I’m having a bad day. There. I said it.

You know I eat, sleep, and breathe Purple Lab and words cannot accurately express the passion I have for it. But it’s not always a fun glamorous party. If I’m to be honest, which is what this blog is about – a true look at everything that makes a brand – than I will tell you this…  Just because you’re on HSN doesn’t mean you’re rolling in it, especially when you’re building a brand and investing in product development.

Starting a business – and it’s still in its infancy - is hard. I have many days where I look back on how far we’ve come and cannot believe what we’ve done. It was a year ago that Todd and I were in a panic over broken components, wondering if Huge Lips Skinny Hips would ever touch the lips of people other than our family and friends, let alone be in a store. HSN was just a dream at that point. Now, it’s a reality.

This is just not one of those days. Instead, it’s a time of unexpected invoices, taxes, and the raw reality that there are no real funds to market the brand and new products the way I’d love to.

We do a lot of email marketing, though I’m careful to not spam. We only like to send meaningful emails and I think we do.  The more you send, the larger your database, the more you are charged. Out of nowhere, I was hit with an $800 bill for what used to be $200 (per month, not per email).

$800 isn’t a bloody fortune, but it’s piled on top of so much more. I can’t even!

That $800 is to send emails. There are other fees for designing them, something I didn’t even consider before I saw a larg number on a piece of paper I just received in the mail. If I ignore it, will it go away?

A fashion PR friend asked me if I’d put our products in a gift bag for an event she is doing – it would get our beauty products in the hands of trend setting influncers. I’d love to. Just can’t afford the samples.

Forget mega celebrity gifting programs and an event with the media (not talking about a glittery party, but a small gathering show the spirit of the products and the science behind it would be nice and probably cost about 5k to do it “on-a-budget-but-right.”).

Today is a day of looking at hundreds of receipts and talking to an accountant (least favorite convo) and it’s a day of editing. First cut: additions I’d like to add on the site to make it more dynamic (just can’t fund it at the moment) and the new product shots so that the images are better as a few were originally taken before we had finished products so it’s a cut/paste/photoshop job. 

Needless to say, I’m looking forward to a brighter tomorrow! I’ll get through it with Todd and Sharon. I believe it will all work out for the best. I’m sure I’ll look back on this and laugh the way I now giggle over those broken components.

Until then…

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

The spring runway – and even many fall runways – were stalked by glamazons sporting a fresh-faced, natural, no-makeup-makeup look. Have you noticed? So we put Ashley, one of our multi-tasking mavens, to the test and create the look herself.

Meet Ash:

She is an all-natural kind of girl to begin with (not to mention the most amazing singer ever – full on jazz vocals a la Norah Jones).

Armed with Silk Sheets luxe foundation infused with silk, Luxury Squared under-eye concealer and highlighter, collagen-packed Cheek Implants in Backstage Pass (ripe, delicious peach with golden undertones), Lashionista Modelista and Huge Lips Skinny Hips in Worship Kate, she turned herself into an exact replica of what Stella McCartney’s models looked like on the catwalk. (Love Stella, BTW.)

Here’s how to get that youthful, clean, natural look.

More how-tos to come! And do let us know what you want to see us create!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

Back in January, when we did our speed dating event, HSN filmed me to make a little video called “Behind the Label.” It was shot in a corner of a room at the W Hoboken, overlooking the NYC skyline. Gorgeous.

This is the result – a quick look at the brand, a little about moi, and a lot of love. So happy with it. Thank you, HSN! You are amazing!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

Monday and Tuesday, Sharon and I will be doing “desk side,” which are one-on-one meetings with magazine editors at their desks.

The beauty editors – all editors, really – are inundated with event invitations, appointments, and deadlines. When you go to them, it helps make their lives easier.

This is the cute e-vite we did to get them on the books.

It’s not easy to get their attention and PR is really all about relationships at the end of the day. Lucky for Purple Lab, people love Sharon! 

Normally, brands don’t do evites for desk sides, but we wanted to do something more official. It looks professional. Would have loved to have had paper invitations but funding would not allow.

It’s important to be sitting down with editors in this way because they will reall understand the product and the brand, much moreso than by a press release. Monday and Tuesday are the days and we have 18 meetings, all back to back from 9:00 to 5:30p.m.

For each meeting, we’re bringing the products, information (fact sheets) on them and a delisch lip-shaped cookie with our logo in icing, thanks to Crystal of Tasty Morsels Bakery.

