Neiman Marcus x TARGET x Holidays 2012

Attention Target shoppers and lovers of all things lux! Target corp, and Neiman Marcus is set to launch a collection of gifts for the Holidays. Labels: Dian Von Fersten Burg, Marc Jacobs, Carolina Herrera, Tory Burch, Oscar De La Renta and much more  under the luxury retailer are designing gifts any shopper can afford, with items starting as low as $7.99, and the most expensive at $499. Most items for the collection are designated to be under $60 dollars. These products will be a diverse range of clothes, home goods, men's accessories, and even electronic accessories. All of which can be accessed at one of many Target stores, or one of the 42 Neiman Marcus retailers across the country.
Now when I first caught word about this collaboration from a friend, I had some concerns about the sensitive everyday consumer, and the proud everyday NM shopper who may feel cheated in their efforts to accumulate their many luxury items. Is this a stunt by Target that will bridging the gap between the haves and have nots or one that is making the line more prominent?
Just by lessening the prices of some specific designer duds, gives the general public and idea of what it means to be able to shop at a luxury store like Neimans, after the holidays does their access to luxury come to a stop or do they step up to the plate to fuel their taste for genuine leather and hand blown glass items.

List of designers set to launch in both Target & Neiman stores.

Although there are two very distinct types of shoppers this collaboration is focused on, Targets and Neiman Marcus' efforts to make a Happy Holiday for every buyer is admirable. Even the aloof luxury buyer is being spend conscious these days, along with any other consumer. This is a moment in retail that will bring every American shopper closer together. We value our brands, sense of belonging, community and Target many collaborations with high end designers, has done a great job to bring that need and value to us.
SO! Moms, take out your running shoes and shopping fists, cause the battle has been declared. December 1st the label games begin! Here is an inspiring David La Chappelle Holiday commercial to get you into gear.

Subject Marketing x American Apparel model : Jackey

A lot of hype has followed since American Apparel added a new album to their Facebook page of; Jacky, their newest and oldest model to date. At 60 she oozes a lively sex appeal any woman would aspire to. The controversy concerning her age has caused a comment Caucasus all over internet blogs and on the company's actual Facebook page. Some separating the discouraging from the good few that applaud AA's attempt at reaching out to a new audience. Jacky's platform onto the American Apparel front line has got people of all ages paying attention now, compared to former ads of young down townies, sultry spread in lycra metallics.
The topic of interest is no longer just American Apparel but who their actual customer is and what they hope to achieve when shopping at an AA retailer. Jacky is a bold subject to lay over the foundation of an American Apparel ad. One stunt that has been effective in the past and with several ads; we all know what American Apparel sells and where to go if we need a basic polo, some skinny chords or a hip costume for the party. So when a go to company has the desire to diversify and create a new appeal, including Jacky's story draws us in and solidifies the fact that their new, Advance Basics, line are something totally fresh to the AA consumer. Story appeal is an effective tactic at drawing the customer in to inquire about the unconventional image that has been presented. An appropriate and fresh approach to this marketing tool can shoot sales up in just a few days with the right press and publication.

A method that has been succesfuly reestablished by mid century, advertising pioneer; David Ogilvy of Ogilvy and Mather. His most notable ads were ones that feature a story and information that make the customer feel that the product they want is organic to their surroundings. In his 1951 ad: The Man In the Hathaway shirt, which features a mustachian elderly man, steezing an eye patch, makes a viewer wonder; who is this person? why is he important? and how can I mirror such a confident character? The week after this ad was published in The New York Times, Hathaway retailers were sold out of the classic Hathaway shirt, when former Ogvily advertised, had an obscure awareness compared to larger shirt brands in New York. The eye patch, (which was an added detail to pick up more buzz) also became a wanted accessory and were spotted at the trendies night clubs in NY. Needless to say, subject matter is an important and awesome detail when creating a story for a brand. Theory proves, we all want to know about Jacky the 60 year old American Apparel model!

Louis Vuitton Express x The Shelby

A fully sponsored, Louis Vuitton train excursion; echos Marc Jacobs recent Fall Winter 2012 collection for LV and is a bombastic attempt at reclaiming the Chinese Luxury buyer as loyal customers while social trends have been out of the Vuitton favor in the central Asian hemisphere. *breath* The brand has been perceived as a look your domestic house keeper can afford!

