Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Cherie:

 

Thanks for the great advice, this is certainly a good reason to visit LA. Everything I read goes down on my to do list and I am checking off each one I have accomplished. This is the year of "just do it."

 

Your press release was quite impressive.

 

Thanks again.

 

Colleen

Jennifer:

 

Thank you for the feedback, I will check out the site and think how I can implement your suggestions.

 

Colleen

Hi,

 

Definitely beautiful pieces.  I just want to reiterate what Nikole was saying... I didn`t know it was an eCommerce site when I first opened it up.  Even after clicking around a bit I never saw how you actually purcahse something.  Many people might think its more of a showcase than an actual store.

Matt:

 

Thanks for feedback. I am definitely rethinking the site design. Actually most of the artists I know from the "national juried shows" have a site similar to mine, a showcase. So I have to stop thinking like an artist when I am building a site and start thinking like a business person.

 

Colleen

Hi,

 

It can be pricey, but I`ve been in contact with backstagecreations.com for a few years.  They`ve wanted us to put our product in their gift bags for celebrities.  But the problem I`ve had, is that not only, do they want you to donate your product, it usually costs 1000`s of dollars too. BUT...this year at the Sundance Film Festival they needed more food and beverage....so we are, "only". sending our product, and we`re going to get a celebrity pic too! It`s this weekend.  If you have the budget, I would highly recommend getting in touch with them.

 

Janie 

Hi Colleen!

 

Nice work! I agree with Cherie. Not to discourage you, but you may have a long road ahead of you. It is one thing to have a product, or even a great product, but what you really need is marketing and to create buzz. For those of you that don`t know me yet, I am the creator of luck inspired apparel and accessories line and a recent winner of StartUpNation`s Top 100 Home Based Business`s contest. I started my company Lucky Stella in 2007 on a shoe string budget, and so far have not turned profit as all expenses are going for production costs and most importantly marketing to `educate` the market as to the meaning of my line that was inspired by an ancient evil eye amulet and is meant to ward off the evil eye and instead attract positive energy and luck. Just a few days ago I returned from LA where I was invited to participate in the Pre-Golden Globes Gifting Suite where I personally gifted celebrity moms, dads and their tots with my products. Media, publicists and PR reps were also invited and I was able to speak with them individually, explain the concept behind my idea and personally gift my products to them in the hopes of them being featured in the magazines, TV, etc. Even though I did not see the clip, but I was told that Louis Lombardi (who picked up 4 of my `Lucky` hats) was interviewed by ExtraTV while wearing one of my hats. I have also been reviewed by MomFinds.com and expect to receive additional coverage soon. This is not not mention that I have a list of Hollywood`s Celebrities that I can credit with pictures who are now the proud owners of the Lucky Stella`s Lucky Eye apparel. They loved the products so much that I ended up depletng my inventory. I was advised to bring 50 gifts and 100 promotional items, but instead my team and I brought about 400 and we returned home to NY with empty suitcases and a couple of additional orders from the celebs. This was a very costly marketing ploy, but I am working it and hoping that it wil pay off. There are many ways you can get your products out there like street fairs, trade shows, etc., but I strongly believe in marketing and selling yourself and not just a product.

If you wou would like to review my recent press release to get a better idea of the event and view just some of the pix of myself and celebs, here is the link: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/1/prweb628311.htm

 

May Luck Be on Your Side!

Stella

Hi Stella,

 

Did you do that through backstagecreations?  I`m sure that was great exposure for your product!  I also wanted to add that thecelebritycafe.com does alot of gifting and auctions, with press coverage.  And you can just donate one item!

 

Janie

Hi Janie! I have been actually  personally invited by the Hollywood`s celebrity persona Jayneoni Moore to participate in this event. However, there a ton of marketing and PR agencies who are always looking for someone to contribute their product to a celebrity gift basket or personally attend the actual gifting suite like I did. One of the agencies I worked with in the past is Madison & Mullholand. I sent 50 of my Lucky hats to be included in their basket for the GRAMMY foundation benefit honoring Quincy Jones, however did not get much publicity from that.

Stella 

Janie:

 

I should get in touch with Sundance Film Festival?

 

Sounds like a great opportunity for you.  Good Luck!

 

Thank you.

 

Colleen