Organic, means that they are held up to the same quality and standards as organic food. Certified Organic means that you can be assured that there it is chemical-free and hormone-free and that it is organic-plant based. Something I can assure you many mothers think about when applying products to their new baby’s skin. Besides becoming one of the first beauty brands to be USDA certified, it is also one of the first brands to be marketed to the masses through such a retailer like Target. Mass distribution also means a lower price point for consumers and those entering the doors of Target don’t expect to pay a lot for their beauty products, yet demand quality at the same time.

The collaboration of Erbaviva LLC and Target seems to be remaining with the focus of branding that Target has made for itself over the last several years. First adding top household designers to bring a high-end look to their housewares and home decor at a fraction of the price, then adding fashion designers like Liz Lange and Isaac Mizrahi, beauty products by Sonia Kashuk and now Erbaorganics, it seems that Target is setting a standard that other mass retailers fall far behind on.

I am a big fan of Target, so the addition of a high quality totally organic product line for mothers to be like myself and my soon to be newborn son, are a wonderfully appropriate fit.

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.

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

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

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

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.

As a coffee addict myself (I prefer mine iced) it’s been interesting to watch the coffee wars brewing (pun intended). Fast food restaurants have geared up to compete with the likes of Starbucks and everyone seems to “Run on Dunkin.” There are even coffee connoisseur websites, such as Coffee Geek, and National Geographic is even getting in on this highly popular niche. We have become so obsessed with the brew that there are even people willing to pay $1000 a kilo for Luwak Coffee, which is the eccentric yet deemed ultra luxe brand of coffee that is obtained through the excrement of the luwak (a cousin of the mongoose).

National Geographic’s section of its website dedicated to java breaks down the origin and timeline of coffee, maps of where it is grown, definition of the various roasts and even offers a coffee forum where coffee lovers across the globe can discuss their favorite coffee topics. Their roast section mentions that most American mass-market roasters tend to offer more Light roasts over any other blend. However, as we’ve been seeing in the coffee wars, most places like Starbucks and even Burger King are making the stronger blends more popular with consumers, which of course results in more health issues such as heartburn and upset stomachs than coffee consumption of the past.

This has prompted Folgers to try taking coffee in a completely different direction and capitalizing on a niche no one else is going after: stomach-friendly coffee. This new public relations driven endeavor tends to be leaning towards the baby boomers, still the largest demographic of consumers, who love to drink their coffee, but can no longer stomach the aches and pains that go with it. Folger’s new product called Simply Smooth is the result of a roasting process that can reduce the level of irritants and bitterness in the coffee, but still maintain the taste and caffeine.

Most industry professionals know that ad placement for publication in September beauty magazines, is the most crucial time for your brand to be seen. As online media continues to strengthen, now is a good time to come to understand how you can maximize your brand’s exposure through Blogging, viral marketing and digital magazines dually with ad campaigns in the leading print magazines. Print magazines and online media sell a relationship with its readers, as well as, an opportunity to reach them in a time of intense focus and receptivity.

Here are some Beauty PR tips that may help your brand stand out:

Understand your competition:
How you can understand your competition begins in their ad campaigns. What you can learn:

+ What magazines/blogs they are pitching their products to.
+ Which demographic they are going after and if it changes depending on the magazine/blog they advertise in.
+ Are they focusing on color, scent, packaging or trendiness?
+ What is their approach? Which key words are they using to get the readers attention?

Learning these key points helps you to decide how to better your current/future campaign with a product that may be along the same lines as your competitor or how to present the same type of product effectively in a different way.

Know The Trends:
Follow the editorial calendars of the books that you want your product or service to appear. The editorial calendars are often featured on magazine Web sites. These give advertisers, readers and writers a heads up regarding planned issue themes.

Even if your product wasn’t originally intended for a particular season or holiday, figure out how you can spin it to make it fit. Study your chosen publications, and determine the types of stories each of them seems to favor—then use them as starting points for your own ideas. Look for patterns, trends, and points of discussion. Pinpoint the best editor for your idea. If need be, call the magazine and ask which editor is best to contact, and how he or she prefers submissions (via e-mail or conventional mail).

