Speaker prep for Steve Grant of Modea.
A strategic issue Modea seems to be facing is connecting with their fanbase. Their on-site blog hasn’t been updated since June 6 (with a very interesting Pinterest infographic), their Pinterest has only 15 pins with the most recent being the same as the blog, and their Facebook doesn’t reflect what they seem to want it to, based on a blog post. They had a blog post about how timeline is to connect with facebook users and fans, and they’re still just using it as a basic wall; a place to post updates, not historical and interesting events. Hulu has when the TV was invented, which is applicable, interesting, and humorous. What about posting when the first ad came out and what it looked like?
Honestly, for the first three years of me living in Blacksburg, I passed the building with ‘Modea’ in it at least once a week and had no idea what it was, nor did I ever feel the need to look it up. It seems though, that they’ve been on the rise in the advertising world, even receiving a small agency of the year award for ‘Best Culture.’ Given that and the details of their culture from their website, I can conclude that the customers see them as a modern, well-rounded advertising family. They play soccer, softball, foosball, every Friday they dress up, the first Friday of every month they go get drinks. They make sure to get each other presents for birthdays and for other holidays, and from an outsider looking in, they seem to truly be a family that gets their work done, and get it done well.
I saw the infographic you did recently on Pinterest. How will that information help you or help another company or brand potentially?
Until Next time!
-MG
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Mind the Gap
So today I read an article about Uniqlo for a project for this class. If you don't know, which I didn't until about two hours ago, Uniqlo is a clothing brand. They're centered in Japan (Hiroshima, to be exact) and they offer basics for cheap. I went to their website, and it's true - basics for cheap. But some of the things were.. off to me. A lot of the casual stuff was cute, but the dresses were not basics. They were dull colors and unimpressive, sack-like shapes, which is nothing 'basic' here, but is instead frumpy. Don't get me wrong, Uniqlo has a lot of cute stuff (for cheap!), but some of it would need a lot of accessorizing before I'd wear it.
So as I continued reading this article, I noticed it kept bashing Gap, over and over again, calling it a 'dusty playbook,' and that it's heyday was back in the '80s and 90s.' I have a response to that: Gap is back.
So this summer I bought a lot of Gap stuff - I mean a LOT. I needed a new wardrobe because I'd outgrown a lot of my things maturity-wise, and I'd gained a bit of weight (which I planned on dropping this summer, but I still needed new clothes). I have a Gap Outlet near me, so not only is everything cheaper to begin with, but there are sales. All the time sales. Even for non-outlet Gaps, they have a lot of sales, and their prices aren't that bad. So what was this articles deal? Well, I have an opinion.
The article was wrong.
Gap used to be out of fashion. They used to be trying to keep up with fads, but now they've stopped. Since the early 2000s, they've updated. They're classy aesthetically in the stores, and their clothes have shifted to being basics with a twist.
Cords - bright cords. I used to hate cords, they were big, thick, clunky, very masculine, and the color selection didn't help. But I might buy a pair of these. Oversized sweaters are another things - not just BIG, but ones that fit, just a little looser. Maybe they're perfect fitting, only a little longer. Those have become a classic. They're not your typical ideal of classic, like 'pencil skirt' or 'oxfords.' But they've become a classic on their own.
Gap has taken it and given it more color, more patterns, three-quarter length sleeves. Gap had taken classics, and updated them, and still keeps it all at a good price for the quality. They even give you ideas on how to wear certain things. Maybe you just got some bright fuchsia pants (because colored skinny jeans have officially become more than just a fad, but not yet a classic) and you have no idea what to do with them.
Striped neutral sweaters are a classic, as is the little button-jacket. It could even be replaced by a vest or you could wear the little sweater alone with the pants. Little basic slip-ons are good shoes for it - nothing clunky or showy, just basic shoes.
A little classy button up shirt, something that woman have been wearing since the pantsuit came into existence with shoulder pads, only now Gap has added ruffles. It takes a few unisex piece of clothing and gives it a more feminine appeal, making it more appealing, cuter, a way of staying true to yourself.
The same thing is applicable to men. With this, we'll also look at skinny jeans. Has anyone noticed everyones' pants getting tighter and tighter? That's a long-term, cyclical trend. Pants get bigger and baggier and wider until the can't anymore, and then they start coming in. Hence the skinny jeans for men and women. Soon, they'll hit a point where they just can't get any smaller, and they'll slowly start going back out, into flares and bootcuts.
