Favorite Executed Events From Fashion Week

One of my favorite characteristics that I’ve found to be true in the PR industry is the genuine appreciation for a well-executed PR campaign, whether it is your firm executing it or another. There is a respect for fresh and creative ideas from all areas of the industry.

I recently had the opportunity to meet an influential; blogger in the Fashion and Beauty industry. As we were taught in PR 101 having the right face of a brand is important, hence “love you, love your product”. I have to admit that I was left with such an astounding impression from this young professional (who is almost my height as I’m 4’9) that I continue to keep up with her postings and internally cheer her on.Being a member of the media in her own right, she was invited to attend some very envy worthy press events during NYC Fashion Week, that caused the fashionista in me drool a little.  

Taking a step back to view these events with a PR eye, I found myself reveling in appreciation on the execution of a couple companies’ events to activate their brands.

My favorite event showcase was created by Jack Wills to display their new summer collection. The company was on a whole new playing field, literally, as the press was invited to preview the summer collection on the water. What say’s summer more than a day out on the boat. With sea food appetizers and drinks, guests were invited to tour each room as it was styled with unique apparel items in the closet or open drawers while rooms showcased décor and bedding selections.

For more information visit: http://www.kdhamptons.com/jack-wills-sets-sail-with-new-hamptons-summer-collection/

Another well executed campaign on land was demonstrated by Birch Box .The company returned for this season of New York Fashion Week, opening the event to media/influencers from September 7th-10th and then opened to the public as a pop-up Consumer Retail Shop from September 12th-16^th.  The company also provided makeovers, hair styling, brow shaping and manicures between shows. Lining the showcase was samples walls of products and guests were invited to create their own Birch box from selected beauty products.

For more details and photos please visit the source: http://www.fashionablypetite.com/2013/09/birchbox-local-during-new-york-fashion.html

What events, showcases or campaigns do you admire? Older or newer, I would like to hear some of the tips and tricks, or inspirational campaigns that you’ve come across. 

 Tweet me at vee_fusco and let me know!

Maintain a Blog to Get the Job

One of the main reasons I blog is to share the insight I have learned throughout my professional journey as both a student, graduate and now working professional. I want to share some of the steps, lessons and mistakes that I have made so that if you stumble upon this blog you can get to know me, my writing and hopefully take something with you, even if its just a laugh for the day at a silly meme.

The truth is though that by committing to writing this blog I am also enhancing my writing skills, growing as a professional and filing away lessons I have learned. Check out this post by Qorvis.

From: Qorvis
 http://www.qorvis.com/blog/maintain-blog-get-job

"What you are currently reading is a blog, a form of expression that allows users to share their ideas across a digital landscape. Bloggers post pictures, videos, recipes, or stories about their life, or interests. Not since the invention of the printing press has a form of technology had such a profound impact on the written word. Simply stated, the blog is brilliant.

For this post, I want to speak directly to those seeking employment. Those with a steady gig are encouraged to read on, but for today, my focus is on my unemployed friends.

Ladies and gentleman, you face an uphill battle. No matter if you are fresh out of college or a decorated veteran of the marketing battlefield, you are no match for the weakened economy. Companies are now carefully considering every hiring decision and only those with the perfect set of tools make the cut. So, let’s add another tool to your belt.

You need a blog. This is not a suggestion – it’s an order. Pick a topic you are passionate about and start writing. The topic is of less importance than the quality of your writing. Your goal is to be engaging, sound smart, and show your worth.

A blog is a powerful tool because of its ability to display worth. Posting regularly shows you are dedicated and diligent. And, in addition to displaying your writing abilities, it also shows a potential employer you’re in tune with an ever-changing online community.

Blogging is a gateway that provides invaluable training on how to interact with others through a number of different channels. For instance, you will learn how to leverage Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon, and other platforms to push your message and attract readers to your site. Additionally, by maintaining a blog, you will discover the intricacies of data analytics and how they correlate with your content. Most importantly, you gain the ability to speak fluently about new media marketing. Recruiters or potential employers at communications firms drool over candidates that require little training in these areas.

During my time as a high school football coach, I often told my players, “put yourself in the best position to win.” The advice: While the situation will rarely be ideal, with the right skills or mentality, you will make that play. This same idea holds true for gaining employment.
Blogging will put you in the best position to win. Add your blog URL to your resume and always carry hard copies of your most popular posts to interviews. Professionalize your blog and maybe think about posting about industry-related content.  Finally, keep screen shots of your blog’s progress and don’t be scared to show these during an interview.

Remember: the emphasis is on not really on the topic. It’s on the opportunity to share your thoughts and showcase your knowledge about the changing digital landscape. Your worth is at your fingertips, so be brilliant and start blogging."

http://www.qorvis.com/blog/maintain-blog-get-job

It took me 20 years to perfect note taking!