Creating a relationship with beauty editors is also key and helps in knowing what beauty editors are looking for months ahead of time. It helps you to prepare your story line and potentially get your product before the eyes of your target audience.

Green Is Good:
One way a non-green brand can become part of the green trend is to donate to a green charity. Brands can do this by becoming a sponsor for a green event, such as Earth Day, or hold a promotion with a percentage of the proceeds going to a particular green charity. Don’t count yourself out simply because you are not organic.

Some campaigns to learn from:
+ Lancome & Carbonfund.org
+ Diesel & StopGlobalWarming.org
+ Bank of America & it's green initiative

Pro-age vs. Antiwrinkle:
If you have anti-wrinkle products, give them a makeover with new wording or new packaging. Breathe new life into them so that they lose the negative connotation that “anti” brings about. Use creativity in the words used on the products and in ad campaigns to promote a more positive feeling about aging when using your product.

Embrace The Concept of Blogging:
Stand out and begin a blog surrounding your brand. When Blogging remember to:

+ Come across as a source of information.
+ Be a problem solver.
+ Remember that Blogging is more about your customers needs than your own.
+ Build relationships with your readers.
+ Allow for interaction between your readers and your brand—keep your comments section open, but moderated to weed through the spam.
+ Be patient. Building readership and trust takes time. The average time for a blog to build a consistent loyal readership is 6 months.
+ Show your brand’s personality. No one wants to read a cold lifeless blog. They want warmth and a personal connection to the brand.

Here's the top five fashion trends for Fall/Winter 2007-2008

1. The 80’s influence remains intact: vibrant colors, zippers, off the shoulder sweaters. However greys and blacks still remain the autumn/winter classic.

2. Out with the clothes that hide your body and in with more silhouette friendly pieces.

3. Chunky sweaters with geometric shapes and sporty stripes.

4. Toned down platform shoes creating a modern day pump.

5. Embellishments with sequins and beading will be seen on accessories and clothing alike.

Is there a Fall fashion trend that you're looking forward to?

You've already created a Facebook sponsored group for your brand and your MySpace friend list reads like the white pages, so here's one new thing to add to your social media PR must-do list: Create a brand-specific social network on Ning.

Ning is a site where instead of just creating a page, you create a community with features like discussions, forums, and messaging. Instead of joining a myspace, you’re a creating a YOU-space, your own personal social network where brand-fans can upload their own content, blogs, videos, and pictures.

“We wanted to enable people to create their own worlds, not just join someone else's,” explains Ning founder and internet pioneer Marc Andreessen (he invented the first web browser) on his blog, blog.pmarca.com. “The more people learn what social networking makes possible, the more interested they will be in creating their own worlds, their own social networks, around every conceivable need and niche: their families, friends, cities, companies, start-ups, classes, hobbies, interests, political candidates, nonprofit activities, and so on.”

Another plus in Ning's favor is the ability for you to add RSS feeds so that you can update members of your network on any new content. Signing up is free and takes little time depending on whether you choose to use Ning’s templates or create your own fancier html code. You can also choose whether to make your network public or private.

According to Andreessen, 71,531 social networks have already been created with networks created by professionals and educators to MTV celebrity Kristin Cavallari, and the numbers keep on growing.

When it comes to creating truly customized social marketing, Ning's the thing.

Photo Credit: learnscience.net

Dr. Georg Kolb gave Brian Pittman of The Daily Dog a really great interview on what he foresees as the public relations trends we’ll be seeing come 2008. Most of these trends are emerging now while others are trends we began to see take shape last year and have picked up speed as the role of PR has evolved over the year.

PR Trends for 2008 (as forecasted by Dr. Georg Kolb):

+ Fragmentation in the media will require PR to be more focused
+ Publicists will have to do more relationship building than pushing pitches
+ Addressing everyone on distribution lists in the same way will be ineffective
+ Discovery of and involvement in more Web 2.0 will be key
+ Word of Mouth will continue its importance and should be nurtured and supported
+ Corporate values & corporate behavior will need to be cohesive and clear
+ The value of PR will become more measurable

The fragmentation in the media has really taken shape and become more distinguishable as blogs, social media and the mass amounts of television stations have grown exponentially. Things are no longer condensed in neat little areas of media; it’s spread out sometimes creating a lot of scrambling and confusion. Know which portions of these fragments are the most beneficial to your company and stick to those.