But I guarantee, khakis like these for gents will be popular and fashionable for a while. Gap is keeping it classic with a modern, well-appreciated twist, while keeping themselves affordable for the quality. Higher quality than Old Navy, and therefore more expensive, but a lot cheaper than Banana Republic, for only a little less quality.
I'm a Gap supporter and I plan on staying that way for a long time. PS, I lost all the weight I wanted to, and all the clothes still look perfectly cute on me (after an intense dryer cycle). In short, that article was wrong, and I think Gap is doing perfectly right now. They bounced back, and aren't going away anytime soon in my opinion.
Until next time!
-MG
All images from Gap website or google images. Original article found Here. :)
So as I continued reading this article, I noticed it kept bashing Gap, over and over again, calling it a 'dusty playbook,' and that it's heyday was back in the '80s and 90s.' I have a response to that: Gap is back.
So this summer I bought a lot of Gap stuff - I mean a LOT. I needed a new wardrobe because I'd outgrown a lot of my things maturity-wise, and I'd gained a bit of weight (which I planned on dropping this summer, but I still needed new clothes). I have a Gap Outlet near me, so not only is everything cheaper to begin with, but there are sales. All the time sales. Even for non-outlet Gaps, they have a lot of sales, and their prices aren't that bad. So what was this articles deal? Well, I have an opinion.
The article was wrong.
Gap used to be out of fashion. They used to be trying to keep up with fads, but now they've stopped. Since the early 2000s, they've updated. They're classy aesthetically in the stores, and their clothes have shifted to being basics with a twist.
Cords - bright cords. I used to hate cords, they were big, thick, clunky, very masculine, and the color selection didn't help. But I might buy a pair of these. Oversized sweaters are another things - not just BIG, but ones that fit, just a little looser. Maybe they're perfect fitting, only a little longer. Those have become a classic. They're not your typical ideal of classic, like 'pencil skirt' or 'oxfords.' But they've become a classic on their own.
Gap has taken it and given it more color, more patterns, three-quarter length sleeves. Gap had taken classics, and updated them, and still keeps it all at a good price for the quality. They even give you ideas on how to wear certain things. Maybe you just got some bright fuchsia pants (because colored skinny jeans have officially become more than just a fad, but not yet a classic) and you have no idea what to do with them.
Striped neutral sweaters are a classic, as is the little button-jacket. It could even be replaced by a vest or you could wear the little sweater alone with the pants. Little basic slip-ons are good shoes for it - nothing clunky or showy, just basic shoes.
A little classy button up shirt, something that woman have been wearing since the pantsuit came into existence with shoulder pads, only now Gap has added ruffles. It takes a few unisex piece of clothing and gives it a more feminine appeal, making it more appealing, cuter, a way of staying true to yourself.
The same thing is applicable to men. With this, we'll also look at skinny jeans. Has anyone noticed everyones' pants getting tighter and tighter? That's a long-term, cyclical trend. Pants get bigger and baggier and wider until the can't anymore, and then they start coming in. Hence the skinny jeans for men and women. Soon, they'll hit a point where they just can't get any smaller, and they'll slowly start going back out, into flares and bootcuts.
But I guarantee, khakis like these for gents will be popular and fashionable for a while. Gap is keeping it classic with a modern, well-appreciated twist, while keeping themselves affordable for the quality. Higher quality than Old Navy, and therefore more expensive, but a lot cheaper than Banana Republic, for only a little less quality.
I'm a Gap supporter and I plan on staying that way for a long time. PS, I lost all the weight I wanted to, and all the clothes still look perfectly cute on me (after an intense dryer cycle). In short, that article was wrong, and I think Gap is doing perfectly right now. They bounced back, and aren't going away anytime soon in my opinion.
Until next time!
-MG
All images from Gap website or google images. Original article found Here. :)
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Hello you lovely, lovely people! So the topic for today is shoes. I like shoes, and I feel like everyone else does too. Even boys, because they need their feet protected too. Shocking, right?
So! Who HASN'T heard of Toms?
Exactly. Anyone heard of their strange Sketchers version, called Bobs?
I know, they look almost identical. Also, if you just type 'bobs' into google, you get hair, so be forewarned, use 'Sketchers Bobs' or something of the sort.
