#maybe it's just like brand recognition or marketing who knows

[gaoootic]

"you're not meant to eat toothpaste" ok then why is it tasty who put the taste in this paste if it's for my tooth and not my tongue. CLEARLY the designers wanted me to do SOMETHING with the taste property of this paste otherwise they wouldn't have put it there, but i suppose the copious amounts of fluoride must also be there to deter you from eating it for some reason what's the point of the funky colors then??? you go the lengths of making the paste minty and colorful with like shiny flakes n shit and then you make it inedible? what sort of garden of eden forbidden fruit bullshit is this. Is there like a writing metaphor at play here? ooo this thing u have to put in your exposed mouth bones once maybe twice a day or so will forever tempt you to eat it but if you do you die ooo it's like... about instant gratification or some shit it sucks this is bad writing hand over your pen and how come they ALL do the same stuff. LET ME BITE INTO THE PLASTIC THING WITH THE MINTY GOOP I NEED TO TEAR IT OPEN OAGGG!!! so called "free thinkers" when toothpaste... maybe there's a big untouched market for edible toothpaste out there you never know

oh wait perhaps the taste is there to get rid of whatever taste was in your mouth prior yeah i guess that makes more sense

[dancefloors]

Hard agree Taylor's interview was weird. There's almost no substance to any of her answers.

for real. I'll try to be brief or at least make this the last one (because I know I am being annoying about this but really I just find her a very fascinating case study), but for a songwriter who is often introspective and eloquent, it all seemed like a very shallow look at her life and career. a hodge-podge of buzzwords and dated pop culture references. I do wonder if that's just the nature of this being a sort of 'PR smooth over' for the unfamiliar audience, setting the record straight on a few accounts, and sort of rewriting the narrative of rep/her last relationship.

but it also was very intriguing how the image she paints of herself, and one she seems to internalise is that of her as a successful 'underdog', a perpetual victim in an uphill battle. I'm sure she's faced adversity in her career, but it's notable to me that the way she frames it ("female rage" at her image destruction, "freedom from patriarchal structures through the flow of economy") is in a way that sort of silently demands an obligation to celebrity and wealth. she points to her "cancellation" as gaslighting from a "social structure" but what structure is that? who is the perpetrator when the dip in your fame can be largely attributed to a PR fumble and public dissent at blatant money-driven strategic friendships (which she personally admitted), relatability marketing, and recognition that they are being sold an image? her song The Man/interviews regarding it detail how structural barriers that bother her the most are the ones preventing her from flaunting her money, chasing fame and fortune openly, being praised for the strategy and calculation behind her capitalist endeavours, from using people and discarding them when done (à la Leo in San Tropez or her partners being "playthings for [her] to use"). is it a structural issue when you leave your record label of your own accord and those very same business strategies and ploys are used against you? are fame and art to be free of criticism? is it victimhood when people point out the parasocial and expositional practises that gave you your fame, which you intentionally intertwined with your image?

I won't brush aside the misogyny that came with it. I believe women have the right to feel safe, supported, their sexual exploits not held against them, their career progression not halted purely because of their gender, that artists have ownership over their work.

but do I think they are owed fortune, that a couple months being reclusive in million dollar mansions and jet-setting around the world equate to 'cancellation', that people becoming aware of hollywood PR ploys is misogyny, that public favour is owed and losing it is the highest punishment (especially when they actively wield their team to push puff pieces to bury their own and their associate's/partners' bigotry), that speculation about a public figure's personal life is the greatest crime, that their own role in their career deserves to be seen simultaneously as that of an innocent subject of magical coincidence AND a mastermind strategist (but never the dagger of "calculated"), that their cries and causes should be heralded and never doubted or viewed with a critical eye even though the activist outfit is only ever put on for themselves, that they should be viewed as a brand when they want to shirk responsibility and an individual when they demand sympathy, that fame is owed, that any common person should think about all of this - consider their 'full story' and believe the image they want to sell of themselves? that we should be actively celebrating their excessiveness (it's for our own good!)?

no. maybe because i lack empathy for the rich and famous, but it all seems very out of touch. it's never been more blatantly about consumer feminism, bread and circuses, a prayer to her own idolatry, even further out of reach at the moment.

