beautyconsumed

2012-04-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

Same name, new locations. Beauty Consumed is moving forward.

Keep up with BC photos and videos on Tumblr.

For posts and new information on the world where art meets commerce sign up for the blog at BeautyConsumed.wordpress.com.

There's also @beautyconsumed on Twitter and www.facebook.com/beautyconsumed on Facebook.

Keep following where we're going.

Blog: beautyconsumed.wordpress.com/

Tumblr: beautyconsumed.tumblr.com/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/beautyconsumed

Facebook: www.facebook.com/beautyconsumed

Target - The Apple of Mass Merchandisers

2011-09-28T22:09:00.000-07:00

Target is a retail innovator. Target created its first designer line of home goods in 1999 by collaboration with architect Michael Graves. Then in 2002, Target went hipster with the concept introducing a line of house wares by popular designer Todd Oldham. But of course, timing is everything. While it did well and even lead a trend among mass merchandisers to produce their own celebrity backed products (Martha Stewart for Kmart), Target didn’t let the idea end there. In 2005, when the collective purse strings tightened Target expanded their collaborations into fashion and hit pay dirt.

The Go International campaign which features affordable clothes from high end fashion designers for a limited time has been tremendously successful in cementing Target as the high mark for mass merchandisers. Designers Proenza Schouler, Zac Posen and Jean Paul Gaultier have participated in the Go International program, garnering rave attention for Target and surely buoying designers who saw some economic shrinkage as a result of the economy. Consumers thrust into survival mode began patronizing the Targets and Walmarts much more than they did in the golden years to the dismay of high end retailers and designers. The Go International licensing deal allows Target to fully capitalize on that fashionista that now has a budget – the newly coined budgetnista. In the meantime these designers can stay on their consumers’ radar while they are on shopping hiatus as well as open up to a new market without degrading the brand by taking a sustained low price position or investing in an “affordable” line.

When Target launched Missoni’s product line earlier this month, it sold out in hours, crashed the site and received tons of media attention in the days before and after the record release. This week the company has announced a line of children’s clothes by musician and design sweetheart Gwen Stefani. It’s sure to garner a similar response. While we’re clearly still in the throws of an unstable financial market and record unemployment, it’s also clear that the right product can wrench the dollars out of consumers’ hands. No matter the economy, people will still line up for the release of a new Apple gadget or clear the shelves of the right designer clothing, provided the price is just right.

The Art of Wearable Communication

2011-09-20T13:58:00.001-07:00

Modern Fashion PR

2011-09-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

Guillermo Zalamea presented a slide show at Retail Camp discussing how technology has impacted communications in the fashion and beauty industries. Interesting perspective.

Modern Lifestyle & Fashion PR: Digital, Traditional & Celebrity Trends

View more presentations from Macala Wright

Spreading the Beauty Message

2011-09-11T08:12:00.000-07:00

Watch this video post courtesy of In-cosmetics, the largest international trade show for the beauty and cosmetics industry. Irina Barbalone, Head of Beauty and Personal Care Research at Euromonitor discusses 'Spreading the Beauty Message through New Technologies'.

2011 Consumer Trend Review

2011-09-09T10:23:00.000-07:00

Just like there’s probably Christmas decorations already in the grocery store, Trendwatching.com has already released a review of 2011. We love Trendwatching.com for their concise and entertaining analysis of consumer behavior and consumer trends. It’s a one-stop shop for what you need to know about what’s coming next. This month, they’ve decided to look back over their predictions for the year so far. Check it out. How did they do?

I Curate, You Curate, We All Curate

2011-09-08T10:49:00.000-07:00

In consumer communications, it’s very important to stay on top of the latest lingo for your target demographic. It’s amazing how ubiquitous some words can become and their ability to singularly communicate connectedness to a social group or trend. A couple of my favorites are “bling” and “swagger,” both of which are a little past their prime. You know a cool word has jumped the shark when it becomes fodder for a mini-van ad campaign (if you missed the swagger wagon videos, you really need to keep up).

