Tracking Tools - Shine Jewels

Use tracking tools to analyse a company of your choice, that aligns with your blog's focus.

 

Shop Local at Shine Jewels 9234 Glover Road in  Fort Langley, BC

  
Shine Jewels, located along Fort Langley's popular retail stroll, opened their doors in late 2011. With the motto "Every girl needs to Shine and Sparkle",  Shine stocks a wide-assortment of unique and glamorous fashion accessories priced at $40 or less.

From Bedford (Landing) wives to frugal Fraser Valley fashionista's, facebook friends are flocking to "Shine Jewels" facebook page to check out shots of new inventory, participate in monthly contests, be the first to learn about special in-store purchase incentives, simply profess their adoration for collection and often sharing a word of thanks after a positive shopping experience. It is interesting to note that at this time, Shine Jewels is operating facebook as a person, not as a business. So rather than acquire "fans" - friend requests must be sent to follow and subscribe to Shine's activity. Shine has made the switch to the recently launched facebook Timeline format.

Facebook
761 friends








Facebook is the main social media platform that Shine Jewels use. They do a great job of keeping content fresh and up-to-date, responding to comments quickly and share content with facebook friends and subscribers. Shine seems to do a lot of cross-promotions with neighbouring Fort Langley businesses and seems to be actively engaged in the "shop local" movement. Most importantly, Shine makes a daily effort to connect with friends through personal comments, like, shares and re-posts of user-generated content.

Shine Jewels is also a member of social media community Pinterest. They have integrated their Pinterest account with the existing "Shine Jewels" facebook account, with facebook friends and visitors able to view the boutiques recent Pinterest activity.

Pinterest
12 boards
156 pins
10 likes
54 followers
154 following





Shine Jewels Pinterest boards  reflect the "spirit" of Shine Jewels brand, along with themes of modern and vintage design in both accessories and home decor. Participation in the Pinterest community is a fun and engaging way to spread the Shine Jewels brand message. Shine used the Pinterest app on facebook to share recent pin-board content and activity with facebook friends / subscribers.

On February 12, 2012 Social Times reported the following social media activity takes place every 60-seconds:

1090 Pinterest Visitors

7610 LinkedIn Searches

7630 Stumbles

2 million Youtube video views

As facebook friends increase, more followers are acquired on Pinterest or they join an online community such as twitter - I would suggest Shine Jewels use a free social media monitoring tool such as Hootsuite to update multiple social media platforms (twitter, facebook) from a computer or mobile device. The free version lets users work with up to five social networks and two RSS feeds but is limited to one user for your organization’s account; it stores stat history for 30 days and is ad supported.

xo
Melissa

My Make-Up Bag: Top 10 Can't Live Without Items

Create a top-ten list on your blog of a topic of your choosing (as long as it’s consistent with the focus of your blog). You are welcome to include images or video, and it can be fun or informative.

Here is my top 10 beauty-on-the-go must have items that I haul around in my signature over-size handbags 24/7. You will never find me standed on a deserted island without 'em!






Sugarbomb Face Powder - Benefit $28 USD (available at Sephora.com)

These four unique shades of rose, shimmering pink, soft plum, and peach blend together perfectly for a delicious "sugar rush flush". I like to pair this face powder with one of my fave facial illuminators... 

Super Orgasm Face Illuminator - NARS $30 (available at Sephora.com)

A multifunctional face product that gives skin a refreshed luminosity. Use as a highligher to achieve a soft, shimmery glow and or mix with liquid foundation to brighten a dull complexion.

Pink Sugar Rollerball - Aquolina $20 USD (available at Sephora.com)

Stylish and lively, with a distinctive personality, Pink Sugar takes you on a journey through the pleasures and flavors of childhood with a playful blend of vanilla and caramel. I adore the convenience of rollerball perfume! I wish I could score more of my favorite scents in a purse & travel friendly roll-ons.



Cremesheen Lipstick in Fanfare - MAC Cosmetics $14.50 USD (available at MAC boutiques, counters or online) 

Colour plus texture for the lips. Stands out on the runway. Simmers on the street! What made M·A·C famous. This mid-tone yellow pink is great neutral for my olive complexion, looks fabulous with a layer of shimmery gloss over-top.   

