Ok, so I’m a name dropper…we just dressed Taylor Swift for her worldwide tour and latest music video in our fashion client, Jovani! We also dressed Kim Kardashian and the Duff sisters!!!! On the beauty side Oprah, martha and Rachel Ray all love our client Fruits & Passion and actress Mariska Hargitay is also now a fan thanks to me sitting next to her on a plane to Mexico. We scored Regis and Kelly Ripa both as new adorers of Satin Serenity’s Satin Pillowcases — all in a publicists day….

Earth Day is right around the corner and the Green Movement has never been more on the radar of the media and popular culture - after all President Obama is pro green and the environment. I remember well the very first Earth Day. over 23 years ago, manning a booth on Fifth Avenue with client Tom Degnan of In Progress Environments , one of the city’s first green architects and leader in green design. We were really educators offering groundbreaking ideas. So how does this translate into how we partner with clients and business associates today?

Face time.

This is a simple one step for better pr value, but it’s true. Despite all the “green” pitches we send out about how teleconferencing and other technologies cut down on travel costs and are good for the environment, there is no substitute for meeting with your clients in person. It helps deepen the relationship. When was the last time you saw your clients and delivered invaluable Face Time? Its a bright idea!

BRAND AID
Wow - time is flying - and I have really jumped off the cliff into social networking - joined twitter, myspace, facebook, updated my 2 year old linked in page - it’s a wonder I have time to actually do any work - yet as a pr goddess - I am required to know, understand and well partake in social media - am I not? My clients want me current — in the know — making sure they seem to be in the know… its all so very now. In the meantime the times they are changing. I am very busy here at C.I, Visions Creating Opportunities for my clients and the agency in a Challenging Market. I love it! Challenging yes - but what creative business person does not relish in challenge? I have had to adjust my sails in the middle of the storm while charting a new course in unchartered waters - its fun!!! I hone our skills and look for new land ahead! A pirate of sorts — wallowing in the riches of a competent and content women at ease –ahh.. three sheets to the wind!

As we approach the New Year I am focusing intently on the vision of what I want to manifest in my life and the lives of my business partners and clients, colleagues and loved ones. I hold a vision for the New Earth and the harmony and balance for all Humanity.  I see 2009 as a rare opportunity for rebirth and miraculous changes. These changes have been in the works for quite some time, and now we are going to experience them tangibly in the world.  

I know there are a lot of dire predictions regarding the global economy and the challenges we are going through, but we are not the victims of circumstance. We are the co-creators of our Earthly experiences. If we do not like the way things are going in our lives, we have the ability to change our circumstances.  As Gandhi says “Be the change you want to see in the world”.  

For those of you into numerology — 2009 is an 11 year. Eleven is the master number that reflects the transformation of the physical into the Divine. The purging and cleansing of the behavior patterns that have caused the maladies existing in our lives will continue during 2009, but the wonderful news is, as these old archetypes crumble away, the expansion of the patterns of perfection for a New Way of Being will manifest in ways that will bring joy, fulfillment and great expectations into the hearts and minds of people everywhere.

There is a palpable and new sense of hope flooding through the hearts of people around the world. Humanity’s hope is a magnetizing force that is bringing us into unity. 2009 is going to be whatever we co-create together. Do not let this opportunity pass you by…

Happy New Year!

Carol A. Ientile, C.I. Visions Inc.

The final results of a combative campaign season are just days away and its time for many of us attend to more personal business discussions on the action steps in restoring stability and prosperity in our own businesses.

The recent economic challenges — and the open and passionate debate of many issues and challenges confronting us — have opened new doors that none of us could have anticipated.  At a time like this, I can’t help but remember that the Chinese word for “crisis” is made of the two symbols — one representing “danger” and the other representing “opportunity.” Its time to see the glass half full and seize the opportunities in front of us!

