Guy Stanley Philoche on Ebony.com

We secured for our client, painter Guy Stanley Philoche, a spot on Ebony.com in their new Arts & Culture section launched a few weeks ago.

It ran on Friday, April 10, 2009 and today it is on their homepage.

As magazines and newspapers continue to decline in readership, we see that the online versions of publications not only get measurable traffic, but also instant updates and the flexibility for readers to read information in a variety of environments.

Congratulations, Guy, and we look forward to your continued success!

True Luxury

Luxury has certainly become an over-used term in the marketplace, especially during the last few years. Brands, in an effort to justify their higher prices, have slapped on the word in order to falsely position themselves in the marketplace.

Many of the luxury brands that we are so familiar with today such as Hermes, Burberry and Louis Vuitton, started out as business that solely catered to the royal and aristocratic families of that time. European families grew up with the idea that if they purchased or invested in a high-quality product, they would not have to make that very same purchase any time soon, and thus kept a lid on the consumerism that we see so much of today. These customers truly had the financial resources that allowed them to source exotic fabrics and materials. Companies in turn had the time it takes to truly craft (i.e. 1 person creating a handbag) a luxury product.

In the late '90s, under the direction of Bernard Arnault, Louis Vuitton as both a company and a conglomerate began to outpace its competitors in mentality and production. It seems as if they single-handedly for better or for worse created the pseudo-luxury environment in which we live in today. Add to this a mix of American consumerism which has caught on in Asia and Russia, and we end up with a sort of watered down vision of the consumer and questionable quality of product.

The list of luxury brands and consumerism continues as we go beyond fashion into food, housing, transportation, hotels, electronics, etc. Yet if one looks close enough, he/she will find that in each of these categories there are subtle words, emotions and values that are attributed in order to define this new sense of luxury which appeals to the emotional needs of the consumer.

As true luxury marketers, we must ask fully examine the quality of the product itself, and if it does not hold up to those standards, seek more accurate terms such as high-end, premium, and prestige to serve the dual purpose of awakening the now numb consumer and touch on the more complex and segmented demographic. In doing so, we may find that we can find a balance between truth in product and consumer needs, and move forward in a direction that is best for both parties involved.

Image: Roland Nivelais couture gown Fall 2007

New York Fashion Week

Initially, I was surprised at the number of shows this season. With all of the news about retail stocks dramatically dipping, the credit crunch and designers backing out of full blown shows, I thought that there would be less. 

But the old American sentiment of working hard and hoping for the best came through. We won't know until late fall how successful the end product really was. 

It appears that no one demonstrated a sense of trepidation and caution displayed during the Fall 2008 shows. It appeared as if each designer was carving out a niche of distinction for themselves, and indeed, may report that the best-selling pieces are those that are unique and different.

There was also an influx of new or international designers taking the opportunity of a smaller show calendar to finally show during New York Fashion Week. 

Overall, some of my personal favorites were, Lacoste, Alexander Wang, Georges Chakra, Catherine Malandrino, Derek Lam, Preen and Michael Kors (Style.com and YouTube carry great features of these shows.)

Still, I couldn't get the impending doom, gloom and darkness out of my head-- I'm looking forward to seeing the looks from Milan and Paris to piece everything together.

Photos: Karl Rothenberger

An Inauguration Ball and A Celebration of Change for the World

We were asked to assist with the publicity for Africa Aspire's Inauguration Ball, Celebration of Change for the World, honoring President-elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle.

Not such an easy task considering the fact that there are seemingly dozens of Inauguration balls being held that day in DC and around the country. Yet this one is unique, because the organization was founded on the principals that then Senator Obama inspired --to work together in spite of geographical, cultural, political boundaries to make the world better.

Hosted by Golden Globe winner Jeffrey Wright and a performance from Les Nubians, it was a wonderful evening, a wonderful start to the New Year.

www.africa-aspire.org

L-R Oswald Boateng, AKON. Photo Credit: David dePas

Happy New Year!!

"If you can't move fast, you'll be run over by companies who can," says B.L. Ochman of the whatsnextblog.

Don't forget solid planning and contingency plans (more detailed than throwing it all in and aspiring to open up a coconut juice stand on an island in the South Pacific!)

Say goodbye to the panic and fear of 2008, welcome 2009 with creativity and a well thought out strategy.

Adding & Subtracting

+Senior consultant: Beau Thebault will be consulting on business development special projects. Beau brings a wealth of knowledge as a operations and growth executive, experienced in understanding the needs of a business organization then driving dramatic growth through innovative planning and effective implementation. He has led the needs of artists into profitable business structures with brand extentions in private and retail label merchandise.

-Fashion publicist: Our dear Sophie Conti is headed to Paris for a project with Dior but will return to our open arms mid-2009. Sophie will be keeping her eyes and ears open for any new opportunities in France, while Portia will continue to take the lead on publicity for fashion clients.

Going Solo?

I was recently fortunate enough to stumble across and speak with a well-kept industry secret for artists, Katharine T. Carter & Associates

While Agrani Consulting offers services to artists and art organizations with specific business development and marketing needs, Katharine and her associates (including William Zimmer, Richard Vine and Jonathan Goodman) focus on securing one-person museum exhibitions for their artist-clients. The firm focuses on the serious development of the artist's career in the non-profit area, and Katharine uses her incredible wealth of contacts in the art publishing, museum and gallery worlds to accomplish this mission.

One of the most intriguing program on offer is their New York Presence Program , a program designed for artists who have had several one-person museum exhibitions nationally or internationally or who have had 10 years of exhibition experience.

If you are a mid-career artist seriously considering the next step in your career, please take the time to visit this site.