EOC Week 9: My Own Brand

In our portfolio class, We have to basically create our own brand in order to graduate. I chose to use my last name as inspiration for my logo. My last name is Bombard so I created a bomb with a bow on it that had my name written through it. I used different shades of purple and the chevron pattern for my portfolio. As of right now I do not have a product but some products I aspire to make would be headpieces, accessories, or a clothing line. I would want it to be a hip and bohemian themed line that would be sold on a beachfront boutique. I do plan on one day creating an online store for flower and metal headpieces I make This will hopefully happen sometime in the near future. I just need to focus sometime on making all the products. My target audience would be young women, ages ranging from 18-25. They would be fashion forward and funky women. They would be social butterflies that love to stand out in the crowd. I hope to one day create this brand.

BOC Week 9: Pharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams has revolutionized his industry and made a huge difference in many peoples lives. His website is as simple as he is. He is not a flashy person, but he always looks great. His website is plain white with a large picture of him. It’s a simple picture, just him in his beanie. It has his name in a bold font and it is a focal point. Underneath that he has small circle icons that link to all his social media, like twitter, facebook, instagram and youtube. Below that is his clothing brand, which is Billionaire Boys Club and then his other website, which is called I am other. I am other focuses on finding new and innovative below in any industry and Pharrell gives them their break. He finds people that he thinks can change the industry and gives them a chance. its very plain and just represents hims as a brand and shows you everything he is involved in. The N.E.R.D. website is a lot different than his personal website. it very bright and has an amazing entrance. its very animated and interactive. On the website you can look up all his albums, concert dates, the biography of the band and the store. His merchandise sells for about $20 to $40. it just depends on what you buy. you can even purchase his music on the website. I t also features all the links to the social media and other websites affiliated with Pharrell and N.E.R.D.

Final: Sperry Top Siders

"For Sperry Top-Sider, a boat shoe isn’t just a boat shoe — it’s the foundation for an entire way of life." (http://www.wwd.com/footwear-news/markets/brand-of-the-year-sperry-top-sider-2383105?full=true) Sperry Top-Sider has been around since 1935. It started out simply as a shoe made to be worn on boats. It has been through phases of popularity and unpopularity. In the 80s it took the fashion world by storm. It was featured in The Preppy Handbook and it became the new “it” factor. "Over the past 20 months, the Lexington, Mass.-based brand (a division of Topeka, Kan.-based Collective Brands Inc.) has been working to grow from a dependable player in the heritage category into something more: a worldwide brand that draws inspiration from its all-American, nautical roots. And even amidst the economic slowdown, that’s just what it’s been doing." (http://www.wwd.com/footwear-news/markets/brand-of-the-year-sperry-top-sider-2383105?full=true) They have had some hard times ver the years and are in need of something new without changing their style. They need to keep their preppy sailor style, but switch it up to new age styles.

This is what they are attempting to do and some people are noticing and believing they can reinvent their brand if they keep down the path they are heading. “The 2012 version of preppy is very different from the 1980s version of preppy,” she says. “We’re seeing a kind of wit exhibited through color and fabrication changes. It’s one thing to have a pair of brown Top-Siders, beat up and maybe taped together. It’s another thing to have a pair of flannel ones designed by Band of Outsiders that have a hipster vibe to them.” (http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/fashion/articles/2012/04/05/reviving_sperry/) They have come out with all sorts of colors and patterns on their simple boat shoe. I actually own a pair of the sparkly silver ones. They are becoming a huge fad because they changed their standard leather boat shoe to an interesting boat shoe and also got the right people wearing them. They can be seen on celebrities everywhere like, Blake Lively, Kanye West and Pharrell Williams. These are huge fashion icons and impact the new generation. They can turn any fancy outfit into a casual and cute outfit and they also can dress up a pair of jeans and a tee. “What I’ve seen time and time again is a more traditional brand try to reinvent itself and change their product into something it’s not,” says Marden from Details magazine. “But they’re doing it just right.” (http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/fashion/articles/2012/04/05/reviving_sperry/) They have not sold out their image at all in order to be in the spotlight again. They have kept their sacred nautical image. They have even broadened their market and decided to cross the ocean. “Despite a deep connection with the United States – Top-Siders were de rigeur in a prep-schooler's closet circa 1983 – the Massachusetts-based shoemaker actually manufactures its iconic Authentic Original collection overseas." (http://www.mensjournal.com/style/shoes/an-american-made-boat-shoe-20130319) This is going to make a huge impact on their company. They will generate more revenue from fashion forward countries and also countries that are in need of actual sturdy boat shoes. They may be fashionable but no one can overlook the fact that they are reliable shoes for a boat.

