Just Say No to Plastic Bags

They’re doing it in San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles and even in cities throughout North Carolina. It was only a matter of time before the uber-sustainable Portland, Ore., joined the ranks.

In July, Portland passed an ordinance to ban plastic bags at check-out stands of major grocers and some big-box retailers. The new ordinance will go into effect Oct. 15, 2011.

Plastic bags, once revered for their convenience, are no longer our friend. Their long-reaching negative impact on the earth’s wildlife and environment can no longer be ignored. Sure, they have made shopping convenient, not to mention have served as my garbage bags for years. But, those days are soon to be over.

Or are they?

While the ban means that grocers who earn $2 million or more in gross sales and pharmacies with 10,000-sq.-ft. or more of space - think Target and Wal-Mart - won’t be able to use plastic bags, plastic will still be used for produce, meat and the bulk food section. Some local Fred Meyer stores have already started instituting the ban – both in the city and on the Oregon Coast.

The Portland Farmers Market is still able to use plastic bags, although they prohibit the sale of water bottles. Seems a bit confusing, right? Pharmacists can also use plastic bags if it protects a customer’s privacy. Although, I’m not totally sure how that works. Isn’t plastic usually sort of see-through?

So, the “ban” is more like a reduction in plastic bag use. Will it have an impact? Customers will still be able to use paper bags without a fee, so there will continue to be an environmental impact, along with the plastic bags that are still allowed to float around.

While I love the direction this is going – retailers becoming even more involved in smart, sustainable usage practices -  I think Portland (and you know I love you) isn’t taking the stand it really could and should be taking.

It’s exciting to see this kind of shift occurring, I just wish it was going to have more of an impact.

Do you just say no to plastic bags? Think the Portland ordinance will have any real impact? And how does this ban affect retailers? Let’s get this conversation started! Leave your thoughts below.

-Heather Strang

*Photo By Trosmisiek (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Money Can't Buy Us Love, Or Style!

“Cause I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love.”

So crooned The Beatles. And they were right. But did you also know that money can’t buy you style either?

Just ask Kmart. The retailer plans to launch its fall advertising campaign in September 2011 titled, “Money Can’t Buy Style.” The purpose of the campaign is to encourage shoppers to leave brand-name fanaticism behind and embrace their individual style.

Now, I’m all for this. Let’s go after what looks hot, not the brand that has the right name. The title of Kmart’s campaign does make me a little nervous though…it’s a bold move.

And a boldly titled campaign also needs some meat to back it up. That’s where it gets really good. Kmart took to the streets and found 20 people who already dress with a sense of individual style and had them use Kmart apparel to create looks that reflect their said style. The campaign is set to feature these folks, showing consumers how they too can use Kmart gear to create their own personal style.

Turns out, it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to wear fashionable clothes (at least that’s what I hear it’s costing these days to be covered in luxury brands from head to toe!).

Kmart is definitely shooting for a brand makeover when it comes to apparel and I love the new angle. Letting go of pricey fashion and bringing in self-expression is a positive message to send consumers. Especially high school and college-aged folks who often get caught up in the brand wars as opposed to choosing clothing that reflects their true style.

Are you digging this bold Kmart campaign as much as I am? Know of other retailers doing the same or who have in the past? Leave your thoughts here!

-Heather Strang

A Retail Fake-Out

A Prado wallet is not the same as a Prada, but for $20 instead of $200 some of us are willing to ignore the slight fake. But, that’s just a wallet.

In China, they’re playing a much bigger game.

In Kunming, China, they have a fake Apple store. The entire store “looks” like Apple – the colors, the staff and the products, but Apple does not have a store in Kunming. Confused? Seems like a lot of people are, including the store’s employees.  

In a recent article on MSNBC.com, they found that the employees working at this fake Apple store actually thought they were working for the technology giant. Then, upon closer inspection, the fake began to show itself - the design and painting of the store is sloppily done and the sign “Apple Store” is not in alignment with the brand, which typically uses their logo, the apple, and not the name.

China is no doubt booming and demand for products like Apple’s is off the charts. But, going to the trouble of creating an entirely fake Apple store is over the top! However, after reading more about China’s reaction to Apple products in general, it’s pretty much on track with the Fatal Attraction-style love China seems to have for Apple.

Allegedly, when the iPhone was released earlier in 2011, there was a violent outburst at the Beijing store by customers literally dying to purchase the phone. The Beijing store also frequently has scalpers roaming the aisles trying to sell Apple products that have been purchased overseas. Chinese customs even had to impose a 20 percent import tax on any travelers who had Apple products with them.

