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August 31, 2005

Social Networking, Doesn't End In ..STER & Best Made With A Handshake

I've received alot of invitations to friendster over the years, of which most I ignored. I assumed I didn't have the time for it, was in a relationship and had my own friends already. I know, I sound like a snob. With all the buzz in the biz over social networks, the birth of Googles Orkut, yahoo360, Linkedin, weblogs and wikis, I knew I had to give in and see what all the hype was all about.

I have selectivly used it from time to time but more as a voyeur then a participator. Friendster is a nice "lighthearted" social network I would use if I was still in college. I've observed people who poach on other peoples relationships, chat them up online, get approval and add them to the growing list of "friends"... people collecting other peoples relationships when no real relationship exists. Anyhow, word is on the street Friendster is in trouble.

I still believe the most powerful (strong) social networks are those you forged real time - face to face. Check out Net Party. It's a model that takes advantage of the webs ability to connect people and then organizes real events in all the major cities.

UPDATE: 10/01/2005

It’s a particularly bad day to be a stalker. Out of seemingly nowhere, old-school online network Friendster (which, much to our delight, still exists for those of us feeling too “old” for the hip kids on MySpace) has added a feature which allows members to see who has viewed their profile in the past month. So if you’ve looked up that hot chick in accounting, she’s going to know it as soon as she logs on.

For future reference, there is an option that allows one to view anonymously so that the objects of your internerdy desire will remain blissfully unaware of your obsession, but it would’ve been nice for Friendster to give some advance warning. Instead, we now know that our profile has been viewed 192 times since September 1, 2005, and we’re so telling your significant other what you’ve been up to.

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 12:09 PM

August 30, 2005

Denim and T-shirt Report from Las Vegas Fashion Tradeshows

I've heard that nearly 100,000 people have come into Las Vegas this week for the Magic, Project and Pool tradeshows. That's a lot of fashionistas sipping lattes if you ask me.

So far I've walked the Pool show at Mandalay Bay and Project at The Venetian. Both shows are jammed with fashions that I can't wait to buy, and clothes I wouldn't put on Lola, my friend's dog (she's the most aloof dog I've ever met and doesn't like me for some reason). I hate when people take an t-shirt and slap a screen print on and try calling it couture. I love t-shirts, love wearing them and have drawers full because I think they add character, but they're definitely not high fashion.

I've heard people say that they feel like it's a denim explosion at the shows and that they "are so over denim." I'd have to agree with that assessment. It seems like everyone has their own new style of denim that is special because of something like the stitching or how the denim is treated. All this is pretty unnoticeable to me and they all seem like a pair of jeans. Then again, I'm generally wearing a pair of $40 Levi's that look great on me and make my lacking rear-end look like, well, a rear-end.

I'm not advocating for the end of the t-shirt or that we should all give up wearing jeans. These items are staples of American culture and will never be lost. I wonder if Levi Strauss knew what he was starting?? What I do want to see is fashion that doesn't take itself too seriously. I understand that people don't want to be clones and some added flair is good, but we also don't need to embellish our clothes to high heaven and back and (sometimes twice). Give me a t-shirt that accentuates my chest or arms, and a pair of jeans that can make me look like I've got some junk in my trunk, at least enough for that hottie in the booth down the way to want to grab a hold (definitely looking at more than fashion while in Vegas).

Posted by Michael Rogers at 11:59 AM

August 29, 2005

Women In Fashion -The Power List

For all of you who were looking for that photo essay on TIME's "The Power List, Women In Fashion" here it is, located in the style and design section, listing the ten most powerful women in fashion and beauty and how they influence what we buy and wear. The essay also lists the ten "up and comers".

T H E P O W E R L I S T
W O M E N I N F A S H I O N

1. Rose Marie Bravo
2. Miuccia Prada
3. Anna Wintour
4. The Olsen Sisters
5. Angela Ahrendts
6. Delphine Arnault
7. Donna Karan
8. Aerin Lauder
9. Rei Kawabuko (Did anyone see The Incredibles remember Edna the suit designer?)
10. Floriane De Saint Pierre

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 12:05 PM

Another "Good" VMA

Could have skipped the appearence of (mark) R Kelly's "Trapped in a Closet", Jay-Z was the biggest winner of this year's MTV Video Music Awards walking away with four trophies. The R&B star grabbed Best Rap Video, Best Direction, Best Editing and Best Cinematography for his clip '99 Problems'.

Outkast followed close behind with awards for Best Hip-Hop Video, Best Special Effects and Best Art Direction. Usher won his first and second eve awards for Best Male and best Dance Video for 'Yeah'. No Doubt also won two trophies in the categories Best Pop Video and Best Group Video.

The complete winners list was:
Video of the Year
Outkast, "Hey Ya!"

Best Male Video
Usher featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris, "Yeah!"

Best Female Video
Beyoncé, "Naughty Girl"

Best Group Video
No Doubt, "It's My Life"

Best Rap Video
Jay-Z, "99 Problems"

Best R&B Video
Alicia Keys, "If I Ain't Got You"

Best Hip-Hop Video
Outkast, "Hey Ya!"

Best Dance Video
Usher featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris, "Yeah!"

Best Rock Video
Jet, "Are You Gonna Be My Girl"

Best Pop Video
No Doubt, "It's My Life"

Best New Artist In A Video
Maroon 5, "This Love"

MTV2 Award
Yellowcard, "Ocean Avenue"

Best Choreography In A Video
Black Eyed Peas, "Hey Mama"

Breakthrough Video
Franz Ferdinand, "Take Me Out"

Best Direction In A Video
Jay-Z, "99 Problems" (Director: Mark Romanek)

Best Special Effects In A Video
Outkast, "Hey Ya!"

Best Art Direction In A Video
Outkast, "Hey Ya!"

Best Editing In A Video
Jay-Z, "99 Problems"

Best Cinematography In A Video
Jay-Z, "99 Problems"

Best Soundtrack From A Video Game
Tony Hawk's Underground

Viewer's Choice
Linkin Park, "Breaking The Habit"

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 08:12 AM

August 28, 2005

Interbrand Annual Report On Global Brands

BusinessWeek/Interbrand rank the companies that best built their images-and made them stick! Download the report here.

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 11:44 AM

August 26, 2005

Lance, Say it Isn't So

With so much publicity surrounding steroids and other performance enhancing drugs, I guess it’s only appropriate that with every success in sports comes speculation. As one of the greatest conditioned athletes ever is challenged again for performance enhancing drugs we start to wonder the means behind these accusations. Is it the pure astonishment of the feat or the dislike of the man that gives Tour de France director Jean-Marie Le-whatever the guts to accuse Lance Armstrong?

Though I completely believe Armstrong, a French newspaper has reported that urine samples from 1999 tested positive for a performance enhancing drug called EPO. Maybe in the upcoming days we’ll see why it took 4 years after 2001, when the test was first available, for the samples to come up positive.

Armstrong appeared on CNN's “Larry King Live” last night and brought up a good point, by questioning the honesty of the laboratory. It’s unfortunate that it only takes one person to say something; the media gets hold and lets it run wild causing a slew of assumptions.

Now, I don’t mean to get political, but if Lance Armstrong weren’t American or if the host country wasn’t France, is it possible no such accusations would arise?

Posted by Ryan Michael at 04:38 PM

Pre-School Shaving Tips: Back to Basics

Due to the profession I’ve chosen, I constantly receive grooming questions from friends and fellow writers. The one that comes up time and time again is, “How do I get a better shave?”

On average, guys will devote more than 20 hours to shaving each year (if they devote a not-even-minimum of five minutes, five times a week). Shouldn’t that make us experts? Surprisingly, most guys can’t tell you what brand shaving cream they use, much less the proper techniques to getting a closer shave. So where did we go wrong?

In the 20th century we saw advancements like the microwave oven, aerosol shaving cream and disposable razors, three things that are related because they cut down on the time it takes to accomplish the end result. Shaving, which was once a ritual and a time-honored rite-of-passage, was now turned into a chore that guys were speeding through. Decades passed and men were left with rough, nicked skin because they know nothing about their grandfather’s shaving techniques.

Back to Basics

There is still hope if guys follow some simple shaving guidelines. The most important is to always use a sharp blade. Whether you are brave enough to use a straight blade or opt for the Mach3, an industry staple, a sharp blade will cut down on the number of passes required for a close shave, while preventing excess nicks. The next step is to find a quality shaving product that works for your skin. Look for creams that provide moisturizing and lubricating agents (i.e. allantoin), as these will help the blade glide more easily over the skin. Once you have these basics in your arsenal, it is important to know that you get a better shave when the beard is soft. This is accomplished by shaving in or straight out of the shower. If time does not allow for this, you can achieve the same thing by applying a hot towel to the beard for 30 seconds. After shaving, rinse face with cold water, to calm skin and close any cuts, and apply an aftershave that contains antiseptic ingredients like tea tree oil and witch hazel extract, as they will help prevent ingrown hairs, or folliculitis barbae, while reducing irritation.

