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THE ‘MIRROR MIRROR’ WOMAN? |
Two very thought-provoking articles. One on curated shopping (found via Rare Device) and one wondering what makes certain designers successful on the intelligent new design blog Designer’s Library. The curated shopping article is talking about the rise of the indie shop – shops which carry a carefully edited collection of pieces which reflect a certain lifestyle aesthetic. The blog post on designer brands asks how some designers have successfully created a personality or culture around their business which can be translated across a wide range of products.
I suppose what both articles are talking about is branding.
I know that at mirror mirror I am trying to create a brand rather than just a collection of products. People might come to mirror mirror the first time because they’ve seen a particular product in the Press or something, but the only reason they’ll keep coming back again and again and recommend us to their friends is because they like the personality of the brand and think they’ll find more products they like in future.
Which makes it rather scary for me, the shop ‘curator’. I have a clear vision of the personality which I want the mirror mirror brand to project and to an extent that brand reflects my own personality. There’s a little bit of me in everything we do – the product selection, packaging, customer service, blog-writing, website etc. etc. – which means I lay a little bit of me on the line everytime someone interacts with the company. What I don’t know as yet is whether that brand personality resonates strongly enough with enough people, ie. has that brand ‘X Factor’, which will underpin a truly successful company.
In fact, dear reader, what sort of personality does the mirror mirror brand convey to you ? I’m really interested to find out.
This is where I wish I was good with words. There is definitely a clear personality emerging… feminine, stylish, special. Clearly I am biased.
I think the blog is a big part of it, it’s the blog that gets me to check in regularly and it conveys so much about you that I feel a loyalty and connection that ‘big stores’ don’t inspire.
You have a really great personal touch and it shows through the site, the packaging, the choice of products and the writing.
I hope you go from strength to strength.
First off, thanks for calling my blog “intelligent”! 🙂
I think “culture” is equal parts good branding and celebrity-dom. There are plenty of designers that have established a good brand, but do I want to know ALL about them (how they live, what they wear, what their lifestyle is like?)–not always. For me, culture is this all encompassing thing that makes you not only buy their products but also buy into their whole lifestyle. It’s amazing when individuals are able to establish this culture…
These are just my observations….
(Hey I’m also bringing up a business and a baby (x2)!)