A friend of mine was out celebrating last night with all of us after receiving her first A in Law School.  With three months left she will then graduate and take the bar and hopefully become my future lawyer, (hopefully her services won’t be needed). She said something that was very interesting: "It took me 20 years to get this A" noting that we are conditioned and trained until that moment our entire educational careers we reach our goal. That’s what I took with me today to work.  The majority of the successes we achieve, goal we reach or even ones which we are after all stem from the conditioning we endure as a student.

Today I realized note taking is one of those things.  I think each person has to tweak it for their own but the foundation is always the same. For the most part, we learn how to take them in high school, then shorten them or learning to write much faster in college and then take these acquired skills to the work force to be used particularly in meetings. Why does all this matter? 

I’ll give you a setting. My boss and colleges gathered for a small meeting. In which we would delegate tasks for an upcoming event.  As he  separated each task out to each person, he remarked on attendance, things we weren’t  sure about yet, times and etc. This had nothing to do with my particular task as I was just given a list of people to contact.  Most beginner students start off with the mentality, “ I only need to write down what is going to be on the test” or in my case I would only need to note what is delegated to me- here are the people, here are their emails. The experienced student knows "I need to take notes of the “core” of this conversation, but also jot down and highlight the contributing factors." It is usually these little facts that turn up  later in a discussion question. The meeting then ended and we went to our desks. I then realized that part of my task did in fact entail some of those contributing factors. I was given the task I communicating with the rest of our team the logistics of the event. If I had only jotted down only the names and emails of who I had been instructed to contact and disregarded time, place, flights, who from the press would be attending etc.  I would not have been able to communicate these logistics very well to the team. My major is communications so not being able to communicate is something that I look at as a very serious fail personally. It would have also made me look quite inadequate if I needed contact my boss  to have him repeat the majority of the information he just went over.

There is also the type of beginner student also takes notes viciously.  Everything and anything is in their notebook and so much that they often don’t’ have time to look up. This is an problem later in life if you cannot find the time to participate in class discussions and God forbid you take this habit into the work place and have no contribution to your meetings. There is no growth in this and even more so it makes the employee perhaps appear less interested, less of a contributing team member and so forth.  This is where those note taking skills you took from college come in handy. All or us college kids have learned to jot down the highlights and let these trigger the specifics. Granted sometimes the specifics are necessary. After all you can't just jot down the word time. You need to put 3:30-6:00pm. But this allows  the employee to  take what is needed from the meeting, go back  to reflect and elaborate while still having the time to engage the team and ask questions.

It’s funny how something that  as far as I know, people are not tested on, is such a big part of the workforce. Such a vital skill to take from your education… it took me 20 years to perfect the skill of note taking. Maybe I’ll go out and celebrate tonight J.

Ps. Don't be afraid of 2012. There's more ways to take notes than just on paper....
http://www.yourlifestyledesigner.net/articles/7-apps-note

Timing is Everything- Taking a Three Tier Approach

Through all of history if there is news our first instinct is to spread it. The only difference in yesterday and today is that we do so even faster through even more channels. “So five seconds ago” is an Iphone reality as we post status updates, tweet, stream video and text. As public relations professionals it is somewhere innately ingrained in us to “spread the word” . But today at work I was reminded that timing is everything.

Taking a Three Tier Approach allows an introduction then a climatic event and as all good things must come to, an end. In this case and end result meaning product knowledge , sales and brand recognition. The three tier approach could perhaps flows as this: Step One a press release or an announcement. This lets the world know that there is a new product through the 5 W’s. Who is making this product, What it is, Why, Where and When you can purchase or view it. This is the preface to the event.

The climax or step two is the event. First you send out the invitations to the party via press releases, social media, word of mouth etc. Then you throw the party. You want to allow enough time for your guests to receive the invites, give yourself time to prepare and allow excitement to brew. Of course you have to make sure you have all the logistics in line, which make no mistake is no small feat. The Quixote Group in Greensboro, NC was the internship that lead to my love for the PR industry. The company motto “ Thinking in the Corners of the Box” is something that I held on to in both my personal and professional life. (I’m getting to the connection here, just bear with me… ). The concept is not to think out side of the box because you veer too far from your clients/demographics values and interests, but to go just far enough away from the expected to WOW. This is how I believe an event should be planned. The core and heart of your message is there but it isn't just a black and white statement, it becomes a living breathing body…an event. *Don’t forget to send out the thank you’s and feedback opportunities after the event!*

The End. This is where the timing is the most relevant. If the event was to promote a product that will be available for purchase, making the purchase date too far from the event renders all your work pointless. Make sure that there is the anticipation perhaps a week or two out but no more! Timing is everything.Seems like common sense 101 but far too often companies make the mistake of holding a promotion for a product that isn’t available for purchase till much much later…by then the excitement has faded, something new has caught their attention or even worse all your efforts were forgotten and your product is “so five seconds ago.”