Say Something: October 11

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At NKPR we always strive to be on the cusp of what’s happening and what’s new. After all – our motto is “Don’t just talk. Say something.”  Check out our weekly summary of the latest news, PR updates, social media trends and highlights that are on our radar.

Instagram’s latest competitor? Snapchat is upping the ante with a new feature, Snapchat Stories. The album-like feature allows users to create a photo and video montage with a 24 hour life. Friends can scroll through snap chat albums, giving it a Facebook-like function of sharing activity. [Mashable]

Multi-grain Cheerios and Big Brothers Big Sisters (a charity close to our hearts) are teaming up to raise awareness for Go Girls, an initiative aimed at promoting healthy bodies and healthy minds. This TV campaign takes an anti-diet approach to promoting balance and healthy living in young women, many of which are victims to pro-diet media – such a great initiative. Check out the campaign here! [Big Brothers Big Sisters]

Choosing a career path in your 20s can be a stressful, often daunting process – with so many options, it can be difficult to know where to start. Natasha shares her insights and experience in her latest blog post at The Huffington Post. [Huffington Post]

Today marks International Day of the Girl Child, a day dedicated to raising awareness to the fact that girls across the globe lack equal access to education, healthcare, nutrition, and freedom. To celebrate and support the cause, we recommend watching Girl Rising – an uplifting film centred on the lives of eight inspiring girls from developing countries like Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Haiti, and India. [Fast Company]

Say Something: September 27

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At NKPR we always strive to be on the cusp of what’s happening and what’s new. After all – our motto is “Don’t just talk. Say something.”  Check out our weekly summary of the latest news, PR updates, social media trends and highlights that are on our radar.

Great news – Facebook now allows you to edit posts and comments, a welcomed, time-saving addition to the ever-changing platform. From hashtags to Instagram video, it’s been a summer full of updates for Facebook. [Tech Crunch]

When it comes to fashion, standing out is more important than ever. So what’s an independent designer to do to, especially if his or her marketing budget pales in comparison with Chanel’s? Skip the runway all together. Interesting read on how designers are showcasing their designs in unique, innovative ways. [Globe and Mail]

In the words of Paulina Porizkova, “Working off of your looks makes you the opposite of self-confident.” Natasha Koifman’s latest blog post at Huffington Post discusses Changing Face: Aging Beautifully, From The Inside Out. [Huffington Post]

We’re really excited about The Business of Fashion’s newest project: The BoF 500, a multi-channel initiative that examines the people shaping the global fashion industry. Check it out! [Business of Fashion]
His ears have grown dull with silence, dissertationauthors.com/ but once they listened to greek music!.

Say Something: August 13

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At NKPR we always strive to be on the cusp of what’s happening and what’s new. After all – our motto is “Don’t just talk. Say something.”  Check out our weekly summary of the latest news, PR updates, social media trends and highlights that are on our radar.

On our fashion radar…VFiles, a fashion-focused site that combines content from professional editors as well as user-generated content, plans to stage a “User Generated” fashion show for New York Fashion Week. This first-ever initiative will feature 3 up-and-coming designers from the VFiles online community, offering them a unique opportunity to gain exposure in the industry. A great initiative that engages and rewards followers while leveraging the growing influence of online communities. [Business of Fashion]

We’ve got VSCO on our radar. The ‘anti-Instagram’ app functions as a visual journal, a platform to showcase images in a grid format that can be filtered and shared on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook using the hashtag #viscocam. The app offers both professional and amateur photographers a unique, efficient way of presenting their portfolios. This is a great example of innovation; the designers of VSCO are building on an existing idea (photo sharing) yet putting their own spin on it that differentiates it from other photo-sharing apps. Kudos! [Fast Company]

Speaking of Instagram…it’s amazing how much change we’ve witnessed in the social media landscape within the past 6 months. The newest Instagram update allows users to import pre-existing videos with basic editing. This translates into editorial-quality video sharing, something that brands like The Gap and Lulu Lemon are leveraging. This new addition offers even more opportunities for brands to reach out to consumers. [Tech Crunch]

Now you can book your next dinner reservation with the help of Facebook mobile and OpenTable. Such a collaboration signals Facebook’s efforts to innovate and compete with search engines like Google, as well as leverage the growing trend in consumer mobile use. The feature also encourages companies to invest in Facebook by paying for promoted posts and buying likes; the app increases the investment’s ROI. It’s great to see Facebook coming up with offerings that differentiate it from other social media outlets, namely Twitter. [Entrepreneur]

 

Say Something: August 7

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At NKPR we always strive to be on the cusp of what’s happening and what’s new. After all – our motto is “Don’t just talk. Say something.”  Check out our weekly summary of the latest news, PR updates, social media trends and highlights that are on our radar.