Posted by Lance Buckley at 01:17 PM

What Is In Store For Diffa 2006?

In past years translucent materials were "clearly" stylish touches for creative decor looks. What is in store for DIFFA designers of Home furnishings in 2006? We look forward to some excitment in the near future as Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS’ (Diffa) Dining by Design benefit offers a glimpse of the latest looks for tabletops.

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 07:58 AM

Citizen Marketing? What Is That?

Jeremy Pepper has an informative post on citizen marketing, What is citizen marketing?

Is the homeless guy with a Safeway shopping cart an evangelist, say a citizen marketer, for Safeway? Or has he just walked off with a corporation's property? I'd have to say it is theft.

So, why is the FedEx Furniture guy a hero to the bloggers? Steve Rubel writes today that Jose is a citizen marketer, helping show how much he loves FedEx by stealing boxes to make furniture. Jose notes that he does love FedEx, and has used them to ship product.

The Rest Of The Story

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 07:28 AM

Mary-Kate Olsen May Become Calvin Klein Spokesmodel

The MSNBC gossip folks are reporting Mary-Kate Olsen may be speaking with Calvin Klein about becoming the clothier's new spokesmodel. Seems a fitting job for a college and food-challenged celebu-billionaire. Of course, no one at Calvin Klein is talking.

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 06:50 AM

August 25, 2005

Reality Shows WITH NO Branded entertainment?

REALITY SHOWS WITH NO BRANDED entertainment? That's impossible. Isn't that the whole point of having products inserted into content to make shows more financially viable? Apparently, Scripps Networks doesn't see it that way. Scripps Networks - which includes HGTV, Food Network, DIY, and Fine Living - doesn't allow branded entertainment in its shows, believing that it can sour the trust the viewers have with its informational programming where hosts and experts can honestly talk about products without being tied to companies. That's especially unusual in shows about home and food that seemingly are the best and easiest places to insert products.

But Scripps is kind of in the business anyway. It just does it in a more up-front approach with separate programming that is almost like infomercials. The difference is Scripps - not the advertiser -- owns the programming. Calling it 'custom programming,' these 30-minute shows air in daytime and overnight time periods - more recently geared for Scripps newer networks, DIY (Do It Yourself), and Fine Living.

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 12:13 PM

August 24, 2005

The 40-Year-Old Virgin Scores Big With Brand Cameos

Juvenile, sex-obsessed, potty-mouthed characters aren’t the only things 40-Year-Old Virgin has in common with predecessor Wedding Crashers. They both heavily feature Budweiser and Apple. The Chrysler PT Cruiser scene is funny, though at the expense of drunken driving. The bike placement for TREK is smooth, and the Magnum condom and eBay jokes are textbook studies in how brands can enhance a scene. Finally, although the fictional electronics store at the center of the film is packed with products, none of the brands are visible except for Panasonic whose flat-screen TVs own this film.

WOW, look at the other featured brands: Featured Brands: Bentley, Carhartt, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Coca-Cola, Dummies, eBay, Excedrine PM, Fanta, Fruit2O, GI Joe, Guinness, Halo, JVC, Kodak, Lacoste, Magnum, Mentos, Midnight Club, Minute Maid, Monster Cable, Oreo, Orville Redenbacher, Panasonic, Polo Ralph Lauren, Puma, Rolls Royce, Shell, Shwinn, Sony, Testors, TREK, Trojan, Vaseline, Volvo, Western Bagel

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 11:35 AM

Marc Ecko "Street Wise" fashion Promotion Event

Ten 48-foot-long, ten-foot-high replicas of old New York Bluebird subway cars were sprayed by graffiti artists along 22nd Street between 10th and 11th Avenues in New York on Wednesday.

Instead of red carpet entrances or a privately displayed collection of clothing, Marc Ecko chose to promote his brand by surrounding people with a block party with dj’s playing hip hop and presenting his muse – graffiti. Unlike the days of yore, actual subway cars were not being vandalized; instead, graffiti artists sprayed independent, movable panels that had been placed along the street.

Little did Ecko know that his happy painted Bluebird of a street party would stir up feelings of antagonism in a “rider” - New York City Councilman Peter Vallone. In a red light/green light malfunction with city bureaucracy, forgive the extended pun, Ecko was given a license to hold the party train only to have it later revoked.

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 07:08 AM

August 22, 2005

4 Pounds Of Vogue ...Wow Thats 691 Ads

The September issue of Vogue contains 691 ad pages beating last years record of 651. While Vogue Publisher Thomas Florio is lovin' it, we have to wonder what it's like as an advertiser to have a one in 691 chance of your ad being seen. Then again , those thick Vogues seem to have a longer shelf-life then the regular sized ones.

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 03:05 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

August 21, 2005

Carrot Top - Celebrities "Evolving" As A Brand

This photo startled me. It looks like from the photo he truly is a redhead. It's a photo of Scott Thompson, who is better known as Carrot Top. Do you remember the ATT commercials with skinny, almost Jerry Louis like Carrot Top? Most Americans would, they aired constantly for about three years, the kid got exposure and has been busy building his brand. I know, they were annoying, but yet oddly compelling. The same way MTV's Andy Milanakis Show is. The ads proved to be very effective for ATT. Young & Rubicam, New York won a EFFIE for the campaigns effectiveness.

Today, Carrot Top is one of the most popular and successful comedians in America. Each year he stars for an astonishing 15 weeks in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand, headlines another 100+ concerts across the country, and makes dozens of television appearances. His first TV appearance was on FOX's “Comic Strip Live.” In 1992, he did his first turn on “The Tonight Show”…and there have been more than two dozen since.

Like only music stars and the rarest of others, Carrot Top has sold out L.A.’s Universal Amphitheatre. The rock ‘n’ roll analogy proved even truer when he hit Vegas. A spectacle worthy of the Rolling Stones (his favorite band), his concert is filled with lights, lasers, loud music, fog machines and flame cannons. “Everyone has the gift of laughter inside of them. All the world is a prop,” he has said. In the end, Carrot Top is his ultimate invention – his ultimate prop.

Obviously "C-Top" has undergone some impressive physical changes that are "evolving" along with his marketability. He definitely has some options. He already has a a few books some DVD's (sold at Wallmart) a tour, merchandise and website. We congratulate Carrot Top on his evolution as a brand, his new marketability, which is no longer just the MTV generation.

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 11:57 AM | TrackBack

August 20, 2005

Looking For Good Trend Forecasting and Reporting Info

Eight years ago when you had to access the Internet with custom made software or Prodigy, good trend forecasting and inspiration came from a few sources that dominated the industry of “what’s next”. One of these trend reports was the “L” report. Lambises advertising in San Diego put one out for I think 10K, it was a physical book back then it was highly coveted.

Things have changed. Now information is buzzing all around us. While we still subscribe to heavy hitting trend forecasting services for our clients, we also glean a lot of information for free. In the coming months I want to share these FREE trend forecasting and reporting sources with you and would like to get some comments or feedback and tips on source material I may be missing. I’m hoping to tap into the power of the blog community to better enrich all our trend forecasting and inspiration sources.

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 06:16 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

August 19, 2005

Steve Carell Is Ready To Blow

Ordinarily I would say there is nothing funny about being a virgin, but with Steve Carell [from NBC’s The Office] “coming in” to play the part, his new film, The 40 Year-Old Virgin, is sure to keep you wet…with tears of laughter that is.

Steve Carell plays Andy Stitzer, an off-kilter invoice stamper at an electronics store who seems to have everything going for him other than the fact that he’s never had sex. When his co-workers, played by Anchorman alum Paul Rudd (from Wet Hot American Summer) and Seth Rogen, find out he’s a virgin, they take it upon themselves to help him get laid. It’s not until he meets Trish, played by Catherine Keener from The Interpreter and Being John Malkovich, that he finally gets close to climax. The only catch is that they have a strict no-sex policy, which does little to alleviate his tension. The clever dialogue and perfect comedy timing of Carell, combined with raunchy sex humor create one of the funniest films of 2005, next to The Baxter (written and directed by and starring fellow comedian and pal, Michael Showalter), which comes out later this year.

Ebert and Roeper give The 40 Year-Old Virgin two “big thumbs up,” and Roeper calls it “one of the summer’s biggest, most pleasant surprises.” So run, don’t walk, to this film because “the longer you wait the harder it gets.”

Posted by Lance Buckley at 09:39 AM | TrackBack

August 17, 2005

Results From The Teen Choice Awards 2005

Ashton Kutcher was the big winner at Saturday's taping of the Teen Choice Awards, but even his five surfboard trophies couldn't steal the spotlight from the plethora of unusual appearances at the show.