her fixation on the past, her own endlessly self-referential world, speaking about "defeating enemies"..... its just fascinating. and confirms to me that her main gripe has always been with the contradictory nature of her own fame. why can't she have it all? i don't say this in a bitter way, i think she's just an interesting case study, especially watching her career come up from the beginning. you only enjoy the circus when they are cheering for you. and she seems to have leaned into that more recently. i don't know what has gone on in her personal life (seemingly many references to a "life she gave away"), but it seems to have driven her closer to that, aware that at least in THIS world (that of fame, fortune, etc) she is somewhat an insurmountable titan not even stoppable by "a force majeure", whatever she may claim. maybe she can't control her personal life, but she can control this to a degree, and if not, the things that stand in her way can be / must be regarded the most unjust of nondescript "social structures".

again.. no hatred, just fascination. her image, success, and fan relationships hinged on relatability for so many years. this feels like a departure from that. an acceptance that she is extraordinary and that even her struggles are out of reach for the common man. she's operating in a different echelon, she's the centre of her world (why wouldn't she be), and she is free from the shackles of self reflection on her place in the broader world... I guess she's too soft for it all. I don't know... an interesting change. I'm sure someone smarter than me has something more interesting and eloquent to say.

[anhed-nia]

BLOGTOBER 10/21/2023: DEATH SPA

This is one of those movies where I've been abundantly aware of the key art for most of my life, and maybe I lagged on watching it because I thought I understood what it was going to be. And I thought wrong! Sometimes you love to be corrected. Instead of a standard issue slasher movie starring a bunch of spandex-clad hardbodies...I mean, it is that, but it also features supernatural horror, an extremely soapy and confusing plot, and sci-fi elements that make it feel surprisingly modern.

The Starbody Health Spa is an amorphous institution that is at once a gym, a dance studio, a day spa, a restaurant, a tech company, and a lifestyle brand--basically, it is every inch a startup company that wants to be all things to all people. For no reason at all, the workout machines are all connected to a cutting edge, computerized master control system that is just as threatening to the clients as the ghost of the CEO's jealous ex-wife. I'm making this sound a lot more coherent and predictable than it actually is and I'm deliberately leaving out a lot of nuances and bizarre revelations because I'm so glad that I saw this with such low and simple expectations. It's really, really weird.

But full disclosure, for many years I worked for a techy startup that was acquired by one of the world's main evil megacorps, and I saw a surprising amount of modern life reflected in the delightfully dated DEATH SPA. The entrepreneuring imagineer who can't focus on perfecting just one useful good or service, instead sprawling out mindlessly into multiple markets just in case there's still a dollar left on the table somewhere; the implementation of overblown and hard-to-control technology with multiplying failure points that improves nothing for the end users but looks exciting to investors and advertisers; the importance of brand identity over product quality...I mean, this movie honestly gave me the chills, the way it reminded me of what it's like to work for one of these shameful pseudo-futuristic companies lead by a guy who doesn't know he's basically just a ridiculous figurehead and not an actual scientist or engineer or guy who knows how to do stuff. Watch DEATH SPA today and see if it doesn't give you a grim frisson of recognition!

[kanmom51]

I see the "Jimin gave Dior their highest stocks" argument circulating on Twitter and on Tumblr. Wanted to add my two cents: Stocks don't work that way. One single person being named brand ambassador won't influence stocks in a mega way. Not even our bestest, cuty-sexy-lovely It-boy.

Two things:

a) what influences stocks is quite complex and it's difficult to pin it down to just one factor and trying to determin what impact that one factor had b) Dior's stocks have been pretty good since September last year. And the rise in stock since Jimin was named brand ambassador wasn't that high. That's not because Jimin being brand ambassador wasn't impactful. Because it obviously was. But again, stocks are a bit more complicated than that. Also during times of crisis, luxury brands are always quite successful, since rich people usually aren't affected by those times of crisis. Sucks, but that's how it is

Still Jimin being brand ambassador is a highly successful move for both sides. Jimin holds a lot of brand power. He gets Dior a lot of recognition and gets people to shop Dior products. And of course since the new money is in Asia, naming a big asian celebrity as brand ambassador is a very clever move. And right now Jimin is one of the most famous celebrities. People can be pressed about that all day long. Won't stop the Jimin effect and won't stop people from running into Dior stores, lol (and maybe soon Tiffany stores?). And like clockwork, everyone shading Jimin for being lazy just dug their own graves. When I see people complaining about Jimin being lazy, it majorly pisses me of. But I also know I just need to sit back and wait for Jimin to do his thing. Chefs kiss.

