Calling All Lingerie Lovers! Gossard: A Live Brief

As part of my university course, we get set live projects, where a company will set us a real brief around which we base our work.
Not only does this give us the opportunity to really think about what we are learning in context, but it can give the companies involved really valuable insights about their brands.

On this occasion, we have been set a really interesting brief by lingerie brand Gossard about what they can do with their marketing communications strategy and us FMB students have to create a 12-month strategy plan.

So what I would love to know is about people's experiences with Gossard, (if you have any) and even if not, I would really appreciate anyone filling out my survey, so that I can gain a better idea of the industry and consumer's preferences for marketing!

You can find the survey HERE.

Thanks xx

Neal's Yard Remedies Hi-Res Images - NYR Press Kit

A Quick Survey

If anyone is a fan of natural beauty products or has heard of the Neal's Yard Remedies brand, could you please fill out this really short survey here?
Thanks everyone!

Link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FHN5WD9

Moving Neal's Yard into the US Market

As part of the report I have to produce, I have to suggest how Neal's Yard Remedies could move into the American Market. When planning to move a brand into another country there are some important points to consider.

My Favourite Ads of the Moment

Happy Fashion Week everyone!
To celebrate I thought I would show you all some of my favourite marketing ads and campaigns of the moment.

-The first is the Tommy Hilfiger S/S '13 advert...it's a great piece of lifestyle branding advertising with a really summery vibe! Anyone who knows me also knows how much I love advert music and the song on this "Do My Thing - Estelle ft. Janelle Monae" has had me dancing about all month! Watch it below!

Brand Spotlight - Kiehl's Blogger's Event

Hi all,

This time last week I had the opportunity to go to a blogger's event at the Kiehl's store in Nottingham. It was a great evening and I found out loads of new information about the brand.
I had encountered the brand on only one other occasion before, at the store in the Meat Packing District of New York. I still have to post about that as they had some great visual merchandising there that I took photos of.
Anyway, moving on here's some facts about the brand itself...

Visual Merchandising in New York City...

New York had some great examples of Visual Merchandising and Marketing... here are some of my favourites. Be warned, this is a seriously picture heavy post so may not be great for slow internet users...sorry.

The Brand: Neal's Yard Remedies

The Task: To observe the American retail market and marketing techniques in order to recommend the best way to launch a British brand into the American market.

Neal's Yard Remedies (NYR) is a British brand which was established in 1981 in Covent Garden, London. Based in the natural beauty market and particularly on organic products. with a particular focus on aromatherapy and holistic well-being products.

The company avoids using any synthetic ingredients, scents or flavours in their products and is an active supporter in BUAV, an anti-animal testing organisation. 

NYR provides a wide selection of products ranging from hair and body, aromatherapy products and a new organic cosmetics range. They also offer a range of alternative therapies such as homoeopathy and herbal teas.

Neal's Yard Remedies Website

Disclaimer: I am NOT sponsored by Neal's Yard Remedies, all opinions expressed on this blog are my own.

An Introduction...

This blog will be a little different from any others you may have seen me write. Here I will be examining the difference between the UK and US retail environments and approaches to marketing in order to help me to understand how best to launch a UK brand into a decidedly contrasting US market.
And what better way to do this than visit the home of the US Consumer... New York?!
Speaking of which we leave for Heathrow in 3 hours time!
The bags are packed, the camera is charged and I'm ready to go! Only wish that there was time to sleep! Ah well...
Alice and I are keeping ourselves occupied planning places to visit and the food we're going to have! As lists go, it's a pretty extensive one!

Next update will likely be when we are in NYC! So excited! Can't wait to start exploring...

Suitcases packed and ready to go :) Kind of.