The winners of the 2005 Teen Choice Awards:

Choice Comedian
Adam Sandler

Choice Crossover Artist
Jesse McCartney

Choice Red Carpet Fashion Icon Female
Jessica Simpson

Choice Red Carpet Fashion Icon Male
Brad Pitt

Choice Hottie Female
Rachel Bilson

Choice Hottie Male
Chad Michael Murray

Choice It Girl
Alexis Bledel

Choice Movie Action/Adventure
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Choice Movie Actor Action/Adventure/Thriller
Chad Michael Murray, House of Wax

Choice Movie Actor Comedy
Will Smith, Hitch

Choice Movie Actor Drama
Ryan Gosling, The Notebook

Choice Movie Actress Action/Adventure/Thriller
Angelina Jolie, Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Choice Movie Actress Comedy
Sandra Bullock, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous

Choice Movie Actress Drama
Rachel McAdams, The Notebook

Choice Movie Animated/Computer Generated
Shrek 2

Choice Movie Bad Guy
Jim Carrey, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

Choice Movie Blush Scene
Hilary Duff, A Cinderella Story

Choice Movie Breakout Performance - Female
Haylie Duff, Napoleon Dymamite

Choice Movie Breakout Performance Male
Ryan Gosling, The Notebook

Choice Movie Chemistry
Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, The Notebook

Choice Movie Comedy
Napoleon Dynamite

Choice Movie Dance Scene
Jon Heder, Napoleon Dynamite

Choice Date Movie
The Notebook

Choice Movie Drama
The Notebook

Choice Movie Hissy Fit
Jon Heder, Napoleon Dynamite

Choice Movie Liar
Angelina Jolie, Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Choice Movie Liplock
Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, The Notebook

Choice Movie Love Scene
Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, The Notebook

Choice Rap Artist in a Movie
Nelly, The Longest Yard

Choice Movie Rockstar Moment
Ashton Kutcher, A Lot Like Love

Choice Movie Rumble
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Choice Movie Scary Scene
The Amityville Horror

Choice Movie Scream Scene
Paris Hilton, House of Wax

Choice Movie Sleazebag
Jennifer Coolidge, A Cinderella Story

Choice Movie Thriller
House of Wax

Choice Music Album
Kelly Clarkson, Breakaway

Choice Music Breakout Artist Female
Gwen Stefani

Choice Music Breakout Artist Male
Jesse McCartney

Choice Music Collaboration
Gwen Stefani featuring Eve, "Rich Girl"

Choice Music Female Artist
Kelly Clarkson

Choice Music Love Song
"We Belong Together," Mariah Carey

Choice Music Make-Out Song
"Oh," Ciara featuring Ludacris

Choice Music Male Artist
Jesse McCartney

Choice Music Party Starter
"Don't Phunk With My Heart," The Black Eyed Peas

Choice Music Rap Artist
Eminem

Choice Music Rap Track
"Mockingbird," Eminem

Choice Music R&B/Hip HopTrack
"1,2 Step," Ciara featuring Missy Elliott

Choice Music R&B Artist
Mariah Carey

Choice Music Rock Group
Simple Plan

Choice Music Rock Track
"Boulevard of Broken Dreams," Green Day

Choice Music Single
"Since U Been Gone," Kelly Clarkson

Choice TV Actor Comedy
Ashton Kutcher, That '70s Show

Choice TV Actor Drama
Adam Brody, The O.C.

Choice TV Actress Comedy
Alexis Bledel, Gilmore Girls

Choice TV Actress Drama
Rachel Bilson, The O.C.

Choice TV Breakout Performance Female
Eva Longoria, Desperate Housewives

Choice TV Breakout Performance Male
Jesse Metcalfe, Desperate Housewives

Choice TV Breakout Show
Desperate Housewives

Choice TV Chemistry
Adam Brody and Rachel Bilson, The O.C.

Choice TV Parental Unit
Lauren Graham, Lorelai Gilmore - Gilmore Girls

Choice TV Personality Female
Jessica Simpson

Choice TV Personality Male
Ashton Kutcher

Choice TV Reality/Variety Star Female
Carrie Underwood, American Idol

Choice TV Reality/Variety Star Male
Bo Bice, American Idol

Choice TV Sidekick
Wilmer Valderrama, That '70s Show

Choice TV Show Comedy
Gilmore Girls

Choice TV Show Drama
The O.C.

Choice TV Show Reality
American Idol

Choice V-Cast
Desperate Housewives

Choice Video Game
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Choice Xtreme Athlete Female
Layne Beachley, Surfing

Choice Xtreme Athlete Male
Dave Mirra, BMX

Choice Athlete Female
Mia Hamm, Soccer

Choice Athlete Male
Michael Phelps, Swimming

Choice Summer Song
"Behind These Hazel Eyes," Kelly Clarkson

Choice Summer Series
DeGrassi: The Next Generation Season 5

Choice Summer Movie
Wedding Crashers

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 12:37 PM | TrackBack

And the 2005 Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Goes to…

John Cypher, CEO for BULLIE Care, would like to congratulate Jeremy Piven on his recent Emmy nomination for best supporting actor in a comedy series for his portrayal of Ari on HBO’s Entourage.

Piven and Cypher first met at a celebrity event back in 2004 where they started talking about BULLIE products. Piven ordered his first set of products for Dry/Sensitive skin that day, and later had his publicist call in more samples because “his search for a line of grooming products that work was over.”

As the relationship between Piven and BULLIE continues to grow, the line of skin-specific products is also expanding beyond the Cleanser, Post-Shave + Toner, Refinement Mask and Moisturizer to offer a Close Shave gel and Under Eye Restorative, which comes packaged with a convenient roll-on applicator for a quick fix before a photo shoot or after a night out on the town.

Don’t forget to watch the Emmy’s on CBS on Sunday, September 18th to see if Piven walks away with the statue. Break a leg Jeremy!

Posted by Lance Buckley at 10:38 AM | TrackBack

August 16, 2005

Judes Law Pulls His Penis... Off The Net!

We love Jude Law, the products he uses and wouldn't think of plastering his wee-wee on our blog. Today we support poor Jude Law: it’s one thing to have paparazzi shots of your genitalia splashed hither and yon across inboxes everywhere, but it’s another to have the size queens at Page Six make bitchy remarks about them: “In snapshots that recall George Costanza’s infamous ‘shrinkage’ episode on ‘Seinfeld,’ the love-rat actor’s meager manhood is on full display as he changes into a swimsuit outside his mother Maggie Law’s house in Vaudelnay, France. ‘He’s no Tommy Lee, (Who's picture we will show) that’s for sure,’ sighed one unimpressed publicist who viewed copies of the paparazzi pix obtained by PAGE SIX.” Along with our nanny-poking-stick-ogling friends at Defamer, we bewail the unjustice of it all: couldn’t they at least have given Jude the benefit of the doubt and said he was a grower, not a shower? Get the backstory from the Defamer:

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 01:00 PM | TrackBack

August 15, 2005

Pythons, Guns or Biceps?

So I have a confession to make. I like to flex my biceps (And yes, those are my biceps in the photo). Call me a narcissist, but after the hours spent shaping them in the gym, I am proud to stare. People usually react by spitting in my general direction or ask me where they can find a pair. In both cases, I usually recommend two investments: a barbell (which can unfortunately also be used as a weapon when frustrated), and a good weight gainer (though the abundance of Oreos and candy in the office has forced me to reconsider this recommendation).

Luckily, building great arms (along with chest, back and abs for that matter) does not require a gym membership. Unless you are going for 20 inch guns (in which case a gym may be required), bodyweight exercises and curl bar (which can be purchased inexpensively at any sporting goods store) are the best prescription for toning your body.
Now the problem many people have when working arms, is putting too much work in to the bicep alone. On it’s own, the bicep is a very small muscle, and without the triceps (the back portion and 2/3’d of the arm) the bicep can only grow so big. So by concentrating the tricep, you can stimulate growth in both areas of the arm. Training the tricep can be achieved through simple exercises like a diamond pushup, and skull crushers (they should have thought up a better name) with a curl bar. For biceps, the smaller portion of the arm, normal wider grip pushups, and barbell curls should make you feel the burn.

As the larger part of the arm, the tricep should trained more frequently (generally 2 times a week, 6 sets of 8-10 reps).Biceps generally only need to be worked once a week, and an easy way to save time is to pick a day to train both parts together. Building your triceps will not only make your biceps stronger, but increase strength in other areas of your body. But beware, before long, whether you want to look like Arnold himself, or even Mickey Rourke you will find yourself peering in the mirror at the masses of muscle on your arms. Take it from me, it can be addictive!

Posted by Chris Kelly at 11:56 AM | TrackBack

August 14, 2005

Proprietary Data: The New Trend in Prospecting?

According to the Direct Marketing Association's first-ever 2005 Customer Prospecting and Retention Report, nearly half of the 255 respondents surveyed say they have developed proprietary prospecting databases and have moved away from renting names for one-time use.

We could have told you that last year! It's offical now.