Very well said. I completely agree.

Saying JM being announced ambassador for Dior has their stock at an all time high is so very simplistic and kinda wrong.

It is very possible that the announcement itself, on the day, caused a spike in the stock price, that would be a momentary influence, nothing more.

Just like @guacamoli-avocadorado mentioned, the stock market and stock prices are much more complex than that. Many more influences, inside brand influences and outside world influences, other stock markets are at play here. For instance, a fall of the Wall Street stock market will influence other stock markets all around the world and stocks in those markets, even if they have zero to do with Wall Street will most likely take a hit.

I would like to add some more though.

Yes, stock prices are important to assess a company's worth, but at the end of the day, the success of a brand is not in it's stock prices.

It's in the profit it makes selling their products. Cost versus income, as simple as that. The more the brand is profitable, the more successful it is. The more profit there is to divide out as dividends to their shareholders, the happier the shareholders are in it's management.

Cost and profit.

And JM is a cost, probably a very big one, but he's also an unbelievable investment for Dior. The buying power JM holds is immense, not only in the Asian markets but add to that international Army.

I mean, just go online to see how many Army have been out on shopping sprees buying Dior products all because JM was announced as ambassador. Buying clothes he wore, bags he carried, make up he had on.

Now that's buying power, and that's also a good investment.

JM is a money maker, and that's why they snatched him, Mr. brand reputation king.

Talking about brand reputation rankings, JM no. 1 and JK no. 3 - when are we finally going to be hearing who snatched JK up, eh? I guess it's all about timing, cause we know these deals are months in the making. But it sure is coming.

Dior did more than good to land JM. Good business is what it was, and every JM hater out there, well, boo to you you idiots. JM is the king, case in point.

JM might have done that by mistake, but that's exactly what the haters deserve. Instead they got a little of the very famous JM/JK Karma.

And those sounds, the screechers calling JM lazy, those sounds were silenced. Boy's been working non stop, recording, filming, shooting, being cooed by Dior from the second the solo path was announced.

This same claimed lazy JM is in tip top shape, able to move his body, do things that no other member of BTS can, not even our super fit, Mr. boxing and exercising all the damn time Jungkook.

You aren't able to control your body like that by being lazy. And that's just the latest example.

JK has spoken about what a hard worker JM is, how he admires him for it. But you know, Jikook are scripted, so probably doesn't mean a thing, right?

Yoongi said it too, but again, he's BTS, it's all a falsehood they are trying to sell us.

Then how about Taeyang then? Is he part of the BH JM propaganda machine?

I think you all know my thoughts about it, right?

I'm just as pissed as you @guacamoli-avocadorado.

Hell, JM, as per usual, quietly, humbly, shows them all exactly who he is, what he's made of and what he's worth (if only we had access to that ambassadorship contract for Dior - my guess is a shit ton of money).

And folks, believe me when I say this is just the start.

Stream Vibe.

[piratesexmachine420]

Okay I actually have one more thing to say about Minecraft and the Minecraft Movie. (Sorry, A Minecraft Movie.) I’m seeing a lot of people make the claim that “they whitewashed Steve” and while I absolutely see where they’re coming from, I disagree semantically. “Whitewashing”, to me anyway, implies that Steve was at one point intended to be nonwhite before then Mojang changed their minds. This is not the case. Notch intended Steve to be white.

Should he have been intended to be white? I’m not gonna interrogate that. Take it up with a sociology professor. Should we care if was intended to be white? Probably not, for most intents and purposes. In vacuo it’s very easy to read Steve as racially ambiguous, and that reading is all that really matters for most players. But that’s not been the case behind the curtain.

(Warning: long post, slightly messy post ahead. I could revise it further but I’ve spent way to much time on this. Maybe if I was arguing something a little less easy to take as racism. Sorry about that, BTW.)

Exhibit 1 (↓) : The current Steve skin.

This hasn’t always been the default player model. Obviously, right? Look at those rolled-up sleeves, those haven’t always been there!

This (↓) is the original.