Le Gloss Star Lip Shine in Électrique - Annabelle Cosmetics ($8.99 CAD available at Shoppers Drug Mart)


Pure lustrous shine! Annabelle's Le Gloss caresses your lips with a smooth and brilliant shine! Translucent, sparkly and non-sticky, it feels natural, as if you weren’t wearing any. Its perfectly designed tube lets you use every last drop!

  

Le BIG Show Mascara in Black - Annabelle Cosmetics ($9.99 CAD available at Shoppers Drug Mart)

Want lashes that will turn heads? Bat your way to glamour land with the new Le Big Show mascara. The wand does it all: mega volume from the first stroke. Each lash is separated without clumps to give you seemingly endless length. Why fake what you already have? The secret: buildable formula and nylon bristles to coat each and every lash! Smooth and flake-free, the unique formula beautifies your lashes without smudging or running.

Smudgeliner in Wired - Annabelle Cosmetics ($8.99 CAD available at Shoppers Drug Mart)

 With their superior long-lasting formula and rich colour pay-off, Annabelle Smudgeliners are a must-have to add depth to any look! Let them glide to create a defined line, or blend gently with the built-in smudger tip to achieve a smoky, sultry look.

 

Eye Studio Color Plush Silk Eyeshadow in Copper Chic - Maybelline ($12.99 CAD available at Shoppers Drug Mart)

Rich color. Smooth feel. Now silk makes shadow new again. Exclusive formula with silk pigments creates the ultimate shadow texture and luminosity. Safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers, ophthalmologist-tested. This a great shadow quad and gives intensely rich colour when applied wet.
  

Express Finish 50-Second Nail Color in Grape Times ($5.99 CAD available at Wal-Mart)


 My favorite brand of quick-dry nail color. Brush provides liberal coverage and sets in 50 seconds. Express Finish comes in 20 fresh shades (my favorite being "Blushing Bride" a perfect blush tone) and features ADVANCED WEAR® anti-chip color and EXCLUSIVE CONTROL-FLOW™ BRUSH. 



Pigment in Tan - MAC Cosmetics ($20 USD available at MAC boutiques, counters or online)

Pigment is a highly concentrated loose colour powder that contains ingredients to help it adhere to the skin. Create a subtle wash of colour or an intense effect. Does not streak or cake. Easy to blend and long-lasting.

xo
Melissa

Facebook Fan Page Recommendations - Cashmere & Cupcakes Consignment Boutique

Find a Facebook Fan Page for an organization that is related to your blog’s focus. Analyze it. For instance, what are they doing well? What are they not doing well? Provide some recommendations for how they could improve their execution.

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Featuring a carefully edited selection of stylish high-end women’s apparel, shoes, handbags, jewelry, watches, and sunglasses, Cashmere and Cupcakes has recently taken over the large, white heritage home at historic 5 Corners in Murrayville. The boutique opened in November 2011, offering savvy style seekers an opportunity to score current and on-trend designer fashions for less. Cashmere & Cupcakes began to build brand-awareness by joining facebook on September 19, 2011. A twitter and tumblr account soon followed.

Owners Tracy & Courtney Hunter offer Fraser Valley fashionista's an opportunity to stock the boutique (by becoming a consignee) and/or shop new and gently-loved items from labels such as Prada, Chanel, Burberry, Yves Saint Laurenet, Bally, Phillip Lim, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Mackage and Marc Jacobs. Casual names such as J.Crew, DKNY, Banana Republic, Zara and Michael Kors can also be found filling Cashmere & Cupcakes at attractive re-sale prices. 

 

Cashmere & Cupcakes uses popular mobile photo-sharing app, Intragram, to capture and post photo's of new inventory items to their facebook page, twitter, and tumblr accounts on a daily basis. By posting pictures of items from highly-coveted designers, Cashmere & Cupcakes  are slowly, but successfully, growing an eager fan base of social media subscribers (over 330 twitter followers, 80 facebook page likes and 13 Instagram followers),  hungry to score the latest designer deals.