Thus far we've established: Everyone likes shoes, Toms and Bobs BOTH give a pair of shoes to someone who needs shoes when you buy a pair of shoes. And everyone needs shoes.
But what about a college education? Would you buy a pair of shoes for that?
Have you ever heard of them? I'm not surprised if you said 'no,' and if you said 'yes,' then I hope you own a pair. Being a broke college student, the next time I have actual money I can actually spend, I plan on buying a pair. As it is, I just stare at them longingly all day, with romantic music and birds tweeting in the background.
So here's the gist of it: Women in Uganda usually can't afford college, and there's a nine month gap in their school system between schools. What Sseko does is it employs these women. For nine months these Ugandan women make these beautiful leather sandals and the interchangeable, multi-way straps. All the income gets put in a special account for their college, so after nine months, they've earned enough to get a college degree.
Why a separate account? More often than not, these women come from impoverished families who would take everything the women earned and put it towards something else. As it is, Sseko makes sure the women take home enough to live off of, and the rest if put in savings so it can't be spent on a whim, and that savings money can only go towards college.
So instead of giving a kid another pair of shoes, why not give a Ugandan woman a college education?
You can tie these sandals in a multitude of ways, and not only that, but you can buy different straps for it. Solids, prints, a whole pack of these ribbons, and apparently they're really sturdy. Like I said, broke college student, no monies, so I'll get there. But every review I've read speaks highly of them. They might be kind of like Rainbows, the flip-flop brand, in that you kind of need to break them in. But other than that, what's not to love?
Cute sandals with interchangeable, multi-way straps that help give Ugandan women a good college education? Count me in!
But trust me, I'll still buy Toms too. :D
Until next time!
-MG
So! Who HASN'T heard of Toms?
Exactly. Anyone heard of their strange Sketchers version, called Bobs?
I know, they look almost identical. Also, if you just type 'bobs' into google, you get hair, so be forewarned, use 'Sketchers Bobs' or something of the sort.
Thus far we've established: Everyone likes shoes, Toms and Bobs BOTH give a pair of shoes to someone who needs shoes when you buy a pair of shoes. And everyone needs shoes.
But what about a college education? Would you buy a pair of shoes for that?
Have you ever heard of them? I'm not surprised if you said 'no,' and if you said 'yes,' then I hope you own a pair. Being a broke college student, the next time I have actual money I can actually spend, I plan on buying a pair. As it is, I just stare at them longingly all day, with romantic music and birds tweeting in the background.
So here's the gist of it: Women in Uganda usually can't afford college, and there's a nine month gap in their school system between schools. What Sseko does is it employs these women. For nine months these Ugandan women make these beautiful leather sandals and the interchangeable, multi-way straps. All the income gets put in a special account for their college, so after nine months, they've earned enough to get a college degree.
Why a separate account? More often than not, these women come from impoverished families who would take everything the women earned and put it towards something else. As it is, Sseko makes sure the women take home enough to live off of, and the rest if put in savings so it can't be spent on a whim, and that savings money can only go towards college.
So instead of giving a kid another pair of shoes, why not give a Ugandan woman a college education?
You can tie these sandals in a multitude of ways, and not only that, but you can buy different straps for it. Solids, prints, a whole pack of these ribbons, and apparently they're really sturdy. Like I said, broke college student, no monies, so I'll get there. But every review I've read speaks highly of them. They might be kind of like Rainbows, the flip-flop brand, in that you kind of need to break them in. But other than that, what's not to love?
Cute sandals with interchangeable, multi-way straps that help give Ugandan women a good college education? Count me in!
But trust me, I'll still buy Toms too. :D
Until next time!
-MG
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Guest Speaker Prep 1
Guest Speaker Prep: Monica Jones, President AD2 Roanoke, Modea
I can't find any problems AD2 would be facing right now, strategically or otherwise, but I'm not sure how their membership is. Overall I'm sure it's fine, but I hadn't heard of them until today, so I wonder about the success of their numbers. Also, I figure it's probably a very thin line that they have to obey between professionalism and still maintaining a fun and relaxed atmosphere.
Based on their likes and 'talked about' statuses on facebook, along with who they follow, retweet, and who they're followed by on twitter, I can venture that my initial suspicion was correct, in that they don't have very many people following them. However, who them do have seems to be a very loyal, tight-knit group with greap connections. This shows that AD2 Roanoke really accomplishes what they mean to, easing people under 32 into the business world as easily as possible, and with as much help as is available.
