Miggy loves the internet

www.miggylikestheinternet.wordpress.com

Come on over to my new home, where you can leave comments!

xx

I know I know, the high street isn’t cool…. but……

For the past few years the high street as been looked down on, as young hipsters opted for vintage boutiques and charity shop finds.  When someone asks “where did you find that amazing cardigan?”, more and more people would respond with “in my granny’s attic” rather than, “at French Connection”.  (And as granny’s heard the younger generations stating that they only wore vintage, they would interject with “don’t you mean second hand, dear” - or was that just my family?)…

But with the dreary cloud of the recession looming over our heads, it’s no surprise that shoppers are looking for bargains anywhere they can!….especially online.

I’m noticing more and more, how much effort retailers are putting into their websites and the ecommerce side of their revenue.

Just the other day, I stumbled upon Warehouse’s Outlet website, which stocks sale items from last seasons stock and even though I don’t think Ive bought a thing from Warehouse since I was 15 years old, I found myself keen to start shopping.

Some items have more than 60% knocked off!

So maybe it’s worth tuning back into those high street brands afterall?

Another fantastic site for nabbing some bargains is the relatively new OutNet site.

This site, owned by net-a-porter sells discounted designer goods - prepare to fall in love with the items on offer.  Last week they held a flash sale for Louboutin.

TO-DIE-FOR! *sigh*

The list goes on and on.

A good place to stay updated with online fashion is at the informtive site belonging to Leon Bailey Green.

x

Yesterday at Graduate Fashion Week, I witnessed something wonderful.

High street retailer, River Island (official sponsor of GFW) showed just how much they’re embracing the new possiblities for marketing strategies in fashion retail.

Already heavily and succesfully using online social media, such as Twitter, blogs and video broadcasts - River Island have shown their dedication to the new personality of PR and Marketing.  But what’s even more amazing is the fact that they’re using their shop staff, to do it all!  At first, the cynic in me thought, oh of course, cheap labour - they pay them £5 an hour, get them to work on the shop floor, tagging denim jackets and folding cardigans and then instead of hiring staff to do their new media marketing, use the same faces to fuel their online presence.

But while walking around, looking at portfolio’s, after the shows yesterday, I saw something that changed my mind.

At the River Island stand, Leanne who works at the Oxford Street store, was singing live for a barrage of cameras and fashion hungry visitors.  This was not a hired celeb, or a well recognised contestant from X Factor - this was just a young girl, who worked as a shop assistant and had an extraordinary voice.

This was a clear example of the company giving something back to their staff.  Of course, it’s also another means of PR for them but at the same time, they’re giving Leanne an incredible opportunity.

So perhaps integrating their in-store employees is not such a negative thing after all.  They clearly know their staff - they communicate with them and they allow them all to bring their personalities to the brand, making it stand out.

A lesson to be learned by so many High Street retailers.  Times are a’changing and so should your approach to marketing!

Check out their website - it’s bursting with personality and content from the people who work there.

x

I know you missed me but here’s what i’ve been up to for the past few days…

Tickets are selling like lunchbreak botox in Hollywood. Get yours before they’re gone. http://snurl.com/hxvip

choosing goody bag sponsors for The Pout Party. Fashion & media -let me know if you’d like to pop something in ;) http://snurl.com/hxvip

Last night saw the first episode of Mary Portas show, ‘Mary Queen of Charity Shops’ aired by the BBC.

This retail witchy fairy godmother descended on a Save the Children charity shop in Orpington, dismounted her broomstick and began her quest to change the face of Britain’s charity shops.

While I’m fully supportive of this idea - It’s the perfect time, as more people turn to bargain hunting amidst this economic crisis - I could not stand Miss Mary’s way of communuicating with the elderly shop staff from Orpington…

Irene and Marianne (my personal heroes of the show) had a combined age of about 170yrs and had been volunteering at the shop’s toy section for over 40 years.  A fact to be humbled by, no?… Well, according to Mary, it gave her the right to be blatantly condescending towards them; branding them “the toy twins” and shaking her head, as if to say ‘silly old sausages’.

It’s not cool to be disrespectful to the elderly, Mary.  Even if they’re oblivious to it.

Most gripping point of the show:  when one staff member described the moment she reached into a bag of donations, to find  ‘moist’ underwear.  Yuk.

Anyway, I hope she succeeds with her mission.  It’s a fantascic challenge - *pat on the head for you, Mary*

;)

if you missed Mary’s patronizing antics last night, you can watch the show on BBCiplayer:

http://snurl.com/jcoat

.

Easily the best thing I’ve seen online this week….

Getting my order in right now!

x

(found via twitter.com/Laura_Scott)

www.cap-sac.com