It’s May, 2009; and this new game–not yet called Minecraft–is still a very pliable thing. No “Minecraft Bible”, no brand identity to uphold, no vision for the future. There are almost no features here–it’ll be another 9 months before the game’s trademark–infinite terrain–gets added on a whim.

Note the differences between this first model and the current one: the slightly lighter skin shades, the weird harsh edges on the detailing, the jarring lack of detailing on the pants, etc. etc. This is a placeholder: it’s been copied from another abandoned game prototype, where it had been copied from a second, unrelated, abandoned game prototype. Like so much of Minecraft’s early development, it’s been thrown together just to see if it’d work. It’s haphazard.

What would Steve look like if he’d been, well, designed? Created with intent? We actually don’t have to wonder. For a brief period of time between December 2009 and February 2010, Mojang had an artist: Hayden ’Dock’ Scott-Baron. Not just a programmer who happened to be making textures. And this (↓) is the design they came up with:

That’s a white guy. Notch got the chance to redesign Steve, to clarify what he intended, and he went with making Steve a white guy.

Well, to be fair, they also made “Black Steve”. (↓)

Yikes. “Black Steve”. I don’t know about you, but the fact that white Steve is just “Steve” and black Steve is “Black Steve” implies to me that this was a Mojang who thought of white as the default. Or at least that Notch thought of white as the default.

Dock would soon leave Mojang, and the game would never really get around to implementing any of his work. They stuck with Notch’s placeholder. And as the game got bigger and bigger, that placeholder became brand identity. By 2011 or 2012, Steve was too famous for them to go back and “correct” (and I mean that pejoratively) to white. (Not unlike creepers, but that’s another story)

And they’ve chafed under that ever since. Every depiction of Steve outside of the game itself has been obviously white, be it in promotional art, LEGO sets, the upcoming “film”, Super Smash Bros.–you name it, he’s white there. Mojang either hasn’t noticed or is unwilling to accept that anyone sees Steve any other way.

What should they do about this? Well, updating Steve to be unambiguously white in game would be pretty bad for what I hope are obvious reasons: bad optics, bad for their brand recognition, and really, really rude to anyone who didn’t think of him as white. They could also start depicting him accurate to his texture, but that might piss off racists. Pissing off racists is based, but you have to appeal to racists at least a little if you want to be the richest corporation in your market segment. They won’t go for that.

So what will they do? Nothing. Steve will continue to be an unambiguous white guy everywhere except Minecraft, where he’ll be treated like a white guy despite not exactly looking it. Is that whitewashing? I don’t think so. Whitewashing is deliberate, and this is a situation that’s evolved out of inertia more than anything else. But it isn’t much better than whitewashing.

[vampstel]

This is pretty random but is it bad to have multiple personas? Like I have a vamp one, Phoenix bird one, alien one, and a witch one ☝️ so like is that odd???

This is going to be a lengthy one but the short answer is: No, it’s not bad at all to have multiple personas. Hell, I think it’s pretty normal and it’s actually more common than you think. I know lots of people who have multiple personas and they’re really cool artists and writers! So don’t worry about it ^^

Now the long answer is: It really depends on what you do online and how you present yourself online. If you present yourself more as a brand and a professional creator like, say VTubers for example, it can be frowned upon to have multiple personas since having a recognizable identity is very important in a professional setting.

It helps with brand recognition, marketing, advertising, and just generally makes people more interested in your ‘business’. It’s all about memorability when it comes to branding and If you flip flop between personas or aesthetics, it can be really hard for people to remember you.

That being said though, if you’re not a professional creator, you don’t have to stick to one persona. And even if you were a professional creator, it’s really just a thing that’s like “hey, maybe don’t do that…” instead of a full blown “just straight up don’t do it.”. Lots of big YouTubers have changed their brand multiple times and were still successful so it’s fine (in my opinion). It’s just a really big gamble that’s up to you to take.

I used to have a whole group of personas back in 2019-2020 (I had well over 7-8 personas during that time) and they really helped me figure out who I was. As someone who hoards identities due to being alterhuman and autistic, I say go crazy with personas. Make ones for each of your interests. Make them if you’re bored. If it makes you happy, just do it!

Creating personas will always be different from person to person since we all have different relationships with our identity. Nowadays I don’t feel comfortable with having multiple since it messes up my perception of myself. Hence why I went from being V, to Kai, and then to Niko.