We just packed up the Purple Lab branded boxes, arranged with hot pink tissue paper and our products, so we don’t have to scramble last minute to set it all up (cookies, not included – those will be picked up the day of so they’re fresh).

The scene of the crime, below, is taking up a nice portion of my bedroom. 

You have to understand how our stock is arranged. It is basically piles of clearly labeled packing boxes, lids open with color names and product names on the lids. And they all sit atop of a mirrored platform that is part of a piece of art (the sculpture that is meant to be placed on the mirror is not in our possession yet and when it is, I have NO IDEA what we’ll do with the stock!).

Anyway, back to desk sides. They’re really vital right now. The last time I saw editors was when I had nothing but Huge Lips Skinny Hips to show. They likely think of Purple Lab as a one product brand and now I can show how we’re expanding (fingers crossed, we’ll have lab samples of Pearlesque Show, available in April on HSN, as well).

Keep you posted on how it goes. Hope you’ll be reading about it all in the magazines in a few months!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

Sharon, Purple Lab rock star Communications Queen, managed to do something I cannot imagine anyone else in PR accomplishing.

She secured a placement (translation: a piece) in the new Cosmopolitan Magazine!

Now… the reason it was an amazing feat.

Here’s the story. Sharon pitched the beauty editor at the magazine in the fall, when we thought we’d have the product in question… Luvah, the sexiest 3D lip color (both a stain and a gloss in one compact) infused with Dong Quai (an ancient Chinese herb known as a libido stimulant), Ylang-Ylang (used as the floral remedy for sensuality), Vitamin E (a nourishing antioxidant), vanilla mint scent (the better to kiss you with, my dear), and a double plumper I call “Complex OO.”

They loved it.

Problem: Production delays.

When we first started working on Luvah, it was slated to launch by November (and you have to hit up the long lead magazines three, four, even five months in advance). At the time of Sharon’s outreach, there was no sample, but we were close.

Then Purple Lab biz dev got in the way.

Todd and I were in the midst of finalizing a deal with our now partners and this product took a back seat. In fact, everything took a back seat. And you know what, everything in my life is STILL taking a back seat to all things purple. But that’s another story.

We picked our product development back up soon after Cosmo called to request a sample. The issue – we had no sample. The lab was still finalizing at this point. And no amount of my begging and pleading and saying “It’s for Cosmooooo!” would do. You can’t rush a scientist.

We received – and approved – the base of the formula. The “base formula” is the actual product but without actives. The way it works with our lab is that you approve that and then they work with actives, which can change the formula but they now have a standard to meet.

Anyway, we sent Cosmo the sample. They loved the look and feel but it’s hard to write a piece when the product isn’t final. Impossible, actually.

The story was off. But Sharon persisted.

Days before the editors were about to close the issue, we got the sample – wtih actives. Just in time. What I love about Shar – she never gives up, not even for a second. She’s a little bulldog in a cute, petite package with flawless olive skin.

Then they wanted to shoot it. Another glitch: we only had the product in an ugly pot, not the actual packaging. Though we did have a sample of the packaging, so we photoshopped it

It wound up looking like a cartoon. We thought, for sure, the item would be cut. But it wasn’t.  “Don’t worry,” Sharon assured me, “it’ll happen.”

The piece hit newsstands yesterday! It didn’t have a photo, but still… we were in there under “His Picks” and Luvah was called “lust-worthy lips.”

Damn straight!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

You know we have a new liquid liner/mascara duo called Lashionista Modelista. Both are full of growth-enhancing peptides and conditioner. And the shade After Dark has diamond dust in the liner (Modelista). You know I love a good diamond (I’m an Aries, after all).

We were insired by Bridget Bardot and did some playing on Friday to create the ultimate smokey eye look.

While After Dark is more black than bling, I wanted to bring out the sparkle of the diamonds and create a steel gray look worthy of Studio 54. Halston, not required.

Here’s the step by step:

1. Draw a line along the line of the top lash from the inside corder to the outside corner

2. Build the line so that it gets thicker and thicker as you move away from the inner corner of the eye, almost shading in the entire lid, winging it out VERY slightly at the edge (it’s not about a major cat eye but it’s nice to get an almond shape)

3. Don’t panic if it looks VERY black – it will but it won’t stay that way after the next step

4. While the liquid liner is still wet, begin to smudge it with a short-bristled brush

5. As you smudge, you will see the black will fade and the diamond dust will emerge more and more 

6. Blend evenly so that the color is dispersed equally across the lid

Hot, isn’t it?

