PURPLE BLAB

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.”

The event last week was a smash hit, I have to say! Before I go on, I have to give serious props to Sharon, Purple Lab’s Communications Director. She executed every ounce of this event, from the signage to the sponsors to the layout to the organization to the registration to the gift bags to the… you get the point.

We had to be very careful about letting in ONLY the ones who registered because of fire hazards – God forbid something went wrong! And it pained every ounce of my being to have to turn some away (we did offer them a drink from our bar and suggested they stay because so many singles would mingle after).

You may know that Friday of next week is attempt to break the world record for the largest speed dating event as we launch the new lip product, Luvah, the ultimate dating tool (it’s a cute purple compact with a lip stain and matchy gloss, laced with Dong Quai and two plumpers called “Complexx OO”).  Steve Ward, Master Matchmaker and host of VH-1’s Tough Love is hosting.

Anyway, had a little chat with Mr. Ward. (BTW, I cannot tell you how many girls who registered for the event have asked if he’s single. For the record, he’s not and his girlfriend WILL be using Luvah!)

You may think Crisis Management PR is only relevant to publicists who represent celebrities like Lindsay Lohan, politicians like Elliot Spitzer and models like Kate Moss (our favorite who always comes out on top). Well, think again! Beauty publicists need to be schooled in Crisis Management PR too, right alongside Paris Hilton’s peeps.

Not sure who was hanging out on YouTube last Saturday night at 10pm, but I can tell you who was…me!

Purple Lab ran into a bit of a PR crisis two week ago after posting what we thought to be a successful Dayton, Ohio news segment featuring Huge Lips Skinny Hips.

Where were we last time I gave you the business building update (still trying to catch us up to current day and we’re so close, I can taste it).

It was summer. We were on the verge of leveraging one of Todd’s properties in Brooklyn to squeeze out some cash to continue funding Purple Lab’s further product development (there were 50 products in my head that I was itching to get out), production, and overall growth.

You know how I told you that you’d be hearing from the interns  multi-tasking mavens? Meet Cristina, an adorable blond who goes to NYU. She came on board a few months ago and if it’s up to me, she’s not going anywhere.

This is how she got her Purple Lab start!

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Where do I begin!? Well, first off, my name is Cristina and I’m a Multi-Tasking Maven for the beauty brand Purple Lab!

Of course, I wasn’t just handed such an honorable position. I had to use my connections and my go-getter personality to prove I was the best choice for Purple Lab. How, you ask?

So what happens when you unleash a Multi-Tasking Maven into the wild streets of New York City?

Her hair comes down and out comes an inner pole-dancing superstar!

Maven at work!

I tried, I loved, and I conquered the pole! I am now officially “Kitty Poledancer,” the pretty pink gloss shade of Huge Lips Skinny Hips that was inspired by Creatrix Karen’s favorite form of exercise (can you believe this was a job requirement?).

S Factor was exactly what I hoped for and nothing that I expected all wrapped up into one invigorating two-hour experience that left a kink in my neck (so worth it!) and some pep in my step saunter.  

In the last chapter of the Purple Lab tale, I was seeing my psychic/astrologer Karen Thorne. She said our lives would clear up – a huge level of stress would be released – by mid-summer.

It was in the stars, apparently. It was decided.

And it actually happened… just when we got down to our last $58.22!

Our heads were spinning.

We were developing SWAC,  scrounging for components (we did not go back to the original manufacturer who sent us the 30,000 damaged guys). We found a vendor who has really interesting packaging and clients whose products you definitely use (I am not sure if I’d be allowed to say who but let’s just say that their biggest one rhymes with Shack).

Meet Tiffany!

She is a multi-tasking maven at Purple Lab and a vital part of the team. Her exact title: Communications Assistant. But she is really so much more.

I love her. And you will, too. Here she is…

Hello Purple Blabies!

Today we are going to jump into PR – and what the F it is. If you read my last post, you learned about one component of public relations, event planning. As the Communications Director, that is just one of the many hats I wear. So if you are thinking about getting into PR or just want do know what PR is (trust me, don’t be embarrassed I have been in the field for years and my parents still don’t really get it), today is your lucky day. Here’s the scoop:

First, let’s address the biggest question out there: