Cult of celebrity expands into education in Hong Kong

Posted on August 24, 2010 | Leave a comment

Whether it was Mrs. Lee who taught sixth grade or Ms. Page who teaches high school, growing up, we all have teachers who were celebrities within our schools.

Just as communities recognize teachers as local celebrities for their ability to inspire, coach, and help kids succeed, some of Hong Kong’s teachers and tutors have achieved a mainstream level of celebrity. An article by enoVate, describes how teachers have attained a level of fame similar to rock stars and actors. Their faces in ads on billboards and the sides of buildings

In a culture of (only) child prince/princesses, parents are seeking out the best for their progeny, including the best education. Celebrity teachers and tutors offer the promise of the most effective teaching practices, insider exam tips, study sessions that will enable students to excel over the other thousands of applicants vying for the same university spot.

While the expansion of the cult of celebrity is not necessarily a good thing, I’m happy that finally, someone is paying teachers what they are actually worth.

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Posted in Brand, innovation

Mulberry for Target on Gilt?

Posted on August 20, 2010 | Leave a comment

Isn’t the point of an exclusive membership, designer sale site to offer haute products at almost everyday prices?

Today Gilt Groupe had an exclusive sale of Mulberry products created for Target. When I first saw the avatar of the sale, I thought, why is Target on here? I shop there normally. To me, the point of flash sale sites like Gilt, is offer products that you can’t find everywhere.

Another top reason to use the site is to get a deal. In this case, it looks like the Gilt price is the price you would probably pay at Target.

Gilt, this Target sale is tarnishing your brand.

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Posted in Brand, ecommerce, retail space

Fish where the fish are

Posted on August 12, 2010 | Leave a comment

Whether on horseback or foot, one can cross the street

Go find your audience where they are.

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Posted in thinking

The ultimate pre-owned e-tailer mashup site: Combining Etsy, eBay, Facebook’s Payvment, and ShopStyle

Posted on June 9, 2010 | Leave a comment

Shopping online is not for the faint of heart.

Certainly when I first started, I was weary of the sizing, the shipping, was terrible at browsing, and had no idea what styles to buy. Through research and trial and error, I was able to become a savvy online shopper, one who trusts the process from browse/search to payment, delivery, and, if necessary, returns. Although I may buy over half of my apparel purchases online, most consumers do not. Ecommerce is growing and the potential to attract new customers or increase return visits by current customers is huge. The e-tailer that is able to assuage the fears of e-tailphobic consumers will have the opportunity to grab consumers attention and discretionary income, when they come online.

To help these retailers who want to attract internet shopping shy consumers, I have created a recipe for what I think would be the ultimate consumer-friendly shopping site. My recipe focuses on pre-owned goods, but I do think that it could work just as easily for new products sold by traditional brick and mortar companies.

Recipe:

  • The ability to social shop
  • The ability to browse by style
  • Broad selection
  • Information overload: size measurements, fit guide (fits true to size, runs small, etc.); customer reviews of site; brand reviews; product reviews; size worn by the model; well-lit, accurate pictures with size reference
  • Secure payment method

(While I could write a thesis about each of these ingredients, in this post, I will briefly outline the social and selection ingredients and what I think a few select sites are doing well or badly. If you, dear reader, want my further comments, email me, and I’m happy to elaborate.)

For many (women), shopping is socially-motivated.

Three sites offer social browsing, but each in different ways:

Etsy offers the ability to “See who hearts this item” and “See who hearts this item.” The ability to connect with like-minded individuals is a strength of the site. It is curious though, that the site doesn’t enable the user to search for other users. One can only search for sellers or items. I think being unable to search directly for other users is a missed opportunity. I had to find my friends through searching for items they favorited.

Facebook offers the ability to connect with real-life friends. Payvment, a new Facebook app for buying things or selling ones things, appears to be easy to use and offers the ability for users to buy items from people they know (and hopefully trust) and people whose style they may wish to emulate. Downside, Facebook is a leaky cauldron on the privacy and possibly the financial side. I personally would not trust them with my banking information, so unless the items on Facebook could be purchased with PayPal, I wouldn’t be interested.

ShopStyle offers the ability to have friends based on your favorite styles, create and share outfits, join groups with individuals who have your same sense of style, and buy items directly while browsing. While these digifriends my have excellent style online and create outfits costing more than my Manhattan rent, their shopping advice may not be that helpful when it comes to actual purchases. I do like that ShopStyle links the item directly to the retailer’s website, enabling the consumer to purchase the product in three clicks or fewer. Guided impulse shopping could almost not be easier. The site is also great to get new ideas about styles, new brands, clothing combinations. It’s a great resource for ideas and products alike.

Selection is always key. Nobody wants to show up to the party wearing the same dress as someone else.

ShopStyle is spades on broad selection of new items. Every time I check back, it seems that they have more retailers signing on and having their products represented on the site.

eBay is king of the pre-loved goods. Personally, I love me some good vintage. I prefer the structured styles of bygone days, and eBay has a better selection than similar sites. eBay sellers are also more professional on the whole. I have also noticed that successful sellers who have a loyal following have begun to start their own sites separate from eBay, thereby avoiding eBay’s sellers fees. (Cross selling of items on multiple sites by sellers is a topic for another day.)