boohoo, the UK-based online fashion retailer, has come up with a first-ever marketing initiative: a shoppable music video starring Little Nikki to be aired on live TV. It’s great to see companies like boohoo coming up with creative ways to leverage social media outlets. The videos capture the boohoo look and present the pieces in a more organic way than a traditional ad campaign.  [Pressat]

When it comes to making a successful pro-social scheme, the cause needs to be leveraged with something that consumers seek out. With this in mind, 3 marketing interns developed a The Cronut Project that does just that; the team sought out Dominique Ansel, the inventor of the ‘cronut’, to create a limited-edition passion fruit flavour. For one week, the highest donor plus a random donor got a taste of the exclusive flavour with profits going to the Food Bank of New York. Great to see product popularity leveraged for a good cause. [Fast Company]

Speaking of donuts…Tim Horton‘s has increased its social media presence with the aid of How I Met Your Mother. Jason Priestley takes a timbit, a Tim Horton’s classic, and places it within a donut, dubbing it his own invention. The episode functioned as the largest non-product placement ad for Tim Horton’s, who responded with a customized ‘Priestley’ flavour and launched a  ‘create your own donut’ contest, playing off the show’s popularity and buzz. The contest allowed Tim Horton’s to target a larger audience; one that is active on social media outlets like Twitter and Instagram. This has to be one of the most innovative marketing campaigns we’ve seen in a while. [Globe and Mail]

It was a music-festival filled weekend, including the much-anticipated Osheaga Festival in Montreal! Osheaga is one of the best sources for festival fashion and trend-spotting. RACHEL Rachel Roy sent out Canadian bloggers from Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto to live tweet and give an on-the-ground glimpse at the fashions, music and happenings during the 3-day event. By utilizing the hashtag #RRRGirlCAN, fashionable festival-goers were able to share their looks with the RRR community. Such a fun, creative initiative! [NKPR]

 

 

Say Something: July 30

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At NKPR we always strive to be on the cusp of what’s happening and what’s new. After all – our motto is “Don’t just talk. Say something.”  Check out our weekly summary of the latest news, PR updates, social media trends and highlights that are on our radar.

It’s been a busy week in fashion, starting with The Hudson Bay Co’s $2.9 billion acquisition of Saks Fifth Avenue. With the upcoming introduction of Nordstrom Canada, the purchase is part of The Bay’s efforts to maintain its status as a top high-end Canadian retailer amidst competition. [CBC]

What do ice cream and Marc Jacobs have in common? Keep your eye out for the Marc Jacobs Honey ice cream truck, the latest MJ campaign promoting the newest Honey fragrance. It’s even got its own hashtag #MJHONEYSPOTS!  A fun, engaging campaign that plays on the popularity of the ‘Food Truck’, all while promoting a product that can be leveraged through social media- genius! [Urban Expressions]

A fake Twitter hack that increased Chipotle’s Twitter following by 4,000 proves that creative ideas are more important than ever in today’s social media culture. A PR stunt such as this proves that thinking outside of the box is a tactic all brands should consider in order to create content that is buzz-worthy. [Mashable]

H&M’s U.S. website accounted for about 20 percent of the company’s total online traffic, yet it offered no goods for sale…until now! That’s right, H&M has made the move to sell their merchandise online in the U.S in a much-needed effort to catch up with its competitors. We’re excited to see the impact on sales of the already hugely-popular brand. [Bloomberg]

Say Something: July 8

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At NKPR we always strive to be on the cusp of what’s happening and what’s new. After all – our motto is “Don’t just talk. Say something.”  Check out our weekly summary of the latest news, PR updates, social media trends and highlights that are on our radar.

What we’re watching at NKPR…Isaac Mizrahi shares his 6 favourite TEDTalk videos that inspire and educate. Some very interesting videos here, especially those pertaining to fashion and our beloved New York City! [Mashable]

Facebook is at it again, this time with Graph Search, a new search engine that enhances users’ searches for people, places, photos and more. Yet another update that can be utilized by brands; optimized searches result in greater exposure and targeting abilities. [Business Insider]

Society is more multicultural than ever, yet the fashion industry can be slow to respond. Keep this in mind the next time you browse a magazine or runway show…are you satisfied with the industry’s efforts at representing diversity?  [Fashionista]

More news in social media…Vine (the original video sharing app) has released 3 new features in response to Instagram’s recent video instalment.  Vine now offers the ability to ‘revine’, categorizes videos by theme and has developed an enhance camera. It’s great to see the company staying innovative, a challenge all platforms face in an industry where copy-cat features are a permanent threat. [Tech Crunch]

Just in…no cash? No problem. Coca-Cola is set to install Interac-Flash equipped vending machines, starting with machines at the Calgary Stampede. A great example of why Coca-Cola is a leader in the marketplace; positioning a new and exciting feature at a buzz worthy event results in maximum exposure. [Marketing Mag]

Say Something: June 24

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At NKPR we always strive to be on the cusp of what’s happening and what’s new. After all – our motto is “Don’t just talk. Say something.”  Check out our weekly summary of the latest news, PR updates, social media trends and highlights that are on our radar.

