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What you are. What we are. What we are together.  | #MULFMAB, Family, Friends, Clients & Co. | #fashion #music #art & #business

What you are. What we are. What we are together. | #MULFMAB, Family, Friends, Clients & Co. | #fashion #music #art & #business

2 Notes

The best strategic partnerships are often predicated on a mutual, authentic, and transparent trade of things…in some cases, things that seem to be unequal in value to each party involved. 
The upcoming shoe collaboration between Rick Owens and Adidas, set to launch on June 27th, 2013 in Paris during the Rick Owens presentation (retail availability Dec ‘13) evokes this familiar type of value trade. Spurred by a genuine need to accommodate his cardio fitness direction, and an appreciation for Adidas’ streetwear cultural legacy, Mr. Owens sought out a partnership with the company to create a high-end, performance-based, running shoe that simultaneously met both his personal physical needs and the aesthetic taste his brand is known for.   
Adidas, undoubtedly happy to engage in this rare union, has likely already benefited from Mr. Owens’ unique perspective on design, technology, craftsmanship, and overall aesthetic; but, they also stand to gain a spike in brand awareness amidst fashion enthusiasts - specifically ‘high street,’ aspirational luxury, and luxury consumers. 
To me, what is interesting about this collaboration, more than its high profile collaborators, is that it was a partnership initiated by a niche designer (who is known in fashion circles for resisting collaborations with mass market brands), looking to join forces with one of the largest mass market brands in the apparel industry; and (seemingly) not for the increase in brand awareness or exposure to a larger consumer segment, but rather for a personal need and an authentic appreciation for the heritage of the company. Perhaps it’s too soon to congratulate Adidas for another fashion windfall following the commercial success of the Jeremy Scott collaborations, but I’m pretty sure this will be another winner for the beloved brand.
posted by Kwasi Gyasi of MyUberLife

The best strategic partnerships are often predicated on a mutual, authentic, and transparent trade of things…in some cases, things that seem to be unequal in value to each party involved.

The upcoming shoe collaboration between Rick Owens and Adidas, set to launch on June 27th, 2013 in Paris during the Rick Owens presentation (retail availability Dec ‘13) evokes this familiar type of value trade. Spurred by a genuine need to accommodate his cardio fitness direction, and an appreciation for Adidas’ streetwear cultural legacy, Mr. Owens sought out a partnership with the company to create a high-end, performance-based, running shoe that simultaneously met both his personal physical needs and the aesthetic taste his brand is known for.  

Adidas, undoubtedly happy to engage in this rare union, has likely already benefited from Mr. Owens’ unique perspective on design, technology, craftsmanship, and overall aesthetic; but, they also stand to gain a spike in brand awareness amidst fashion enthusiasts - specifically ‘high street,’ aspirational luxury, and luxury consumers.

To me, what is interesting about this collaboration, more than its high profile collaborators, is that it was a partnership initiated by a niche designer (who is known in fashion circles for resisting collaborations with mass market brands), looking to join forces with one of the largest mass market brands in the apparel industry; and (seemingly) not for the increase in brand awareness or exposure to a larger consumer segment, but rather for a personal need and an authentic appreciation for the heritage of the company. Perhaps it’s too soon to congratulate Adidas for another fashion windfall following the commercial success of the Jeremy Scott collaborations, but I’m pretty sure this will be another winner for the beloved brand.

posted by Kwasi Gyasi of MyUberLife

2 Notes

Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.

Wisdom from Khalil Gibran to all our friends & clients in the worlds of fashion, music, & art. Love thy work!

