Terrific Day with Devon Air Ambulance

Posted on March 1, 2012 by admin27

It is not often that you have a day that you know you will truly remember.

I was fortunate enough to have one such day today – the PR launch of the collaboration between Devon Air Ambulance and White Label Greeting Cards.

Devon Air Ambulance is the first charity to launch the new online personalised greeting card service, provided by White Label Greeting Cards.

To celebrate Sam Heaton (MD of White Label Greeting Cards), Jack Lomas (Devon Air Ambulance Trustee) and I were invited to be shown around Devon’s Air Ambulance – a EC135 Helicopter – based at the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary Air Support Unit at Middlemoor in Exeter, by Helena Holt (CEO Devon Air Ambulance) and Sarah Burden (PR Manager Devon Air Ambulance).

On arrival to the air base, the red glistening helicopter was a wonderful sight, parked up, in the clearing fog.

Paramedic Helen comprehensively explained exactly what happens when an emergency call is put out, how the equipment is efficiently stowed, and how cleverly treatment is carried out onboard.

The air ambulance is used extensively everyday in Devon for emergency medical assistance in situations, where either a traditional ambulances cannot reach the accident scene easily or quickly enough, or where the patient needs to be transported some considerable distance.

The team at White Label Greeting Cards is extremely proud of the collaboration, and look forward to it turning into a successful fundraising initiative for this essential live-saving Devon charity.

To view the cards on the Devon Air Ambulance site, please follow this link. http://www.daat.org/shop-cards/

Lucy Goaman

Detox from head to toe

Posted on February 21, 2012 by admin27

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Sshh…

I have been, on the quiet, testing Detox Foot Patches. And I am so grossed out about the results, that I have delayed posting this! And you will see why.

But I have chosen to share this with you, as I actually loved them!!

I have, like many in the beauty industry, tried bucket loads of products over the years. But this is one that was not on my radar, until I saw a box of Silver Detox Patches in a reduced bay at my local shop from £24.99 to £5.

I love a bargain, as much as I love trying out new products. And especially detox ones that do not require me to drink watered down cider vinegar or a litre of green tea everyday.

I read the box before I began, and was informed that Silver Detox is recommended by the Japanese Associaton of Preventive medicine for Adult Disease. A good start.

There are four interesting ingredients in this product.

1) The lead ingredient in the product is the Agaricus mushroom from Brazil – this meant nothing to me. Further exploring lead me to discover that this is actually a very special mushroom, rich in polysaccharide compounds, which assist in boosting the immune system.

2) The wood vinegar is from Eucalyptus, Bamboo & Oak tree sap. The dried sap from these trees is believed to absorb toxins through the skin and has detoxing and sterilising properties. In the product it provides great absorbing power and helps absorb toxins released through the skin.

3) Tourmaline Origin improves circulation, relieves stress, increases mental alertness and strengthens the body’s immune system.

4) Beta Glucan is a natural compound that triggers an immune response in the body, which builds a better system of defence against viral, bacterial and parasitic invaders. It enhances macrophage activity ~ macrophages ingest bacteria and cell debris.

The theory is that the pads stimulate the nerve endings in the feet, draw out the toxins, and pass their cleansing powers into the body’s system.

All sounded like a good marketing, so I put the theory to the test.

First of all, I cleaned my feet, and did as I was told and applied the patches before going to bed. The patches look like extra large tea bags, which are them adhered to an equally oversized plaster! One patch is applied to the sole of each foot. I then wore a pair of socks to make sure that the patches did not come off overnight, which would have ruined my little experiment! With my box of 10 patches, I repeated this for five consecutive nights.

The patches before a night’s sleep

And, are you ready for this? The patches in the morning looked like this!

Now there is something hugely satisfying about seeing results. Usually in the beauty industry that is often along the lines of skin looking more glowing, dewey, less wrinkled.

But the results I was seeing morning after morning gave me a real thrill. I really felt that the product was working. I felt that it was giving me a damn good detox. I felt cleaner – which is an odd thing to feel, especially as I was waking up to absolutely disgusting looking pads on my feet! But it was very cleansing to know that the gunk was now on the pads and not in my body! And interestingly each morning the pads did get noticably slightly lighter in colour, which was making me believe that the level of toxins in my body was reducing.

I enjoyed using this product, and I am convinced that it really did work. I woke up very refreshed, and slept better than normal. I felt detoxed from head to toe!!

And I was 4 lbs lighter on the scales. One happy customer.

Simply Brilliant Beauty Innovation

Posted on February 11, 2012 by admin27

Some products are so simple, that they need very little explaining.

