Fashion Icons Shifting To Virtual Fashion Shows?

I love talking about social media is changing the shape of the world, with how we meet new people and potentially a new mate, but primarily to the way business is being conducted. More and more brands are shifting their advertising from traditional outlets to the World Wide Web. Since Less Less is in the business of retail I am constantly researching ways to position our brand online so we can continue to be competitive. In doing this research I came across an interesting discussion that I just had to share with you. Some of the major fashion brands that everyone, especially retailers, looks to for the latest trends and fads are considering moving their big-budgeted fashion shows online in order to cut down on costs.

According to an article published in Retail Wire the cost savings in producing a virtual fashion show as opposed to the lavish traditional shows is monumental. Here is a cool tidbit to put it all into perspective: David Lauren, Marketing Chief at Ralph Lauren stated the iconic brand spends nearly $1.5 million to attract approximately 700 retail buyers and related press. If they were to take that concept online, the production cost drops to $50,000 with an estimation of 40 million page views!!! That is simply incredible, but the question remains whether this shift from traditional fashion shows will prove to be beneficial to a brand over the long term.

I embrace change and I do believe this could be a great marketing tool, however I caution designers out there to take baby steps. Begin with a smaller collection or one of your “baby” lines. On a final note, remember that social media should always be incorporated into a grander offline marketing mix. Studies have shown that completely replying on the web or online marketing has not always been advantageous. Those are my two cents, what do you think?

Great Gifts to Give - Get Cozy This Winter

The temperature has dropped and winter is officially here. Rather than focus on the negative, let's close our eyes and think about all of the wonderful things that come with winter. Fireplaces. Hot chocolate with extra whip cream.. yummy. Snowball fights and mistletoe. The fun does not stop there. At Less Less we have an assortment of items to make your winter not only bearable, but deliciously enjoyable.

One of my favorite past times in the winter is sleeping in on the weekends especially when the apartment is toasty from the heater. The first step to creating your perfect winter womb are comfortable pajamas. At Less Less we have pajamas for women and men for under ten dollars. Designed for comfort, we carry an assortment of styles and colors, that make the perfect gift for almost everyone. If you pick up a pair of flannels you get two awesome benefits: 1) you give a gift of comfort and 2) you help give someone a restful nights sleep - night clothes definitely impact how well a person sleeps. We have them at Less Less for $6.99.

Another way to get cozy this winter is to purchase a pair of warm slippers. Get a pair of wacky ones that have the face of your favorite animal. (I have a bumble bee pair that I wear daily.) Take a look these fun slippers that just arrived in the store. Not only are they cute and add to the creation of your winter womb, they have other benefits too, like warmth (duh!) and they will help keep your feet moisturized and less chapped. If you hate mopping and sweeping, changing into slippers when you arrive home prevents the accumulation of dirt from your outdoor shoes. Check out these other benefits here: Utomopink. We have a slew of cute and cozy slippers for you to enjoy at the store for just $6.99.

Now we can't forget sheets, blankets and other cover-ups. To get you started in that department, we have Cute Cuddle Blankets in stock for $9.99. They are super cozy and warm, and they even come with pockets so you can stuff the remote or even those candy bars you try not to eat.

As we get deeper into the season we will surely provide you with some other nifty products to create your winter sanctuary.

Cool New Items @ Less Less

If you're one of the lucky people still on vacation, you need to pull back those covers and come on down to Less Less. We have been working hard this week and have some awesome new products in the store all for your convenience and pleasure.

Now check out these Hero Jeans by Wrangler for just $12.99. Not only are they utterly affordable, they were designed for comfort and look great on. Just look at the new spokesman for this line, football great, Brett Farve. He looks great and so will you.

We also have some wonderful Liz Claiborne Trench Coats for our trendsetting women out there. If you really want to make the best of your new trench coat, throw on a pair of knee-high boots. The pair is a must have for the season.

For the kiddies we have a Mega Crusher that will surely keep them entertained for hours on end. The Mega Crusher is an favorite and available at Less Less. Hurry while the supplies still last.

Love candlelight? How about candles? Well we have this beautiful set of Charisma Hurricane Holders in stock for only $16.99.

We have lots of great things in stock and even more goodness coming in with the New Year! So much you visit us at 150 West 24th Street in NY and take advantage of these savings.

Cheers,

Weekly Obession: Baby Phat Perfume Set

Every once in a while I find myself wondering if I had to lose one of my senses, which would it be? I can never come to any sort of conclusion since all of our senses help us to experience all the beauty available to us in the world. From our eyes that allow us to see all of the amazing colors in nature, to our ability to feel - I love walking around barefoot and feeling things seep between my toes, all the way to our sense of smell.

At Less Less we have a great selection of perfumes and beauty products that will surely make anyone feel great. This week's obsession is a wonderful Baby Phat perfume set for only $29.99. Something about this scent makes me even more aware of my inner goddess. It's one of those perfumes that every woman should indulge in.

Getting Social Media Happy Part 1: Facebook Page Redesign

There are so many components that go into running a business and creating a successful brand, especially when it comes to retail where the competition is fierce and you encounter a similar establishment at every direction you turn. In order to stay in the running’s you have to be creative and resourceful. Taking full advantage of the free social media tools available on the web to generate brand awareness, increase sales leads and to interact with current and potential clients is a must-have! One of the ways we included social media into our overall marketing strategy was through the creation of a Facebook Fan Page.