Posted by Jey Van-Sharp of MyUberLife

3 Notes

I was once asked… I was once asked a question by brand managers, ad execs, marketers & account reps who wanted to move their company’s products. They asked, “how do we get people interested in our brands & buy our products? […] Is their one thing we [I] would recommend [them] doing to increase brand engagement, advocacy & sales?” Our response was: “PAY ATTENTION to culture!” Every business, whether a fashion house, art gallery, music site ala itunes, real estate agency & hospital, or neighborhood bodega-all entities that offer products, services & experiences to a market must pay attention to culture. Markets are made up of people who group themselves or are coerced to group themselves around a similar ideological stance. Ideology = Culture. People seldom buy rationally, they buy based on emotions. So how does one identify & trigger these emotions? Our answer is to begin by observing your market’s culture and by doing so you will identify their value system aka what they value aka what is valued by their group’ culture. We humans are social creatures and we build our value system around esteem, needs, wants & desire. Our values are always in relation to our culture. The intangibles of culture is the emotional & psychological bases of why we have customs & culture. | #MULFMAB on #sociology, #anthropology, #marketing, #branding & #business. For the love of #fashion, #music & #art #business.

I was once asked… I was once asked a question by brand managers, ad execs, marketers & account reps who wanted to move their company’s products. They asked, “how do we get people interested in our brands & buy our products? […] Is their one thing we [I] would recommend [them] doing to increase brand engagement, advocacy & sales?” Our response was: “PAY ATTENTION to culture!” Every business, whether a fashion house, art gallery, music site ala itunes, real estate agency & hospital, or neighborhood bodega-all entities that offer products, services & experiences to a market must pay attention to culture. Markets are made up of people who group themselves or are coerced to group themselves around a similar ideological stance. Ideology = Culture. People seldom buy rationally, they buy based on emotions. So how does one identify & trigger these emotions? Our answer is to begin by observing your market’s culture and by doing so you will identify their value system aka what they value aka what is valued by their group’ culture. We humans are social creatures and we build our value system around esteem, needs, wants & desire. Our values are always in relation to our culture. The intangibles of culture is the emotional & psychological bases of why we have customs & culture. | #MULFMAB on #sociology, #anthropology, #marketing, #branding & #business. For the love of #fashion, #music & #art #business.

Notes

Being relevant to your customers only when you’re trying to sell something means choosing to be irrelevant to them for the rest of the time.” ― Stan Slap

1 Notes

Two Types. Those who ‘shoot from the hip’-The Cowboys & those who strategize-The Architects. The former relies on luck, while the latter creates their luck through the preparations & execution of a cohesive strategy. One is reactive while the other is proactive. The former can create income, while the latter aims to create wealth-social, cultural, fiscal & symbolic capital; an socio-economic position that goes beyond money. The former does not have the patience, discipline & organization while the latter does. Both require personal interest but both yields different value. Cook vs Chef. | #MULFMAB on #fashion, #music, & #art #brandbuilding #business #business101

Two Types. Those who ‘shoot from the hip’-The Cowboys & those who strategize-The Architects. The former relies on luck, while the latter creates their luck through the preparations & execution of a cohesive strategy. One is reactive while the other is proactive. The former can create income, while the latter aims to create wealth-social, cultural, fiscal & symbolic capital; an socio-economic position that goes beyond money. The former does not have the patience, discipline & organization while the latter does. Both require personal interest but both yields different value. Cook vs Chef. | #MULFMAB on #fashion, #music, & #art #brandbuilding #business #business101

Notes

Live Like This: Definitive Chief Aim = Your Life’s Highest Purpose. How do you find your life highest purpose?  You finding it doing the ‘thing’ where your human concept of time disappears. Similar to the feeling when you were a young child playing-we didn’t feel the concept time-work & play becomes one. The adult version is the same except we put the concept of earning a living around the ‘thing.’ | #MULFMAB x @thelawofsuccess on finding your #fashion, #music  & #art ‘thing,’ purpose & definitive chief aim. #business101 #NapoleonHill #makemoneyhavingfun #faith

Live Like This: Definitive Chief Aim = Your Life’s Highest Purpose. How do you find your life highest purpose? You finding it doing the ‘thing’ where your human concept of time disappears. Similar to the feeling when you were a young child playing-we didn’t feel the concept time-work & play becomes one. The adult version is the same except we put the concept of earning a living around the ‘thing.’ | #MULFMAB x @thelawofsuccess on finding your #fashion, #music & #art ‘thing,’ purpose & definitive chief aim. #business101 #NapoleonHill #makemoneyhavingfun #faith

