Paris next week!

I’m off to Paris this time next week! I will be exhibiting my degree show collection, 'Mapping Nature' at L’Aiguille en Fete after the organisers selected my work from New Designers.

So I packed up and sent off four boxes of goodies to the UK based organiser earlier this month and they are being transported to Paris where we will hopefully be reunited next Wednesday!! I will then spend the Wednesday setting up my space with the exhibition opening to the public next Thursday 9^th until Sunday 12^th February.

I am told the event is similar to the Knitting & Stitching Show, which we have here in the UK. For more information on the event follow this link which should take you to the google English translated page. Otherwise, google 'L'aiguille en Fete' and click on the translate option next to the search result.

So if you’re in Paris then do pop along and say hello.

I’ll post some photos when I get there J

Might I fit in some sight-seeing too???

#AspirePR and #Dire PR, Barbara Chandler at Interiors UK 2012

Barbara Chandler or @Sunnyholt as she tweets by is a photographer and journalist (London Evening Standard, Homes & Gardens) so is well educated in the world of PR dos and don’ts ….

YOU are the best person to do YOUR PR, no-one else knows your work as well as you.

The four C’s of good PR:

1.  Communicate
2. Connect
3. Cooperate
4. Consolidate

 Connect with the journalist and the media. Communicate via a Press Release. Cooperate with professionalism and efficiency. Consolidate what you know.

Press releases: Don’t faff about with the old trend of holding a ‘Press Reception’ – its an expensive way of giving journalists an opportunity to chit-chat about everything but YOU. Instead, use the 1+1+1 approach.

1+1+1: Get to know 6-8 journalists personally. Use them and their contacts to add another to your network and use that new contact to gain their contacts, thus 1+1+1.

Buy the magazines and papers you want to be featured in and take note of who writes the relevant sections. Research them, get a direct contact if you can. Tailor what you’re doing to each individual journalist.

Communicate:

• Use the email subject box – snappy, to the point, interesting. Not just ‘Press release’.
• Avoid attachments OR put the detail of the attachment into the main body text of the email.
• Avoid large files, keep images small but have higher quality ones to hand if required.
• Include a map with the postcode or tube stop.

Discs:

• Include a portrait shot of yourself – head and shoulders.
• Include a shot of yourself with your products.
• Cut-out shots of products on a white background is essential.
• Some ‘lifestyle shots’ – your products in situ, e.g. cushions on a sofa/bed.
• Label the disc – too many discs arrive unlabelled.
• Accompany the disc with a print- out of thumbnail images.
• Include the press release document on the disc.
• Include your contact details!!!!

Other good practice:

• Set up a ‘signature’ line for all your emails which include how to contact you and links to your pages, e.g. telephone, email, blog, twitter, facebook, website, portfolio.
• Have a Press page on your website for the Press to use which includes a short biography of yourself; information which can be copied and pasted by journalists.
• Don’t have a ‘Press’ link which is just showcasing press cuttings – journalists find this infuriating!

In a nutshell, a press release should say: 

• who
• what
• why
• where
• when
• a bit of how
• how to contact you!
It should give the facts. It doesn’t need to be well written, that’s the journalists job. 

Occasionally @sunnyholt tweets #aspirePR and #direPR – I’d take note if I were you.

Barbara Chandler (1992) Equal Love, London

“Whilst pursuing my photography, I have also worked extensively as a journalist, writing mainly about interiors and design for many newspapers and magazines. For example, I have worked for the London Evening Standard for over 20 years, and currently have a design column in Homes & Gardens. My book LOVE LONDON with 180 photographs of the capital was published in summer 2011.” Barbara Chandler, http://www.barbarachandler.co.uk/about.html

           

Interiors UK 2012, NEC,Birmingham

The UK’s largest interiors trade exhibition, INTERIORS UK, at Birmingham NEC until 25 January 2012. Source furniture, lighting, flooring, fabrics, soft furnishings and accessories for retail and contract markets from leading suppliers.

I went to this event last year too. Back then, it was my first experience of a trade show. I don’t think I took much in I was so stunned at the vastness of it all! This year, I went with a bit more knowledge and some questions, I think I got more from it this time around – yay!

Spanning five huge halls at the NEC this event is one of a kind. So many beautiful products available. I wish photography had been allowed! Sadly, it wasn’t so check out this video instead.

The main points of interest to me were halls 1, 2 and 3: Design Elegance, Fabric, Contemporary Design, Décor and Lighting.

Each hall had a specially designed entrance, styled by Diana Civil, best known for her styling and interiors journalism.

UBM, (2012) Signature Spaces, Interiors UK Show Catalogue 2012, p.8

“With a unique twist on the British Heritage theme throughout, each hall has also been given its own individual trend. These are not just entrances, but areas of inspiration and creativeness…” ¹

The Mary & House of Fraser retail showcase in Hall 4 showcased some promising up and coming designers. Such talent! “…a fantastic opportunity for new and up-and-coming product designers: to pitch their ideas to Mary Portas’ business partner, Peter Cross. Successful applicants will win the chance to have their products or ideas sold or showcased in the Mary shop within House of Fraser. ”²

“The fact that ALL Portas pitchers will be on @houseoffaser shop floors proves the level of talent at @interiors_UK” https://twitter.com/#!/interiors__UK WOW! Congratulations to all the pitchers – what an achievement. I’ll be looking out for you on future visits to HoF.

Peter Cross, Mary Portas’ business partner was speaking in the Seminar theatre today on ‘How to Lead and Complete in Retail in 2012’. I saw his seminar at last years show, an excellent speaker.

Ptolemy Mann, http://significantcolour.wordpress.com/2012/01/22/ptolemy-mann-fabric-pavilion-at-interiors-2012-nec-birmingham/

Another speaker I would like to have seen is Ptolemy Mann speaking today on ‘The Architecture of Cloth, Colour and Space’. Having researched her after a recommendation by my tutor last year I think this would have been an interesting seminar. Mann’s specially design fabric for Interiors UK, used in the Fabric Pavillian and Champagne Bar in Hall 1 was lovely! – She was at Top Drawer too.

Check out Ptolemy's blog.

So as well as all this I picked up some ideas for new products to apply my designs to and I am in the process of researching these. Watch this space….

¹ UBM, (2012) Signature Spaces, Interiors UK Show Catalogue 2012, p.8
² www.interiorsuk.com/page.cfm/Link=135/t=m/goSection=11

Further Reading:

Textile designer Ptolemy Mann reveals plans for Fabric Pavilion

Interiors Blog 2012

Ptolemy Mann MA RCA

Ptolemy Mann Blog

Sian Astley Blog

Welcome!

So I've decided to set up a new blog. New year, new blog, new adventures and hopefully some more regular posts and some new followers! Welcome to all the new comers!

I've imported all the content from my old blog so check out the archives.

Hopefully my new blog url will help make finding me a bit easier for everyone too.

Happy New Year everyone!

Top Drawer 2012

Well day two of Top Drawer 2012 = done!

What an event! Such an experience!

I’ve learnt lots which I can take away with me for future events: styling ideas, visual merchandising tools, the useful bits and bobs I need, etc.

This is my section of the space on the London Property Makeover stand:

I’ve got a combination of complete products and fabric designs which I am trading. Fabrics designs from my degree show collection, ‘Mapping Nature’ and some products which have fed from ‘Mapping Nature’.

I’ll post some images of the whole stand soon!