Oser Communications Group

OCG Daily (NY Now) GHS day 1 August 2011

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O C G S H O W D A I LY 4 1 S a t u r d a y, A u g u s t 1 3 , 2 0 1 1 has a unique identifying code that gets entered; after the card's been played and the story posted, players give the card away for someone else to "play forward." When the card is played again, the original player is notified and they get to see who did it, read what happened and see where on the web- site's map. It's an age-old concept, reformatted and repackaged with a technological and social media twist. The Boom Boom! Cards website is a community of users excited about one thing: making the world kinder. Because there are four different ver- sions of the cards (Original—for adults, Teen, Green and Family), the website is a great mix of people of all ages. They talk to each other, comment on stories … sometimes even trade cards. There are more than 7000 users who have completed about 5000 acts of kindness with Boom Boom! Cards. One of the greatest challenges fac- ing Boom Boom! Cards is that it is such a unique product. Because it is the first product of its kind to be sold in stores, there's much excitement and buzz around it. The flip side is that retailers sometimes have a difficult time knowing where to, literally, put it. Which shelf does it belong on? Is it a game? Is it a gift? Is it an inspirational item? Is it a novelty item? According to Boom Boom! (Con't. from p. 1) Mary Beth Campbell, Co-Founder and CEO of Boom Boom! Revolution, the answer to all of those is, "Yes." She explains, "The truth is, it can go any- where in almost any store and sell because once people see the product, they get it and they love it. Especially at the holidays. It is, hands down, the best unique gift you can give." Campbell's company, Boom Boom! Revolution, was formed with the intention to change the world by creating an uprising of "guerilla good- ness." While the company's mission to change the world isn't that uncommon, it's their approach that makes them unique. They plan to do it by re-brand- ing kindness with fun, creative and interactive products that not only deliver a positive message, but are also contemporary and smart enough for today's world. And, how has this new product and its overall concept been received? "Well," Campbell explains, "we're set- ting up distribution in Canada, Australia and South Africa as well as continuing to sell to a variety of retail stores in the U.S.; everything from bookshops to bou- tiques to major online retailers. Turns out, there's a market for kindness." For more information, please visit Boom Boom! Revolution at booth 32004 and www.boomboomcards.com, email mb@boomboomrevolution.com or call 831-295-2635. ors and finishes to satisfy different tastes and styles. Not only are they made from bamboo, they are coated with colorful, food-safe lacquer derived from cashew trees. Perfect for hostess gifts, engage- ment presents, holiday stocking stuffers, birthdays and more, there are endless ways in which these bowl and server sets can make great additions to anyone's serverware collection. Core Bamboo prides itself on the outstanding quality of its products and the environment in which they are made. All of its products are made by Core Bamboo (Con't. from p. 1) an experienced team of hard-working artisans in a safe and responsible envi- ronment. For 2011, Core Bamboo has added hundreds of new styles and designs to its existing product line that will be a welcome addition to the housewares industry. It has focused on adding more new and attractive styles to its gift collection and will continue to create beautiful, functional packag- ing based on the high demands of its customers. For more information, please visit Core Bamboo at booth 3419 and 3421, online at www.corebamboo.com or call 646-845-6000. CS: Our uniqueness comes from the very fact that, up until now, there has been nothing attractive or chic for women to help keep cool. OSD: What has been your most signifi- cant event? Are you introducing any new products? CS: The most significant event to occur was our exposure on the "Today Show" with Kathie Lee and Hoda, during a Bobbie Thomas Friday segment. We are a brand new company, in fact we had just started selling to stores and spas a week before the show! Our sales from that 30- second spot resulted in $15,000 in orders! We are staying with the pearl shape, as it is the most efficient shape that meets the wearer's needs. We are offering new col- ors such as an exotic black. We are asking our customers to vote directly on our web- site as to what colors they would like to see. That way we can stay in touch and build a personal relationship with them. OSD: Who are your target end-users? CS: While women facing menopause is an obvious answer, we are also reaching out to women undergoing cancer thera- pies, or those who have M.S. or Lupus, as well as women who live in hot climates. Therefore, we have no age limit! OSD: Please assess the marketplace as it relates to your product. CS: As the market 'heats up' for person- al care products, our Hot Girls Pearls stand out from the competition due to their fun and fashionable answer to another of life's little problems. OSD: To what do you attribute your company's success? CS: Our tagline says it best..global cool- ing, one woman at a time. For more information, please visit Hot Girls Pears at booth 34042 and online at www.hotgirlspearls.com. Hot Girls Pearls (Con't. from p. 1) we're not putting our cash flow toward marketing or unnecessary expenditures but rather toward creating goodwill. OSD: If you're not putting money into marketing, what's your growth strategy? JS: Our strategy is to spend as little money on marketing as possible, and instead put that money towards growing the cause of our non-profit partner, New Eyes For The Needy, which for almost 80 years has collected and distributed used glasses to people around the world who can't afford vision correction. The cause will help us garner free PR and positive word of mouth. If people understand and believe in the cause, they'll follow the product and recommend it to their friends. So that's our marketing strategy in a nut- shell: Do good and people will spread the word. So far, it's working, and we've been able to donate more than 7,500 pairs of glasses to the cause in just six months. OSD: So what are your goals for the con- vention? JS: We have two main goals. One, to get new retailers to carry our glasses. And two, to launch and seed our used-glasses collection program on behalf of New Eyes for the Needy. We're looking for interested convention-goers to host used-glasses col- lection boxes at their stores and locations, even if they are unable to sell our product. Interested parties can sign up to host a used-glasses collection box at our booth or on our website, MoralEyes.com. OSD: What do you hope to see from the used-glasses collection program, as far as numbers? JS: Well, there are four million pairs of glasses thrown away every year in North America, so the potential for collection is enormous. We believe that it's just a mat- MoralEyes (Con't. from p. 1) ter of making it convenient for people to donate their glasses by giving them places to do so, be it in stores, community centers, banks or places convenient to people in their everyday lives. We'll even have a collection drive here at our con- vention booth. Anyone who donates a pair of used glasses of any kind will be entered into a raffle to win an iPad 2. So bring your unused glasses! OSD: That sounds like a great way to start the collection program! So, getting back to the retail side of things, to what do you attribute MoralEyes' rapid success? JS: Well, right now, I believe the small size of our team has been one of our biggest assets. We all work together, and so we recognize each other's strengths and we play to those and support each other's growth. Everyone at MoralEyes has had to wear different hats at different points as we set up the business, and I think that common willingness has helped us immensely, because it estab- lished a genuine team spirit. My hope is that we maintain that spirit as we get big- ger, and we don't fall into the same trap as larger companies that end up rigidly defining—and in that way, limiting—the role and growth of each employee. OSD: And is that what will that make MoralEyes a success? JS: The point of the company, really, is to just be a good company. If we sell mil- lions of glasses and continue to expand, that's great, but it's great because it means we'll have donated millions as well. Forgive the pun, but in my eyes, that's what will make MoralEyes a success. MoralEyes is a Brooklyn-based whole- saler and retailer of reading glasses and sunglasses. Inspired by Blake Mycoskie of TOMS Shoes, MoralEyes donates a pair of eyeglasses for every pair sold. For more information, stop by booth 33040.

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