Located inside a beautiful heritage home in the heart of Langley's Murrayville community, shoppers can expect a warm & inviting experience. Cashmere & Cupcakes  theme of casual luxury is conveyed through photo's of the boutique's white-washed walls, plush furnishings, baroque mirrors and glistening chandeliers posted on their various social media pages, such as Instragram (which they recently joined on February 20, 2012).

With 30 Instagram photos posted to-date, this app allows Cashmere & Cupcakes to take a mobile photo, apply a digital filter to create distinctive features and a square shape (see above), in homage to both the Kodak Instamatic and Poloroid cameras. The finished product is just another way to share the Cashmere & Cupcakes essence of casual luxury with their fans and followers. As Instagram grows in popularity, I believe more of the Fraser Valley's most fashionable women will follow Cashmere & Cupcakes en mass.

For having been operational for less than 6 months, the owners of Cashmere & Cupcakes have demonstrated the ability to use social media to attract quality followers. These followers pose questions, reply to tweets, comment and share the boutiques posts and photo's.

I would recommend that Cashmere & Cupcakes covert in-store customers to social media fans / followers by advocating the benefits of becoming a social media follower / fan such as:

• Exposure to new and/or seasonal arrivals
• Highly-anticipated incoming inventory
• In-store promotions and/or special events

The use of the in-store iPad (at the cashiers desk) would be an excellent way to show customers that the boutique is worth following. Incentives such as gift certificates, would be a great way to encourage existing fans and followers to share Cashmere & Cupcakes brand message with their own followers / fans.  

As the business grows, I would recommend the addition of a facebook landing page, which is essentially a mini website within Facebook. A landing page designed to capture the spirit and essence of the boutique (in script, imagery, colour) could be used to promote deals, call attention to new products, or simply welcome visitors. Page viewers would see this instead of the page’s wall or feed.  

xo
Melissa

♥ On for the Stella & Dot Spring 2012 Collection

My fashion forcast went from dismal rain to sunny skies the second I discovered that my Vancouver-based Stella & Dot Star Stylist, Anita Groundwater, mailed me a copy of the new Spring 2012 Stella & Dot catalogue. Sharpie marker in hand, I eagerly began sifting and circling my through 100 glossy pages featuring the latest in destination-inspired jewellery. 

For those not are familiar with Stella & Dot, the company was founded in 2008  by San Francisco’s Jessica Herrin whose vision for the company was built on the foundation of entrepreneurial spirit and a genuine desire to make women feel happy, and empowered. The success of the Stella & Dot brand is discussed here Sequoia Invests $37 Million in Direct Sales Jewelry Start-Up Stella & Dot – Tricia Duryee - Commerce – AllThingsD . Check out more articles like this on Digg!

Now back to the bling…
Some of my fave trends from this collection include a bold bib necklace in cobalt blue leather and gold-tone stud accents, exotic arm candy featuring bracelets in coral, ivory and turquoise enamel, dazzling jade gemstone earrings and glorious statement necklaces such as the Serenity Necklace seen in the February 2012 issue of People Style Watch.



Serenity Necklace - Stella & Dot ($208.00 CAD)

Reality tv stars also have a serious ♥ on....
The Serenity Necklace, along other highly covetable items from the Stella & Dot spring collection, were recently featured on Emily Maynard, star of the upcoming eighth season of The Bachelorette.


Emily Maynard (center) sporting the Serenity Necklace by  Stella & Dot

Here's a sneak peak at the next Bachelorette, Emily Maynard. Six new totally chic pieces from the highly covetable spring collection can be spotted during this video.

Fans of Bravo’s Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (RHBH) saw the girls sportin’ a few pieces from the Stella & Dot collection throughout Season 2. Check out these jade beauties on Camille Grammer…

                                               Serenity Stone Drops ($54.00 CAD) - Stella & Dot

Fraser Valley & Van City girls, contact Stella & Dot Star Stylist, Anita Groundwater to shop these stunning pieces and more or host your own Stella & Dot trunk show. 


xo
Melissa