We started with our main image, which is 200 pixels wide and 600 pixels long. In using the maximum size Facebook allows for this space, we are able to give new visitors a quick snapshot of the brand and immediately grab their attention. If you want to learn more about how I created this avatar, learn from the same source I did and visit “How I Tricked Out My Facebook Page” by Gabe O’Neill.

Next we moved on to create our own version of an interactive side bar. I came across an awesome social media expert, John Haydon that has an easy step-by-step “How to Add An Interactive Sidebar". If you take a look at our sidebar you will a lot of images rather than simple links. Our sidebar consists of an email sign up form, a weekly promotions graphic and images directing folks to our other social networking sites. So get creative once you have a feel of how this all works.

Since we are a new business it is important that new visitors learn who we are, what we do, and why they should be interested in Less Less right away. With all of that in mind, we created a Facebook welcome landing page, using pretty much the same know-how from the John Haydon “Interactive Sidebar” video. If you have not watched the video just yet, I can let you know that the easiest way to create a new welcome tab within your Facebook Page is by using the Static FBML application. The only downside of the Static FBML application is that you need to have a basic understanding of HTML. If you are foreign to HTML then you use an application like Dreamweaver of Microsoft Frontpage to design your landing page and then copy the HTML that’s provided by the software.

Once you have 25 fans on your Facebook page, don’t forget to create your own “Vanity URL” (i.e www.facebook.com/lessless). This is probably one of my favorite things and it takes 30 seconds. To create one for your business visit: http://www.facebook.com/username

We have Facebook promotions and other strategies lined up for our Facebook page, so stay tuned. If you have any other information don't forget to share with us because sharing is caring.

Cheers :)

5 Great Gifts to Give – The Gift of a New Scent

The power of the human sense of smell is one of the most influential of all of our senses. How often do you find yourself in an embrace with a potential new lover and close your eyes and inhale? Whenever I meet a boy that makes my heart beat just a tad quicker than normal, breathing him in is one of my favorite things and it plays a part as to whether he goes into the friend category, fun category or boyfriend material bucket. Weird, right? Believe it or not there are countless of scientific research studies that prove just that; that our sense of smell helps to determine "a person’s likeability, their sexual attractiveness and emotional well being," according to Scientific American.

Stimulate your nose with a wonderful scent and don’t be surprised if you trigger long-forgotten experiences and moments. Our sense of smell is the most powerful tied to memory, and what better gift could you give to someone close to you.

At Less Less we carry a plethora of perfumes to tickle even the most sensitive of noses at prices guaranteed to make you smile. Here are some brands available now at Less Less. Check them out and give the gift of a new scent.

Baby Phat Perfume Set 29.99
Celine Dion Sensational Perfume Set 19.99

Shania Starlight Perfume Set 12.99Intimate Beckham Perfume Set 12.99

And finally but not least, an Adidas Perfume Set 9.99

Get More of Us: Enter to Win a Free ITone Home Audio System

We are so excited to announce our first “Get More of Us Giveaway!” This will be an ongoing campaign with a single winner every month. Think of it as our way of saying thank you for being our supportors, customers and friends.

To get things started we are giving away an ITone Home Audio System with a Docking Station. All you have to do is do one of the following to enter:

1) Follow us on Twitter and retweet "gimme my Itone" @LessLessStore

2) Subscribe to our Blog
3) Sign up for our Email List
4) Become a Fan on Facebook

It’s so easy !!! So follow us, become a fan, sign up for our email address, or subscribe to this blog & you could win a bran new ITone Home Audio System.

ITone Home Audio System Specs
An all-in-one iPod dock, clock, CD player, and AM/FM radio, with three internal speakers, integrated glowing lights, and a 23-button Infrared remote control that responds well from 20-foot distances. Even includes an iPod shuffle dock.

Weekly Obsession: Anne Klein Platinum Blazers

Some wonderful Anne Klein Platinum Blazers just arrived in the store and they are to die for! Not to mention a girl's best friend this season! Quality blazers can go for hundreds of dollars, but you can get one all for yourself at Less Less for a fraction of the cost - $29.99 to be exact.

These tailored blazers polish off any look, and depending upon the color you choose, you can wear these blazers with almost anything to any type of function or event. Whether you are meeting with potential clients to a sit down dinner with the new beau's parents - these blazers are a must-have!

Treasures for Less: Last Deals of 2009

If you are a last minute shopper desperate to cross off those last gifts from your holiday shopping list, cruise on over to Less Less and take advantage of our special savings this week. These budget-friendly items will surely be a hit this holiday season for anyone on your shopping list, especially those folks that leave you stumped as to what you should get for them year after year. So check out the deals below then stop on by and take advantage of these last deals of 2009 running now until the end of the year!

Gifts for Her:

Covet Sarah Jessica Parker-22.99
Anne Klein Platinum Blazer 29.99

Gifts for Him:
Croft and Barrow Shirt and Tie Set-12.99
George Foreman Grill 29.99

Gifts for the Home:
Charisma Set of Three Hurricanes-16.99
Complete Kitchen Glassware Set 9.99

Gifts for Everyone:

Interact Complete Video Game Entertainment System
Kodak s100 Webcam 24.99