Inspirational Women

As the Director of Interactive Marketing for 1928 Jewelry, I was constantly testing new strategies and tactics that will help build online brand awareness, increase our customer base and of course, drive sales.Since I started working at 1928, I was been amazed by the women that wear our jewelry and the stories of how they came to wear our jewelry. The all possess this innate ability to take a piece and make it theirs. I find myself saying, “WOW! How did you figure that out? I never in a million years would’ve thought to pair that earring with that necklace.”Last October, I asked a real life customer, Amanda Coolong, to join us in our one of our photo shoots. Everyone could tell she wasn’t a professional model, but 70% of the company, including our VP of Product Development, responded best to her photos best. He said, “That’s that woman I design my jewelry for.” Subsequently, the product that she wore in her photos when we released the collections had the best online sell through. It told me it that the concept was solid within the company, but we it resonated with the women who purchase our product online; I had to carry it forward.The Question: Who was the amazing woman that wears 1928 Jewelry and who did I want her to be moving forward?The Answer: Well, in one word – she is Inspirational. She is a woman who was hard to categorize, she can multitask like no one’s business, she's a mother, a business woman, someone’s daughter and she’s your everyday shopper. She is the woman that could take on of jewelry collection, blend the pieces together and infuse our vintage aesthetic into her own individual style.Sponsoring Modern Day Women: In March, 1928 Jewelry was the official Jewelry sponsor for ten women at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas. From this sponsorship, web traffic increased 25% and online sales during conference days rose by as much 40% per day. Subsequently, 1928.com beat it’s First Quarter expectations by 4% - in a down economy – utilizing social media, blog contests and individual sponsorships. By continuing this strategy and adding in new tactics, I’m estimating we will beat Second Quarter expectations by 22%.

Melissa PierceMelissa Pierce is an amazing woman whom I had the distinct pleasure of accidentally living with at SXSW this year (in a posh, upscale hotel of course). Don’t call her a mommy blogger, she won’t identify with the term. She is female documentary film maker & mother of three creating a film called Life In Perpetual Beta. In the film, she poses the question of: Is A Planned Life Worth Living? She interviews some of the most brilliant minds in business today, including Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh, Social Marketing Guru & Author Seth Goldin, Twitter Founder Biz Stone. Melissa prefers her 1928, shaken with extra “blingy hotness”.

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Shira LazarRecently nominated to the list of LA’s People To Watch in 2009 (via LA Weekly), Shira Lazar is a force to be reckoned with. Shira is known for for her media work on KTLA, NBC, CBS and the Reelz Channel. She saw the rise of the web early on, she embraced new media and has become “the human manifestation of the convergence of tech and entertainment” (Alexia Tsotsis). Shira, who just *happens* to be the stepsister of American Apparel’s Dov Charney, is causing quite commotion in Los Angeles with her avante garde reporting style. Best of all, she rocks Macy’s 2028 Jewelry with just about everything she wears – on camera and off.

Tara HuntTara Hunt gives the term business savvy female entrepreneur a whole new meaning. Author of the soon to be released book “The Whuffie Factor: Using Social Networks To Build Your Business,” Hunt gives her audience (speaking, written or in pictures) a no nonsense explanation of how companies can use social media to build brand awareness, equity and customer loyalty online. She even has amazing PowerPoint presentations that you can download on SlideShare to help your company understand social media. 1928 Jewelry was proud sponsor her modern, yet conservative chic style at SXSW Interactive.

Stephanie AgrestaStephanie Agresta is another marketing guru et brilliant business woman (who loves Antiquities Couture & 2028 Jewelry). I love Stephanie’s business style; practical and holistic. She helps clients navigate through the complexities of online marketing with one-on-one consulting and develop plans that promote their products and services through social media. She’s the brains behind Microsoft TechSet events, the InternetGeekGirl blog and runs Affiliate Karma (which means she knows affiliate marketing like no one’s business).

Alexia TsotsisMost people, unless you’re a Los Angeleno Tech Scene member, may not know the gorgeous, kind and incredibly talented Alexia Tsotsis. Alexia is the newest addition to the LA Weekly’s editorial staff (her work also appears in New York’s Village Voice). Alexia jumped at my radar at a Digital LA event, I finally cornered her at TwiistUp and got to know her. This petite, unassuming girl turned out to be a writing powerhouse. I was floored. I kept running into her in around LA and finally handed her 1928 Jewelry. I had to have our jewelry on someone that makes a room glow when she walks in. Alexia is just getting started but I expect to see great things from her. Hopefully I’ll get a bit of credit for sparking her ascent up the media ladder.There's more news about amazing people working in social media at FashionablyMarketing.Me