Hopefully, I’m not too late on this one, but it appears the newest word on the horizon is “curate.” Alex Williams at the New York Times caught on to this at the end of 2009. He did an extensive article on the basis for curate as the new verb of choice amongst the cool kids. Curate is used to describe one carefully selecting and recommending a group of anything from clothes to music to party guests. I recently heard of “lifestyle curator” as a moniker for someone who is just so cool that people want to do what they do and buy what they buy. For instance, Sean Combs could be considered a lifestyle curator. Although he’s a great music mogul, we know him just as well for his fabulous lifestyle which has led to his successful endorsement of everything from fragrances to alcohol.

Fab.com, Gilt Groupe, Etsy and others like them are all considered curated online stores. Many blog sites are considered content curators, which is even a new job title.

I wonder what other words out there are waiting to be swagger jacked. Have you heard any that we should be aware of?

The Power of Beauty

2011-09-07T09:48:00.000-07:00

I used to work for a financial services company and I remember vividly one of my most embarrassing moments as a new associate. I overheard a conversation about how one of our most attractive colleagues got preferential treatment because of her appearance. I thought it a lucky advantage and useful tactic to note. I mentioned my observation to one of the seniors who was not amused. Later that day, she walked past my desk and shouted, “I’m on my way to a meeting. I’ll be sure to put my lipstick on.” I could have died. But, turns out, maybe she should have. In her new book, Erotic Capital: The Power of Attraction in the Boardroom and the Bedroom, Catherine Hakim examines the power of beauty in the workplace.

While I have yet to read the book (it’s definitely on my list), Gill Corkindale wrote a great review for Harvard Business Review. Corkindale believes that the beauty premium, while it does exist with statistics to bear, is culturally specific. She notes that in many European countries its unspoken that beauty and grooming is a key part of your success arsenal. Meanwhile, Americans frown upon using sex appeal, I mean erotic capital, to advance despite the fact that we are quite obviously susceptible to it. One only needs to look around the checkout line to see how much we love to consume hyper-sexed imagery. However, our inner Puritan just won’t let us fess up to how far that reaches.

Neiman Marcus features Fine Art for Fashion

2011-09-06T07:54:00.000-07:00

Fashion’s Night Out was started in 2009 to support the fledgling retail industry in the wake of the economic downturn. Now, 2 years later, it’s a runaway success with FNO events at fashion retailers all over the world. It’s so important that every major fashion brand has launched a campaign around the singular evening. Apple has even expanded fashion apps available on their main page in support of the event. Atlanta will not be left out of the loop. This year marks the city’s second year as an official FNO participating city.

Events will be held all over Atlanta for FNO. Neiman Marcus at Lenox Mall in Buckhead will host a storewide FNO event with happenings throughout the store to entertain customers while they shop and celebrate everything fashion. Bill Lowe gallery is contributing to the reverie with an exhibit of fine art from fashion photographer Greg Lotus. Greg Lotus is known for his use of shadow and light to create the most captivating images for magazines like W and Italian Vogue and brands like Escada and Swarovski. His work speaks volumes to the idea that the right image can completely captivate the observer and pull them into the story.

Burberry’s Glitch in the Matrix

2011-09-05T15:08:00.000-07:00

I mentioned last week that I ordered a sample of Burberry Body through their innovative online campaign launched via Facebook and Youtube. I also wondered aloud how that would work logistically considering the huge number of fans placing orders for a sample. Well as I predicted, there were some fulfillment issues for Burberry. “According to Wave, a company that tracks trends and social media, on August 19^th, the first day of the giveaway, more than 60 percent of consumers could not process their order.” However, in line with their commitment to a successful technology platform they were able to fix the problem fairly quickly. Kudos to Burberry for understanding the scale of this campaign and being prepared for the inevitable technical difficulties that would arise. I received my sample. And it smells great!

The Eloquence of Trees

2011-09-03T09:49:00.000-07:00

Press Release:

Ancient Papermaking and Contemporary Movements Combine in New Works by South Korean Artists Choon and Jeong Yun

(ATLANTA, GA) Artists Jeong Yun and, his wife, Choon Yun have spent the past 20-years perfecting a technique for transforming paper into contemporary masterpieces that move the eye across a textural landscape that seems to replicate the rhythms of nature. The artist pair use ancient paper making traditions in the creation of their works – large scale canvases, some with energetic movements of color and texture, and others with a whimsical pop-culture reference. Both artists are featured in a show at Bill Lowe Gallery opening September 9^th aptly titled, “The Eloquence of Trees.”