I love simplicity, and the smart innovation this month is from Avon, The Professional Perfect Eyes Kit.

I have worked on many make-up brands and the continual consumer issue was based on lack of confidence behind trying new looks, which was founded on people being unsure how to create a new look. Well Avon have quite simply taken the guesswork out of creating a new eye look.

The kit clearly shows you how to highlight, accent, contrast, and line eyes in a few simple steps. And the product is so cleverly designed that you can see exactly where you should be applying those shades.

Simply brilliant.

Mobile Marketing – notes from a train journey!

Posted on January 31, 2012 by admin27

As we close the first month of 2012, with plans for the year in progress, I am sure most businesses are undergoing some change. With economic and EU/UK political uncertainly pulling down, developments in technology are continuing to push businesses up into new territories and marketing opportunities.

I am watching with interest, and working with businesses on the impact that mobile technology is having on their brand and marketing planning. The consumer need for full integration of marketing and communication platforms can create its challenges in our ever-increasing mobile world!

Indeed, as I write this, I am sitting on the 6.05am Tiverton Parkway to Paddington train. I have just seen an ad for the new liquid foundation (will explain all in a future blog – but a long overdue launch from a great brand!) in a magazine, use the QR code that is displayed to find out further details on line, then check on comparison sites where I can make the cheapest purchase, and then order the item to be delivered to my home address the following day.

I have a sip of my decaff coffee (milk and a sweetener) and then move onto checking out some of my favourite (in terms of marketing) fashion brands.

I am a fan of H&M at the moment. Typically a high street retail business model, the brand is making giant leaps with digital media to drive sales.

They are experimenting with virtual changing rooms, customer service Twitter feed, linking their e-commerce site to You Tube and blogs. I sit here working out what I should treat myself to, need something great to wear with my new foundation!

Taking it one step further, is Needle. This is great and I am sure will become an essential marketing tool for UK brands.

Needle puts customers who are looking for product information and recommendations directly in touch with product experts. And here’s the clever part. The product experts are other people who use their products – the brand’s most passionate fans, recruited from social media sites like facebook and Twitter. The theory here is that these “fans” who use the products will offer better advice than any call centre. Advice is given through online text, video or voice chats. As a thank you to the “fans,” the brands allow the experts to earn points – which in turn is used to buy more products from the brand, growing their expertise! According to Needle, a chat with a Needle product expert is “the equivalent of having a personal shopper giving real-time reviews and recommendations to your customers based on rich, interactive dialogues.

Catching the train has never been so much fun!

Social Media = New Customer Service

Posted on January 9, 2012 by admin27

Calling all brands – how are you interacting with your customers via your social media sites?

The Social Media Customer Service Report conducted by TNS and commissioned by customer care outsourcing provider Sitel, surveyed more than 1,000 UK consumers and found that 57% of consumers preferred to search online to solve their customer issues, and then interact with customer service on social media channnels such as Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, blogs and forums over any other method.

The good news here is, if you have a great website and are using a variety of real-time information on social media platforms, your consumers are very likely going to resolve their query by posting a question on your website, or view your tutorial or demonstration from your web, or from details on your launches on your blogsite.

But, if you haven’t developed a social media customer service strategy as part of your grand plan, now is the time to do so.

Here is a checklist for you;

1) product demonstrations on line
2) detailed product information
3) forums to chat about your product lines
4) twitter and facebook customer service teams
5) regular blog sites to push out information flow
6) maintain strong phone support – don’t you hate that when you cannot find a phone number to ring on some websites!

Due to my love of beauty brands, I have had a sneak about on facebook and twitter today to get a sense of customer’s comments today.. if you get a moment, take a look:-

www.facebook.com/gillette; good level of interaction with consumers, loud messages coming through on the price of blades!

http://www.facebook.com/MaxFactorUK; blocking customer feedback and interaction on the site, but great at product tutorials.

http://www.facebook.com/moltonbrown; a feast of customer feedback, no need for brand managers here to do focus groups!

http://www.facebook.com/misshoneyuk; great positive customer feedback for this lovely small growing brand.

http://www.facebook.com/BootsOfficialUK; really great, open messaging.

So the watch-out. Your social media strategy will blur into your customer service strategy, so make sure you are ready!

Paul and Joe Spring 2012…

Posted on January 8, 2012 by admin27

Paul & Joe’s spring 2012 Meow! makeup collection can now be previewed. The line celebrates the Paul & Joe’s 10th anniversary, and the inspiration of the collection is the founder’s love of cats.