With that said, blog-osphere supernova; Todd Shelby of The Shelby, who's blog has been up an running for 4 years to this day,(1) is documenting the two week trip from PARIS to SHANGHAI each day in the inspiring and humors way we have come to get use to in past documents on theselby.com. You can follow the trains location day by day on: http://louisvuittonexpress.com/, an exclusive website made for this champagne. This steam punk stunt is a perfect reflection of the mid-century feel that Vuitton serves this Fall and an over all trend of buyers and fashion viewers alike. On a personal note the idea is on track for anticipated viewers of the new Baz Luhrmann film, The Great Gatsby. Fashion and style never fails to bring you to your favorite destination weather it be on the other end of the world or in a movie.

Following the two week trip the train will make stops in Moscow and Bejing and finally Shanghai where the Paris Fall Winter 2012/2013 show will be reenacted for the second time, later to follow a Galla event stressing Vuitton's pioneer through luxury travel goods. This attempt to reach out to the High end demographic of China is an honest effort, and hopefully reminds the customer what quality and community is all about when holding a genuine Vuitton leather good. This has to be one of the most furnished marketing champagne for any fashion house, and no doubt Louie Vuitton has con-quested this journey,(2) like most of their media outreach to customers, they are consistently on the pulse of contemporary art, film layouts, and the over all evolving world of visual experiences.

NIKE x The Amazing Spiderman

The re-branding of new movie, The Amazing Spider-man, took a youthful and extreme scientific approach to this rebooted version of Peter Parker's story. Having just spent time watching with the fam, I tried keeping a casual look out for any product integration that caught my attention. Surprisingly it was the first science fiction movie I've seen recently that didn't hint at the use of Macintosh devices, rather the computers used were all Windows.(1) In the movie Peter wears a worn out pair of Nike Air Force 1s through out the intro of this newly established Peter Parker. The most familiar swoosh logo is prominent, and brought a real life effect to the various submerged digital action scenes. There is a moment in the film where Peter with his new found powers takes out his skate deck and for a good one minute has a skate montage in an abandon factory, displaying an exclusive value of the Nike brand sneakers to young viewers out there. In the sneaks final cameo- before Peter ditches the sneakers for spandex, Parker seeks revenge on the School Basket Ball court with the class bully who is also sporting a pair of dunks, ending in a victorious slam dunk and shattering of the back board.The stress of the shoes in specific scenes is what initially caught my attention, and I'm satisfied with the perfect allusive message communicated to Nike's consumers. This is the first 3D movie I have experienced featuring Nike's Shoes, making it a note worthy moment in the company's commercial/ customer outreach. It couldn't have been done any better, in my opinion! 

I would love to have put up clips of these scenes, but since the movie was just released today, that would be morally impossible. You'll have to catch it for yourself, which I suggest you do, despite the simplicity of the movie compared to the true grit nature of the previous versions, the film is a great piece of tailored 3D material targeting the younger generation. BUT just as easily view-able by the entire family!(2) The villain in this one is a giant lizard and I've stumbled upon this awesome Nike commercial from the eighties of Godzilla vs Charles Barkley.  Created by advertising agency Weiden + Kennedy, their work with Nike has been constant to this day. So for the sake of making any and all references possible.. while also making an effort to staying on subject, Ill leave you with this short commercial. Take a look!

J4

AND I WONT TALK ABOUT

PETER PARKER'S USE OF BING!

IN

THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN

NIGHT x DAY

STEVE BALLMER is HILARIOUS! Tell me if you ever want a PC after watching these clips. 

Macintosh and Microsoft have been two very successful Pioneers in technology and the companies have well established their general consumer in the early stages of their development. Steve Ballmer; who I've researched to discover is- to say the least an extremely enthusiastic personality... I'm not a kid of the 80s by any means so I can't speak for a generation, who may have enjoyed being yelled at about a product, even if it is affordable. Now I will acknowledge that I have used a Microsoft PC all my life, due to a means of funds which I think is the primary value of a PC computer. On the other hand when shopping for a MAC you visit their user friendly website and sift through their few, simple and literal products. There is a refreshing feeling and sense of quality that one seeks in a customer experience, especially this young generation that only knows service and instant gratification. There is so much that I can say that its easier to keep it short and unbiased. 
Its my conspiracy that MAC AND MIC exist for each other for good reason. They serve two different markets and demos- that being said there are more than enough users to go around.