1 Notes

Started: How to do you take  an Idea to Market Successfully?! | #MULFMAB on #fashion, #music & #art ideas, #startups, #brands & #business(es). #business101 ♥♥

Started: How to do you take an Idea to Market Successfully?! | #MULFMAB on #fashion, #music & #art ideas, #startups, #brands & #business(es). #business101 ♥♥

2 Notes

Business 101: What is the purpose of a fashion editorial? The purpose: Where an editor, model, photographer, make-up artist, hair stylist, stylist, etc. work in conjunction with a brand/advertiser to create advertising revenue for a publication, ‘in & out’ of market product education, brand desire, brand advocacy, brand evangelism, sales & good ol’ fashion creative good will.#GiseleBundchen & #MarioTestinioare some of the best in this value chain. #MULFMAB on #fashion#Editorial #business #psychology#sociology #marketing #desire

Business 101: What is the purpose of a fashion editorial? The purpose: Where an editor, model, photographer, make-up artist, hair stylist, stylist, etc. work in conjunction with a brand/advertiser to create advertising revenue for a publication, ‘in & out’ of market product education, brand desire, brand advocacy, brand evangelism, sales & good ol’ fashion creative good will.#GiseleBundchen & #MarioTestinioare some of the best in this value chain. #MULFMAB on #fashion#Editorial #business #psychology#sociology #marketing #desire

1 Notes

The Controversy: Our Case for Creativity and Strategy Needing to Work Together: When an idea is developed without an economic or social engine; this type of idea should be considered an ‘Art Ideation project’ where no financial or social gain should be looked for or expected. As soon as a creator of idea looks to benefit from said idea financially or socially, this idea is no longer an art project; this idea crosses the realm into business. There is a myth that exists where some believe artistry, craftsmanship, creativity, logic, free market capitalism, ethics, fashion, music, & art can not coexist. There is a myth that selling is selling out. We believe selling allows the creator of ideas to produce more ideas. There is a myth that business is not creative. Creativity x An organized business effort = Financial & Social Impact. | #MULFMAB on reconfiguring myths in the #fashion, #music & #art world(s). #CulturalEconomy
 
 
Posted by Jey Van-Sharp of MyUberLife

The Controversy: Our Case for Creativity and Strategy Needing to Work Together: When an idea is developed without an economic or social engine; this type of idea should be considered an ‘Art Ideation project’ where no financial or social gain should be looked for or expected. As soon as a creator of idea looks to benefit from said idea financially or socially, this idea is no longer an art project; this idea crosses the realm into business. There is a myth that exists where some believe artistry, craftsmanship, creativity, logic, free market capitalism, ethics, fashion, music, & art can not coexist. There is a myth that selling is selling out. We believe selling allows the creator of ideas to produce more ideas. There is a myth that business is not creative. Creativity x An organized business effort = Financial & Social Impact. | #MULFMAB on reconfiguring myths in the #fashion, #music & #art world(s). #CulturalEconomy

 

 

Posted by Jey Van-Sharp of MyUberLife

1 Notes

Indeed, building a brand, much like building a cathedral involves a diverse group of people with diverse skills working in concert to create something that represents a larger theme or message…something that stands as a symbol beyond the original creation (i.e. building structure, product, service, experience, etc). 

If you want to build a brand you must have a multi-disciplinary team of both business and creative professionals. Knowing how to design or create striking visuals unfortunately is not enough. When you zoom in on any successful business, whether it’s in fashion, music or the arts, what you’ll see is a kind of synchronicity between these multi-disciplinary teams - proverbial handshakes between financial strategists, marketing managers, creative directors, and many other roles vital to a burgeoning company or project. If you stayed at that “handshake” level with no context as to why those interactions where happening, the whole experience could seem sterile.