I am sure most of you are familar with this line of products, and their fusion of the Parisian philosophy of enjoying life, mirrored with its kitsch, retro-chic packaging.

For innovation seekers check out the new Blusher Sticks (£21 each)… they’re shaped like cats! They come in shades: Glamour Puss (soft beige), Minou (pastel pink) and Cat Fight (energetic tangerine).

And the the lipsticks have inprints of paw prints on the lipstick bullet. They come in shades: Glamour Puss (soft beige), Minou (pastel pink) and Cat Fight (energetic tangerine)!! Don’t you love it!

The line is launching on 1st February, so when you get your paws on the products, do let me know what you think!

Winter Wonderland – Selfridges

Posted on December 9, 2011 by admin27

Selfridges is enjoying the success of their revolutionary window display for its 2011 Christmas season. Epitomising this year’s White Christmas theme, the Oxford Street windows create a true winter wonderland in the heart of the capital.

Amazingly, the windows are musical! Each window has been turned into oversized music boxes, my favourite are the ones playing re-worked Christmas carols. Shoppers are getting interactive with the windows, as each pane is equipped with a state-of-the-art touch-screen wind-up system to control the track.

Russ Jones and Scott King from Condiment Junkie, the London-based creative outfit behind the technology, explain more about this global innovation:

“First, the new system plays music through, not from, the windows – using the glass pane itself as the loudspeaker. Additionally, the system is devised in such a way that although each window plays a different tune, customers are able to listen to the track without interference from the music being played through the next window.”

Then take a wander inside the store, and head for White Wonders – the ultimate destination for all beauty and fashion junkies. All the products in White Wonders, are, as expected, on theme, and are the most beautiful white products available, many made exclusively for Selfridges.

If you are a retailer, have you transformed your window space this Christmas, and have given your shoppers a novel Christmas experience, I would love to hear about it.

New from Nivea – New for Gifting

Posted on December 6, 2011 by admin27

Nivea have just made a giant leap in the mass gifting market.

In a previous life, I was responsible for Gifting at Procter and Gamble, and have since maintained a huge interest in the beauty gifting marketing.

I am really impressed with Nivea this Christmas.

In conjunction with a facebook app (created by Agency Republic), Nivea, with the skincare brand’s ‘Feel Closer’ positioning (created by Draftfcb), have enabled shoppers to make Nivea giftsets a more thoughtful gift.

Consumers can use the app to buy and send a friend a Nivea gift set, which will be wrapped in personalised wrapping paper featuring photos they have both been tagged in on Facebook.

The free wrapping paper will can also include comments they have made on each other’s Facebook walls in a strategy that aims to conjure up thoughts the friends have shared and memories of the fun times had together.

The Beiersdorf-owned brand first launched its ‘Feel Closer’ positioning in August in an attempt to shift brand perceptions and re-engage women.
It hopes to target women aged 30-54 by encouraging the use of Facebook to share “moments of closeness” by uploading photos and liking, sharing and commenting on other people’s pictures.

With gift packs ranging from £6 to £13, the campaign offers affordability, but it’s the personalized wrapping paper that will entice custom.

During a time when there is concern with the growing commercial closeness of facebook and certain brands, I think Nivea have got this one right.

Great packaging innovation

Posted on November 29, 2011 by admin27

Mark Main Squeeze Lip Glosses

A great new piece of packaging for the cosmetic industry from Avon Cosmetics. I saw this for the first time today. Move over Juicy Tubes, these sheer, high shine lipglosses are housed in the centre of this limited edition disc. You simply flip open the silver top and underneath is the lipgloss applicator – ingenius.

For those in the christmas shopping mood, this is a great stocking filler.

For those developing ranges for 2012, this is a great piece of gadgetry packaging.

mark Main Squeeze Lipgloss 005 mark Main Squeeze Lipgloss Review, Swatches, Photos

If you work in the beauty industry, you maybe keen to know more about a new subscription service. Every month IStream provide a super edited 5 minute video of the greatest launches and innovations in the beauty world, alongside a report detailing all the trends, and a presentation script, should you wish to present the video internally in your organisation. It’s all you need to become the beauty expert in your company, or maintain that status!

If you want to be one of the first to get access to this new service, please complete the form below.

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Beauty Trends

Posted on November 10, 2011 by admin27

Watch this space! Do you work in the beauty market and wish someone could give you a super edited 5 minute video of the greatest launches and innovations in the beauty world over the month, and track the trends for you? It’s all you need to become the beauty expert in your company, or maintain that status!

If you want to be the first to get access to this new service, please complete the form below.