When Cookie launched back in 2005, it was around a period of time where a lot of my friends were starting their families. These were the new breed of yuppie-mom who were more likely to live in the city, buy organic, and make playdates at the local pub (yes, in Williamsburg there was a mommy cocktail hour at a local bar). It was luxurious, and it catered to the upper-middle class woman who had a career, loved fashion, enjoyed cooking, and also just so happened to have kids who they also wanted to keep hip and stylish.

To me, it was not much of a surprise that Cookie folded – right now people care more about substance over style, and Cookie presented a world that was not sustainable in these trying times. While the glossy publication proved aspiration for young moms, unfortunately it was not a realistic one. When a working mom is in the supermarket and sees a cover for Cookie, a glossy, high-end looking publication, next to Woman’s Day which tells you how to get dinner on the table for $10 or less, I would have to say that today’s mom will grab the magazine that speaks to her NOW. Today’s woman is concerned about money, her kids, and being able to manage her home in addition to work. Parents can afford to spend their money at Target for their kids’ back to school wardrobe, not Bergdorf’s. Also, a Tahitian vacation may sound wonderful, but Disney is a bit more realistic, you think?

After reading a bunch of mommy blogs, while many mothers didn’t feel that the glossy didn’t particularly speak to them, they did enjoy that the editors treated them as not just mommies, but as people who had interests outside of their children, who wanted to enjoy good food, not necessarily looking for shortcuts for everything, who weren’t constantly in the “mommy bubble.” Perhaps other parenting magazines can take a cue from where Cookie succeeded, without all the yuppie stuff, since new parents really, really find it crucially important to keep their identity while transitioning into family life.

I have somehow become an expert at dodging these people, but sometimes they are onto me. Aggressively, they thwart my path and sometimes tag team it. This is especially the case with the “charity” and the spa/hair people. Now, I am sure you have seen a happy go-lucky, enthusiastic looking college student asking you if you have a couple of minutes for the environment – these folks are not even hired by the charity, but rather a for-profit organization that is subcontracted by the charity. Why would I donate on the street when I know this third-party is taking a profit? If I want to donate, I will go online and make a direct donation, thankyouverymuch. The other, more dubious street solicitors are the spa/hair people. Usually it is a very fabulous or stylish young woman or man who asks you where you get your hair done. Sometimes, it sounds a bit condescending – as if you really need their help and the only way you will ever be fashionable again is if you take their offer. Oh yeah, don’t forget that credit card information! Usually the people that I see fall for this are either tourists or NYC newbies.

So, where does that leave true experiential campaigns? As a jaded New Yorker, will I stop, look, and listen to their pitch? Of course, I feel like I’ve seen it all before, and I need something that is really engaging to stop me in my tracks if I am hanging in Union Square. I’m a working woman; I have places to go. What makes your product worth trying? Are you authentic? Do you seem excited about the product and are you engaging me? If you seem anything like those clipboard-hawking solicitors, I will walk the other way.

First, you can be friendly, but not pushy. Sure, I’ll try a can of Coke Zero, but if you shove it in my face or seem bored or unapproachable, you lost me. Another thing you can do, is totally engage me – I remember seeing a promotion outside of Grand Central last year promoting Madmen where actors played out scenes and did a little improv. This was a conversation starter. Plus, those “business cards” were a clever giveaway, making me curious about the show. Finally, you should be able to keep the conversation going – don’t just hand me a cereal bar and leave it at that. There should be an online component that will allow me to continue the courtship with your brand.

As for you wannabe rap stars – sorry, but I’m not that interested.

Some may argue that there are better things to get worked up about, but they miss the point entirely. IKEA is known as a brand that knows good design, and the baffling part of the equation is that they went from their custom version of Futura to something generic and cheap. While we all know that IKEA has “cheap” furniture, there was always that high standard of design that was an integral part of their core values as a brand. Stepping down to Verdana is taking that philosophy and essentially throwing it in the garbage. While I understand that it may be a pain in the ass to have different online and offline typefaces, many brands haven’t compromised their design standards in the process. One of my friends mentioned this particular point to me and said that seeing Verdana on a billboard is just not right, as it is unclear to read in that medium. My friend Sharon said it best:

“The fact that we do, and by “we” I mean Americans as a whole, accept and get over bad type and graphic design, means there will just be more of it.
The thing that really outrages me is those badly designed vinyl banner outdoor signs that every store has now, that are obviously not professionally designed. I don’t understand it, there are some things that smart people would never do themselves, like cater their own weddings, fix their own cars or other appliances, cut their own hair, wax their own bikini lines, but they have no problem designing their own signs or business cards just because they own a computer. I own a drill and a tool box but that doesn’t mean I should or can fix my car. Design to the average person gets no respect.”