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 01:59 PM | TrackBack

Updated Stats On the LGBT Market

•Half trillion dollars in buying power.
•Brand loyal -80% more likely to purchase a product directly marketed to them.
•4 times more likely to have an AMEX Gold Card.
•80% are recent travelers.
•More receptive to email, mail and publicity

Preview our October Ad running in Instinct Magazine

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 01:51 PM | TrackBack

August 13, 2005

Set Your TV on November 9th to CBS

Victoria's Secret says skin is back in. The company's fashion show is slated to return to the air after executives canceled it last year in the wake of Janet Jackson's breast-baring Super Bowl performance.

CBS says it will air the hour-long lingerie show from the brand owned by Columbus-based Limited Brands. An executive with the lingerie brand says the show will be taped November 9th, and will air around Christmas.

The executive says the program will be just as sexy and fun as it has been in the past.

Executives with the company say they pulled last year's show to reevaluate their promotion of the brand. But they say the Federal Communications Commission's crackdown on networks following the Jackson incident was a factor in the show's cancelation.

We'll be keeping our eye out for this possible trend and see if skin is truly back "in."

Posted by Stephen at 09:25 PM | TrackBack

Kate Spade Keeps Pushing Her NM Meeting - August 16th, Get Your Notebook Out!

Do we as consumers want a full free standing Kate Spade store to shop in? I asked a group of women this recently. They liked her bags, sure. But home products, china and fashions? That the women said... they just weren't sure.

The American accessories designer is planning to increase the number of freestanding Spade stores from 18 to 50 within the next five years and is expecting to see a 25 per cent increase in retail sales this year compared to last. The news comes as speculation rises as to the future of the Spade brand since the sale of its parent company, The Neiman Marcus Group, in May this year. Neiman Marcus bought Spade in 1999 but was subsequently bought for $5.1 billion by Texas Pacific Group and Warburg Pincus LLC. But Kate herself, who will likely discover her company's fate after the NM shareholders' meeting on August 16, is forging ahead regardless. "While we've been relatively conservative, retail is important for what you have to say as a company," Spade told WWD. "But nothing is set in stone. When you run a business, you have to be nimble to be successful. I'm not opening stores [just to open stores]. We are building stores where our customers are and where they might not be getting the whole presentation.

Posted by Stephen at 09:08 PM | TrackBack

Dior Dior Everywhere (yes even in Jersey)

Dior, they just won't quit. They are on fire this year with new stores. Its scary to shop there, when your a big tall guy "all American" and you think that Dior, much like YSL is made for the skinny, no hips, no shoulders, just a thin frame kind of guy (or gal). Dior opened up a store in my hometown of Tampa Bay a few years back and every time I am home with mom we shop. And every time we go to Dior, it's packed and most of the merchandise is sold out.

A few weeks back at the Wynn Resort in Vegas, I went into the new Dior Homme store. The inventory was out of this universe. Better stock than what you would see in NYC. Though, the sales guy had more attitude than Christian himself. But these Dior stores, they are popping up like McDonalds, we love them. It looks like Jersey is next...

Dior is pleased to announce the opening of its women's boutique in The Mall at Short Hills. The boutique is located at 1200 Morris Turnpike in New Jersey.

Marla Sabo, President and COO, Christian Dior Couture USA, states, "This store represents a strong addition to our Metropolitan New York portfolio. We will now be able to reach our suburban New Jersey customer more easily."

The boutique will feature Dior's latest collection of fall ready-to-wear, gowns, handbags, shoes, and accessories designed by John Galliano.

The 2400 square foot boutique, designed by Dior's in-house architectural team, will combine tradition and modernity. The design concept mixes classic design elements of Dior's worldwide flagship in Paris with contemporary materials and finishes. The mood is modern, energetic and optimistic.

The aim of the boutique is to offer an environment that enhances the
product and welcomes the customer. The tone is set by shades of opalescent grey and crisp white. Classically inspired moldings are mixed with high-gloss lacquered walls. Luxurious carpets
compliment limestone. The furniture juxtaposes the modern with the classic as Louis XIV chairs are paired with leather upholstered banquettes.

The new Dior in Short Hills offers a completely unique sophisticated
shopping environment, reflecting Dior's heritage of timeless elegance and innovation

Posted by Stephen at 08:49 PM | TrackBack

Can women be made to wear makeup on job?

Maybe it's just me, but I think that all women should wear makeup. I also think that they should wear heels, do their hair and have their ears pierced. Before you send me hate mail, look at what industry I speak of first. Especially if you work in the "beauty" industry. Yes, I am one of those CEO's that chases our beauty pr girls down in our NY office before a meeting and mantra's "put on some lipstick" !!! After all makeup can protect you from the sun, hide imperfections and boost ones self esteem. But I also can't say that I agree with L'Oreal for terminating a girl because she was ugly (read that article at the bottom of this post from Mercury News)

Do I agree with the 70's standard that a flight attendant has to be thin? Not really, but how can someone hugely overweight save my life if the plane goes down or work the aisle to serve cocktails? This article posted today by the Sacramento Bee's Rachel Osterman gives me mixed feelings. Have I ever had a cocktail server who doesn't look like a supermodel? Sure! I will tip them equally if they have a great personality. But if your a bartender in Vegas, I guess you should expect to wear face. After all the guests of the hotel came to see glitz and glamour, not tree huggers in a natural state.

When Darlene Jespersen's boss required her to wear makeup to her bartending job at Harrah's Casino in Reno, Nev., she found it demeaning. The result: she refused, and was fired.
The gender-discrimination lawsuit that Jespersen subsequently filed is awaiting decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, putting a spotlight on dress and appearance standards in the workplace - and when they're discriminatory.

"It was very demeaning and degrading because you're working right beside male bartenders, and they don't have to do anything to their face," said Jespersen, 49, who's worked at Harrah's more than 20 years.

The issue is particularly important in the booming service sector, where businesses ranging from casinos to restaurants and retail stores often expect employees to project carefully cultivated images.

It also reared its head Thursday in the cosmetics industry in a ruling by the California Supreme Court that allows a sales manager to sue her company for allegedly retaliating when she refused to fire a cosmetics saleswoman deemed "ugly" by management.

As long as a boss doesn't favor one race, gender or age group over another, employers are allowed wide discretion in giving preference to pretty faces, as well as deciding what employees wear, the length of their hair, the cleanliness of their fingernails and other points of personal upkeep.

Jespersen's case arose in 2000, when Harrah's instituted a "Personal Best" program that specified women wear lip color, face powder and mascara. Employees were directed to see an "image consultant," which included a makeover for women.

Men, by contrast, were prohibited from wearing makeup. They were instructed that hair must not extend below their shirt collar and ponytails were not allowed.

For Jespersen and the employee advocates who have filed briefs on her behalf, requiring female workers to wear makeup imposes an unequal burden - a key legal standard for winning discrimination lawsuits. Jespersen has also argued that wearing makeup would force her to conform to stereotypical images of femininity.

"I became an object, an item, and I had to wear a uniform on my face," she said.

Tracie Stafford, president of the Sacramento Valley (Calif.) chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, fears that if the case is decided against Jespersen, it could set a precedent of managers requiring female employees to undergo more extreme appearance changes to keep their jobs, such as surgery.

"I can see them requiring a certain attire to be neat and orderly, but to actually require makeup is extreme, and is sexist," said Stafford. "I think they're saying that women have to be pretty and men don't."

But Harrah's argues there's no evidence that makeup for women is any more burdensome than short hair for men. The majority of a three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit agreed in December, but an 11-judge panel agreed to rehear the case this year.

"We do not believe our standards were in any way unreasonable," said Harrah's spokesman, David Strow. "These are very consistent with appearance and dress standards adopted by many other employers."

James Abrams, president and CEO of the California Hotel and Lodging Association, filed in support of Harrah's. Abrams says the issue has gone beyond simply women and makeup, but whether an employer has the right to have any kind of grooming standards.

A ruling against Harrah's, he said, would "really turn the world of reasonably applied standards upside down and make it virtually impossible for employers to know what they can and cannot do. ... Everything will be free-fall."

Of course, dress and grooming standards are nothing new. And courts have generally held that employers are within their rights to impose different - but equal - burdens on the two sexes.

Businesses can require, for instance, that women wear their hair up to comply with a store's image, or that men keep their hair short. But in November 2004, Abercrombie & Fitch Stores, Inc. settled a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for nearly $50 million that alleged the retail chain's efforts to hire employees who promote the store's "All-American" image discriminated against minorities and women.

That followed an EEOC settlement in 2000 against the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles, where managers fired a black-owned valet service as the hotel was seeking a hip image.

Court rules against L'Oreal

WHISTLEBLOWER'S LAWSUIT VALIDATED

By Nicole C. Wong

Mercury News

The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday in favor of a former sales manager who filed a retaliation suit against L'Oreal claiming the company punished her for refusing to fire a San Jose sales associate whom a boss said was not attractive enough.