For many publicists it’s always about the pitch and pushing the story out there. Just from a Blogging standpoint, I am bombarded with pitches all day long. The publicists who actually invest time into building relationships instead of sending out a blast of emails hoping that they’ll stick somewhere, are the ones who remain the top on my list and receive the most consideration. As I write this, I can think of only 5 publicists out of about 100 I hear from daily who do this. Don’t focus on the “right now” that many publicists fall pitfall to, focus on the many benefits a relationship can bring you time and again in the bigger scope of things. You’ll have to do more follow ups and the more personalized emails will take up more of your time, but in the long run it will reap the greatest rewards.

Whether you are a makeup artist, photographer, painter or designer, an online portfolio community has just launched to give you a space on the web to not only set up a clean, professional and rich online portfolio of your images, but to also give your work more exposure and a great way to network with like-minded industry talent. Dripbook.com came out of private beta yesterday to showcase all it has to offer to the world of visual arts.

Dripbook is equally appropriate to the fashion scene as the fine art scene to the underground youth art scene. Painters, photographers, stylists and illustrators are equally represented. Dripbook also serves as a survey of the visual arts world, allowing users and viewers to find great artwork around the world.

Alex Wright, a New York based music photographer, is the creative mind behind Dripbook. In designing Dripbook, he took on the challenge of creating a place where artists can upload and organize their art into books, no matter the genre (even if they cover various genres) without the hassle of understanding code and plugins that go along with designing a website for yourself. The interface is easy for both the user and viewer, in that the entire site is HTML and doesn’t require anything extra for the portfolio to be seen. All users have a splash page, a profile, their book page and a place where other artists can comment on their work. The site is very clean, well laid out and easy to navigate.

I believe we’ll start seeing more niche social networks such as Dripbook, IQONS and PRVoices, as more industry professionals look for a way to see and be seen by other professionals in their industry, while avoiding the clutter of networks such as MySpace and Facebook.

See all that Dripbook has to offer at: www.dripbook.com

* Photo Credit: Alex Wright Photography via Dripbook

Being the social media junkie that I am, I couldn't help but want to add my 2 cents to a recent inquiry from Ragan Communications writer Chris Kent regarding Twitter and whether it was a mindless time waster or an effective tool. I think we all know what my answer to that is (see my interview with Zappos' CEO if you doubt me) and from the many journalists, editors, PR people and bloggers that I interact with daily on Twitter, I can safely say I am not alone.

While Twitter is still experiencing a lot of growing pains, it is the epitome of what the best of PR and social media looks like together: self branding, relationship building, in depth communication and interaction.

So check out what what others had to say in the Ragan article, I think you'll find it a great read.

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.

Tags: Fashion PR

Our Favorite Fashion Pubs Double as Reality TV Stars

According to the weather related definitions of the seasons, spring is the season for newness. I would argue that fall is the real season of newness with everyone looking to make a fresh start.  School starts, fall fashion reigns, Broadway shows debut and perhaps most exciting of all—television begins its season.  

I must admit, I am the most excited about Vinny Chase coming back into my life at last with the return of Entourage this season BUT there are some newbies that have caught my attention as well.  According to our Haute List - 90210 and Kath and Kim will be the new shows to watch out for.

As PR professionals we should be looking out for a new editorially affiliated reality show.  Stylista, referred to as Devil Wears Prada in a reality show, will be hitting the airwaves for the first time this October. The show features “Andy” wannabees competing under the scrutiny of Elle’s fashion director Anne Slowey to become a junior editor at the magazine.

Who said the metrosexual trend was dead? While the word metrosexual may be a tired and worn out term, the evolution of men using cosmetics and skin care more openly definitely is not going unnoticed by many of the leading beauty brands. Over the weekend, YSL re-launched their widely popular Touche Eclat and set their eyes squarely focused on our male counterparts. Touche Eclat, typically a cosmetic staple for women, will be fragrance-free, available in only one shade and designed for all skin types. Selfridges & Co., in the UK, will be the exclusive retailer for the product. We guarantee it will become a best seller (and rather quickly!)