But, the good thing is, when you zoom out, if those proverbial handshakes are governed by a clear ethos and brand DNA, and are tightly aligned behind an overarching promise that is consistently reinforced within the context of a specific target audiences’ environment, you no longer have just a product, just a service, just an experience, or just a “cathedral” ; you’ll have a symbol, a beacon of belief, a brand. 
posted by Kwasi Gyasi of MyUberLife
Indeed, building a brand, much like building a cathedral involves a diverse group of people with diverse skills working in concert to create something that represents a larger theme or message…something that stands as a symbol beyond the original creation (i.e. building structure, product, service, experience, etc). 
If you want to build a brand you must have a multi-disciplinary team of both business and creative professionals. Knowing how to design or create striking visuals unfortunately is not enough. When you zoom in on any successful business, whether it’s in fashion, music or the arts, what you’ll see is a kind of synchronicity between these multi-disciplinary teams - proverbial handshakes between financial strategists, marketing managers, creative directors, and many other roles vital to a burgeoning company or project. If you stayed at that “handshake” level with no context as to why those interactions where happening, the whole experience could seem sterile.
But, the good thing is, when you zoom out, if those proverbial handshakes are governed by a clear ethos and brand DNA, and are tightly aligned behind an overarching promise that is consistently reinforced within the context of a specific target audiences’ environment, you no longer have just a product, just a service, just an experience, or just a “cathedral” ; you’ll have a symbol, a beacon of belief, a brand

posted by Kwasi Gyasi of MyUberLife

Notes

Operating and managing a startup or established brand can get complicated. There are many moving parts that have to be accounted for; it is vital to develop a sound strategy to allocate the right resources depending on the manpower available.  But at the end of the day with all the moving parts within a business they are all connected to the financials. With all of the complexities in business one must always remember to be Profitable, make sure your Total Revenue (sales) is greater than your Total Cost (expenses).  When a business is organized and a strategy is implemented complication become manageable and fun. Complication is a big boulder and strategy is the hammer that helps breaks that boulder into manageable pebbles. The goal is to turn those pebbles into gold nuggets.
Posted by Winston Peters of MyUberLife 

Operating and managing a startup or established brand can get complicated. There are many moving parts that have to be accounted for; it is vital to develop a sound strategy to allocate the right resources depending on the manpower available.  But at the end of the day with all the moving parts within a business they are all connected to the financials. With all of the complexities in business one must always remember to be Profitable, make sure your Total Revenue (sales) is greater than your Total Cost (expenses).  When a business is organized and a strategy is implemented complication become manageable and fun. Complication is a big boulder and strategy is the hammer that helps breaks that boulder into manageable pebbles. The goal is to turn those pebbles into gold nuggets.

Posted by Winston Peters of MyUberLife 

1 Notes

The Balance: In the subjective world of tastes, the value of a product or service has to go beyond it’s production value but to the psychological, sociological & spiritual realm of perceived value. What your audience perceives to be valuable is what makes it ultimately valuable. There is no better example of a service offering being subjectively valuable than that of a musician’s brand, I mean band’s connection with his/her/their fans. We remind our clients that what you, the artist, considers good music is less important than the connection you, the artist, make with the fans. This is what we call the psychological benefit also known as perceived value. 
 
 
 
 
Posted by Jey Van-Sharp of MyUberLife
 
 

The Balance: In the subjective world of tastes, the value of a product or service has to go beyond it’s production value but to the psychological, sociological & spiritual realm of perceived value. What your audience perceives to be valuable is what makes it ultimately valuable. There is no better example of a service offering being subjectively valuable than that of a musician’s brand, I mean band’s connection with his/her/their fans. We remind our clients that what you, the artist, considers good music is less important than the connection you, the artist, make with the fans. This is what we call the psychological benefit also known as perceived value. 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Jey Van-Sharp of MyUberLife

 

 

Notes


Creativity doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Whether you are an artist, designer, or  musician and you hope to make a living off of your creativity, it is essential for you to have a financial plan & strategy. In addition, those already engaging in fashion, music or art-related commerce, must also have a financial plan & strategy to support their creative functions that happen day-to-day. 

A key component of any business is the Financial Strategy it utilizes to generate revenue and ultimately create profit for the longevity of its existence. The Financial Strategy isn’t a standalone entity within a business structure; it influences all marketing & branding initiatives, design & production procedures, and customer service & sales tactics that a company implements. 