The decision, which allows the case to go to trial, broadens the legal scope of both whistleblowing and retaliation. Lawyers view the ruling as a victory for employees who resist following orders they believe are discriminatory and a warning to supervisors dealing with seemingly insubordinate workers.

The plaintiff, Elysa Yanowitz of San Francisco, alleged in court documents that she was the target of intensifying scrutiny and hostile treatment at work, which undermined her supervisory role and forced her to go on permanent disability leave because of stress. She asserted the actions were retaliation for disobeying a male boss's 1997 order to fire a dark-skinned female sales associate at Macy's Valley Fair and instead get him ``somebody hot.''

Yanowitz allegedly did not tell the boss she believed his instructions were discriminatory. Nor did she complain to her immediate supervisor or to the human resource department. L'Oreal argued Yanowitz could not be protected as a whistleblower because she never actually blew the whistle.

But in a 42-page majority opinion, the California Supreme Court ruled that such an employee does not need to explicitly tell the supervisor or employer the order seems to be discriminatory.

``It is not difficult to envision circumstances in which a subordinate employee may wish to avoid directly confronting a supervisor with a charge of discrimination and the employee engages in subtler or more indirect means in order to avoid furthering or engaging in discriminatory conduct,'' Chief Justice Ronald George wrote.

Claims on the rise

Corporate employment lawyers predict this will open the door for more retaliation lawsuits and increase the likelihood that the cases go to trial.

``In order to be a whistleblower, you don't have to articulate yourself in any clear way,'' said Mark Howitson, a partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe in Menlo Park. ``The employer almost has to read tea leaves.''

Nationally, claims of retaliation for opposing discrimination based on race, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability or wages have doubled in the past 13 years, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Retaliation cases accounted for almost three of every 10 EEOC charges in the 2004 fiscal year.

The court also decided retaliation could take the form of ``a series of subtle, yet damaging, injuries,'' rather than simply be defined as ``one swift blow,'' like a demotion or firing.

The judges said Yanowitz suffered from an implied threat of termination, an unreasonably rigorous travel schedule and months of unwarranted and public criticism.

Trial is next step

Lawyers representing employees said this will go far to protect conscience-driven employees throughout the state.

``This is a victory for all California employees who put their necks on the line to protect others from discrimination,'' said Herbert Yanowitz, the plaintiff's husband and lawyer.

The opinion upholds the Court of Appeals' ruling, which overturned the trial court's decision to throw out the case in favor of L'Oreal. The case now goes back to the Superior Court for trial.

L'Oreal spokeswoman Jennie James declined to comment on Thursday's ruling because legal proceedings are continuing.

Elysa Yanowitz said in a statement read by her lawyer, ``I hope that this case gives other managers the courage to do what is right for those who report to them.''

In a 17-page dissenting opinion, two judges argued that the definition of retaliation has been distorted ``beyond all recognition. . . . It makes no sense to extend this special protection to a person who did not communicate to the employer -- in any way, shape or form -- the belief that the unlawful sex discrimination was occurring before filing a lawsuit for retaliation.''

Employers ``shouldn't be surprised if their managers ask for pay raises,'' said Chris Cobey, senior counsel at Littler Mendelson law firm in San Jose. ``The jobs of managers just got a little bit harder. They need to be more careful in not knee-jerk reacting when someone says, `I'm not doing that.' As silly as it may sound, if the manager does not understand why the employees are refusing to follow an order, they should find out.''

Posted by at 11:44 AM | TrackBack

Caesars upscale tower premieres

Every time I am in Vegas I always like to ask the taxi driver who is taking me to my hotel, "what resort is next to be knocked down?" It's a Las Vegas tradition, to blow them up when the food on the buffet goes stale and well, start over. This week Cesears Palace continues their expansion. Liz Benston with the Las Vegas Sun reports....

For nearly five years, Caesars Palace has operated amid construction walls inside and out as projects aimed at transforming the tired theme property into a premier, upscale resort took shape.

At 5 a.m. this morning, the last of those walls came down as Harrah's Entertainment Inc. opened the Palace's 949-room Augustus hotel tower at the corner of Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard.

The tower, which also includes a 24-hour cafe, two retail stores, a VIP lounge and three wedding chapels to replace a single indoor chapel, caps off a process that began in 2003 when previous owner Caesars Entertainment opened the 4,100-seat Colosseum Theater.

Since then the property has added a new convention area, two celebrity-chef restaurants and additional casino space with a bar, retail store and nightclub. A poker room and the addition of other table games are under way in the casino while a hotel spa and Guy Savoy restaurant -- named for a three-star Michelin chef with a namesake eatery in Paris -- will open several months from now in the Augustus tower.

Harrah's has hired 600 people to staff the new tower.

The rooms are designed to compete with the best suites in Las Vegas rather than just the best Caesars has to offer. It's a bold step for a property whose stature has been undermined by newer resorts such as Bellagio, Venetian, and most recently, Wynn Las Vegas.

"I think these will compete very well with the new wave of hotel rooms that have come to Las Vegas," said Gary Selesner, who was recently appointed president of Caesars Palace. "I think the size and spaciousness are very competitive and yet I think that the new, striking, contemporary decor -- the use of a designer ... with a new take on what it is to be Caesars Palace -- gives us a very competitive room product."

The $289 million tower gives Caesars about 40 percent more rooms -- a long-needed expansion given Las Vegas' rapid tourism growth in recent years and competition from major resorts with more rooms to offer, Caesars executives have said.

The upgrade comes amid continued speculation that Harrah's, which purchased Caesars Entertainment in June, will eventually scale back the high-roller business at its flagship property in favor of middle-income business for which the company is known.

Rather than maintaining Caesars' high-roller business, Selesner said the resort's high-end customer base has grown under Harrah's. The company has already begun the process of upgrading existing high-roller suites across the property. Rooms in the Palace Tower, the most recent tower to open before Augustus, also will be upgraded to match the newest basic suites over the next several months, Selesner said.

Rooms in the new tower consist of 874 suites from 650 square feet to 760 square feet, 23 suites at 1,060 square feet, six suites at 1,470 square feet and 23 suites at 2,470 square feet.

The rooms have an ultramodern look and feature dark woods, cream-colored carpets and eclectic art. There are a few nods to Caesars' Roman-themed past, including silken robes embroidered with busts of Caesar and framed art of Roman statues. All the suites feature plasma screen televisions in bathrooms, bedrooms and sitting rooms. Voice-over-Internet service is available for worldwide phone calls as well as high-speed Internet service.

Some of the largest suites overlook the recently built Roman Plaza and outdoor ampitheater, where Caesars has held boxing matches and other sporting events. Others overlook the Garden of the Gods, the name for Caesars' four Roman-style pools.

The Augustus Tower lobby will become the resort's main entrance, replacing a small, temporary lobby that has served to check in hordes of visitors since July 2004 while the tower was under construction.

The new lobby just about doubles the resort's original entrance area and features giant mosaics on the walls and an oversize marble fountain in the center.

The lobby, featuring a VIP valet entrance from Flamingo Road, is designed to create a "sense of arrival" for guests, Selesner said. With the 24-hour cafe and retail store opening into the lobby, the space also was intended to serve as a place for guests to congregate rather than just check in, Caesars spokeswoman Debbie Munch said.

Stock analyst Matthew Jacob of Majestic Research said the tower should drive both gambling and hotel revenue because visitors "often gamble where they are staying."

In the year following Caesars' previous hotel tower expansion in 1997, gambling volume grew 2 percent from the previous year, Jacob said in a research note to investors last month. Still, the property's share of the Strip gaming market fell after the December 1998 opening of Bellagio, the most expensive and luxurious resort in Las Vegas at the time.

Posted by Stephen at 10:41 AM | TrackBack

Blogging, Podcasting whats next....Videocasting?

Many of my colleges are just now starting to understand what a blog is. The perception is that blogs are a new technology, which is up for debate if you know anything about message board history or your computer savvy.

All the hype around blogs will settle with time, but one thing is for certain blogs are here to stay. So what's next? Have you heard of Poadcasting? If you use iTunes you have already noticed a new section set up for Podcasting. Guess what, podcasting is already a year old, it's just now getting attention because two podcasting startups have won venture capital funding, a sign that both the promise and the hype is building for a grassroots broadcasting phenomenon that started last year.

Podshow, led by former MTV host Adam Curry, who helped invent podcasting in July 2004, received $8.85 million in funding from Kleiner Perkins and Sequoia Capital, Private Equity Week reported Wednesday.

I was reading New Media Age and the artical posted some stats from Forrester Research about Podcasting.

28% of 16 to 24 years old in Europe have a MP3 player,

20% of Europeans downloaded software or audio content last year,

Apple says that 5M consumers subscribed to its podcasting service within 3 weeks of its launch on iTunes.