The Dhak tree, a spiritual symbol indigenous to Southeast Asian, is source material for the Yun’s work. The barks are peeled and made into pulp in South Korea, before the couple transports the raw product to their studio in Oregon. There starts a meticulous process to make pulp into paper dyed with the flowers of the Dhak tree. Jeong Yun is a rising star in the contemporary art world. As he works, Jeong believes his feelings, thoughts and movements are stored in the cellulose of the barks. He says the fibers are his genes and DNA, and that his very self is stored in the paper and “cloned” to his artworks. Through numerous experiments and trials, Jeong has fused Asian and Western papermaking techniques to create delicate and sophisticated images that call the viewer into an intimate connection with his view of the natural world.

Choon Hyang Yun has been working with traditional Asian paper since 1985. Since that time, she has gained international recognition for her ambitious advancement of the medium. Her works redefine the tenants of Asian papermaking by expanding them into monumental scale characterized by strong expressionistic undercurrents. The word “painting” lacks in describing what she creates. Choon is recognized for her mastery of this mesmerizing material – in particular its various textures, and noble and rich colors - to express her abstract and sensual descriptions in art.

The Eloquence of Trees

Works of handmade paper by Jeong Han Yun and Choon Hyang Yun

Opening Reception: Friday, September 9^th, 2011 from 6-9pm

Bill Lowe Gallery

1555 Peachtree Street. Suite 100. Atlanta, GA 30309

The Best Mascara Never Comes Off

2011-08-31T14:17:00.000-07:00

The best mascara I’ve ever used is Maybelline XXL Waterproof Extensions. I have no reason to endorse this product other than the fact that I love it and it works. However, there is one problem – it’s impossible to remove. Thanks for being waterproof but I would like to take it off eventually. I went online to see if there is a conventional solution to the problem of waterproof mascara and I couldn’t find any one in particular. Several people cited make up remover and some other remedies that seemed a little too dangerous for the eye area. I see a brand co-op opportunity in the making.

First, to answer your question, I remove my favorite mascara with Vaseline. Simple Vaseline is an easy (although messy) way to remove waterproof mascara. The residual benefit is that it moisturizes the skin around the eyes. Now clearly, Maybelline has an eye moisturizing makeup remover to sell. However, considering the economy, if Maybelline and Vaseline joined forces to market a cheap makeup removal alternative, that could be an interesting win-win. At retail, placing Vaseline displays in proximity to waterproof mascara displays (Maybelline and others) could increase sales for Vaseline as well as for the mascara among consumers who avoid it simply because it’s so difficult to remove.

All of the cosmetics companies have done well to capitalize on the eyelash extension craze and ratchet up the effectiveness of their product. While all eyes are on them, they should also consider combating the one draw back to great mascara.

Burberry Loves this Technology Stuff

2011-08-30T10:43:00.000-07:00

Although it’s a staid, traditional brand, Burberry has been one of the most effective fashion houses at incorporating social media into its new business agenda. At the end of 2009, the manufacturer was among the first to build out a complete website dedicated to Facebook style communication for lovers of the brand’s signature trench coat. In 2011, they are outfitting key stores over the world with ipads and 5 foot tall touchscreens which are loaded with Burberry runway footage and images of the most recent line.

The latest to come from this technologically comfortable team of marketing scientists, led by chief creative officer Christopher Bailey, is an announcement that they will give away samples of their new perfume to fans who like the Burberry Facebook page. Bailey regrulary reaches out to his consumers via youtube, offering a behind the scenes look into the building of Burberry. The video above was featured on the company’s Youtube page and was also posted on their Facebook page. The Facebook page has added at least 1 million followers since this announcement. The question now is how long will it take to send out that many samples!

Dinner Party at Bill Lowe Gallery

2011-08-29T06:48:00.000-07:00

Art feels intimidating. Just the walking into a gallery can seem like a difficult first step, let alone being confronted with limited knowledge of artists, art history, techniques and materials. However, the reality is that art is not as intimidating as it seems. The challenge in selling fine art, and fine goods of any kind for that matter, is connecting with people who love it enough to make an investment.