Etsy, eBay, Payvment, and Shopstyle, all have the makings of great e-tailer sites; however, a site that combines the strengthens of each could rule the roost. Combining the ability to shop with friends (real life friends and similar fashion-minded friends), providing style references or ideas, offering a broad selection of products, and getting people comfortable with the online format by providing beaucoup information are all key aspects to converting people into online shoppers.

Idea for article inspired by Springwise‘s post, “In 15 minutes, a Facebook storefront”

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Posted in online space, retail space

One take on luxury brand marketing – SlideShare presentation

Posted on April 17, 2010 | Leave a comment

Interesting presentation about luxury brands and marketing. Check it out.

Thanks for posting the deck Idris Mootee. It’s also worth checking out his blog, which is about design, business strategy, and innovative ideas.

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Posted in Brand, ecommerce

Online displays of affection encourage brand loyalty, an explanation using cognitive dissonance

Posted on March 22, 2010 | 1 Comment

Earlier this week, Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) posted a SmartBrief about an article featured in the The Independent that stated that Twitter and Facebook fans were more likely to be brand faithful. The study completed by research firm Chadwik Martin Bailey stated that people were (67%) more likely to recommend or buy products from companies they follow on social networking sites. While the article outlined these interesting findings of what was happening in the social realm, it did not theorize about the underlying psychology of why this behavior was occurring. Applying the theory of cognitive dissonance to this occurrence can help us start explaining how fanpages may increase feelings of loyalty.

Cognitive dissonance is a psychological theory that states that people like to be consistent in their thoughts/beliefs and actions. When inconsistency comes to light, they may start to feel anxious about the hypocrisy, and perform actions to lower that anxiety and make their beliefs and actions congruent once again. The dissonance occurs when people’s beliefs do not match their actions.

Applying the theory of dissonance to fanpages, it is not surprising that the research measured a lift in the rate of recommendations and purchase behavior by those who were self-proclaimed fans. The fan made a public statement about their positive feelings toward the company or product, and then may have felt compelled to uphold that statement through their purchase behavior. Why would they become a fan of a company and then not continue to purchase or recommend what that company offers?

Internet users also use cognitive dissonance in a more positive way, to keep themselves on track. Let’s turn to the “weight loss meters” that people add to their signatures in forum posts. The Purse Forum, is full of these signatures:

By having these meters in their these signatures, the poster is compelled to continue to lose weight, lest their forum friends see that they have failed at their endeavor.

How do retailers use these Online Displays of Affection?

Revolve Clothing, a women’s apparel e-tailer, has encouraged potential new patrons to make public statements of fanship by offering discounts to those who become members of their Facebook page and a further discount for posting something on the fanpage’s wall.

Rewarding Online Displays of Affection can help brands in many ways. By offering the discounts, the retailer builds its brand through positive word of mouth, encourages new consumers to try their site, and helps solidify feelings of loyalty among fans.

Asking people to make a public statement is a great way to increase their inclination to follow through on that statement and their adherence to the statement. Marriage ceremonies are a common example cited in psychology textbooks. Making promises in front of your favorite loved ones serves as strong reminder of your beliefs and intentions. Simlarly, on Facebook and Twitter, consumers share their devotion to brands and products in front of their real-life and online friends. That kind of devotion may actually be more everlasting than verbal promises made to friends and families.

Human memory is fallible, but the Internet is forever.

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Posted in Brand, online space

L.L. Bean’s and Lands’ End’s new lines make a grab for young adults

Posted on February 13, 2010 | 3 Comments

L.L. Bean is going to launch a “Signature” line, which follows on the heels of Lands’ End newly launched “Canvas” line. I find it interesting that both companies have decided to launch new lines aimed at the young adults. I’m assuming that both of their market research shows that they are primarily shopped by older consumers and that they may have perception problems among younger consumers. While cruising the L.L. Bean website, check out their reviews- most consumers seem to be over 45. Not that there is anything wrong with most of their reviews being written by older people, but being 25, I do wonder if I will agree with older women about the fit of garments. It also makes me contemplate why I am purchasing clothes that more mature women favor.

I do think that these two new lines can fill a void in the current market. From the Lands’ End Canvas site and the pre-launch of the L.L. Bean Signature site, both lines look similar in design to J.Crew, a modern take on classic items. Also, great offerings for young professionals.

What sets the lines apart from J.Crew is their price points; they aren’t as expensive as J.Crew. To me, that’s point to L.L. Bean and Lands’ End, and minus one to J.Crew. From my experience, L.L. Bean offers higher quality items than J.Crew as J.Crew’s items can be flimsy at times. Now that L.L. Bean will be offering clothes with more modern cuts, they definitely have my attention.

Signature L.L. Bean appears to be serious about giving the launch a strong start, they even snagged Maggie Rizer to model for their first marketing campaign.

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Posted in Brand, retail space