Overall, whatever you think represents you, whether that be multiple characters or one, stick with that and have fun. That’s what matters most :D

[jess-moloney]

Starting years ago it's obvious that Jess's goal is and always has been to become famous for doing little to no work to earn that fame. In 2017 she started a fitness blog with a total of 6 posts before she discontinued it. More than likely because it was not giving her the instant gratification and fame that she was seeking.

Within these posts, you can find quite a bit of problematic statements. One of the biggest red flags is what she has to say about food and her relationship with it.

"I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with food. I eat because I have to, not because I enjoy it – and no, I have never had an eating disorder." - Jess Moloney [Source]

This statement is indicative of two things. The first very clearly being an eating disorder (or disordered eating) as well as absolute denial that she could have an eating disorder or problem with food, immediately after. This pattern of saying something problematic and then following it up with some justification for why it's actually not problematic has quite a history if you bother to read what is written in her posts. If she can't own up to her mistakes, faults, or flaws and is quick to dismiss them as something normal then she is at the very least immature and at the very worst a gaslighter, as well as a narcissist. Especially with statements like this:

Interviewer: What do you do when you hit a wall? I’ve never hit a wall. Interviewer: Come again…? I swear to God. I know I sound like such a c*nt but it’s true. I’ve never hit a wall because I’ve never told myself: I can’t do it. [Source]

Moving on from this and continuing with her fame-hungry ploy from way before she got involved with Jamie, we can see her first attempt to get any sort of recognition (and probably money) was her sucking up to Nike, constantly, as if they owed her a brand deal for the 6 blog posts she made, a few Instagram posts, and the fact that she completed 4-5 marathons (and was training for Iron Man).

She praises them as being an inspiration/motivation to her for continuing her training for Iron Man and also praises them for making her look good when she works out because looking good while working out is important to her (for some odd reason that I suppose has nothing to do with being very egotistical).

Her very last post says that she was injured and had to stop training for Iron Man. That post also goes on to say that it wasn't a bad enough injury to make her stop running for good and she intended to keep training, keep going, and keep running marathons so she could maybe try again to compete in Iron Man. Then she just stopped posting about that at all and her blog was never updated again. Running marathons (even though she wasn't winning awards or a star at it), is still something that takes a lot of talent and perseverance. Why did she stop? Was this not bringing her the instant gratification and recognition she was seeking? She may have been athletic but she was no better at it than any other average person doing the same exact thing. Why did she go so hard for Nike or think she was deserving of recognition for the bare minimum effort she put into trying to market them in the first place?

Moving on you can see this post on her Instagram. For someone who has continually bragged about being an agent for various things like PR and celebrity/talent management, this was her version of advertising a product. One where she does not say what the product is, show herself using it, show the item clearly, or even say why she uses it. One of the comments even believed she was holding up vibrators, not hair straighteners. I suppose it's not surprising that this company never asked her to promote anything again because she had no idea how to do it properly in the first place. This begs the question as to how and why she was ever involved in a job working with high-profile clients at a prominent management agency.

Until she got involved with Jamie, her account had fairly low traffic and engagement. Even her posts about Machine Gun Kelly fell flat most of the time, only ever garnering a couple hundred likes. An article from Distractify says that at the time that article was written, she had 28K followers on IG. Since then, it has doubled and is directly a result of her posting about Jamie and being involved with Jamie.

As previously mentioned, it's very doubtful she's had consistent (or any) employment since 2019. Jamie is her only claim to fame and cash cow. Yet still, as hungry for fame as she seems to be she also doesn't appear to want to do any work to get this fame. She wants it to be handed to her on a silver platter for just existing and being involved with Jamie romantically.

Someone with any sort of business savvy or knowledge in PR (as she claims to have) would know how to use this attention she was getting for being with Jamie to turn it into something much bigger. If she had any marketable skills, drive, or determination, she would be posting original content on her IG account. She could be posting fashion tips, makeup tutorials, vlogs, or even advice on how to get into her line of work. She could post behind-the-scenes photos at her alleged job or photoshoots she attends. Yet, she opts to do none of that and build her account around 90% stolen material that she vaguely tries to take credit for, posts of her with Jamie, and her poor promotion of Ice Studios that 90% of the time the people and companies tagged don't even seem to acknowledge that she exists.

