Buzzflikr Blogs: Debra’s Interviews

LA’s top jewelry retailer, Jennifer Kaufman, is recognized globally for predicting high fashion trends and boasts a loyal global following of shoppers who find her on the web. Then she made her mark in politics with a bold prediction about the US presidential election. Two weeks prior to election day, she correctly called the Obama win, based on merchandise sales from her website.

Six inch action figures of Barak Obama and John McCain were instant hits on Jennifer’s website and produced orders from around the world. When asked what triggered the veteran Hollywood stylist’s radar, she explained “I knew we were watching an historical phenom when sales of the Obama doll outsold McCain 2-to-1.”

Key items like these collectibles by Jailbreak Toys draw web traffic in excess of a few million hits a year for the JK site and represent a significant portion of the company’s total business- not bad for a single venue store located in LA’s trendy Beverly Center, and just one more reason we here at Buzzflikr believe in the power of an online community. Watch this space as our hive grows….

As election results energize Americans nationwide, Southern California tee shirt manufacturer Ethnicitee inspired us all today by predicting that a new era of cultural diversity could also invigorate the beleaguered retail sales floor.  Buzzflikr sat down for a quick chat:

“This presidential vote will radically change how merchants plan their buying assortments,” says Founder and CEO, Dr. Alan Bernstein. “The power of diversity and inclusion fueled the election and will now energize recessionist shoppers to use their purchasing power in a meaningful way.”

The Orange County surgeon turned fashion designer creates powerful message tees using iconography from cultures around the world.  He believes his company’s positive message appeals to a growing core of loyal customers and he forecasts that other brands and products with a strong unity platform could engage shoppers and provide meaningful sales opportunities for retailers in the bleak months to come.

Ethnicitee sells its Made in California tees to specialty retailers nationwide including Gary’s in Costa Mesa and On Board in Laguna Beach.  To read more about this game-changing Buzzflikr brand, link here.

Our favourite WeHo pop-up shop, SHOE BLISS, graces the front page of LA.com in the Style & Beauty section this weekend. For the best in designer footwear at factory-direct pricing run don’t walk to this stylish outpost.

Last week, we caught up with Apparel News editors to discuss this redhot West Coast phenom. Here’s what they said in today’s Retail Report: Pop-up shops continued to make a big splash in the past year. Seemingly every retailer, including Target, JC Penney and fashion lines—and even record labels and liquor companies— sought sales and media exposure with these short-term stores, which are typically based in temporarily vacant storefronts. These flashy blitzes of retail are a good way of creating a high profile without paying a heavy price or making a deep investment, according to retail analyst Mercedes Gonzalez, director of the New York–based Global Purchasing Cos. Link to the full story here and read Buzzflikr’s report on designer pop-up shop Shoe Bliss, just opened in West Hollywood.

Pop up shops are LA’s hot new retail trend. From gallery-like shopping spaces with art exhibitions to mobile units offering limited edition merchandise, these temporary retail concepts are best-kept secrets for style setters and celebrities alike. As the concept takes off, LA leads with some of the best creating bigtime buzz around the world. Of course here at Buzzflikr we’ve got the inside scoop on this trend, including the recent opening of Shoe Bliss in West Hollywood, a buzzworthy destination for designer footwear at factory-direct prices. Here you’ll find the latest in Spring/Summer 2008 womens shoes from runway in a stylish lounge setting. So head over to Le Pain Quotidien for a creamy latte, look for the chic Shoe Bliss banners and scoop up your fave summer slides, sexy platforms and patent pumps at a steal!