Forrester predicts that the next big thing will be videocasting thanks to MMS phones.

Pierce Mattie has been experimenting with Podcasting and looking into the technology to see how we can use it to benefit our clients. Stay tuned, pluggd in and ready!

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 07:47 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Long Live The Four Seasons

Luxury Travel Lifts Four Seasons’ Q2
By Allan Richter

On the strength of robust luxury travel, Four Seasons Hotels Inc. reported second-quarter net income rose 23 percent to $15.8 million, or 42 cents a share, from net income of $12.8 million, or 34 cents a share, in the year-ago period.

But the luxury hotel chain reported that growth of management fees, though up 16 percent for the three months ended June 30, slowed on foreign exchange currency fluctuations and lower residential fees in the quarter.

Second-quarter management fee revenues rose to $32.3 million, from $27.8 million in the same quarter last year.

Four Seasons cautioned that “significant” renovations will be underway at several hotels and resorts it manages could have “some, but not a material,” effect on fee revenues in the second half.

Most renovations at Four Seasons properties in Washington, Las Vegas and the Maldives should be finished by year’s end, while sizable renovations at hotels under management in Boston, Santa Barbara, Philadelphia, and at The Regent Beverly Wilshire, should be mostly complete next year, the company said.

Like other lodging companies, Four Seasons is focusing on hotel management, evidenced by the company’s recent sale of The Pierre in New York and Four Seasons Hotel Berlin last year, noted Isadore Sharp, Four Seasons’ chairman and chief executive.

Four Seasons saw a $1.2 million drop in residential fees in the second quarter, when it did not earn residential royalty fees from its Whistler, Miami and Jackson Hole projects.

“The limited number and size of our residential projects and their specialized target market make it difficult to predict the timing of sales and the resulting royalty fees,” the company said in an earnings statement. “It will continue to be difficult to predict the timing of fee revenues from our residential business.”

Second-quarter operating fundamentals were otherwise strong. RevPAR of Four Seasons’ worldwide and U.S. core hotels rose 12.8 percent and 13.6 percent, respectively. And gross operating margins at worldwide core hotels gained 270 basis points to 33.1 percent, and 290 basis points to 30.7 percent at U.S. core hotels.

“Luxury travel demand trends continue the strength shown over the past few quarters in virtually all of our markets. The luxury segment continues to lead the industry in occupancy and room rate improvements,” said Douglas L. Ludwig, chief financial officer and executive vice president.

Some of the gains in hotel operating fundamentals may not be apparent in the company’s management operations earnings because of the further weakening of the U.S. dollar, crimping the pace of earnings improvement when expressed in U.S. dollars, Ludwig said.

Four Seasons adopted U.S. dollars as its reporting currency in the first quarter.

Barring a slowdown spurred by terrorism, Four Seasons said it expects broad pricing and occupancy improvements to bring third-quarter and full-year RevPAR gains for its worldwide core hotels of roughly 10 percent and 11 percent, respectively.

Posted by Stephen at 12:34 AM | TrackBack

August 12, 2005

Opening your sixpack - fitness PR update

So what is the best way to get a six pack? This was the hot topic today amongst my fellow Pierce Mattians as we dined on deep dish pizza and McDonalds (myself excluded of course). As a trainer, I felt it was my duty to inform Michael (as I showed off my abs) that all bread products are evil and grease was not considered a low carb food. Judging by the constant bombardment of chocolate, and fast food delivery, I have my work cut out for me at Pierce Mattie PR.

Even as a nutritionist, I have no quick fix for great abs. For many of my clients, the desire usually arrives when a trip to the beach causes them to discover the beer gut that has been building since News Years. After swearing off beer, they tell me the only six pack they want to see is the one under their shirt. Suddenly they join the gym, sign up for marathons, and exercise for hours to make up for lost time. Unfortunately this usually lasts about a week, and then they quit in frustration. Now we have all tried fad diets, hours of situps, and diet pills but the truth is the only thing they will give you is a stomach ache and a lower back problem. For me, it started with actually counting my calories. I was shocked to learn that things like soda, and salad dressing were adding up to hundreds of calories worth of sugar and fat. By drinking more water and eating more protein, not only did I increase my metabolism, I found I had much more energy at the end of the day. By splitting my meals up in to smaller, more frequent portions I naturally sped my metabolism, and kept my cravings to a minimum. Before long my body adapted to this change and naturally began to shed fat as a response.
The good news is that you already have a strong pair of abs. The problem is the layer of fat covering them like a spare tire. So the only way to see your abs is to get rid of the fat, which means simple old fashion cardio. Any exercise that makes your heart beat (think treadmill, exercise bike, or elliptical) should do, and with 15-20 minutes a day, your abs will begin to show in no time. The abs themselves are very small, and can be exercised in no more than 15 minutes. It is always best to start with exercises that work the lower abs such as lying leg raises, and side raises. Following lower ab training, exercises such as frontal crunches, reverse crunches, and an ab roller should cover the entire upper portion. Numerous examples of ideal ab exercises can be found in pilates techniques and yoga.

There is no secret to great abs, beyond the two D’s (diet and dedication). So before you kiss the pizza goodbye (Michael), remember to treat yourself every once in a while to avoid dietary meltdown.

Posted by Chris Kelly at 04:14 PM | TrackBack

I should have listened to my dad, Jane Iredale or at least my dermatologist.

There are very few people in this life that I truly listen to like the word of the lord! One is my father, George Rohrmann, two is my client Jane Iredale and three is my cosmetic surgeon, Omar Torres, M.D. who resides at The Skin Spa in Midtown.

Me (with a sunburn on left) Jane Iredale in middle, Constance on right

I owe Jane Iredale a huge apology, you see, last January her cosmetics company was kind enough to escort Constance Marie Wherrity (who manages the Jane Iredale account) and myself to Cancun, Mexico for an executive retreat at the Aventura Palace Spa. It was amazing! What did I do to show my respect to this skin health icon? I acquired severe sunburn while drinking out by the beach. Meanwhile Jane said; "Pierce, get out of the sun!" I also should let my father know that he can go ahead and do his “I told you so dance” on my forehead. As a teenager he would scream “Pierce get out of the sun!” as I rushed home from class and jumped into the pool to lay out with my two girlfriends; Heather Reneau and Sara Karouz. Sara today has suffered from severe hyperpigmentation and is wearing and SPF 15 every day. Heather still loves the sun, her spots look good on her though. Sara and I are not so lucky.

Today, I went into see Dr. Torres, the dermatologist with the surgical know-how to make you look young again. It was strictly routine — a light peel followed with Botox. I had noticed the last time I had gone indoor tanning at Spa Sun in their “Mega Bed” that a little hard red bump had developed on the end of my nose. I knew in my subconscious mind (licensed in aesthetics) that it was skin cancer. I also had developed several little red bumps on my cheeks over this summer (again I knew it had to be rosacea). Naturally I enquired and with a blink of an eye Dr. Torres said that he could freeze the thing on the end of my nose off. I asked; “What is it?” He replied, “The nose is non-melanoma skin cancer (treatable) and the cheeks, Pierce, you know that is Rosacea.” Naturally I freaked!

The doctor said it was from my recent use of the tanning beds and the sun on Fire Island. Do you guys remember I use to be like alabaster white and always advocated SPF? But a few years ago to stay competitive on the dating scene I started tanning. It looks like I am going to have to go back to my old ways of being pasty pale blue, because this isn’t worth it!!!! I feel so stupid, an aesthetician getting rosacea and skin cancer, it’s like a ballet dancer breaking her leg from wearing too high of a heel.

I guess I am getting to that age where it’s going to slap me in the face. I should have listened to my dad when he had all of his skin cancer surgeries. If you’re reading my blog and going out in the sun this weekend put an SPF 15 on your face! If you need me to send you samples, I got a ton! Please feel free to email me Pierce@PierceMattie.com and I will send you a care package.

What I am using to take care of myself going forward:
I will cleanse, tone and hydrate my skin with the Institut’ DERMed cosmeceutical line of active products containing licorice extract and squalane. My favorite product in the line is the Papaya Exfoliating Gel. It’s like a mini at home peel for sensitive skin. This regimen was created exclusively by the CEO/founder of Institut’ DERMed, Lyn Ross who also suffers from Roscea.

I am not a fan of sunscreen. I hate the way it smells, I always sweat it off and it goes onto my shirt and then I look like a pasty mess. I will finish my grooming off with Jane Iredale’s new men’s line called H/E #5 bronzer with an SPF 18. It’s oil free, no talc, no mineral oil. Its zinc oxide with Pine Bark extract to fight free radicals and protect my skin from UVB damage. It also helps to prevent break outs and soothes my sensitive skin. I then lacquer my lips in Jane Iredale’s new H/E lip balm with SPF 15.