We know that consumers of fine goods tend to have an appreciation for quality on many levels and actively seek out new experiences. One who loves fine food and fine wine will likely appreciate fine art. So it was fitting when Bill Lowe partnered with Dinner Party Atlanta to host one of their famous dinners on the gallery floor.

The concept behind Dinner Party Atlanta is to attract a group of people who love fine food to a spectacular night of culinary curation featuring uniquely sourced wines and ingredients for an exquisite dinner in a unique space.

Dinner Party has hosted dinners for their followers everywhere from an airplane hanger to

half court at GA Tech and now Bill Lowe gallery. 50 guests sat smack in the center of an exhibit for Thornton Dial, one of the most profound artists to come out of the south, for a fun, easy evening. For some it was their first trip behind the glass door. For most it was an evening that will solidify the brand of Bill Lowe in their minds as one synonymous with quality.

For more pictures click here...
See LuxeCrush coverage here...

It’s not REALLY about the Perfume

2011-08-25T10:55:00.000-07:00

I love this Chloe ad! I get this woman. She looks powerful and determined. She’s coming from somewhere and she's on her way to somewhere else. She’s crisp and she’s apparently not afraid to be out, walking the streets alone at night. She’s tough and demure all at the same time. I want that.

I love these two ads also, the first one for Ralph Lauren Romance. What’s sexier than a man smelling a woman’s neck? Taking it all in, before…well. The woman’s head is slightly above the man's in both. Signifying a little dominance, but not really. The second one is for Gucci Guilty, again with the tough and the demure.

But this Oscar de la Renta ad falls flat. It doesn’t tell a compelling story. Who is the woman? What does she do? When does she wear this perfume? Why should I want it? Sometimes you have to help the consumer along with the story.

What do you think? Do these ads communicate to you?

Brand Failures Can Actually Hurt Your Consumers’ Self-Esteem

2011-08-24T07:12:00.000-07:00

A new study conducted by the University of Illinois finds that consumers who build a strong relationship with a brand, can be “personally impacted by incidents of brand ‘failure.’

The study, which will be published in the next issue of the Journal of Consumer Psychology, tested a group of subjects to see how they would respond to negative information about brands with which they closely identified. According to the paper, “Because the brand is seen as a part of the self by virtue of being intimately tied to the self, failure on the part of the brand is experienced as a personal failure.”

Interesting...

Mad Men and Banana Republic

2011-08-23T08:38:00.000-07:00

The most important television show for beauty, fashion and feminity, in my time, was easily Sex and the City. Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin owe their household name-ness to Candace Bushnell and HBO. Mixing a little nighttime into daywear, the word “fabulous”, tutus on the street, can all be traced back to our favorite four TV girlfriends (I’m Carrie. Which one are you?).

I cried at the end of the era. But now it seems that Mad Men would like to quietly take their place. While Mad Men has certainly influenced the feminine silhouettes that we’ve seen lately, they have yet to catch fire as an influencer in the same way as SATC.

Period looks are difficult to easily integrate into an everyday wardrobe. Women don’t have time to figure out how to modernize the costumes themselves. In comes Banana Republic. In, what I call a brand co-op, Banana Republic and Mad Men’s costume designer Janie Bryant have come together to create a line of men’s and women’s clothing and accessories that will allow consumers to acquire the Mad Men look in a way that makes street sense.

It’s a smart relationship considering the audience for the series. While it may not be the most popular show on television, the audience is specific and quality. According to a 2009 article in Forbes magazine, “In its first two seasons, half of Mad Men's adult viewers (25 to 54 years old) had household incomes over $100,000, making it the most upscale audience on cable TV.” It’s no Sex and the City, but let’s see what happens.

P.S. Another great article about the Mad Men audience if you’re curious.

How Relevant are Street Style Blogs?

2011-08-22T05:31:00.000-07:00

Picture, borrowed from thesartorialist.com

On one of my new favorite blogs, PopAfricana.com, editor Oroma Elewa poses the question, “Is attention moving away from designer shows? Has the street become the new runway?” Elewa cites the popularity of sites like The Sartorialist and Face Hunter as the new influencers of fashion. “It seems people are more concerned with how people interpret fashion these days.”

