Competition - Like Glass Imagination Fan Page to Win Creations

As a litfle reward for people interested in Glass Imagination. Enter a prize draw for your chance to win a pendant or cuff links at the end of the month! Just LIKE Glass Imagination's page www.facebook.com/glassimaginationdesign and SHARE this picture ‪#‎competition‬ ‪#‎win‬ Competition ends midnight 31.07.13 and result announced 01.08.13

Chalfont St Peter Feast Day 2013

The day was a huge success. New promotions and competitions were launched in the brilliant sunshine. Chalfont St Peter Gold Hill was a hub for thousands of customers and onlookers whilst over a hundred stalls entertained. I recommend attendance for next years event!

New art pendant designs

  

Starting with dichroic fragments, I decided to construct new exciting pendants to add to my collection.

Each fragment, left from previous use, I cut down and collaged on opalescent black.
 


These are two of my favourite creations this week. They both have a variety of shape size and colour.  Each piece utilising depth, pattern and iridescence.

Big Bold and new! This turquoise abstract pendant has been carefully constructed to give that WOW factor. I tried to make it a statement piece. It's made of transparent glass to reflect the light and change the shade of the glass. It is a 3d pendant, the fragmented dichroic is ridged and textured.

Have you seen the new Facebook Home App?

I just found out about Facebook Home. The brand new addition to Facebook and supposedly revoutionising social media this year. The Changing the Face of Smartphones can been seen in depth here: https://www.facebook.com/about/newsfeed

It looks like Facebook have finally got it right, people are actually on a waiting list for this upgrade. Tech enthusiasts thought Mark Zuckerberg was going to announce the release of a Facebook phone, but instead unveiled the new, game changing Facebook Home user interface.

The new Facebook Home's most interesting new feature is the choice of feeds option. The Facebook story has been re-designed to put the spotlight on what your friends are sharing. You can see a visual version of photos, music, following, all friends etc in an effort to de-clutter Facebook. It will operate as a new age app suite styled specifically for Android phones. From group chats to user faces popups new specialized Facebook algorithms have been designed to monitor all this for you. It is supposed to make facebook more personal and concentrate on the people who interact on Facebook, not just be a very cool app.

At the moment there is a waiting list for the transfer. This interface sees Facebook switching the focus of the average Android phone design from functionality to friendship. In the words of Mark Zuckerberg "the idea of a modern computer won't be around."

New Easter Promotion 15% off all Glassware

I decided this Easter weekend to have a 15% Promotion off my Glassware. So Happy Easter everyone. Offer ends midnight Monday!

Happy Shopping at www.glassimagination.com :)

The Feast of St Peter 2013 - Glass Imagination's New Event

I have just booked a stall at this years 2013 Feast of St Peter. I'm really excited to get set up in my little 10ftx10ft pitch and showcase some of my glass works.

This years event looks to pull in around 10,000 people.

I'm thinking of setting up my marquee and having a promo day, with some jewellery & glass for sale. The rest of my pitch, i think will have lots of promo, maybe a raffle. I plan to make some smaller less expensive glass pieces especially for the day that are more suited to the summer celebration vibe.

The 2013 headline act is the UK's leading Elton John tribute - Ultimate Elton - who will be appearing with his band and playing hits from Elton's huge 40+ year catalogue of fantastic music.
 
The 2013 event will take place on Saturday 29th June so get it in your diary now!

Guide to Help Your Brand Utilise Trends and Grow as a Company - Let's Trendspot!

Let's learn to 'trendspot'

I found this guide to be a successful trendspotter as a brand.... Trend Bible believes the best brands optimise:

1. A clear, defined start to the season. Usually some sort of inspiring away day where they can think about new ideas, new directions, what worked before and what’s new.

2. Working sufficiently far ahead – some of our clients work 6 months ahead, some work 2 years ahead, but all of them work with us to create a strict critical path so that we all know deadlines and dates we’re expected to hit. Our clients work backwards from their delivery deadlines, so they know exactly when to book us in.

3. Senior management attending – most of our clients get senior management involved in some part of the trend forecasting process. If there’s something they don’t like, it’s best they know from day 1 what the concept directions will be so they can share comments there and then -  much better than commenting 12 months later when the product is being shipped. It goes without saying that designers, buyers, marketing and PR teams must attend initial trend meetings to develop a coherent strategy. Each of these needs to bring their own ideas for future trends to the table too, good trend forecasting is all about a team approach.

4. Getting a good variety of external opinions, advice and expertise. Breadth of experience, style and information ensures you don’t miss a trend. The trick here is the editing stage – who’s in charge of deciding what does and doesn’t make it in the final cut?

5. Mid-season sense-check -  a vital part of the process. It’s amazing how much the original plan can morph and change over a few months and it may be that things need to get pulled back on track. This also allows the opportunity to flag up any fast-moving ‘satellite trends’ that may have suddenly sprung forth. It’s at this stage in the season we help our clients decide exactly when each trend story and colour range should go in-store – down to the exact week.
6. Communicate with manufacturers from the off – get them involved in your management trend presentations and they will understand the finishes, techniques, style and look you’re after. They can then begin their own research files, looking out for production techniques that fit with your new concepts an bringing yet more innovation to you.

7. Test, test test! If you are not sure about a trend, colour or design, create a system whereby you can produce a short run of products and test them out. The best brands use this to get a read on new products before rolling them out. Fear is the enemy of trends! You won’t be fearful about new trends if you’ve already dipped your toe in the water and got a read on whether your customers like it.
8. One internal person is responsible for, and looks after all of trend. This person works with and briefs the external trend experts, collates information and is the go-to person for anything to do with trends.

9. A physical trend guide. Whether this is a poster, brochure or booklet, it’s important to have a trend document that shows exact colour palettes, pattern directions and concepts that can be shared with the internal team and externals like suppliers. Don’t forget to Copyright it.
10. Keep a logg of all seasonal trend developments. Any changes in directions should be noted, dated and signed off by head of trends. This way, if there was a product or theme you had to lose from your range for whatever reason, you know exactly when and why this decision was made.




... Tick all these boxes and you are well on the way to establishing a relationship with  more consumers by optimising these trends