BOC Week 7: Exercise - Visit a retailer

A main component of branding for retailers would be the store itself. When you walk into the store, you are supposed to get the feel of what type of clothing or merchandise they will sell. For example, when you look at Hot Topic stores you know exactly what you will find inside the store. I chose to visit my new favorite store called Bohme, which is located in Town Square. The vibe of the store is very fresh and clean. The fixtures are all white and everything looks light in the store. They have mostly soft colors and designs on their accent walls. The customer service is actually really good. The girls that work there are very attentive, but don’t hover over my shoulder. They always ask if I need help, a dressing room, or if there is anything I need in particular. The sales associates all fit the part as well. They are very girly and natural looking. The merchandise is very girly, which you can tell by looking at their visuals what kind of demographic they are targeting. I think there brand image is a fun, fresh, and girly. They don’t quite tell a story, but the white fixtures and light atmosphere could make girls feel like they will leave looking prettier. The store in general makes you feel pretty cause everything is light, flowy and silky. They just want to make your experience an easy and stressfree. 

EOC Week 7: Chapter Questions

ch. 5
1. How do mass-market brands compare to luxury brands in terms of brand value, pricing attitude, and location choices?

Mass Market brands have value you on all their products but it may not be as high of a brand value that company's like Chanel hold. They will not sell any of their products on sale or second stores because their value is so high. "Mass-market products are highly price driven. At the budget range, for instance, they are quantitative and based on the concept of more for less, so in most cases these brands are positioned primarily based on price." (Hameide 158) Location is not as much of an issue for mass market. They are able to be located in places like downtown or shopping centers. They also have a very strong presence online, unlike luxury brands who only sell their products in stores.

2. Briefly compare premium brands to luxury brands.


"Premium brands are also referred to as “aspirational” or “new luxe” brands and include brands such as Coach, Victoria's Secret, and most RTW labels introduced by luxury brands" (Hameide 162) They are more affordable luxury brands. the quality is excellent and their products are desirable to everyone. They still follow the trends that the luxury brands create but they do have some new and innovative ideas of their own. They also have great craftsmanship but aren't quite handmade like most luxury items are.

3. Name a few of the challenges private labels face to compete with manufacturing brands.

"Private labels are brands owned by a retailer and not a manufacturer. Retailers usually contract these products and have them produced under their own labels. The definition of private labels has expanded to refer to both private labels sold next to manufacturers brands in multibranded stores (such as Club Room at Macy's or Target's Isaac Mizrahi collection) as well as private brands sold solely in their exclusive stores (such as Gap and Esprit), which would also fall under the specialty stores category." (Hameide 165-166) Private labels have a hard time competing because they cant move product as quickly as manufacturing brands can. Unless the brand is backed behind a huge company, they rae usually small companies that have boutiques here and there.

BOC Week 6: Bruce Weber

Bruce Webber

“ Bruce Weber, born in rural Greensburg, Pennslyvania in 1946, became the preeminent photographer of the fashion industry in the 1980s and continues to be one of the world’s most popular and influential photographers.” (http://www.bruceweber.com/#/about/bruce__nan_bios) Bruce Webber is an American fashion photographer. He has worked for major companies like Calvin Klein and Abercrombie and Fitch to create the look of the entire brand. He has also worked for huge magazine companies like GQ, Vogue and Vanity Fair. He started to work on filmmaking in the early 70s but by the late 70s he had started to shoot ads for Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. There has been over 15 books published of all of his work.  “It’s Bruce’s world; we just live in it” (http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/03/behind-the-scenes-bruce-weber-hollywood) Bruce Weber created the image for Abercrombie and Fitch and made them the company they are today. He is known for his homoerotic pictures that he uses for the campaigns. His latest campaign features two men barely clothed kissing eachothers forehead. This caused outrage as most of his provocative images do. This photo was actually mellow compared to the scene where the men were wrestling around. He has always been different and tried to shock and awe the public. This is what makes him such an amazing photographer. He has no boundaries on what he will do for the best shot.