It’s been a month of changes for Facebook; video for Instagram, photo comments on Facebook…and now a soon-to-be-released  Flipbook-like News Reader. With the recent surge in social media innovation, marketers and agencies need to respond by evolving at the same pace to stay current.  [Mashable]

Sephora witnessed 60% of their sales attributed to Pinterest; to quote Social Media Today, “Words tell, but images sell”. This has huge implications for boosting sales…brands take note.  [ZOG Digital]

The much anticipated Bling Ring came out this weekend, a film that exemplifies today’s trend of turning everyday individuals into celebrities, in this case teenage thieves. Love it or hate it, the story highlights our culture’s obsession with celebrity and fame. Get the full background on the story behing The Bling Ring here. [The Globe and Mail]

Marketing Magazine and Google have paired up in a collaboration to feature monthly previews of the most-watched Youtube videos. This is a great resource for anyone interested in marketing or PR, and presents a useful summary of what makes a video successful. [Marketing]

 

Say Something: June 17

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At NKPR we always strive to be on the cusp of what’s happening and what’s new. After all – our motto is “Don’t just talk. Say something.”  Check out our weekly summary of the latest news, PR updates, social media trends and highlights that are on our radar.

We had the pleasure of interviewing celebrity makeup artist and Avon ambassador Lauren Andersen when she came to town! Check out our blog post featuring her expert makeup tips! [NKPR]

Two exciting new collaborations in fashion have been announced! H&M’s fall 2013 collection will feature French designer Isabel Marant and Jason Wu has been named the new Creative Director for Hugo Boss womenswear! This seems to be a year of change for the fashion industry with many designers entering and exiting fashion houses (re: Nicolas Ghesquiere). [Toronto Star & Flare Magazine]

Facebook and hashtags…it’s been a long time coming. What does this mean for businesses and fans? It makes it that much easier to target an audience and creates a stream of accessible, organized images, photos and links specific to users’ interests. [Mashable]

The MMVAs (which took place just down the street from NKPR!) showcased some amazing performances and red carpet fashions on Sunday.  You can watch online in case you missed it. Our favourite highlights from the show? Ed Sheeran’s performance and Naya Rivera’s risque red carpet outfit! [MuchMusic]

Got something to say? Tweet us at @natashankpr!

Goody Canada is Now Online!

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NKPR knows there are so many great opportunities available for fans to connect with their favourite brands online, and we’ve been busy working with many of them to creatively participate in online conversations with Canadians. This month we are thrilled to announce that Goody Canada has officially gone live with their first-ever social media channels! This is another great way for Canadian media and consumers to connect with the Goody brand.

If you’re on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest, and you want to keep up with hot new hair trends, celebrity inspired styling tips and the latest tools and accessories from Goody Canada, follow us!

We invite you to join in on the hair conversation, and look forward to sharing exciting offers and product launches in the next few months. Keep an eye out for exclusive online contests, including our launch celebration giveaways of $150 Goody prize packs #goodygiveaway

What brands do you think are doing an excellent job with social media? Tell us @natashankpr 

Social Media Must-Haves

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If you’re a regular reader of this blog then you probably know that everyone at NKPR is social media obsessed! And this obsession has only gotten more intense with the launch of our digital media division, NKPRoductions. We spend a lot of time scouring the Web for the latest and greatest in social media tools that will help our clients reach their goals, and help us work more efficiently and creatively. As you can imagine, we’ve amassed quite a collection of fantastic social media resources that we find ourselves using again and again — some you know, some you may not. So here they are, in no particular order….

… NKPR’s Social Media Must-Haves!

Bunmi: Tumblr. It’s a great way to digitally scrapbook ideas. It’s simple to use and you can post anything from images to music.

Katy: Reddit. All the content is user generated, and trends originate on Reddit days before they get picked up by other blogs and news sites.

Brittany: Twitter. Especially print publication feeds. I know what’s going on instantly instead of having to wait for tomorrow’s newspaper.

Heather: They’re all near and dear to my heart, but my latest love is Pinterest. It’s a digital pinboard where you can collect and categorize images. The “social” part is that you can follow, comment on and re-pin images from other people’s boards. It’s an amazing source of inspiration!

Emily: LinkedIn. It’s incredibly useful when I’m source-hunting for a story I’m writing.

André: Tech blogs such as Gizmodo, Lifehacker, Engadget and Mashable. They are the first to announce any new online tool and monitor progress of all the social media startups.

Thary: Behance. As a creative, this website showcases the best and most up-to-date design work from all around the world. It is an endless supply of inspiration.

Sarah: Facebook. It encompasses them all!

For more on what I think about social media, click here and watch this interview I recently did with tdot.tv.

What are your favourite social media tools? Tweet me @natashankpr

Natasha