Men utilizing makeup as a skin enhancer is catching on and beauty brands are cashing in. It'll only be a matter of time before the man in your life has a makeup bag of his own. And why not? Diminishing those dark circles under his eyes, hiding the crow's feet and concealing blemishes shouldn't be a beauty secret only women can keep in their arsenal.

What your viewpoint? Trend or something that will continue to catch on?

*Photo Credit: Selfridges & Co; Pictured: Stuart Pilkington of Big Brother 9

Branding Strategies Appeal to the Everyday Woman

As we all know, the aging baby boomers make up the majority of the consumer market.  Therefore it should be no surprise that the media is chock full of messages positioned to the older or, more generally speaking, the “everyday woman.”  That's why CoverGirl will be featuring comedienne Ellen DeGeneres, 49 and very “nontraditional” beauty, in an ad campaign starting January 2009.

Editor in Chief of More, a magazine for women over 40, Leslie Jane Seymour, agrees with this new positioning strategy when she told New York Times, "We don't need to see another ingénue rocking to the top--we're getting worn out by the Lindsays and Britneys, and I think we need a break."

She continued, "[Women] just want to be the best that they can be for the stage of life that they are in."

Ellen joins Queen Latifah and recent America's Next Top (Plus Size) Model Whitney Thompson in a line up of CoverGirl's quite different from the Nikki Taylor's of the 90s.  These women each have characteristics more representative of the actual psycho/demographics of American women, excluding income of course.

That's where Dove takes a further step by featuring no-name women of all shapes, sizes, races and ages in their most recent integrated branding campaign.  Dove skips the photoshopping portion of the editing process in ads and has a slew of events, charities, and messages etc. that affirm their “Campaign for Real Beauty.”

Dove, deliberately using the word "campaign" here, suggests that Dove is the initiator of this new found empowerment amongst women.  Is it the companies and actresses who began this “everyday woman” revolution of sorts? Or did the disenfranchised women unite first causing marketers and publicists to scramble to take advantage of this sentiment? Which came first?

The first suggestion, that this is a branding-spawned positioning effort, could mean that once the media has seen enough of this strategy, unachievable ideas of beauty might resurface in an attempt to stand out amongst the soon-to-be prolific messages of "real" beauty.  The second suggests that women are accepting the "skin they’re in" and changing the idea of beauty forever.

Any bride-to-be knows that their wedding gown is a piece of art that makes for the centerpiece for their big day. There are so many things to consider when choosing the perfect gown to reflect your personality and that to me lies within the details. Pierce Mattie recently attended the WeddingChannel Couture Show at the InterContinental-Barclay Hotel which showcased Spring 2009 bridal gowns from some of the top brands in the industry. Simone Carvalli was one such brand in attendance and Pierce was able to capture the intricate details of her couture wedding gowns up close and personal.

Read the complete post on our Fashion PR blog The Fashion Rag.

What does Halloween mean to the population over the age of 12? Trying not to eat all the candy you bought for trick-or-treaters for one.  Maybe it’s trying to figure out what your children are going to be for Halloween: does your daughter really have to be the fairy princess that wears such a specific tiara?  Or maybe you actually dress up yourself on the occasion and make it an excuse to party and have a good time.  On any other Halloween I might say the last answer was the least evident—but this year, I think people will use a Halloween character as a way to escape the economic woes that are sweeping the nation right now.

Pierce Mattie recently attended the WeddingChannel Wedding Couture show back in October where he saw some ordinary wedding products dressed up to be amazing show pieces thanks to the crystals from Swarovski Crystal Lized.

Ordinary petite fours and truffles can be extraordinary when befitted with sparkling Swarovski crystals, which makes it a doubly nice treat for your guests!

Continue reading this post on our Jewelry PR blog

With more people looking to subscribe to their favorite magazines digitally, we began to see a decline in print magazine subscriptions thus slagging advertising sales which always means difficult times for the publishing industry. Add to that stew a lot of economic uncertainty and consumers cutting back and finding more frugal ways to get their fashion and beauty news--and you will find print publications folding at lightening speed. And it seems that in the last few months, that list of folded publications just keeps getting longer and longer. DNR, a Conde Nast publication, can now be added to that list. DNR is a men's fashion magazine that has been around for well over 100 years.

