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J-O-B...

Well, I have been holding out on telling you that I got a job.  A J-O-B, a real job.  I am flabbergasted.  For 21 years I have had my own business and hustled and struggled and yes, huffed and puffed until I blew myself down.  I confided in my friend Jules that I was putting my feelers out to find a job as a receoptionist somewhere, something where I didn't have to think and I could be on the internet most of the day.  I know this because having my own business that's what a lot of my employee's would do--nothing.   It's not like they didn't like me, it's just that nobody will ever love your business as much as you.  The people that work for you will probably be good for 3-4 hours out of any work day.  Trust me on this, don't bellyache if you aren't like this, you then are a 'find' and  I do hope your company appreciates you!  I sent out a faux resume that had me as the receptionist of my own company.  I thought the resume was quite nice and if I were hiring I would hire me.  I didn't get one call after about six months of send outs!  I was getting weary, I wanted a job, something not taxing and something I could do while I did Bella Bella.  Well, it seems that being a receptionist wasn't in my stars, I couldn't waitress as I am old(er) and standing on my feet for extended periods of time would put me inches from my grave.  Also, being in Los Angeles if you don't look like Angelina Jolie's twin sister the waiting jobs are not in your cards.  I did get a call though out of the blue about a job, a BIG job.  I can't tell you what the company is, as I had to sign Fort Knox worthy documents not to discuss, but I will be their Brand Director a.k.a Secret Weapon.  I'll be their Agent '99' (if you are 80 you may understand that reference).  Even though I was going for non-taxing it looks like I signed myself up for the Olympics of PR + Branding.  I am up for the challenge though, even though I am nervous as all get out.

My PR doors for my boutique firm will be closing, but not to fret!  I am writing a book on PR, not any 'ol book mind you, but a PR Handbook extraordinairre!  I will be writing with a well respected and highly sought out Editor and you will have the perspective from both a seasoned PR professional and the Editors point of view, so if you have questions, ask away as I will need fodder for our chapters!  This is not a folly we will be getting this published as we have a million (conservative estimate) publishers interested!  I am doing this for you, everyone who ever wanted to know about PR, because it is quite 'Oz' like I know.  When I was in school and people would say I should be in Public Relations, I always wondered why they would want me to be in a government job.  I like shoes for goodness sake!  Anyway, I  do hope that you take me up on this offer and ask so I can help you build your business as I have been able to do for so many others.  I truly believe their is nothing quite like the feeling of getting up and being excited to go to work instead of dreading the alarm clock...

GENIUS!

I have always had an appreciation for delicious  and ingenious marketing pieces, but I was nearly knocked off my chair when I received this piece of marketing genius in my paws.  I am showing this at risk of being kicked out of my 'secret society' to hopefully inspire you to get creative with your marketing efforts.  You see your efforts don't have to be boring and by the book (unless it's my future book than you should follow it step-by-step, I jest..)  Back to your marketing, if you have a client base and competition, than you need to set yourself apart from the competition and find creative ways to make yourself stand out.  I always feel the most successful pieces are ones that the recipient wants to keep and even better use, something that keeps your name in their radar without being say an ugly magnet, with an equally ugly logo or some other offensive promo piece, that being said lots of successful real estate agents have used the ugly magnet to great success...

So when I got this piece in the mail from Veer, one of my favorite sites, I was truly inspired to step up my efforts to another level:

The piece was an embossed, faux leather handbook for membership into their secret society for creatives. The 'handbook' had fun 'rules of conduct', riddles to figure out to get discounts off of future purchases, of course secret handshakes and code phrases, my new membership card (yes, I am going to laminate and put in my wallet)  and a key for more good stuff.  I loved every inch of it!  It achieved everything it intended it had me at 'hello' and then some, so get on over to Veer and buy yourself out of house and home a and maybe you too can get your invitation to join the Order of Creatives...

KNOW WHO YOU ARE SELLING TO...

Happy Saturday to you!  I thought it's about time that I let you know a little more about me, not because I am full of myself, but I just don't want to be holding anything back from you and then you go, wha?  I have neglected (on purpose) to mention that I am a parfumeur.  I know it sounds like a really weird segue, I design paper goods, parfum and yes, for many, many moons I was a publicist, I suppose I only take professions that start with a 'P' so I hope I won't be adding prostitute to the 'ol curriculum vitae anytime soon... I am mentioning this because, I am so excited that we are doing a repackaging of the Monyette Paris brand, it thrills me to no end since I didn't have much of a say in the first round (except for the bird, that's all me..)  I felt the old packaging (above) didn't reflect the inside product and from a branding perspective that is a no-no.  Another reason I didn't mention it is that I got beat up a lot by critics and it hurt,  I felt like Nicole Richie!   I couldn't read a good review and be satisfied I had to read a bad review and want to put my head in the oven.  I should know better than this.  I have been a branding expert for longer than some of you have been alive, okay been able to read, and the idea here for any product is to appeal to your demographic.  The one thing that has always irked me and made me seasick is when a potential client would come to me for advice and I would ask the question, "So who is your demographic?" and they would say, "Everyone."  Not, even water is for everyone there are different types of water, I won't drink tap but then again I won't buy a $40 bottle of water from some remote lagoon, so I am of the demographic that wants fresh water that is clean but doesn't taste like "s" and doesn't cost more than $2.00. 

Believe me, with all the people in the world you should have a niche.  For Monyette and most of the fragrances I create, my niche is 'vacation in a bottle'. All, the scents I create navigate back to an island floral inspiration.  Monyette is Tahitian gardenia which to my nose smells a lot like jasmine.  My demographic would be women in-between the ages of 24-35 years, income of $50K+ annually, follows fashion, but not trendy, is confident and sexy.  Do other people outside of my demographic buy the fragrance?  Yes!  I had a lovely lady write me that she wore it on her 50th wedding anniversary and it drove her husband nuts!  I know a few men that wear it (hey, women are attracted to flowers) have I had people outside my demographic demolish me?  Why yes!  I had a woman comment on the perfume forums that it smelled like deodorant tampons!  The goal of this post is to help guide you on your own demographic if you are making items, selling them etc.  When you have honed in, focus with laser like attention on the group that gravitates toward your brand, store, etc.  It's those people that will appreciate what you do and will refer other business to you.  Don't try to fit a round peg in a square hole, why?  You don't need to, people will like you for you and you will always excel if you are doing something that you love....

If you have more specific questions, let me know and I will try to answer them in future posts of PR + Branding 101 because you never know who might be wanting to know the answer to your question.  Take advantage of this while I am offering as I plan to close my branding and PR doors for good some day real soon...