Sourcing Shows Catch Up With Social media Marketing

// December 13th, 2009 // General, Web 2.0, usability

I ‘ve notice the efforts by Print Source to modernize their marketing they’ve added a blog and even a Gallery powered by a F lickr account!

I have a full day ahead of me preparing and sending out correspondence for a large project in February! But I just had to take time out to share!

There is a lot said about fashion, technology and Social Media, but when I see one of my favorite trade shows adapting social media into their marketing I just had to reach out! finally a way to share… well a move in that direction! this info is needed by the local designers!

As a Fashion Editor I have all but stopped attending local designers events! When I write I am honest and it had reached the point that some local designers were simply placing the same items year after year on the runway!

I actually can tell which local fabric outlet they had picked up their fabrics! More importantly they were just sewing! Their collections were not cohesive had not focal point , theme or dare I hope “story”! More importantly they have given up control over their art to some promoter who decides what model , music and even choreography should represent their vision! Yes I said If you have a problem… Talk To Me!

There is no excuse especially for New York based designers, trade shows are free to attend! All a designer has to do is simply register show up, present ID and connect! Unfortunately this is not something that seems to be promoted to students.. . so many graduate without ever having attended a TRADE SHOW!

To add to this many trade outlets operate in secrecy…only within (taditional) trade circles! You really to be part of the “inner” circle to know and Intellectual property concerns meant covering events were tough! Try getting a press kit or image from one of the exhibitors! Printsource is better at least I found their exhibitors tend to be more press savvy!

So I am ecstatic to see the move by Printsource to incorporate social media aspects into their marketing! Now I can at least show what a sourcing show entails… and just maybe entice some of those designers to consider adding this to their schedule!

If you ever wondered how all the stores seem to agree on the season’s colors etc… it not magic. Trend-spotting and trending is not just guess work, there is a science behind this! In larger design companies there may be a team responsible just for sourcing!

I am more attracted to Surface than actual textile designs( but with new advances in Technology I’m becoming a convert! There are two major surface or print design show in New York I attend! Printsource has more of an American approach! The other, Direction by Indigo (thanks to my Design Options newsletter) has not started this approach see there gallery here.

Previously they were both held in the same building which made it easier to attend both (artist clustering was a plus, not competition) now they are in two different locations Blocks apart! Lets see how that works out in the NYC Bitter winter temperature!

Click this link to see media in actual post!

So How does it measure up!
Social Media Marketing is about sharing!
… or rather getting others to share for you, it is the power of the hive! Posted on their site I cannot share, because their is nothing there to allow me to ( also a problem with flickr)!

SHARING IS NOT A FOUR LETTER WORD…

DeMarketplace is an online incubator… www.Demarketplace.com and all sub directories are meant to be used as a working base and teaching tool ( both for what works and what does not) for those in a local network and workshops I conduct… yet the sharing function is still important! I simply email the page needed to show what I may be discussing via a phone conversation! I’ve found that others are showing their friends and from my site stats we have a lot of visitors for a local site That is not marketed! Those tools work!

As it is, this post auto-post to my Facebook profile, and Frienfeed, It has qr codes (that Black and white box) Download the reader, so that it can be accessed and bookmarked via mobile! On my blog at the bottom of this post it can be emailed, printed and shared on several networks! I use wordpress as a platform and Disqus for commenting! So trackbacks are a breeze! There is an RSS feed that orange button next to the address bar so individual you can subscribe via google reader or by email

It is accessible via audio and also a podcast… I work with artist who use their hands they do not have time to sit and read but can listen!

Credit…
This is something I’m also trying to improve tagging and describing my post and adding links… I’ve taken to watermarking the domain (adding the website) associated with the images on the pictures! I have over 9000 images of designers and artist I am starting to loose track!

Attribution:- Technically under a full copyright I cannot email or share the images online hence I opt to use their Flickr slide show! Choosing a Creative Commons License (which Flick makes easy) allows for full creative copyright but allows others to share under terms you choose! You can see how PrintSource uses this on their site , which will lead you directly to their stream!
What does your web page do for you?

The point is that the reader has the option to get what I post, how and if they choose to receive it! More importantly he or she can share it with someone they think can enjoy it!

Why share… simple seeing is believing! I have spoken of this and written about this, it is not till designers attend sourcing shows, that they understand the significance of this !

Yes both of these shows cater to “press”, the fact is however the definition of PRESS is changing.

I help creative individuals find ways of monetizing their art, I am always called upon for resources! More importantly as a designer I am a direct link to other designers and artist. Individuals in a sector communicate; we always have we still find our leads via phone conversations, and as we become more engaged in social media so too does the importance of that medium and the reach! I can reach Brooklyn Designers, those in The Fashion and technology Sector!

We are moving our efforts to reach Designers of African descent worldwide, but a simple click of a button I can have a one hr conversation with a designer in Africa or the Caribbean and point them to the resource they need! I am more likely to take the recommendation of another designer, whose work I know, over someone who claims to be an expert ! Personal recommendations is how the creative community has always worked, with the growth of the indie design scene that is promotion your press or PR cannot cannot have the same effect as info shared by a trusted colleague! Social and New Media Marketing tools simply make sharing easier!

So what would I recommend… Commit to sharing

Add descriptions and tags and a link to your site on the flick images and site, so I not only understand what I’m seeing, but Flickr has one of the largest user bases! It’s your outpost! Your current blog set up does not allow me to share easily I’d recommend moving to a self hosted wordpress platform (this for a Joomla advocate!) I started with blogger and unfortunately it has not grown much since it’s early days!

I do not see why any business site would not have an RSS feed on it’s default landing page today; I subscribe to updates via Google reader! Many site privacy You can have the more sensitive info in another directory! Personally I seldom revisit a site that has a static front page (especially Flash Based sites) So much money is spent in there development I know they won’t be changed for a while!

Yours truly

Bonnie Sandy
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