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.

Celebrity endorsements are a staple in public relations and advertising. We all know the power of a celebrity. It’s simple, celebrity sells (even the Chicago Tribune knows this.) Consumers pay attention to celebrities because they are attracted to the familiar – even in a recession. Brands are always looking for a spokesperson to add to the credibility of a product. I wonder how many brands have considered acquiring the President of the United States of America?

As President-elect, Barack Obama, fought to keep his Blackberry before he assumes the position of our Commander-in-Chief on January 20, 2009. The world knows how much Barack Obama loves his phone…we’ve all seen the pictures of it glued to his waste or affixed to his hands. Some stars fit a product so perfectly, that they became synonymous with the brands they were paid to promote – think Brooke Shields and her Calvin's to James Earl Jones for Verizon or Bill Cosby and Jello to Michael Jordan and Nike. I wonder what the staying power that the President will have on Blackberry will be...?

As her husband assumes command of our great country today, so does Michelle Obama accept her own place in history. Admired for her strength and will, adored for her poise and grace, and celebrated for her elegance and style, Michelle Obama is on the brink of becoming the most influential First Lady since Jackie O.

Now there is no doubt in my mind that Nancy Reagan had a great classic taste and aesthetic. Although conservative, she was able to still dazzle us in tasteful Chanel and YSL looks. Michelle Obama, in stark contrast, has become a daring fashion icon. Bold, and unafraid of taking a risk, she has become the Washington, D.C. equivalent of Carrie Bradshaw, and her time in the White House is expected to be as influential (and closely watched) as an episode of Sex and The City.

Consumer engagement via crowdsourcing is the new black. Back when Mazda leveraged Facebook in 2007 to engage car enthusiasts to design their next concept car, it was fairly unique but without much fanfare only gaining 300 entries. However this past year when BMW held a "graffitti design contest" via Facebook, there were over 6000 entries merely seven days into it. What does this tell us? "If they design it, they will come." Consumers love to be engaged. They love to have their creativity utilized and they like to feel like they are a part of something. Is this something new? Not really. But social media has thrown it into the spotlight simply validating something we already knew.

I have been a romance novel fan for quite some time. I continue to always hear rumors that the publishing world is going soft, but was interested to recently learn that Harlequin Enterprises reported a 32% increase in their sales from the year prior. They crank out over 1,200 titles with 130 million in print. That is a little less than half the US population owning and reading one romance novel a year.

I am often asked as a Lifestyle PR firm owner, with a focus on beauty and fashion, why I read romance. It’s not "chic-lit" per say since I am not a chic, rather I tend to read historical romances because of their prose, backdrop setting and the courtship is quite enjoyable. I often find myself drawn to a few key authors; Loretta Chase, Susan Johnson, and Mary Balogh. But why do I like them so much? They don’t involve politics and the economy for one. And they always have a happy ending. I guess I don’t mind the formula and find the routine rather comforting.

So if you are a little stressed this week may I suggest you pick up a romance novel? If you have a favorite book or writer that is helping you take your mind off the world’s stressors, I would love to know what it is, please shoot me an email.

As mentioned in our What's Hot What's Not 2010 list, humans are out and vampires are in. It's no more evident than the excitement and buzz around New Moon (coming out in 11 days to be exact, but who's counting?) and the TV series V. So just why are ordinary humans on the outs and what does this say about the state of our society?

As mentioned in our What's Hot What's Not 2010 list, humans are out and vampires are in. It's no more evident than the excitement and buzz around New Moon (coming out in 11 days to be exact, but who's counting?) and the TV series V. So just why are ordinary humans on the outs and what does this say about the state of our society?

At Pierce Mattie PR we publish a Trend Forecast showcasing the trends to come for the next 24 months. Top editors know the newest tool to revolutionize the beauty, fashion and wellness industries isn’t another funky handbag or a psychedelic nail polish, but the Trend Forecast for 2010/2011 from Pierce Mattie Public Relations.

This year as in years past, the Pierce Mattie team set out to find experts that are the best of the best in their respective industries. What has resulted is a compilation of the most well-respected names in the industry contributing comprehensive articles for a trend forecast that gives insight not only on what is hot in beauty, fashion, jewelry and fitness for 2010 into 2011, but where the industry has been and why these trends are occurring.  