Bottom line: design surrounds and affects us, all the time and everywhere.

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The “fashion” phenomenon that was Crocs is coming to an end. So many people had these ugly plastic clogs that anti-Crocs Facebook groups and blogs started popping up proclaiming “I don’t care how comfortable they are, you look like a dumbass.” So, how exactly did these shoes become the darling of the shoe industry with the biggest IPO in shoe stock history? First, they made a product out of a material that is pretty indestructable - which means people don’t need to replace them so often (unless they really want every single color), and second, they completely oversaturated the market. It seemed like no matter where you went, Crocs were everywhere. In Soho, where Tenessee Mountain used to be, there was a sign proclaiming that a Crocs boutique was coming soon. The sign had been up for a few years, and no progress was being made on the space - that could have been the first sign that this fad really did not have staying power. I am kind of glad, because this means less people with atrocious footwear. 

Source: Washington Post

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They always say that things happen in threes. Earlier this week, we lost Ed McMahon who we all remember from Johnny Carson and those Publisher’s Clearing House commercials. On Thursday, news about Farrah Fawcett’s loss to cancer hit early in the morning. The day was all abuzz on Twitter with a few random Farrah tweets throughout the day, and then, just before 6pm eastern time (I am in NYC), the floodgates opened. TMZ reports Michael Jackson being rushed to the hospital! Michael Jackson had cardiac arrest! The next fifteen minutes were insanely tweeted, until tweets stated “TMZ reports Michael Jackson dead at 50.” Fail whales due to overload kept anchoring us, and I, like many others were a bit annoyed because I wanted to know when a credible news source was going to confirm. Moments later, the LA Times reported his death. I cannot explain how rapid this all happened. This was all taking place over the course of a half hour, from the time of the first reports that MJ was being rushed by helicopter to the hospital to the moment that legit news sources have confirmed his death as many do not trust TMZ to be a credible source of information.

Since when is an online gossip tabloid a credible news source? TMZ is owned by Time Warner, and we tend to forget that piece of information - obviously they are a well-connected crew. The other thing is even if we know that the gossip site is telling the truth, we don’t want to admit it because it seems lowbrow and shallow. After much thought, I realized this: TMZ are specialists in celebrity journalism, no matter how shady they may seem. Here in America, we do put our celebrities on a very high pedestal and they become a part of our daily lives. Mainstream media is our habit, and we tend to put our trust into the NY Times, CNN, and other channels simply because they cover “real” news stories. But after Michael Jackson’s death was reported, turn on any channel and open up any paper yesterday and we have saturated the story. The protests in Iran take a backseat to entertainment. Even on CNN, the lead story is all about Michael with everything else being sidebars. While this is an entertainer that had a tremendous impact on many people’s lives, does it warrant 24/7 coverage? Is it more important than social injustice, war, and financial crisis? All of this reminds me of the classic 1976 movie, Network. If you haven’t seen the movie, I recommend it highly. Here’s the trailer:

Network (1976) movie trailer

So this blog makes the claim that if you are the first in line to buy a shiny new iPhone 3GS, you may actually have some problems with money. Yes, we all know that times are tight, and with layoffs still going around, it’s not really the time to flaunt your stash o’ cash. I definitely know the temptation to buy the latest in technology is very strong and what we “want” turns very quickly into something we “need.” Case in point, the cell phone. When I mention to younger friends that their used to be a line to use a public telephone, they look at me like I am crazy. The cell phone is probably the best example of a convenience turned into necessity. We bought it to be connected to work. We bought it for “emergencies.” But soon, the cell phone started to creep into our daily banter, chatting away with friends down the street, in the laundromat, on a break from work. It’s almost laughable that we used to turn off the phone when we didn’t need it, yet my parents still do. (It’s what I call their “bat phone”). Then, many of us have ditched the landline as being constantly connected to both our professionally and social lives was no longer a luxury, but an expectation.

Once Apple’s iPhone hit the market, Smart Phones were an uber luxury item. We needed the phone to speak with people and text, not to get on the internet from anywhere. But then a funny thing happened, the phone became more than just a phone. It morphed into our portable gaming device, our GPS, our camera, among other things. So, while the iPhone is a luxury item and the ultimate in gadgets, expect it to be the standard model for mobile devices.

