Website Underway

After much planning and preparation the website development is underway!   Here’s where I stand:

1.  I’ve written all the web copy and its in the hands of the copy writer.  The one section that I believe will be a work in process is the FAQ section.  Once the site is live, I’ll have a much better understanding of questions people frequently have.

2.  The large fashion illustration is done!  It’s pretty much exactly what I envisioned.  Love when that happens.

3.  Right now, I have place holder image of the bag that my friends in China have taken.  Real images will be taken in the coming weeks, but in the meantime the place holders will help me move forward.

4. Stitch has already finished my logo, packaging and several other design elements.  They know my brand intimately.  Now they’re working on the last piece – the website.  To say I’m excited is the understatement of the month.

5. Once the design is done we’ll add the functionality.

Read Full Post »

Super Bowl Ad Preview

Sunday is the Big Game….for advertisers!  While I love football as much as the next midwestern, the marketing geek in me can’t help be a little more excited about the advertisers.  In alphabetical order by company, here are my previews and predictions:

Audi
Ad: The “first ad” with a hashtag in it will feature a sweepstakes viewers will enter via Twitter.  (Its already promoted on Twitter now.)  Also, they are teasing “luxury prison” ads.
Prediction: Audi’s customers aren’t on Twitter.  They’ll get big results, but all the wrong ones.  The lux prison ads aren’t funny, aren’t relevant and even Kenny G. can save what will be a colossal waste of $3 million.

Bridgestone Tires
Ad:  They’ve got two teasers running – one about a groundhog and one about the “reply all” function.
Prediction:  You haven’t really lived until  you’ve had a “reply all” incident!  It will rate very well and hit audiences just right.

CareerBuilder.com
Ad:  The chimps return for yet another big game appearance.
Prediction:  These primates have out stayed their welcome.  This will be the last year you see them.

Doritos
Ad:  Their “Crash the Superbowl” campaign is going strong in its third year.  Here’s the commercial that is leading the voting right now.
Prediction:  A cute pug that makes the mean man look stupid?  This ad will stay on top and run during the game.

General Motors
Ad:  Transformers, muscle cars and mascots…can you say “Nail on the Head”?
Prediction:  Love that Chevy makes fun of itself but still manages to get the message across.  This ad will be one more reason why Detroit is proud to call itself the Motor City again.

Go Daddy
Ad: They’ll introduce the new Go Daddy Girl.
Prediction:  The front-runners seem to be Pamela Anderson and Adrianne Curry.  Though I hope it is Katy Perry.

Groupon
Ad:  Very little is know about the ad since they are a last-minute addition after someone else backed out.
Prediction:  With so little time to prepare, I’m betting a graphic intensive ad featuring (what else?) a Groupon for Groupon.

Homeaway.com
Ad: A cheeky skit with a James Bond theme.
Prediction:  Too complicated for a new company.  If you can get everyone in the room to shut up, you might actually figure out what the commercial is about.

Mars
Ad: New Snickers spot featuring Richard Lewis and Roseanne Barr in the 2nd quarter.
Prediction:  While you’d think Roseanne would be the one getting more attention, Lewis will actually steal the show.  He’s funnier.

Motorola
Ad:  The teaser shows them obviously going after the iPhone, Apple and their “1984” commercial.
Prediction:  SIGH.  Don’t try to out-cool the coolest kid in school.  And for the LOVE, 1984 is epic.  No one is ever going to beat it.  Not even Apple!  And certainly not Motorola.

PETA
Ad:  While one of their ads was “too racy” for the primetime, I hear a toned down version will run.
Prediction:  Women in bikinis will cause straight men to pause in between bites of their buffalo wings, but none will actually put the meat down.

RIO
Ad: Play Angry Birds?  (Yeah, like every spare second you have?) Then you’ll recognize these birds in their new starring movie role.  The ad will give gamers a secret code to advance in the game.
Prediction:  The birds will be really angry when their movie flops.  This is the beginning of really bad marketing decisions for the company.

Skechers
Ad: Kim Kardashian will bare all some for their shape-ups shoes.
Prediction:  Women want to be her, men want to be with her – Ms. Kardashian will get the job done.

Staples
Ad:  Flying computers.  Walking iPads.  Um, yeah.
Prediction:  Not cool + Not Funny + Not Edgy = Not Memorable.  The agency that created this terrible spot will get fired.

Teleflora
Ad:  Faith Hill will debut her new flower collection.
Prediction:  Great timing.  Perfect audience.  Not flashy, but it will produce the desired results.

Volkswagen
Ad:  They’ve already released not one, but two spots.
Prediction:  I could watch the Darth Vader spot again and again and again.  It will be one of the top rated of the night.

Read Full Post »

Golden Globes – The Branded

Now that we’ve covered The Good and The Bad from the Golden Globes, let’s look at who branded themselves the best.  Who’s using their dress to attract more than a flash bulb.  Who’s using it to project their personality, their image, their brand.

You won’t soon forget January Jones in this red Versace dress.  Her hair and perfect red lips remind you that she’s in the über successful Mad Men.  The exposure says “I’m still hot though”.  And the dress is classically Versace – did I mention she’s their latest model?

Many a fashionista has already criticized Michelle William’s Valentino dress.  They’re missing the point.  This dress is who she is – whimsical, pretty, a little bit avant-garde.  A modern-day flower child!  Don’t make her hit you over the head with it…again.

Emma Stone was nominated for “Easy A”.  Not exactly Shakespeare.  Her Calvin Klein gown, understated jewelry and demure hair is all telling you “But I can be a serious actress too!”  Its classy.  Its refined.  Its getting her the next big part.