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

Purple Lab is all about double duty beauty, products with multiple benefits. And the reason? I’m just thinking of all of you multi-tasking mavens – and myself.

I have talked about the fact that I have a day job before. Multiple ones, to be honest. All social media consulting for fashion and lifestyle brands.  Thursday night, I worked on the most amazing. It involved this…

That’s Josie Natori at the Steinway grand piano in the music room of her apartment. Yes, her apartment.

When I was tasked to come up with an event to introduce Josie to key fashion bloggers – she has a new collection called Josie Natori Essentials, a sleek line of clean, modern silhouettes of stretchy matte jersey, all over lace, and chic knits, that are tailor made for travel (no wrinkles) and all body types – I didn’t want to do a boring session in her showroom, though it is incredibly gorgeous.

Below, The Glamourai, My Style Pill, and the girls from The Owls are not what they Seem.

Josie is the most amazing, inspiring woman. She was raised in the Philippines by a matriarchal, entrepreneurial family. Her grandmother’s words of wisdom: “Don’t be in a position to depend on anyone,” so it’s no wonder her message as a designer is to empower women.

A musical prodigy and classically trained pianist, she played the Manilla Philharmanic Orchestra at the age of 9 and Carnegie Hall for her 50th birthday (best gift ever, right?). She was the first female VP of investment banking at Merril Lynch before she created her sartorial empire that started in lingerie 33 years ago but now includes ready-to-wear, home, fragrance, eyewear.

Her apartment. NO WORDS! A modern yet welcoming mix of neutrals, contemporary art, Buddhas, sleek furnishing. She was warm and inviting, making sure every glass of champagne was full all night.

The evening was about her “essentials” for living to mark her Essentials collection. We ate dim sum (I’m still reeling over the asparagus ginger), her favorite food. And she broke out into a full-on private concert.

My intern, Ashley sang At Last (love me some Etta) and Someone to Watch Over me with her (they may go on tour). Ashley is a crooner a la Norah Jones with a throaty voice that leaves a sultry impact (she made it through two rounds of American Idol auditions – Simon must be high for not having her all the way through but selfishly, I’m glad because then she wouldn’t be at Purple Lab).

That’s Sharon, all the way on the left.

Kristin Booker of Fashion Style Beauty broke out in song as well. The girl has pipes!

Here’s Kristin and Josie.

Josie walked us through her line and styled Christine of My Style Pill in her matte jersey cacoon cardigan with fluid sleeves. I didn’t think it would wind up back on the rack!

And we received a tour of her closet. You! Have! No! Idea!

A sea of black shoes (many of which had red soles), each filled with a silk sachet, emblazoned with the Natori crest. Exotic skin bags. A shelf of fur scarves. A veritable haven surrounded by red laquer walls. It is where Josie has coffee and reads the paper every morning.

I’m coming back as her!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

My last post, I talked about how some of the negative remarks – not even on the products, but about me as a person – were hurtful and upsetting. I received so many beautiful comments that I am so thankful for – all full of support and appreciation.

And I have now fully, 1000000% let it all go.

No need to have that bring me down.

When I created Purple Lab, my first thought was all about women, to build a brand that could be aspirational and inspirational, to have fun, to laugh, to offer something with serious ingredients and a nice side of cheekiness, and most importantly, to empower.

My message is that all of us women should feel fabulous, glamorous, amazing – inside and out, in our sweats or in our heels.

Yes, some of the harsh words on the forums and in other comments on blogs were upsetting. A tear or two streamed down my face (or maybe more than two). Then I had a little heart to heart with myself.

I have SO much emotion tied to Purple Lab. I give it every ounce of my energy and soul, as does Todd. This is truly our baby. We visited our products in stores on Mother’s Day last year!

It was somewhat disappointing to not be able to share that excitement 
with everyone – or feel that it was mutual.

But I am taking a lesson from my own brand – I will transcend the negative words, the frustration, and just do what I love, what makes me happy, and share the passion I have for it every way that I can.

And no more forums for moi. Not a single one!

Thank you all! You rock!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

The best thing about partnering with HSN – I’m living my dream.

The down side - other people have something to say about it and not always so nice.