Posted by at 03:37 PM | TrackBack

Pierce Mattie PR and GEN ART Stand Atop the Creative Industry

As I was on my way to the extremely popular Blue Water Grill in Union Square for a meeting, I ran into two of the national event directors for GEN ART. If you’re not familiar with GEN ART, they are the leaders in bringing emerging artists of all genres to the forefront of media exposure. After attending their last two events, we were like old friends, discussing their successes.

From attending one of their more intimate affairs in the Hamptons, to one of the larger events at Hiro in the Maritime Hotel, the creativity and individualism lives up to the hype. At Hiro, a live performance by rock band Suffrajett shook the crowd as they concluded the night. From art galleries to movie screenings, GEN ART gives the innovators of the inspired world an opportunity at a dream they have had throughout their lives.

Be sure to check out their next event with the special advance screening of The Baxter on Tuesday, August 23rd at 7:30 at the Clearview Chelsea Theater. Expect appearances from the director and select cast members. For more information on GEN ART.

Posted by Ryan Michael at 12:34 PM | TrackBack

August 11, 2005

Rachael Ray's Tasty Treats

Rachael Ray is getting ready to set off onto her next cooking journey, bringing her audience a taste of food from around the world. On her new show, Rachael Ray’s Tasty Travels, Ray gives tips on everything from where to eat in the Big Apple for just a pocket full of change to the best ice cream and picnic spots around the country and the world. This marks Ray’s fourth show on the Food Network, making her one of the most notable cooks since Julie Child and Martha Stewart. The show premieres later this month and will be followed up by her magazine, Everyday with Rachael Ray, which launches this fall.

Posted by Lance Buckley at 05:25 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Best Ad Campaign for August 8-12, 2005 Goes to: Always CleanWeave®

Companies spend a lot of money on ad campaigns to shine a favorable spotlight on their product(s). But how do you keep ads for feminine hygiene products “clean and fresh?” In the September issue of Redbook, Always has a full-page ad that pictures a sanitary napkin in the shape of a chaise lounge. Under the photo is the simple tag line, “If you’re going to sit on it all day, it better be comfortable.” On the next page is a third-vertical that goes on to say, “Sit on something super comfy…” I grew up with three older sisters and a mom so I say this from experience, any comfort you can give women during their time of month is better for me and everyone else around them. Congratulations to Always for winning the best ad campaign of the week.

Posted by Lance Buckley at 05:19 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

Luxury Five Star Living Trend -Destinations, Spas and Home

In the endless quest for bringing exclusivity to attention-starved masses, new spin-off trends will continue to pop up in this space. The "5 STAR LIVING trend", which is all about the phenomenon of five star

hotels joining forces with real estate developers, from London to Las Vegas. The hotels offer services that were previously for guests only to owners of luxury residential properties located next to or even on top of sumptuous hotels.

Think exclusive access to the spa, bellboys walking the dog, guaranteed reservations in Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurants, or 24/7 room service instead of Domino's. Great for busy double income couples or wealthy followers of Carpe Diem. Which means 5 STAR LIVING is not a desperate attempt, like gated communities, to just detach oneself from 'normal' life: we're talking status and of the luxury kind here

• The Residences (apparently the name of choice for 5 STAR LIVING concepts!) is a condominium hotel enclave built on the MGM GRAND grounds in Las Vegas. Suites come with the pleasures of being an owner and a pampered hotel guest: from spa facilities to restaurants, and from the enormous casino to the Studio 54 night club. Real estate developer Turnberry Associates is behind this latest example of 5 star hotel living; other projects include their Vegas Turnberry Place (a fourth residential tower is going up soon, with serviced apartments priced from USD 450,000 to 5.9 million), and Miami's Porto Vita, Fontainebleau II and the Turnberry Ocean Colony. 





• The new W Scottsdale Hotel and Residences (Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide) in Arizona will include 25 to 30 luxury condominiums. Scheduled to open in 2007, the W Residences will offer owners a combination of one and two bedroom condominiums with the benefits of being attached to a W Hotel including all the amenities enjoyed by hotel guests. Highlights include in-home catering, botanical service, limo service and special W Resident Rates and VIP service in all W hotels worldwide. W Hotels is also developing Residences at the W Fort Lauderdale (2007) and W Dallas (2006). 





• Life is a beach in Miami, from Canyon Ranch Living, a residential community located on over 750 feet of oceanfront in Miami Beach (five-star residential services include an acclaimed oceanfront restaurant and a full-service, 60,000 square foot spa and fitness Center) to the impressive Tower Residences, situated above the new Four Seasons Hotel Miami. Last but not least, Mr. 'You're Fired' Trump is behind the Trump Grande Ocean Resort and Residences, located at the midpoint of the Miami Beach - Ft. Lauderdale corridor.





• In New York, the spanking new, USD 1 billion Timer Warner Tower complex offers an urban version of 5 STAR LIVING in cooperation with the Mandarin Oriental. Views of Central Park included. The Ritz-Carlton (Battery Park) can claim to be one of the first to do this in New York, though: 'The Residences' offers spacious condominiums that come with a a dedicated concierge, gourmet dining, butler service, and (in their own words) 'the prestige of living at the Ritz-Carlton.' 





• In London, Hyatt Hotels is cooperating with the new and exclusive The Knightsbrigde development. 205 future owners can count on Hyatt personnel to walk their dogs and more. Life can be sweet! UK-based Marriott fans head for 47 Park Street, the first European property operating under Marriott's Grand Residence Club brand ("all the advantages of a second home with the amenities and personal service of a luxury resort").





• Germany will soon see its first 5 STAR LIVING when aforementioned Ritz-Carlton 'The Residences' comes to Berlin, as part of the Beisheim Center. Owners will enjoy pleasantries like dinners at home (event and party service; the sous-chef of the Ritz-Carlton will cook in your own apartment), 24-hour room service, nanny, babysitting, room cleaning, shoeshine service, laundry service, dry cleaning, fitness center, indoor pool, golf course recommendations, saunas, massages, physiotherapy, and more. 

OPPORTUNITIES
Hotels and apartment buildings around the world, unite!

What better way to literally upgrade daily life than by injecting 5 star service into mundane activities and chores? 



Yes, Pierce Mattie understands that not all future residences will have access to their own 60,000 square foot health spas, but the 5 STAR LIVING trend will undoubtedly trickle down to the MASS CLASS in a less excessive version. In fact, there are millions of 'normal' consumers out there, struggling with busy jobs, families and life in general, who are dying to get their hands on even 3 STAR LIVING!

So: who'll become the trendsetter in providing 3 star services on a neighborhood or even street/block level?

However, as always, there's more to 5 STAR LIVING than real estate and hospitality!

The 5 STAR LIVING trend should inspire any marketer or exec interested in turning existing assets into profitable and imaginative new MASSCLUVITY services. Which, again, doesn't always mean catering to the absurdly rich; one of the reasons for Pierce Mattie to often focus on the luxury sector is because most consumer goods and services that we now consider to be commonplace, were initially introduced by pioneers of luxury and lifestyle. Oh well, incorporating this trend into your marketing strategy at least provides a good excuse for sampling some of the properties above!

Pierce Mattie Public Relations recommends TRENDWATCHING.com as a source for hot emerging consumer and marketing trends. TRENDWATCHING.com is one of the many goto sources our advocates depend on for trend information.

Posted by Steve Hultgren at 04:25 PM | TrackBack

August 10, 2005

It Could Have Been Better: Fashion Group International Men's Beauty Market Panel Discussion Event

Last night I was disappointed. The Pierce Mattie PR men’s grooming team went to a very well attended panel discussion on the men’s beauty market hosted by the Fashion Group International. The panel was moderated by James D’Adamo, Executive Style Director of O, The Oprah Magazine with panelists Denise Harrison, Director of Marketing for The Art of Shaving; Aaron Krach, Senior Editor at Cargo Magazine; BJ Nichols, National Manager of Education for Kiehl’s; Elena Panos, VP of Education & Business for Jean Paul Gaultier; and John Allan, CEO/Founder of The John Allan Company (who was a no show).

I had hopes that the panel would be more than just informative, but compelling and provide real insider information that could impart knowledge to the audience consisting of small brands in need of guidance like Lucky Tiger and aMENity, new brands with a name to make like our client Hommage, media folk looking for a new angle like Matt Evans from WWD, and publicists like myself who want new ideas to replace tired story pitches. Unfortunately, I was disappointed and my hopes remained hopes. The panelists were dynamic individuals, especially Aaron Krach whose engaging personality really came through, and who I know have more than just a superficial understanding of the men’s grooming industry, but all we got was a scratch on the surface. The questions were good, but they weren’t particular deep or diverse enough to really give insiders an even more inside view or perspective. I felt like the seminar was for university students who have no experience and want to enter the men’s grooming field and that my junior account executive could have answered the questions just as well.