It’s safe to say that China more than hearts Apple at this point.

So, Apple’s done a great job creating demand, now can they keep up with it and keep the fakes off the street? Are you surprised by this dramatic fake-out or is this to be expected? Know other retailers who get this kind of frenzied love from consumers? Tell us your thoughts here!

-Heather Strang

Smoke and Mirrors

Two of the world’s most beautiful women and spokespersons for L’Oreal, Christy Turlington and Julia Roberts, are having their advertising withdrawn for misrepresentation. Which is odd as the brand name L’Oreal literally means “of or pertaining to the lore (as in folklore); usually said of certain feathers of birds, scales of reptiles, etc.” In other words...skin.
 
The famed manufacturer L'Oréal has been forced to pull ad campaigns in the U.K. featuring Julia Roberts and Christy Turlington. The same ads and images are used here in the U.S. It seems that  there were complaints that the images were overly airbrushed. Here in the States, we have no such standards and we’re perfectly fine with it. We like to believe that cosmetics are a magic potion, and that yes, a bottle of this, a jar of that, will magically transform us back to pristine 18-year-olds. Can I swap you some magic beans for your cow?
 
The official British watchdog group, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), declared that both ads breached the advertising standards code for exaggeration, were being misleading and banned them from future publication. The banning of the ads upholds the idea that ads should accurately depict product claims. If L’Oréal claims that these celebrities look like this due to L’Oreal makeup, but simulated their beauty with photo retouching, the ASA claims an exaggerated claim, and one that is not representative of the results the product could possibly achieve. In truth, on Christy Turlington's and Julia Roberts' worst day, they are more beautiful that the rest of us on our best day.
 
In addition to the official claims of "exaggeration," women's advocates see highly retouched advertising photos affecting women's self-perception and creating a false sense of real beauty. "Pictures of flawless skin and super-slim bodies are all around, but they don't reflect reality," Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson is quoted in the Guardian. "Excessive airbrushing and digital manipulation techniques have become the norm, but both Christy Turlington and Julia Roberts are naturally beautiful women who don't need retouching to look great. This ban sends a powerful message to advertisers…let's get back to reality."
 
When push came to shove, L'Oréal U.K. admitted that Turlington's image had been "digitally retouched to lighten the skin, clean up makeup, reduce dark shadows and shading around the eyes, smooth the lips and darken the eyebrows". (Just a few things!) However, it claimed there were still signs of aging, such as crow's feet, and that the image "accurately illustrated" the achievable results. Not even the British would dare to comment on Ms. Roberts. Heaven forbid!

I’ve seen the ads, and I can tell you that a baby’s behind has more wrinkles than Julia Roberts' 44-year-old face.

--Ron Knoth, Guest Blogger

Barneys Joins Forces With a Pop Star

“Oh, oh, oh, I’ll get him hot, show him what I got,” my 9-year-old niece sang as she played on the computer.

“Excuse me miss – you’ll do what?” I asked, rather auntish in tone.

She looked up at me, full of innocence and said, “Oh, it’s nothing – just a Lady Gaga song.”

Oh that Lady Gaga. She seems to be everywhere--and now she's at Barneys!

This week, Barneys New York announced that their 2011 Holiday campaign will be called, “Gaga’s Workshop.” That’s right – Gaga and Barneys – together.

Barneys is so excited about this partnership that they’re giving Gaga an entire floor in their Madison Avenue flagship. Thankfully, it won’t just be Gaga doing the decorating (or it might require a “for adult eyes only” warning). They are pairing Gaga with Eli Sudbrack and Christophe Hamaide Pierson of Assume Vivid Astro Focus (AVAF), and Mugler Creative Director and Lady Gaga Fashion Director, Nicola Formichetti, and plan to open the “workshop” in mid-November.

So, why would Barneys choose Gaga as their pop star of choice? Their press release says something about her talent as a singer/songwriter and as a fashion icon. (I'd like to take this moment to mention that this is the same woman who wore a dress made out of meat, FYI.)

I wonder what demographic this new partnership is aimed at? Do you think they're going after the super-affluent kiddies or are they just looking to stir up some drama? I can't decide. 

What do you think of this pairing? Genius? Over the top? Leave your thoughts here!

--Heather Strang

Neuromarketing Is Coming For You!

“God, you are such a girl!” my friend Torri says, rolling her eyes. You see, we’re on a 23-mile bike ride, the wind is blowing against me and I just had to pedal like mad to get away from an angry dog.

So, yes, I am a girl. A girlie, girlie, girl, actually. And while I am too girlie even for one of my girlfriends, my girlie-ness actually makes me a very easy demographic for retailers to market to.

