Author: Dana Phelps

Hey Chicago, Have a Seat (On Thomasville)

Dana PhelpsBlog, Clairemont Client News, , ,

Chicago is truly one of my favorite cities. As an Illinois native, maybe it is just in my blood. Maybe (and I’m dating myself here) the experience of being in Grant Park (in a tree no less — I’m short, remember) for the homecoming after the first Bulls championship forever bonded me. Maybe it’s just because I love Al’s Super Soaker.

Regardless, I wish I could be there Thursday evening for an interior design event that Thomasville (our client) is hosting at its new Lincoln Park store on Clybourn Avenue at 6 p.m. It will feature Thomasville’s fashion forecaster, Jana Burvikovs, who I met and instantly fell in love with at furniture market earlier this year.

You can tell Jana is a style maven with just a glance. She is also a sincerely kind person who is very passionate about interior design. If you can go Thursday, do it! You won’t be sorry. Here’s the invite.

The chance to win a free Thomasville chair is so secondary to the experience of meeting Jana and getting her design advice, that I almost forgot to mention it. Yes, the store will give-away a Thomasville chair. If you can go, please take some photos and/or video for me since I can’t be there!

 

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Clairemont’s Professional Development Philosophy

Dana PhelpsBlog, Professional Development

Last week our team attended a professional development session hosted by the North Carolina chapter of Public Relations Society of America. With live and local association events, webinars, screencasts, podcasts and annual conferences, there’s an abundance of professional development opportunities.

My advice to managers — designate a professional development program and budget. Some companies invest more in top performers, while others allocate resources based on job level. For Clairemont’s approach, see the video below shot by the Start-Thinking team last year when I joined them in Kansas City for a Social: IRL conference featuring Sarah Evans.

My advice to those seeking professional growth — start with the local chapter of your industry associations. Smart employers encourage development opportunities, and most managers are receptive to the time and financial commitment. However, many want to see that you’re committed at a local/smaller scale first. Attending a national conference that includes travel might be a longer term goal and will require you to do your research to show the expected ROI.

Lastly, keep in mind that professional development doesn’t have to be expensive or take time away from the office. If you are truly sincere about wanting to expand your knowledge, be willing to make a personal commitment which might involve doing it during non-office hours.

I’ve started downloading books and podcasts through iTunes so that I can listen and learn on my iPhone while I’m running, driving or walking to get a cup of coffee. What have you found that works for you and your team?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbOsjhPYgX4&feature=related

 

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Copy Cat — Talbots & Our Favorite Feline

Dana PhelpsBlog, Copy Cat, , ,

We were just talking in the office today that the Clairemont team is definitely made-up of dog lovers, but that doesn’t stop us from admiring a good cheetah print when we see one. The photo from Talbot’s August email newsletter definitely caught my eye.

And then… I read the copy and fell in love. “Call of the Styled.” What a great play on words, followed by the equally clever caption under the photo that read, “There’s a print for every personality this month. Pair them with a little black pant or fall-ready sweater, and you’ll see why cheetahs always win.”

Meow, Talbots copywriters! We like your work. The playful copy is a nod to the company’s efforts to be trendier and to reach a younger demographic while retaining existing loyal customers. My recent Talbots purchases have received the thumbs-up of our younger team members, and an intern wore the most adorable Talbots dress to our office last week.

The marketing efforts are apparently working, and we are certain the copy has something to do with it.

 

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Green Thought Thursday: Hats off To Hotel Indigo

Dana PhelpsBlog, Sustainability

For those of you who are regular readers of our Green Thought Thursdays, you know that I typically don’t pen this post, as Josie is certainly our Queen of Green. How apropos that I found inspiration while working for a few days in Asheville, her  former home!

When I check into a hotel, one of the first things I do is make sure I have drinking water in the room. That is usually in the form of bottled water. What a wonderful surprise to walk in my room at Hotel Indigo and find a water carafe complete with a haiku with “filling station” instructions. (Who doesn’t love a haiku!)

Kudos to Hotel Indigo for its environmental practices! Combined with the hotel’s beautiful design and comfortable bedding, I will definitely be a repeat guest. And a well hydrated one at that!

 

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Clairemont on MSNBC

Dana PhelpsBlog, Marketing, Public Relations, 3 Comments on Clairemont on MSNBC

I love surprises. Today, I am one.

With Saturday’s issue of The News & Observer, the secret is out that I will be part of an episode of the MSNBC show Your Business. I will be joining my favorite business author, Mike Michalowicz who wrote The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, and other experts to give a North Carolina-based company a business makeover.

I’m looking forward to learning more about the company and its business goals in order to help the owners build supporting communications objectives and a communications strategy for traditional media relations and social media.  I’m off to meet them now. Wish me luck! –Dana

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