What the panel needed was more diversity of experience and work function. Public relations [maybe I’m just being biased] was not mentioned, nor was the affect of the media on the growing men’s market. A great question would have been, “Is the media helping to advance the men’s grooming market, or is it following behind the market demand.” Other areas that were merely glossed over or never even mentioned were challenges to growth, advertising, the importance of good distribution, product complexity and key messages that men respond to. The panel could have been diversified with other industry insiders like a beauty and grooming public relations executive such as our own CEO Pierce Mattie who wrote a best selling men’s grooming book “Groomed for Success,” or CEO of Waldon Design and beauty industry branding extraordinaire Denis Simioni, or even Jane Iredale of Jane Iredale Cosmetics who just launched a men’s powdered sunscreen and bronzer and has plans for other men only cosmetics (as printed in the July 29, 2005 issue of WWD).

Furthermore, and I hate to say this, but there were too many gay men on the panel. It was all from the straight woman and the gay man perspective. If the men's segment is going to grow we need to hear from the straight man, the man who embraced grooming last, and get his take on the industry because he’s the man we’re targeting today.

The panel wasn’t a total bust. I hadn’t eaten all day and there was some great cheese and crackers, though washing it down with Ecco Domani was just tragic. And on the way out I did get one of my favorite products, a travel size of The Art of Shaving lavender shave cream.

I’m not giving up on these panels. I think they are very important to our industry and can help small and large brands alike achieve success in an intensely fickle and demanding industry. I’m definitely getting Pierce Mattie PR a membership to Fashion Group International, so maybe we can help shape these panels in the future and arrange it so I can bring my “drink” and cheese with me into the room.

If you attended this panel discussion and would like to post your own comments, please feel free to do so.

Posted by Michael Rogers at 05:45 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Tales of the Incredible Shrinking PR Pryncess Pt. 3

Pierce beat me to it...5 pounds gone and skinny jeans here I come. The debacle over the Oreos was eye-opening. The Pierce Mattians love each other and whether they have to beat us down to get the food out of our hand or put a chain on the refrigerator door...they'll do anything to see us win the battle of the bulge. THANKS GUYS!!! (For the slow people out there, that's what we call "sarcasm")

Anyway, I'm onto the next venture...exercise. I think belly dancing might be the right choice. I'll let you know which DVD I pick up next time. Maybe those hot moves will melt the pounds off quicker.

Posted by at 05:10 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Pierce Mattie Cat Fight (over chocolate no less)

Dieting is hard work! It's like having a part time job. Today our VP of Creative Services; Steven Hultgren sent to the office "5th Avenue Chocolatiere" chocolate covered potato chips and chocolate covered Oreos. That is like sending an addict, crack! And while Nikki Walker and I were devouring them, we were wrestled to the ground and had the boxes removed from our hungry hands by PMPR's skinny divas; Constance Marie Wherrity and Michael Rogers. "Don't eat it!" "You will feel better about yourself if you don't eat them!" So, then I rationalized and thought, what if we chew them and then spit it out so we can get the taste in our mouth. Meanwhile our new intern (part time personal trainer, full time male supermodel) Chris Kelly suggests that we start each morning with two teaspoons of vinegar to get the metabolism going in our empty tummy's. It's just another day at the office.

Nikki Walker has lost 5lbs on NutriSystems
Pierce Mattie has lost 6lbs gained back 5lbs, now at 1lbs on Jenny Craig

Posted by at 01:51 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

August 08, 2005

Celebrity Birthdays for the Week of Sept. 11-17

Sept. 11: Actor Earl Holliman is 77. Movie director Brian De Palma is 65. Drummer Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead is 62. Guitarist Tommy Shaw of Styx is 52. Drummer Jon Moss of Culture Club is 48. Actor Scott Patterson ("Gilmore Girls") is 47. Actress Kristy McNichol is 43.ActressVirginia Madsen ("American Dreams") is 42. Actress Roxann Dawson ("Star Trek: Voyager") is 41. Musician Moby is 40. Singer Harry Connick Jr. is 38. Guitarist Jeremy Popoff of Lit is 34. Singer Brad Fischetti of LFO is 30. Rapper Mr. Black is 28. Guitarist Jon Buckland of Coldplay is 28. Rapper Ludacris is 28.

Sept. 12: Actor Dickie Moore ("Our Gang" films) is 80. Actor Ian Holm ("Chariots of Fire") is 74. Country singer George Jones is 74. Actress Linda Gray is 65. Singer Maria Muldaur is 62. Actor Joe Pantoliano is 54. Singer-guitarist Gerry Beckley of America is 53. Drummer Neil Peart of Rush is 53. Actor Peter Scolari is 51. Actress Rachel Ward is 48. Actress Amy Yasbeck ("Wings," "Life on a Stick") is 43. Bassist Norwood Fisher of Fishbone is 40. Actor Darren E. Burrows ("Northern Exposure") is 39. Singer Ben Folds of Ben Folds Five is 39. Guitarist Larry LaLonde of Primus is 37. Singer Liam Gallagher of Oasis is 33. Actor Paul Walker ("The Fast and the Furious") is 32. Actor Benjamin McKenzie ("The O.C.") is 27. Singer Ruben Studdard is 27.

Sept. 13: Actress Eileen Fulton ("As the World Turns") is 72. Singer David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat and Tears is 64. Singer Peter Cetera is 61. Actress Jacqueline Bisset is 61. Singer Randy Jones of the Village People is 53. Record producer-musician Don Was is 53. Actress Jean Smart is 46. Singer-guitarist Dave Mustaine of Megadeth is 44. Radio and TV personality Tavis Smiley is 41. Actor Louis Mandylor ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding") is 39. Drummer Steve Perkins of Porno for Pyros and Jane's Addiction is 38. Country guitarist Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts is 30. Singer Fiona Apple is 28. Actor Ben Savage ("Boy Meets World") is 25.

Sept. 14: Actor Harve Presnell is 72. Actor Walter Koenig ("Star Trek") is 69. Actor Nicol Williamson is 67. Singer-actress Joey Heatherton is 61. Actor Sam Neill is 58. Singer John "Bowser" Baumann of Sha Na Na is 58. Singer Barry Cowsill of The Cowsills is 51. Saxophonist Steve Berlin of Los Lobos is 50. Singer Morten Harket of A-ha is 46. Country singer John Berry is 46. Actress Faith Ford is 41. Actor Dan Cortese is 37. Bassist Craig Montoya of Everclear is 35. Actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley ("According to Jim") is 34. Rapper Nas is 32. Actor Adam Lamberg ("Lizzie McGuire") is 21.

Sept. 15: Actor Jackie Cooper is 83. Actor Comedian Norm Crosby is 78. Actor Tommy Lee Jones is 59. Movie director Oliver Stone is 59. Drummer Mitch Dorge of Crash Test Dummies is 45. DJ Kay Gee (Naughty By Nature) is 36. Drummer Allen Shellenberger of Lit is 36. Actor Josh Charles ("Sports Night") is 34. Actress Amy Davidson ("8 Simple Rules") is 26.

Sept. 16: Actress Lauren Bacall is 81. Blues singer B.B. King is 80. Actor Peter Falk is 78. Singer Betty Kelly of Martha and the Vandellas is 61. Actress Susan Ruttan ("L.A. Law") is 57. Actor Ed Begley Jr. is 56. Singer David Bellamy of the Bellamy Brothers is 55. Bassist Ron Blair of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is 53. Jazz guitarist Earl Klugh is 52. TV weatherman Mark McEwen is 51. Singer Frank Reed of The Chi-Lites is 51. Illusionist David Copperfield is 49. Actor Mickey Rourke is 49. Country singer Terry McBride is 47. Actress Jennifer Tilly is 47. Actress Jayne Brook ("Chicago Hope") is 43. Singer Richard Marx is 42. Comedian Molly Shannon ("Saturday Night Live") is 41. Singer Marc Anthony is 36. Singer Musiq is 28. Actress Alexis Bledel ("Gilmore Girls") is 24. Actress Madeline Zima ("The Nanny") is 20. Actress Kyla Pratt ("Fat Albert," "Dr. Doolittle") is 19.

Sept. 17: Actor David Huddleston is 75. Actor Paul Benedict ("The Jeffersons") is 67. Singer LaMonte McLemore of the Fifth Dimension is 66. Singer Fee Waybill of The Tubes is 55. Actress Elvira is 54. Comedian Rita Rudner is 49. Director Baz Luhrmann ("Moulin Rouge") is 43. Singer BeBe Winans is 43. Actor Kyle Chandler ("Early Edition") is 40. Rapper Doug E. Fresh is 39. Actor Malik Yoba ("New York Undercover") is 38. Vocalist Keith Flint of Prodigy is 36. Rapper Vinnie of Naughty by Nature is 35. Singer Anastacia is 32. Singer Marcus Sanders of Hi-Five is 32. Singer-actress Nona Gaye is 31. Drummer Chuck Comeau of Simple Plan is 26.

Posted by Pierce at 11:43 PM

Miss Teen Usa

Allie Laforce

Coming from the South,