How do you advertise to the marketing world? Is it through AAF Roanoke, or by coming to places like VT and Radford and other colleges and speaking about it?
How did you discover AD2 in Florida?
Do you ever have a discrepancy in ideas with AAF? How do you resolve those, or are you a completely separate affiliate of them?
Until next time! -MG Edit: spoiler alert for next time: Toms, Bobs, or a free college education?
I can't find any problems AD2 would be facing right now, strategically or otherwise, but I'm not sure how their membership is. Overall I'm sure it's fine, but I hadn't heard of them until today, so I wonder about the success of their numbers. Also, I figure it's probably a very thin line that they have to obey between professionalism and still maintaining a fun and relaxed atmosphere.
Based on their likes and 'talked about' statuses on facebook, along with who they follow, retweet, and who they're followed by on twitter, I can venture that my initial suspicion was correct, in that they don't have very many people following them. However, who them do have seems to be a very loyal, tight-knit group with greap connections. This shows that AD2 Roanoke really accomplishes what they mean to, easing people under 32 into the business world as easily as possible, and with as much help as is available.
How do you advertise to the marketing world? Is it through AAF Roanoke, or by coming to places like VT and Radford and other colleges and speaking about it?
How did you discover AD2 in Florida?
Do you ever have a discrepancy in ideas with AAF? How do you resolve those, or are you a completely separate affiliate of them?
Until next time! -MG Edit: spoiler alert for next time: Toms, Bobs, or a free college education?
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Bread, But No Butter
All right, are you ready for this?
BREAD. This is a display in an Anthropologie store. I don't know which one, and credits are at the end for where I got this picture. But let's take a look at the magnificence that is Anthropologie:
Anthropologie does advertising a little differently, and here I'm going to describe it to you and say why I think it works for them.
To start with, if you don't know Anthropologie, then click HERE. Go on, be amazed.
So they're owned by Urban Outfitters, who also own other stores such as Urban Outfitters, Free People, and Terrain. Each of those stores is targeted towards a different group, and Anthropologie is targeted towards selling a lifestyle to 30-40 year-old-women looking for something.. different. To put a title on the 'lifestyle,' would be probably be described as such. Different. Fun. You can't find what you find at Anthropologie anywhere else.
This skirt is called a 'flora fortress skirt.' In short, it has flowers and castles in it - and where else can you get a skirt like that?! I love it. Onto Anthropologie's advertising.. which is rather minimal. You can't flip through an 'Instyle' or a 'Cosmopolitan' and find ads for Anthropologie. You won't turn on the TV and see a commercial, nor will you hear one on the radio. Anthropologie is - as previously mentioned - a lifestyle. Once you love it, you spread the word. It has high quality clothes, and despite the sometimes high prices, the clothes are well worth it.
So how do they attract customers? Well, word-of-mouth, for one thing. Even you, right now, reading my blog, are now looking at their website, even if you never have before. Looking at their pictures. But most people are attracted by their displays. You've seen some already, here's a window display for one of their stores.
It's made of CLOTHES PINS. Also they normally have their doors open on nice days, so you walk by, you see this, and there's some airy, fresh smell pouring out of this store. They interest you - you go in just to see, 'well what is this store about.' They sell clothes, decorations, furnishings, books, accessories - a lifestyle.
Seriously, I can't stop looking at that picture.
Another way they keep customers coming back (aside from being pleasant and wonderful) is their catalogue, which is called 'The Magazine'. You can get it at the till, when you check out or just to grab one, and it's more like a magazine than a catalogue. There aren't articles, but there are pictures, with tiny print saying what each item is and how much it costs. In addition to the hard copy of the Magazine, they have an online version.
In their online version, they have articles. These articles range from straight fashion to the lifestyle they promote and the designers they showcase and sell. They don't just make their own clothes, they buy from other people and then become a distributor for that company, or even for just those few people. They also post reels from their photoshoots for the Magazine (September 2012 was in Edinburgh, so it's really interesting to watch), or they'll share a little story or article from where they went. They showcase artists, and let you know what fashion is really excellent right now. Recently, they've released a petite line of all their clothes, so it's an article about how to dress a petite body.
Being rather petite myself, this news gave reason for a slight celebration. :)
They also have a 'he says, she says' section, where their two stylists for the Magazine (Richmond and Kelly) showcase their picks for the season/the transitioning seasons. They have two very different opinions stylistically, and it's always a good and quick read.