I don’t think every product is for every person. And I don’t expect the entire planet to live and die for Purple Lab, though I do wish they would! But I never quite expected to see some of the comments that have been popping up on forums and on my AOL blog, Beauty Blab.

One person said I looked like a short, fat Farrah Fawcett in my jumpsuit.

I know I’m short. Yes, I could lose a few lbs. That stung, even though a Farrah comparison is nice (just not the fat part).

Another comment said I should tame my hair.

I don’t like a lot of things about my physical appearance. Believe me. No one is harder on me than I am. But I’m just not a tame hair kind of girl. My crazy unruly curls suit me.

I also saw a little drama going down on one forum. Some people said “shame on HSN” for having Purple Lab and someone who follows us on Twitter and Facebook jumped in to say how and why she loves the brand. Thank you, Tabathia! You’re such a doll!

The person who started the convo, however, did not agree. She retorted, “This must be Karen writing this.”

I was in tears by the end of it. There was a lot of confusion over names of the colors of the lip glosses – like No Panty Lines and Worship Kate. Worship Kate is inspired by my style icon Kate Moss (one person didn’t understand why I’d worship a “drug addict,” but really, it’s about a personal sense of style that I worship, not a substance abuse habit. I don’t even drink!).

I couldn’t understand where so much anger was coming from. Like I said, I welcome all feedback on products – good or bad – because I can learn from them and improve. I know that every product is not for every one. It’s like perfume. My mom wears a Cartier fragrance that I love on her – but it’s horrid on me!  

Don’t get me wrong – there were amazing reviews as well. Yay! For some reason, it’s easy for me to focus on the negative.

I’ve always been the type to look at myself in the mirror and see only the flaws – never would I do that with someone else, but me… I’m fair game! 

Todd threatened divorce if I ever go back. I can’t change the way people see things and not everyone will take the time to really get to know Purple Lab or me as the Creatrix of the products.

So I have sworn them off – forever – and I just hope that we can all be friends! Is that so wrong?

Just my musing for the day.

Enjoy yours.

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix

Not a moment of rest since HSN went down. We’re in the midst of planning the next group of shows for the April, for which I’ll be bringing contest winner Jessica Harlow with me! (I’m meeting her this week  – so excited!)

Plus, the manic manufacturing phase for Pearlesque Show has begun. Below, a comp of the design for the componentry.

Sharon and I are furiosly planning PR and marketing – desk sides with the major magazines, adding content to the site, starting to shoot how-to videos, and a special initiative for Pearlesque Show’s launch (cannot give deets yet – but it will be fierce).

While I shared the design comp for the component, we’re still working on the box it goes in (a.k.a. unit carton). All of the wordage, however, has been sent to HSN’s legal for approval. I’m praying I will get it in the next two weeks so I have time to do something pre-launch.

Always a mad rush. I dream of the day it’s not!

In the meantime, don’t ask me about tax situation. It’s a wreck. And I would guesstimate that I’m a good year away from having a real office, which means I am putting aside baby making plans for later. No way could I imagine having an infant in my home office with five interns, a desk in the living room, no door to shut (the apartment is loft-like, hence no privacy and I often take conference calls in the closet or bathroom), and running around the way I do.

I swear, if I did give birth right now, the baby would surely turn out to be the unibomber. Sorry mom and dad! I have to wait another year – not the best idea considering I’m verrrrry close to 40.  

Thank God my brother is having a child in April – alleviates a little of the grandparent-pressure!

There are big conversations in-office about retail expansion – are we ready and if so, where? It’s hard to grow in the traditional brick and mortar arena.

Imagine you’re in a massive store with 200 locations.

You have to provide point of sale displays to each, along with multiple testers of all products. You have to visit each store regularly, send a team in to train staff and often, you send someone to work the floor in your name. There’s marketing for each location on top of it all.

Meaning: MONEY!

Selling IN is one thing… selling THROUGH is another. That requires support.

Back to MONEY which is not at my disposal, sadly.

Even as you sell products on HSN, any money coming in goes back to fuel the growth of the company, manufacturing, cost of goods, photo shoots for the site. Need I go on?

I’m also talking to the chemists about some products for July for the HSN presentations then. Totally hush-hush so I can’t go there now, but if the testing we’re doing works out, OMG, will I have something insane for your makeup bag!

Mwah!

Karen

Purple Lab Creatrix