To be sure, there is a “silver lining” to this challenging period we’ve entered so abruptly:

Those of us in the field of Public Relations now have an opportunity to serve our clients in an even more powerful way.  Numerous studies have found that PR has a greater impact on public awareness during times of crisis, so clients receive a greater return on their investment than during calmer periods. Its more important than ever to create targeted public relations and publicity campaigns that keep our brand and our branded message in the public and consumers mindset. This is why successful companies turn more and more to the power of the media in economic downturns…and why we are partnering even closer with our clients to get their products, services and message in the headlines…

Boom in Latina Sweet 15 Parties

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, NEW YORK Fox 5’s Dari Alexander looks at the old Latin tradition of Sweet 15 parties. MyFoxNY.com — The economy has some people cutting back on luxuries. However, one tradition seems recession-proof. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Fox 5’s Dari Alexander looks at the Latin tradition of quinceaneras, or Sweet 15 parties. The average party costs about $30,000…

For the full story and lots of client mentions…http://www.myfoxny.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7653557&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.1.1

Celebration Day! As part of Spanish Heritage Month - we placed our clients retailers Camille La Vie and Group USA on Television today in two of the country’s leading cities - New York and Dallas. Both segments featured the 15th Birthday celebrations of two young girls and what is considered a Rite of Passage in the latino culture akin to a Wedding Day. The segments featured shopping for the perfect dress in-store, trend forecasts from our client spokesperson and a glimpse of the big gala night celebrations. Part of our regional press outreach to support brand and product publicity nationwide for our clients and to deliver targeted press coverage to drive consumers to brand point-of-purchase. All in all - a newsworthy cause for celebration for the agency and our clients as well - not to mention the icing on the Quinceanera cake for two special young women who now have national media coverage of their big day.

Finding the Right Look for Quinceaneara

Check out the videos:

http://www.the33tv.com/pages/content_landing_page/?Finding-the-Right-Look-for-Quinceaneara-=1&blockID
by Roni Proter
October 15, 2008
As 14 year old Stephany Mesa describes, “The party is really a coming of age party. Maybe in the United States it would be a Sweet 16 but I’m Latina; I’m from Puerto Rico so for us it’s really a big party. I’m not a little girl anymore; Mom, Dad I’m a woman.”
Stephany Mesa’s birthday is right around the corner; she’s turning 15 and ringing it in with a Quinceanera. The traditional Hispanic celebration is steeped in religious history and culture, centered around a young girl becoming a woman. It used to be a simple event, now it’s become a huge event in a girl’s life. The first step in making the bash a success is finding the perfect dress. Stephany originally wanted blue, to match her eyes, and with her mom by her side they went to Grapevine Mills store Group USA, which specializes in these types of dresses. The spokesperson, Christy Inman, says the traditional dresses used to be white or ivory, or even pink, and some of the girls still like that, too, but she notices that most of the people who come in are wanting the blues and purples and turquoise and reds. The bigger, the bolder the color, the better, she says.
Which is exactly what Stephany is looking for. She wanted to stick to tradition but also find something new, something different.
She tried on several sparkly, poofy, dainty dresses. One was too much for Stephany, another too plain. Until she found a beautiful, light pink ballerina style dress. When she tried it on she said, “It’s pretty, I’m gonna cry. Don’t cry cause if you cry I’ll cry!” She added a tiara, which is also symbolic of her growing up. Her mother, Lydia, explains it, “We have the change of tiara which means means we pass our culture our morals and that kind of stuff.”
And already thinking like a woman, she knows the perfect dress also needs the perfect shoes; oh yeah, and you’ve got to have accessories. She found shoes fit for dancing, and a purse to complement the dress; a shimmery silver. And she found a necklace with just enough sparkle.
Stephany said, “It’s just like the dress, it’s pretty and it’s simple.” She said it completed her look, to make this fantasy of a day finally become a reality. She said, “I’ve been dreaming about it since I was a little girl; this is really a dream come true. It’s just becoming a woman.”

posted by Ellen

It is officially the last day of my internship at C.I. Visions. From press clippings to showroom pulls, I feel I have encountered the best of fashion public relations. Every day was always new and always interesting and always exciting. The women of C.I. Visions truly excel in the communications world and have made premier mentors, and though I will not miss the 7:30 a.m. bus rides, I will miss the people I have met and the opportunity I have had.