Confused?
You won’t be for long.

DervalResearch has found that a woman’s hormonal makeup drives her taste – in just about everything – although the research team focused in on fabrics and textures. According to their findings, estrogen-driven women prefer animal fabrics like wool, fur, leather or silk, while testosterone-driven women prefer cotton and linen. Men, on the other hand, tend to be more sensitive to synthetic materials.

And do you know how they figured this out? Neither do I, really.

But here’s what I’ve put together so far:

• They studied 3,500 men/women from 25 different countries to get these results.
• They utilized a variety of factors, including the difference in length between the index finger and ring finger on the right hand (allegedly prenatal hormone exposure will show up in the difference in length).
• The research gets quite in-depth with individuals next being put into categories of vibration.

While this portion of the research has yet to clearly make sense, to me, I can tell you this:

• Go take the Hormonal Quotient test now. It’s free and it’s online and it’s about to give you some very interesting information about yourself. Not only that, think about the information it could give you about your clients, so that your every marketing move could be tailored to their preferences.

Creepy or brilliant?

I’m opting for possibly brilliant with a side of creepiness. And it’s called neuromarketing.

"Consumers are unique individuals but they are also predictable," said Diana Derval, president, research director and author. "Their preferences and behavior are directly linked to their biological and sensory perceptions. And again, these perceptions are greatly due to the influence of prenatal hormones. Similarly to what exists in many animal species, we have identified eight gender polymorphisms among humans based on the prenatal influence of hormones - four in male and four in female. We can identify the gender polymorphism or what we call the Hormonal Quotient (HQ) of an individual based on the gender, ethnicity and different biomarkers, including the digit ratio - the relative length of the index and ring fingers of the right hand."

Derval’s findings have been published in "The Right Sensory Mix," and the book has already received a nomination for the Berry-AMA (American Marketing Association) prize for Best Book of Marketing in 2011.

What’s your hormonal quotient? For the record, mine was “balanced – sociable, competitive, versatile.”  (Take that Torri!) Do you think neuromarketing is the wave of the future? Leave your thoughts here!

-Heather Strang

Jeans Transform Into Retail Display Sculpture

I love purging.

Purging clothes, housewares, home décor and that bright pink, checkered scarf I was sure I would wear, but never did.

Sometimes though, even a trip to Goodwill isn’t the best home for the hideous items I’m getting rid of. Wouldn’t it be cool if I could take stuff I’ll never wear again (like that size 2 jean skirt) and make it into art? For the masses?

Well, unfortunately, someone else already beat me to the punch.

Ian McChesney, architect, designed a Levi’s jeans sculpture as part of the Regent Street Windows Project in London – further proving that my idea isn’t half bad. While I’m sure these jeans aren’t from a collection that Ian can no longer wear, it’s an impressive feat. A total of 120 pairs of jeans were put together using more than 1,000 copper rivets. The display is designed to look like a tornado or a whirlpool.

I’m now picturing my pink checkered scarf and jean skirt along with my old microwave as my next sculpture project. What do you think? Surely, there will be retailers interested in it!

Have you seen anything like this before? What items would you use for your next retail design project? Leave your comments here!

-Heather Strang

Three Cheers for Retail Jobs

It’s starting to feel a lot like…

We’re not in a downturn anymore.

Hooray! Do I hear applause and cheers echoing throughout the country? I sure hope so. Folks nationwide are getting jobs, employees are getting raises and consumers are returning to consuming (although in a much more socially responsible way).

It’s happening in the retail world as well. New York-based 24 Seven recently released its fifth-annual salary survey in collaboration with the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA). They reached out to more than 2,000 retail, design and fashion professionals to get the scoop on what’s happening in today’s retail job market.

Below is some of what they uncovered:

• 68 percent of those surveyed plan to make a career change in the next year.

• Base salaries are increasing by almost 20 percent (Woohoo! Here’s to making money again!)

• 62 percent of folks surveyed expect their salary to increase this year, while 43 percent anticipate that their bonuses will increase in 2011.

• Design, digital and e-commerce will see the most growth. Positions in visual merchandising, graphic design, apparel design, social media-related positions, such as strategist, campaign manager and blogger (yay me!), and luxury brand management and sales are all expected to grow.

• Flex-time and telecommute options are the biggest drivers in job satisfaction.

2011 is starting to look better than ever. It’s exciting to see this potential for growth and to already be experiencing the increases.

Are you working in retail? What has your experience been? Share your story here.

-Heather Strang

*Photo courtesy of Psychonaught (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons