Comments on: Fashion Blogs + Free Samples: The PR Community Speaks

By: PR Couture

PR Couture — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:09:13 +0000

EB – thank you so much for sharing your thoughts here. You echo the experience of many others I am sure and yes! please get in contact with Lauren – she’s great. Best, Crosby

By: EB

EB — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:14:16 +0000

As an emerging jewelry designer, I found this article wonderfully helpful! I’ve been approached by a number of “mom blogs” asking to review my jewelry, and each have asked for a non-returnable sample. Similar to “K” in the article above, one blogger even specified the exact necklace that she wanted to review (an $88 piece), and it clearly came across as “I’d like a free necklace”. I always kindly reply and ask for their readership demographics, number of readers, etc., even though some of that can be found online, but I do it to see if they’re serious enough to reply. Most don’t. I also check out their blogs before replying, and there was a point last year after the Blog Her conference that many of them were endlessly going on about all the free swag they got and their strategy for getting to certain tables earlier than others to get free stuff, and bragging about the handbags, and major brand items they got for free. Even crazier was that other bloggers replied detailing their list of swag. Are they someone I want writing about my business? Do they really care about introducing me to others? No. They just want free stuff. Maybe their readers love it–but it certainly gave a negative perception to me, as someone who had been contacted by them wanting to review a product of mine.
Lauren Rich-Thank you, thank you, thank you…for your words above…this completely expresses the position I’m in as an emerging designer….it is so nice to know that *someone* understands. You have a new fan, and I just may be contacting you! I’m pasting your words here…because I think they are *SO* worth repeating:
As Lauren Rich, owner of RICHPR explains, ”[I wish fashion bloggers had a better] understanding of startup vs. established brands. Bloggers must understand that asking large, established brands for samples is completely different than asking a startup brand for samples. From my experience, I feel a lot of bloggers don’t understand why small, newer brands won’t give samples when they’ve received samples from/reviewed numerous larger, established brands. While having those big names is certainly impressive, it’s not that the brand doesn’t want to give a sample, it’s that they can’t. Smaller brands typically only have the budget to produce limited quantities of samples, so not only are excess samples scare to begin with, but sending one out is literally money out of their pocket. It’s a shame because it’s these new brands that really need the coverage, and many times they don’t receive it because of “nonreturnable” sample policies which they can’t meet.”

By: School Related: Social Media Hot Topic « MISS STEPHANIE

School Related: Social Media Hot Topic « MISS STEPHANIE — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:33:23 +0000

[...] PR rep is quoted as saying: “I do feel fashion bloggers expect too much. Recently, during a fashion week, there [...]

By: Fashion Marketing & PR Links « Marketing Fashion

Fashion Marketing & PR Links « Marketing Fashion — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:31:44 +0000

[...] Couture: Fashion Bloggers & Free Samples – I love the concept of blogger consideration forms and the candid responses to what designers [...]

By: roni

roni — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:23:13 +0000

my blog is VERY new; and I've been noticing that bloggers do in fact abuse their privileges; as in getting a sample even to return it is a privilege.. I'm glad this article is here because when I initially came across the idea of requesting samples materials such as these weren't available.. it gives bloggers retrospective as to the receiving end of all the sample requesting lol... As for one of the last comments where a measure of a blog's success is in it's comments as a fellow blogger stated I disagree with that. My blog is not myspace or facebook I'm here to provide information as I see fit. If readers want to comment that's cool too.. roni’s last blog post..Burberry Bathing Suits On Sale