Targeted to editors of all mediums, the Trend Forecast is a reference tool to help eliminate the guesswork of industry trends with a concise report and those experts easily accessible for further commentary.  A free copy of the Trend Forecast 2010/2011 is available for trade, consumer and online editors, please contact Shannon Nelson, Corporate Communication Director of Pierce Mattie PR for complete details: 646-688-3167 or Shannon@PierceMattie.com

Our authors & topics for Volume III include:

Hair & Skin Care

The Changing Landscape of Hair
by Nick Arrojo

Trends in Dermatology
by Dr. Tanya Kormeili, MD

Natural Beauty

Parabens and Preservatives
by Paula Begoun

Natural Product Formulation Trends
by Warren Becker

The Nature of Beautiful Skin
by Melissa Jochim

Fragrance

Home Fragrance Trends
by Anne-Marie Faiola

Fragrance Now
by Pierre-Constantin Gueros and Kevin J. Verspoor

Cosmetics and Packaging

The Power of Makeup: Runway to Reality
by Rebecca Williams

Future Trends for Mineral Makeup
by Diane Ranger

Game Changers of the Cosmetic Industry
by Ruth Winter, MS

Packaging and Branding Trends
by Kelly Kovack and Larry Paul

Fashion and Jewelry

Handbag Trends
by Ben Harnett

Women’s Fashion: Life Dictates Style
by Jean Voute Pratt

Luxury Fashion Industry Trends
by Jason Jobson

Jewelry Trends
by Katrina Kelly

Gemological Laboratories Trends
by Jerry Ehrenwald

Fitness

Fitness Industry Trend Report
by Kimberly and Katherine Corp

With traditional print media going the way of the dinosaurs, advertisers have been forced to adapt accordingly. With magazine subscriptions and newspaper circulation numbers steadily declining, advertisers are turning to interactive digital channels to raise brand awareness and connect with consumers.

Within the fashion industry, social media has been the next great frontier with brands, particularly luxury brands, utilizing outlets like Twitter and Facebook as a way to connect with their customer base. Once adverse to online endeavors, fearing that Internet exposure would cheapen their storied reputation, luxury brands are now eagerly embracing the digital sphere...possibly because they no longer have a choice.

Are you ready for the best summer ever? The trend forecasting team at Pierce Mattie has put together a list of this summer’s must have products, movies and books to help you weather the heat. Whether it’s slathering on the latest SPF at Flying Point Beach or sporting a new piece of jewelry, these trends are sure to carry you through the season. 

Sizzling Beauty Picks

• Intellishade SPF 45 from Revision Skincare: This summer, beauty mavens crave multi-tasking products and Intellishade SPF 45 delivers, keeping you youthful, moisturized and protected from the sun’s harmful rays, all while blending naturally with any skin tone. Gone are the days of embarrassing orange lines and paler than a porcelain doll skin tone.  Available at RevisionSkincare.com
• Humidity Blocker from JOICO: While the textured, beach tousled hair look may be in this Summer, frizzy never is. JOICO’s Humidity Blocker imparts an invisible protective barrier around each hair strand, providing ultimate humidity protection by locking out style-robbing moisture all day. Available at JOICO.com
• Jelly nail polish collection from butter LONDON: Aimed to complement both the intense color trend and neutral look of the Spring/Summer 2010 runways, Jelly offers three sumptuous sherbet shades, Twee, Stroppy and Chuffed, that give sheer coverage that deepens with each coat.  Available at butterLONDON.com

Accessorize in Style

• Rotenier Signature Seville Cuff Pendant by Diamond Ideals: “Hardware” is all the rage and this Seville Cuff is one part futuristic, one part traditional, making it the perfect accessory to complement your summer wardrobe. Available at DiamondIdeals.com
• The Trophy Satchel from Hayden-Harnett:  This leather satchel offers plenty of space with just the right amount of shine, perfect pockets inside and out, great leather appliqué detailing and a thickly woven shoulder strap. This handbag is durable enough to last for years and complements any wardrobe. Available at HaydenHarnett.com

