This is a guest post from Gina Joseph, social media community manager at Cision.
In this week’s Fashion and Beauty Buzz, we say hello to Courtney Cachet—fashion expert, TV personality, interior decorator and freelance style writer—as she predicts what’s in for spring and her talks about her passion for meeting others in the industry.
Q: How did you get into the fashion media industry, and how did you grow your reach?
Photo courtesy of Courtney Cachet
I started out in the home and lifestyle arena where I became a TV personality almost overnight in Miami, and then moved on to HSN and other national outlets. I noticed everyone not only liked my decor style, but my fashion sense as well, and I started incorporating that into my brand. I love fashion too and all style has its roots in fashion. I was looking for a way to mesh the two, and it just sort of happened very organically like that. But with a lot of work and thought behind every move. I am always thinking two steps ahead.
The harder you work, the luckier you get. My reach expanded exponentially through people recommending me. People I meet everywhere from green rooms to subways. Spending all day on Twitter is not the way. You really need to get out there and talk to people. Sounds old school, but 10,000 followers you never met is not nearly as effective as 1000 who know you, work with you and like you.
Q: What do you like most about being in fashion and beauty media?
I am obsessed with glamour and beautiful things. Being in this business gives me entree to all the most fabulous new products and connections to amazingly creative people. I am inspired daily—that’s what I love the most! I meet awesome people everyday.
Q: What are some fashion trends we can look out for this spring?
Florals are hot, hot, hot! Lots of patterns and feminine silhouettes. Metallics, stripes and big punches of color. It feels happy.
Q: What are some tips for other fashion bloggers/journalists just starting out?
Find your niche. Fashion, per se, is a very large arena. What do you really love within that arena? Is it accessories, couture, budget friendly, etc.? Try and stand out. Always be polite. Hand written thank-you’s speak much louder than emails or text messages, any day of the week. Never, ever, ever give up if you feel this is truly what you want to do. There are no shortcuts, you need to work hard. Creating a lucrative career doing something you love is the best feeling in the world. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Q: Any tips for PR professionals who want to get in contact with you?
Know me as a brand before you pitch me. I work seven days a week and have no problem answering emails on weekends. In fact, I like people that do that because they remind me of how hard I worked when I was starting out-and still do. Just make sure it’s something I want to hear about and I will never mind.
Q: What are you PR pet peeves, or what is the strangest pitch you’ve received?
I always tell people ‘you have to stalk me’ if you really want to reach me. Obviously I’m joking, but you need to be persistent without being annoying. I get 200 emails a day. If you want me to read yours, get to the point quickly and make sure you understand who you are pitching. If you’re pitching someone like me who mainly covers very on trend/luxe type items, coming to me with camping gear is a waste of my time—and yours. Make your pitches count.
The strangest pitch I got was someone pitching me a line of erotic toys for one of my Huffington Post gift guides. I’m not rattled that easily but, really? It was even weirder when the unsolicited box of samples arrived. I kid you not!
Find Courtney on Twitter and Facebook and at her website, www.courtneycachet.com.
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