INTRODUCING…

Sarah Faulkner is the Marketing Manager for Miinto.ie, which is a brand new online concept that was launched into the Irish marketplace in 2012. Miinto.ie offers fashion boutiques in Ireland the opportunity to sell their products online with great ease and at a minimum cost. The business is essentially an Irish online fashion retail company and a selling platform for Irish boutiques.

1)     Why did you choose a career in Advertising/Marketing/PR/Media?

I love the fast-paced lifestyle, which comes hand-in-hand with marketing and PR. Everyday is different especially when you combine working within the online fashion industry.

2)     How did you get into your chosen career?

I finally found my love for marketing and PR after a number of years working in the fashion retail environment and studying finance and fashion in college. Beginning with an Undergraduate Degree in Finance from there, I branched out into the fashion retail environment where I gained vast industry knowledge from completing a PgD in Fashion Buying and Management in DIT, interning in the Brown Thomas Buying Office, interning in Elevate PR and working in fashion retail from a young age both in Ireland and the US. This all lead me towards the Marketing Manager role I have today in Miinto.ie. Since starting in the company, I have also attained a Diploma in Digital Marketing, which has enabled me to broaden my online knowledge. I truly believe that the best mix is experience and education.

3)     What has been the most creative advertising/marketing/ PR campaign you have seen/been involved with to date?

There have been many from a brand awareness aspect with TV campaigns, social media competitions, celebrity events etc. but I have some interesting campaigns coming up this year, which I am not revealing yet – so keep watch!

4)     Tell LovePR? About your average day?

The great thing about Marketing and PR is – there is no average day. I am either in the office creating online content, strategising and optimising our online traffic channels, creative writing, liaising with our fashion boutiques and international team, organising TV slots, generating press releases, creating and implementing marketing campaigns and purchasing incentives, producing and monitoring interesting social media content and competitions and event management when hosting events. A mixed bag that can spill over into the evenings when there are networking events on. You have to be able to adapt and love the PR/marketing lifestyle as it can vary so often and change quite quickly.

5)     What has been the high point of your career to date?

Although each new experience is a high point, at the moment it would definitely be getting the opportunity to work with the start-up company I am working with today. You will never gain as much experience as working with a start-up business as everything has to be built from the ground up. You get your hands dirty and work together to build a department from the foundations and that kind of experience cannot be learned.

6)     Any advice for new graduates in your field?

Take every opportunity that arises. If you don’t love it, move on. Find out what you really want to do and what your passion is. We generally work five days a week, eight hours per day, if you don’t love your job that is a lot of time spent unhappy.  Get out and meet people, make contacts and get involved with as many events/projects as you can, you would really be surprised where an opportunity can arise. Ask questions and listen carefully to the answer. Educate yourself in the industry – knowledge is power.

Shop online at www.miinto.ie 

Not often enough do the Irish fashion industry produce their own research so I found it refreshing to find Miinto.ie’s most recent survey on the fashion industry conducted at the Ultimate Girl’s Day Out over the weekend, waiting in my inbox.

I’m a firm believer in the old adage ‘Fail to prepare…Prepare to fail’, and it look’s like Miinto most definitely have their eye on the ball and are preparing to succeed in the Irish market.

Miinto’s survey has proven what Irish women have known and feared for over the past decade that yes, the general Irish male public lack the ever sought after fashion sense that women love and crave. A weekend full of fashion savvy women, the survey focused on rating Irish men’s fashion sense, the effect of this on women’s perception of dating Irish men and who women really want their men to dress like.

Not surprisingly, the overall results illustrated that 59% of women surveyed rate the fashion sense of Irish men as average, 58% of women would not continue to date a poorly dressed man, 40% of women buy their other half’s clothing for them and 39% would love their men to dress like David Beckham.  The figures unfortunately do not lie. One woman surveyed, Ann-Marie Travers from Dublin quoted – “Irish guys generally give David Beckham a lot of stick when it comes to his metrosexual fashion sense but us ladies love it!” Gary Barlow followed closely in second place with 30% of the votes for his three-piece suits and more tailored dress sense. The overall consensus of surveyed women was the desperation for a more fashionable and fearless Irish male, that tracksuit bottoms, runners and hoodies are not an outfit to turn heads.

Sadly, not one woman voted the fashion sense of Irish men as ultra-fashionable and a large 37% voted their fashion sense as below average.  Less than shockingly only 1% of women voted for Enda Kenny as a male they would like their man to dress like, should fashion and style extend into the political heads of our country? After all you never get a second chance to make a first impression and I have to admit, Miinto.ie are definitley making a good one.

In conducting this survey at the Ultimate Girl’s Day Out show Miinto.ie interacted with 462 women in their target demographic (18-60 years old). That’s 462 Irish women that can now put a face to this new brand entering the fashion market. 462 women that have directly interacted with the brand and 462 women that are potential new customers.

Hats off to Miinto!

Love Niamh x

I don’t usually use Love PR to write about personal events I’m involved with but I want to use Love PR to thank those who kindly gave their time to be involved with an event I organised in Lillies Bordello in aid of Suicide or Survive.

Suicide or Survive is an Irish charity focused on breaking down the stigma associated with mental health issues and ensuring that those affected have access to quality recovery services that are right for the individual.

I was lucky enough to call on showbiz supernova and gorgeous friend of mine,  Suzanne Jackson of So Sue Me fame to MC for the night.

The event showcased clothing from Miinto.ie; specifically American Honey, Vavavoom.ie and Clearys.  Styled by the ever fabulous Karen Forde who did not disappoint!

Renowned make up artists Deborah Leonard of One Step Closer 2 Fabulous, who has just opened up a new studio on Clare St.,  and Marie Joseph of Makeup.ie were on hand to ensure all the models had fabulous make up while the lovely ladies from REBA Hair and Beauty ; Kim, Lyndsey and Sinead, showcased their creative talents with some catwalk inspired hairstyles.

With DJ Seany Bee providing the musical sounds during the fashion show, nobody went home disappointed.

Big thanks also to JC and Ian who kindly took pics on the night!

Check out some of the images from the night below:

Vavavoom.ie are also running a great little competition at the moment..

Like them on Facebook here to find out more!

Love Niamh x