Just Launched: Pog Apparel: fine apparel from Ireland and the UK

After months of work, pogapparel.com has just been launched. On the site, you'll find a wide range of very fine quality clothing. The collections of fashion designers, handloomed and handknit sweaters, coats, scarves and hats. Cashmere cloaks, sweaters and coats. Fair-trade fashion made from certified organic materials. Free shipping for all orders of $1,000 or more.

Press Release Announcing pogapparel.com

Just launched this week: our new fashion label and retail website featuring the work of top designers and apparel houses from across Ireland and the UK.

The press release announcing this new site is at the following link: pogapparel.com PR release.

Ireland a Fashion Capital of Europe?

That's right.

You probably think of Ireland as one those fashion backwaters, full of cable sweaters and tweed caps, yes?

Think again. And let's remember that tweed found it's way into many top designer 2008 collections anyway. So have other, shall we say, traditional Irish or British fashion staples.

But the green isle, always known for the very finest quality fabrics and handwork is now home to a new breed of designers who are redefining "Irish Fashion".

To celebrate Ireland's deserved claim as one of Europe's new upstart fashion capitals, I'm about to launch pogapparel.com. For a sneak preview visit site where you'll see featured work from some of Ireland's top designers and apparel houses, and fabulous accessories, just in time for the holidays. Plus,you can fill out a brief survey and sign up for a 10% discount. You'll be seeing green in a whole new way.

What's a póg

Póg means "kiss" in the ancient Irish tongue. And it's the name of a new brand and ecommerce project I've begun and will provide more info about soon. Stay tuned!

My Business "Pay it Forward" Offer and Challenge

In the absence of any real national or international government action to address the current global economic crisis, I think we all need to do what we can to help each other through. To do my part, I’ve reduced my rates for businesses that could benefit from my services, but can’t afford them. If your business or organisation in need of a fresh approach to marketing and advertising, but lack the funds to make it happen, give me a call. If I provide my services at a discount rate, all I ask is that you “pay it forward” by helping someone else in the business community.

Visit marketpowersource.com to learn more

Call me weekdays from 8:00-5:00 Eastern Time (US); 001-617-823-9624

The ZZZZ Factor: Marketers; How Do You Sleep at Night?

There’s a reason why the marketing industry refers to the public as "targets"--and why our “targets” use phrases like, “junk mail” and words like, “annoying” and “invasive” when referring to the work we do.

Somewhere along the line, many of us in the industry lost site that at the end of the day, marketing is all about people and building positive relationships between those who create a product or offer a service, and their customers.

Below are 5 ways marketers can get back on track, increase effectiveness and catch up on lost sleep:

1. Change the language. Stop referring to people as, “targets” or thinking of them as numbers. This one act can change your whole perspective.
   
   
2. Be eco-friendly. If you haven't heard, the trend is to use less paper (direct mail, etc) and embrase web-based marketing. Consumers will appreciate it, and so will mother earth. For many small start-ups, and all-web strategy may be the most cost-EFFECTIVE way to launch and grow. And even large, well-established direct marketers now report more sales generated via the web than catalogues.
   
   
3. Listen to your customer--really. Communication isn’t one-sided. Engage in a dialogue with the public and hear what they have to say. It’s the best way to earn their trust, grow your customer base, and stay relevant to the market.
   
   
4. Make more friends, fewer enemies. Thanks to "web 2.o and other developments, it's now more cost-effective than ever to promote widely AND engage those who are interested in your product or service, with highly personalized communication that actually provides them with information they value.
   
   
5. Reach Out. By globalizing your marketing, you'll promote cross cultural, cross-idealogical understanding. And you never know where in the world it could take you.
   
   
6. Realize the world is not your oyster. Rather, you are one of many pearls from which the public may choose. If you want to build a corporate empire, you are probably living in the wrong era. It has been said that fewer mega multi-national corporations will rise to power in the years to come. For most of us, that's good news. A more egalitarian environment means we all stand a better chance to build something of value and contribute to a stronger socio-economic fabric.

Viral Versus Gorilla Marketing

I’ve read in more than one place lately that "Viral Marketing" is just the latest version of Gorilla Marketing. Not so! Gorilla marketing refers to an overall innovative, non-traditional approach to marketing that often has a viral component. So viral marketing is a part of Gorilla marketing, but gorilla marketing is much more expansive, incorporating other tactics, such as experiential event marketing, staged happenings, and much more...hope that helps!