For me, one of the most memorable showroom experiences occurred last Wednesday when we met with two editors from Family Circle. Family Circle magazine is preparing for their second annual Mother/Daughter Model Search and will once again exclusively use dresses from our clients, Donna Morgan and Ali Ro. A six page spread of only our dresses? In one of the most read magazines in the country?  And I was involved its production? (Well, barely, but still.) We even were given a preview of the contest finalists, and, let me tell you, they are gorgeous! But it wasn’t just looks that got them this far – the entrants were required to write an essay describing the special elements of their relationships.  Through the ups and downs, these women and girls sincerely appreciate one another. It got me thinking about appreciating my own mom (who, speaking of buses, drives me to the stop at 7:15 every morning!); maybe you’ll see us gracing the pages of Family Circle next year! ☺

The last three months have been a whirl of colors and textures (and dresses and separates) and I will value this experience always. And, as silly as it sounds, I know I will still feel a flutter of excitement when I see a WD-NY boucle jacket or Donna Morgan dress or Ali Ro ruffled blouse printed in the glossy pages of Lucky.

posted by Carmen

Was it déjà vu or was I walking onto the set of “The Devil Wears Prada?” Hesitant to walk into this tall corporate building, filled with security and the constant bustling of the most fashionably dressed people walking through these large glass doors, I couldn’t help but to stare and look like the biggest tourist. Keeping my composure, I lifted my chin, checked my dress, and walked into the Condé Nast building as if I owned the place (or at least as if I worked there.) Home to many of the world’s celebrated publications, Condé Nast includes magazines like Vogue, Allure, Lucky, Glamour, and so much more; all of which are any girl’s dream bible. I know I grew up reading them, dreaming that someday I would appear on the cover, or realistically at least work for the magazine. Walking into the very familiar lobby gated with guards and crowds of employees, I knew I had seen this place before in movies. On a mission to wow Domino Magazine with our glamorous upcoming Fruits & Passion Green Tea-Thé Vert line, I, for the first time, accompanied Christine to observe her work her publicist magic on her deskside with the editor. Listening and absorbing all the details, I hope to someday be able to talk to editors with such ease and elegance. Stepping out of the office and getting a glimpse of this huge corporation was definitely the highlight of my day!

posted by Ellen

Who knew working at C.I. Visions would be this exciting? As a student in a rural college town, life can be pretty leisurely. But of course, nothing can be leisurely in the big city!

There are always plenty of tasks at the office: we are constantly writing, calling, clipping or scanning – sometimes at the same time! If that weren’t enough, days at the showrooms can be even more demanding. New sample requests are always pouring in, and all day you are on the search for the perfect samples to please your editors. Once a few items are packed and sent for approval, there is nothing you can do but wait until the issue hits stands… which, for a newcomer like me, can be a bit tense. But when you see your client’s items artfully arranged on those glossy pages, your busy day becomes so worthwhile. And here at C.I. Visions (don’t mean to brag) we feel that satisfaction quite often. This month our clients can be found in publications like Marie Claire, InStyle, Glamour and InTouch weekly. Pretty big deal! I, relaxing on the beach, felt compelled to excitedly tell my friends each time I spotted WD-NY in the Lucky I was reading.

I’m sure many more of those moments will come, and I’m sure I will be just as excited each time. It’s like buying a pair of summery sandals in the middle of the winter, forgetting about them because you’re so busy wearing wintery shoes and then finding your gorgeous sandals when summer rolls around. And who doesn’t love that feeling?