Financial Strategy is the coordination of activities a brand adopts and integrates to make the best use of its monetary assets to meet its financial objectives. There are many factors to consider when deriving your financial strategy such as your companies capital structure, risk reduction techniques, working capital management. (i.e - staffing, sample / pattern making, grey goods, music licensing, art insurance, commercial rental)  

When their is harmony between creativity & financial organization, the result is market & cultural impact.  



Posted by Winston Peters of MyUberLife 

Creativity doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Whether you are an artist, designer, or  musician and you hope to make a living off of your creativity, it is essential for you to have a financial plan & strategy. In addition, those already engaging in fashion, music or art-related commerce, must also have a financial plan & strategy to support their creative functions that happen day-to-day. 
A key component of any business is the Financial Strategy it utilizes to generate revenue and ultimately create profit for the longevity of its existence. The Financial Strategy isn’t a standalone entity within a business structure; it influences all marketing & branding initiatives, design & production procedures, and customer service & sales tactics that a company implements. 
Financial Strategy is the coordination of activities a brand adopts and integrates to make the best use of its monetary assets to meet its financial objectives. There are many factors to consider when deriving your financial strategy such as your companies capital structure, risk reduction techniques, working capital management. (i.e - staffing, sample / pattern making, grey goods, music licensing, art insurance, commercial rental)  
When their is harmony between creativity & financial organization, the result is market & cultural impact.  
Posted by Winston Peters of MyUberLife 

Notes

Brand Management vs Price Management: Some of the differences between a luxury brand & a commodified brand is the management of perception and the management of price margins (profit). Scarcity or the illusion of scarcity, tend to drive ‘up’ the perceived value of a consumed object and the desire of said object (demand). On the other hand, some thing scarce means less abundance & less volume of sales. When a luxury brand becomes to available and too accessible, for a while a brand may see a moment of high profit margins (sales) but eventually suffer what is called ‘brand dillution;’ where the perceived value of that scarce item becomes less exclusive, less desired because luxury brands are used to display to the world an aesthetic point of view or a customer’s societal status. A commodity is usually purchased because of a utilitarian need. For example, people typically dont use toothpaste to communicate to the the world their position in society or taste preference.  We tend to use not essential items like a handbag or champagne to communicate status. The trick is, from the brand’s beginning, to determine who the target customer is, what are their needs, what are thier wants & what do they desire and position your brand to be less available, less obvious, understanding that your business model well be about small volume of products and big sales margins (relatively expensive) or large volume of products and large sales margins (relatively cheap). Analyze and determine the pros or cons of positioning your brand as a commodity or as a luxury.  | #MULFMAB late night convo on #fashion, #music, #art #luxury #business. #sociology #psychology #finance #branding #marketing

Brand Management vs Price Management: Some of the differences between a luxury brand & a commodified brand is the management of perception and the management of price margins (profit). Scarcity or the illusion of scarcity, tend to drive ‘up’ the perceived value of a consumed object and the desire of said object (demand). On the other hand, some thing scarce means less abundance & less volume of sales. When a luxury brand becomes to available and too accessible, for a while a brand may see a moment of high profit margins (sales) but eventually suffer what is called ‘brand dillution;’ where the perceived value of that scarce item becomes less exclusive, less desired because luxury brands are used to display to the world an aesthetic point of view or a customer’s societal status. A commodity is usually purchased because of a utilitarian need. For example, people typically dont use toothpaste to communicate to the the world their position in society or taste preference. We tend to use not essential items like a handbag or champagne to communicate status. The trick is, from the brand’s beginning, to determine who the target customer is, what are their needs, what are thier wants & what do they desire and position your brand to be less available, less obvious, understanding that your business model well be about small volume of products and big sales margins (relatively expensive) or large volume of products and large sales margins (relatively cheap). Analyze and determine the pros or cons of positioning your brand as a commodity or as a luxury. | #MULFMAB late night convo on #fashion, #music, #art #luxury #business. #sociology #psychology #finance #branding #marketing

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