• The Facelift Letdown: When Results Don’t Meet Expectations by Sam T. Hamra, M.D.:  Planning a facelift? Don’t leave home without this must-have handbook from board-certified plastic surgeon and facelift pioneer Dr. Sam T. Hamra. Providing solutions for achieving the optimal facelift and how to avoid costly, regrettable surgery, The Facelift Letdown outlines the signs of unwanted results, interviewing your surgeon, determining the best procedure, regaining the facial harmony of your youth and retaining it long after your surgery.
• How I Wore My Makeup Today: Up-Close Inspiration and Tips From the Online Fashion Community by Korero Books: How-to’s have become big in the blogosphere with many beauty and fashion blogs showing their readers “how to get the look.” How I Wore My Makeup Today carries this trend into the book world, taking a do-it-yourself approach to beauty that any woman can appreciate.
• Beautiful Skin Revealed by Dr. Paul Friedman explains the cause of common skin conditions including acne, age spots, wrinkles, leg veins, birthmarks, scarring, stretch marks and skin cancer, through the personal stories of real woman.  Dr. Friedman’s patients provide emotional accounts of how their conditions and treatments profoundly affected their lives.  Useful tips and information from Dr. Friedman supplement patient testimonials, helping readers understand which procedures are available as well as giving detailed overviews of what is involved with each treatment. An essential guide to keeping your skin healthy as well as the advances that are being made.

Indulge at the Movies 

• Sex & the City 2: Kicking off the summer movie season, Sex & the City gives its loyalists a sequel. While the plot is still the source of much speculation, one thing that is 100% guaranteed is that fashion will be the most talked about aspect of the film. Coming to theaters May 27, 2010.
• The Twilight Saga—Eclipse: The third installment to the love triangle in Forks, Washington continues this summer and fans didn’t have to wait long after New Moon’s cliffhanger ending. The question is will Eclipse satiate fans’ desires? Coming to theaters June 30, 2010. 
• Beastly:  The new break-out star of the summer will be Alex Pettyfer (move over Zac Efron!) Pettyfer will be starring alongside Vanessa Hudgens and Mary-Kate Olsen in this fantasy drama that is the modern day version of Beauty and the Beast. Coming to theaters July 2010

Follow That Blog:
 

• WhoWhatWear: As former editors of Elle, Katherine Power and Hillary Kerr have long understood the obsession with celebrity trendsetters and translating those looks in a way that is accessible to the rest of us. Between the blog, their video series and book of the same name, Power and Kerr bring readers the latest runway and celebrity looks as well as a place to shop - all at one website.
• Enon Valley: Shane Powers brings us into his world through his pictorial blog, inspired by his birthplace of Enon Valley, PA. Powers is the go-to-guru for home décor, style and is often the trend inspiration behind today’s many home and garden products.
• The Sartorialist: Scott Schuman’s fashion blog, The Sartorialist, launched a movement of photographing trends and runway looks on real people. With the launch of his paperback book of the same name in the summer of 2009, all eyes continue to look to Schuman to capture the emotion of a generation through his fashion photography.

Magazines to Devour

• Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade: With a passion for simple solutions that create dramatic results in all areas of home life, Sandra Lee’s magazine covers the gamut of economical décor, entertaining solutions and budget-friendly recipes without sacrificing style or taste.
• Edible Queens: The city that never sleeps has a borough where the culture is just as rich as the food it serves up. This local magazine discovers the best Queens has to offer from well known establishments to the hidden gem down the alleyway.
• GLOW: Well-known book publisher, Anne Akers, expands her talent with recently launched bi-annual publication GLOW Magazine. Written by top medical experts, cosmetic and beauty journalists, each issue addresses topics of interest to today's consumer and is a definitive source for the latest information on products, treatments, procedures and technologies to achieve the look of good health and well-being.

The saying goes, "like mother like daughter" and this has become even more evident in the emerging beauty trend of mothers and daughters opting to get cosmetic surgery procedures together. Something as simple as a little Botox to more in depth procedures like rhinoplasty and face lifts are quickly becoming the procedures done as a family than alone. And while mother-daughter duos are currently the trend, it wasn't long ago that cosmetic enhancement enthusiasts started hosting Botox parties at medspas to share in the experience together.

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.