Hot on the heels of news reports that despite the recession, couples are spending just as much on gifts as before, comes this wonderful documentation of a couple who threw a circus themed wedding.

It’s no surprise that sales are down everywhere. People aren’t buying new clothes, but still want to update their wardrobe. In an article from Reuters, watches and sunglasses are “shopping’s bright spots.” Knowing this, and also knowing about the “upcycling” trend, we could be headed to a new era in personal style. As people shun the large chains, people are opting to maximize what they already own - or recreate them into something brand new.

In the ’80s and early ’90s personal style was so important for teens. Trying to get a sense of individuality came in the form of thrift store shopping, hairspray, accessories, you name it. With pop-culture icons like Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, and Siouxsie Sioux, girls were not afraid to wear whatever they wanted. Eventually, around the time that alternative became corporate rock, was when the homogynized chain store look took over. Sure, the new kids had Gwen Stefani and Shirley Manson, but the sense of individuality just wasn’t as pronounced.

Now, we are in another recession and clothing chains are suffering. People shop in their own closets, but really want to create something fresh and new. Even pop culture has a new DIY princess of pop, Lady Gaga who is a new source of inspiration for teens to really take charge of their look (but maybe not as risque - no hotpants and bodysuits to school, please).

Not only will watches and sunglasses do well - other accessories and costume jewelry items will be big sellers. In NYC, there are tons of “junk” jewelry stores that sell accessories as low as $1 - so earrings, necklaces, makeup, belts, gloves - you name it - will become more and more popular with girls yearning to carve their own look. As much as we hate to admit it, we are echoing the era of “bigger is better” - ie, the ’80s, and that will certainly show in the fall, when teens head back to school.

I wrote about the Swine Flu hysteria a couple of weeks ago when it first broke out. Now that time has passed, I wanted to revisit it and share a couple of observations I made as a few trends have emerged in the wake of it all.

For starters, “hyper hygiene” has become the rage. People are now armed with hand sanitizers, washing their hands more frequently. For brands that make these products, they are experiencing a huge boom in business. This will probably lead to new products being pushed on the market in food, personal, and household hygiene.

For me, hygiene evokes the sense of “sterility” and with that, comes an overwhelming need to strive for perfection. With that logic, the “everyone’s a winner” ethos that Millenials have experienced will be replaced with “looking out for Number One.” Looking through some parenting discussion boards and blogs, I noticed that many parents are not allowing their kids to share toys, as germs spread and kids tend to put things in their mouth. Playgroup sessions have been canceled, and coughing in public gets you the evil eye. In addition to personal hygiene, we are becoming more concerned with our living environment. Expect to see more cleaning products introduced on the market and media promoting a “clean” environment. Dusting will become huge, and having homes “sterilized” will not be uncommon after a family member is sick.

Other things that hyper-hygiene will spark a new era in the workplace. Once where it was expected to come into the office unless you were “really” sick, will now change. Employers now want employees to be productive, and if you are coughing, expect to be sent home. Since most people have the capability to work from home, this will become the norm - too sick to commute, but expected to “check in” at the office.

Even though it seems as if the hysteria of a couple of weeks ago has simmered down, I think we are only at the beginning of this era of cleanliness.

Body Care and Grooming 1948 - Part 1

We may be pointing the finger at obesity, but when the purse strings get tight, the first thing we tend to cut is the gym membership. Crunch, one of the first “lifestyle” gym brands has been hit hard and is filing Chapter 11. No worries, they seem to already have a suitor, but let’s take a look at the brand.

Crunch opened in 1989 and was an immediate fitness sensation. MTV hyped it up and I vaguely remember them having some kind of fitness show in the early 90s at Crunch. The gym was known for its non-traditional approach to fitness and introduced hip hop aerobics and the Bollywood workout to the world. Crunch was the gym of the ’90s and quickly became the blueprint for other fitness clubs across the country.

When Bally’s gobbled up Crunch in 2002, the reputation started to soil a bit. People complained about duplicate charges, lack of service, and more. The marriage didn’t work out and when Crunch re-acquired 25 of their locations in 2006, Bally misrepresented the number of acitve members and failed to disclose contractual information of these members. At this point, Crunch had to re-establish themselves as a personal, friendly, cutting-edge fitness center as opposed to the big gym conglomerate.