Now you’ve seen how the Hollywood stars do it.  What about you?  How are you using clothing to brand yourself?

Read Full Post »

First Impressions

You can tell when its not high quality.

This week I had a hard choice to make.  The leather costs came in higher than expected.  Not just a few dollars more, but 27% more.  Times hundreds of bags.  Ouch.

Wendy and I looked at other leather samples.  Of course, to get a lower price, we had to look at leather of a lower quality.  From the very beginning Wendy wasn’t happy with it.  The texture wasn’t the same.  The colors weren’t the same.  And to top it all off, we’d have to put an extra finish on it to try and fake the quality.

After crunching the number and cringing a little, I passed.

This first line a bags is so important because they are my first impression to the world.  I’m not going to start out with anything but high quality, high end leather.  I don’t want to be known as anything less!

And frankly, I’m sure you’re not expecting anything less.

 

Read Full Post »

Branded By Pattern

We’ve talked about branding by color, now let’s tackle by pattern.  Again, there are patterns you know without any words at all.

For instance…

That pattern couldn’t be anything other than Burberry plaid.

Maybe it doesn’t even have to be one certain pattern for you to know the brand.  Whether its old or new….

on a rack…

or even in make-up…

You’d know those bright pink and green patterns anywhere right?  Of course, its Lilly Pulitzer.

Now, this doesn’t just apply to established brands.  To all my Project Runway fans, will you ever forget these patterns? From the winner…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And from the designer we all wish was the winner…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its clear you can get branded by pattern – better make sure its a good one.  Do you have a signature print? Let me know, everyone would love to see your favorite polka dot or argyle.

Read Full Post »

Good News Friday

It’s another good news Friday!  Here’s an update:

1. My PIN came!  Whoo-hoo!  I can wire money overseas.  NICE.

2.  Yesterday I received my revised logos.  LOVED them.  Not a bad one in the bunch.  After talking with the ladies from Stitch Design Co. I’ve found I can incorporate a lot of the ideas I like into other design elements of my brand.  I’ve narrowed down the actual logo to two choices.  As big marketing geek, this is really exciting stuff.

3.  Today is National Day in China and there is a national holiday through October 7th.  Before Wendy went on holiday she made sure to check in with me, confirm the bag changes and get the leather and hardware samples ready to send.  Also, she told me they are going to ship the products on their account so I don’t have to set up my own just yet.  Awesome.

4.  Thanks to my husband and one of our handy friends all the IKEA furniture is set up in my office.  My father helped me get all the needed office supplies so the whole operation should be fully functional sometime this month.

5.  Yesterday I applied for a free seminar with the almighty Seth Godin.  If you are a woman entrepreneur I highly encourage you to apply as well.  Even if you don’t get in, the process will make you evaluate your business.  And if you do get in, please tell me all about it!

That’s all the news for this week.  Hope your Friday is full of good news too.

Read Full Post »

Sex of the City

Rainbow Row - One of many reasons why Charleston, South Carolina is female.

Filled with anticipation I met with Stitch Design Co. yesterday to get the first glimpse of my logo.  They created several versions, some of which had Charleston associated with them.  Something (but way cooler and better designed) like this:

Alesya Bags
Charleston

It was very interesting because it wasn’t something I’d thought of but I immediately liked it.  Also, everyone else who has seen the logo choices likes it too.

When you add cities to your logo it says something.  Maybe it says you’re worldly and fashionable (New York, Paris, Malian).  Maybe it says you’re global (San Francisco, Tokyo, London).  Maybe it says you’re hip (Los Angeles, Miami, Amsterdam).

I subscribe to the theory that not only does every major city have characteristics and a personality, but it also has a gender.  For instance:

London:  Male
Paris:  Female
Chicago:  Male
New York:  Female
San Francisco:  Male
Los Angeles:  Female
Detroit:  Male
Santa Fe:  Female

Charleston is most definitely female.  With its lush greenery, beautiful historic homes and charming downtown it couldn’t be anything else.

But more than that the people are genuine, kind and cosmopolitan.   There’s a focus on fashion and independent retailers.  You can almost smell the entrepreneurial spirit in the air.  Add all this to the nearby ocean and it’s certainly a city where you don’t mind having your name attached.

I love Charleston.  The city is a wonderful place for both my business and my family.  It’s already attached to my address.  Time will tell if its attached to my logo too.

Read Full Post »

Love Branding = Need Designer

Branding is important to me.  My background is in marketing and I’ve spent entire days making sure “it’s the right color green”.  I’m obsessed with fonts.  And, of course, I started this business with marketing.  (Yes, this is backwards.)

Original Blog Header - Now find it on my Twitter page

Once I realized this business was going to be real, one of the first things I did was work on the logo.  Why?  It’s the easy part.

It had to be feminine, but not girly.  I had to love the font.  The color had to be salmon.  Or yellow.  Or not black or royal blue.

Much to my delight a designer I love agreed to work with me.  After hearing all my concerns, she not only came up with a logo, she came up with this Style Guide.  When the PDF came in my inbox I even squealed and clapped.

This blog was delayed because I didn’t like the design I came up with on my own.  It looked, well, janky.  Once again, my designer came to my rescue.  She made several lovely designs – click here to see the first set.

My designer is coming to Charleston at the end of the month.  We’ll eat some tasty food, visit the beach and talk about the merits of several worthy fonts.  Look for another design update in September – you can bet more squealing will be involved.

Read Full Post »