It’s an interesting question to ponder. Are these new websites, impacting the relationship between the consumer, the manufacturer and media in fashion and beauty? Is it an extension of a Facebook, reality TV culture that is eager to see real people in real habitats? The fun of these sites, as Elewa notes, is looking at the interpretation of fashion, visuals of global trends. I don’t think they will replace the runway. That’s like saying photos could replace figurative painting. They’re two separate but related art forms.

However, there is an opportunity for these sites to work in concert with the runway. The barrier between the runway and the street is that the consumer doesn’t always know how to make runway looks work in real life. We have to wait for clothes to get to retail to understand how we’re supposed to wear them. And even then, the interpretation is restricted to the retail vision.

These new sites, however, open up the breadth of ideas that people can explore. Taking cues not just from merchandisers and celebrities, but from real people the world over. It’s a very interesting phenomenon that presents an opportunity for the wise manufacturer.

The Most Beautifullest Thing in the World...

2011-08-20T13:25:00.000-07:00

In addition to being one of my all time favorite songs (YouTube it), I truly believe the most beautifullest thing in the world is pretty skin. Women are really taking great skin for granted. A flood of fantastic makeup products, tools and easily available enhancements, seem to push skin care products down the line. Between fake eyelashes, bronzer, botox and filler, you could get a whole new face at Walgreens. But seriously, once you take off all the makeup, you really do want to have a great dermis. Here’s another thought, the better you take care of your skin, the better base you have to bear all of those accoutrements. What’s difficult, however, is finding the right skin care program.

It’s almost easier to just paint over the issue than to spend the money it could take to find the right mix of cleanser-toner-moisturizer to make your skin glow. “Skin care” is much more expensive than makeup. So what’s a girl to do? If you’re reading this, and you agree, tell me how you found your skin CARE products (not your makeup).

I’ll go first. The most common way that women develop skin care habits – “I just do what my Mom did.” First, studies show that most women age the same way their mothers do. Second, as girls we all watch our mothers for style and beauty cues (whether we like to admit it or not). I’m no exception. My mother has beautiful skin that I hope I've inherited. Growing up she used a line of products called BeautiControl.

I started using BeautiControl in high school (ripping off her product before I even knew what to do). When I left home for college, I didn’t think any more about it. After my second daughter, however, my skin started getting a little crazy and after trying a few over the counter things, I went back to what I knew. Now I’m glowing!

So what do you use? How did you choose your products?

As a Man Thinketh…

2011-08-19T07:05:00.000-07:00

Shawn Achor believes that wearing rose-colored glasses is good for you and he has research to prove it! “CNNMoney reported a survey that indicated 84% of Americans are unhappy with their current job.” Well, says Achor, those people just need to change the way they think about things. Remember when you complained about eating broccoli and your parents would say, “There are children starving in the world. You should be thankful for what you have.” According to Achor, that philosophy also applies to being unhappy at work.

His research examined workplace unhappiness and developed tactics to combat the trend, one of which being expressing gratitude. Why should you care? “The single greatest advantage in the modern economy is a happy and engaged workforce. A decade of research proves that happiness raises nearly every business and educational outcome: raising sales by 37%, productivity by 31%, and accuracy on tasks by 19%.”

Photography can make all the difference

2011-08-18T08:00:00.001-07:00

With the pervasiveness of short attention spans, it’s critical to catch a consumer’s attention quickly and hold it for as long as possible in a 2-dimensional medium. Visual impact is critical! Photographer Greg Lotus is exceptional at manipulating our wandering imaginations. His photos challenge us to decipher what he’s communicating just for the fun of it.

Here are images of his work currently on show at Bill Lowe gallery until Sept. 3. Just a few more weeks to check it out! Read more about Lotus’ background as photographer for some of the world's best known brands in this article which ran on the cover of the Atlanta Journal Constitution Living section.

The Greatest PR Opportunity in the History of Media

2011-08-17T12:45:00.000-07:00

Empires have been built on this one media opportunity. Publicists could spend major budget on landing this one feature. Will this phenomenon ever exist again? CNBC did an entire special on the power of Oprah to influence consumers to buy into a brand idea. Click the pink links to watch.

“I’m hard pressed to think of a stronger brand than Oprah. And I’ve studied 200 years of brands.” Harvard Business School Professor Nancy F. Koehn to Bloomberg News on May 19 (PR Strategist, Summer 2011)