I feel like all of these things combine to stylistically sell a lifestyle to their target audience, and even out of that range. I'm going to be honest, I adore Anthropologie when it's on sale so I don't have to pay $200 for a pair of jeans. Nice jeans, but I am a college student on a budget! Between the Magazine, the online version of it, and their ever-changing store designs, I feel Anthropologie will do nothing but grow in the future.
Assuming there's nothing terrible in the future. ;)
Until next time!
-MG
Sources
http://iheartlaughing.blogspot.com/2011/12/anthropologies-to-die-for-displays.html
http://www.designsponge.com/2010/06/anthropologie-summer-windows.html
http://www.anthropologie.com
http://www.imogeneandwillie.com/press
BREAD. This is a display in an Anthropologie store. I don't know which one, and credits are at the end for where I got this picture. But let's take a look at the magnificence that is Anthropologie:
Anthropologie does advertising a little differently, and here I'm going to describe it to you and say why I think it works for them.
To start with, if you don't know Anthropologie, then click HERE. Go on, be amazed.
So they're owned by Urban Outfitters, who also own other stores such as Urban Outfitters, Free People, and Terrain. Each of those stores is targeted towards a different group, and Anthropologie is targeted towards selling a lifestyle to 30-40 year-old-women looking for something.. different. To put a title on the 'lifestyle,' would be probably be described as such. Different. Fun. You can't find what you find at Anthropologie anywhere else.
This skirt is called a 'flora fortress skirt.' In short, it has flowers and castles in it - and where else can you get a skirt like that?! I love it. Onto Anthropologie's advertising.. which is rather minimal. You can't flip through an 'Instyle' or a 'Cosmopolitan' and find ads for Anthropologie. You won't turn on the TV and see a commercial, nor will you hear one on the radio. Anthropologie is - as previously mentioned - a lifestyle. Once you love it, you spread the word. It has high quality clothes, and despite the sometimes high prices, the clothes are well worth it.
So how do they attract customers? Well, word-of-mouth, for one thing. Even you, right now, reading my blog, are now looking at their website, even if you never have before. Looking at their pictures. But most people are attracted by their displays. You've seen some already, here's a window display for one of their stores.
It's made of CLOTHES PINS. Also they normally have their doors open on nice days, so you walk by, you see this, and there's some airy, fresh smell pouring out of this store. They interest you - you go in just to see, 'well what is this store about.' They sell clothes, decorations, furnishings, books, accessories - a lifestyle.
Seriously, I can't stop looking at that picture.
Another way they keep customers coming back (aside from being pleasant and wonderful) is their catalogue, which is called 'The Magazine'. You can get it at the till, when you check out or just to grab one, and it's more like a magazine than a catalogue. There aren't articles, but there are pictures, with tiny print saying what each item is and how much it costs. In addition to the hard copy of the Magazine, they have an online version.
In their online version, they have articles. These articles range from straight fashion to the lifestyle they promote and the designers they showcase and sell. They don't just make their own clothes, they buy from other people and then become a distributor for that company, or even for just those few people. They also post reels from their photoshoots for the Magazine (September 2012 was in Edinburgh, so it's really interesting to watch), or they'll share a little story or article from where they went. They showcase artists, and let you know what fashion is really excellent right now. Recently, they've released a petite line of all their clothes, so it's an article about how to dress a petite body.
Being rather petite myself, this news gave reason for a slight celebration. :)
They also have a 'he says, she says' section, where their two stylists for the Magazine (Richmond and Kelly) showcase their picks for the season/the transitioning seasons. They have two very different opinions stylistically, and it's always a good and quick read.
I feel like all of these things combine to stylistically sell a lifestyle to their target audience, and even out of that range. I'm going to be honest, I adore Anthropologie when it's on sale so I don't have to pay $200 for a pair of jeans. Nice jeans, but I am a college student on a budget! Between the Magazine, the online version of it, and their ever-changing store designs, I feel Anthropologie will do nothing but grow in the future.
Assuming there's nothing terrible in the future. ;)
Until next time!
-MG
Sources
http://iheartlaughing.blogspot.com/2011/12/anthropologies-to-die-for-displays.html
http://www.designsponge.com/2010/06/anthropologie-summer-windows.html
http://www.anthropologie.com
http://www.imogeneandwillie.com/press
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