It appears that Jess wants fame, believes she deserves fame, but also doesn't believe she should have to do any real hard work to get it. She also seems to think she's special as she is and doesn't need to hone any talent or skills or make herself anywhere near interesting. That because she's with Jamie and because she posts on Instagram people should just like her, give her money, make her famous, and offer her brand deals. Her utter incompetency in any field she claims to be in shows how self-entitled she is and the way she clings to Jamie to steal his portion of the spotlight makes it even more obvious what her intentions behind this relationship always have been.

[mechanicalinertia]

Okay, but seriously, there is no reason Bubblegum Crisis couldn't work again. Toei needs to recognize this and not just use super-established AIC IP's like Megazone and Tenchi. Those franchises are both ones that have no room to expand. An animated Bubblegum Crisis threeboot, on the other hand? It can be done.

Like, look, think of it this way. What's the three word elevator pitch? "Anime Cyberpunk Superheroines". These are all things people are separately goo-goo ga-ga about right now. Okay, maybe not superheroes so much anymore, but that's more a byproduct of the superhero-producing studios oversaturating their own market, I think the taste for superheroes that Gen Z and Generation Omega (the Fortnite generation?) has developed in their formative years will last a good long while. But anime just keeps getting bigger and bigger internationally (okay, Shonen Jump anime keep getting bigger and bigger but still), and cyberpunk aesthetics are kind of cool right now. So that's three big magic words.

It gets better, though:

Anime is comparatively cheap to make compared to your average superhero blockbuster: the Heaven's Feel movies, which were nonstop Ufotable-quality animation, were what, thirty million US each? That's peanuts for a big Western studio - the latest Indy flick apparently cost an order of magnitude more than that. Have Toei and some other company throw down twenty-five million each and you will have a very good looking anime movie, and then all you have to do is market the shit out of it the way you would a 'real' movie. And then you're a) saving money while making sure the movie still looks good (I refuse to believe there's enough CGI in the world to make BGC live-action look right) and b) showing something that is at once novel and yet familiar to a growing demographic.

BGC's relative obscurity is kind of a double-edged sword, you know? I don't get why so many studios insist on going after the big IP's, the ones that have legions of seething fanboys who have already convinced themselves that Hollywood will miss the point of their beloved franchises. Brand recognition is, in this case, kind of dangerous, because then there's more things people like that you could conceivably fuck up. (I mean, one easy way to not fuck up, say, Ghost in the Shell, is to not have the Transformers screenwriter write the script for a far more high-concept film, yeah? Jesus, what was Paramount thinking there?) BGC, though... I say this even as part of the fanbase, there just ain't enough of us to find the idea of an adaptation distasteful. BGC will feel new both to anime fans and to non-anime fans, relying solely on its bottled-lightning setup and a spattering of self-consumptive 80's nostalgia to succeed.

Actually, now that I think about it, you could market this to an R audience instead of a PG-13 one. Enough kids will have grown up on Iron Man and other Marvel flicks to like superheroes but maybe want something a little more mature in a few years, right?

It's like... you know how there's that Saint Seiya movie out right now? It's a fool's errand, trying to adapt something like that to live-action and then banking on the East Asian / Latin American market to carry it (it opened at #8 in Japan of all places). If nothing else, though, it shows that Toei is interested in marketing the IPs under their belt to a worldwide audience... so why not BGC?

Okay, so they could hire idiot writers and fuck it up royally. But there's a lot of factors that could make BGC work as a big honkin' PROPERTY.

[just-my-type-x]

What gets me so mad 😠 and I know I’ll get hate for saying this…..but…Brad does something genius like write on a track for Olly Murs and says nothing….but Tris brings out Concealer and prompts the hell out of it , were is the justices in that! // This is no hate obviously, it's just how I reason and my opinion❤

So the thing is that Tris needs to promote and advertise his product because otherwise no one is going to buy it. If you're not going to advertise a product there is no purpose in bringing it on the market. He also works together with a company with it so maybe he also has to advertise is contractually bound (I don't say that is a fact but it could be). So I think it's a combination between that and the fact that Tris is really proud that he could do this project. Make up for men is also still a taboo.

When it comes to the song, co writers on a song almost never get recognition besides the credit on the track... Someone has to notice it and share it before other people know. There are also a lot of co writers on the vamps tracks but no one really knows them you know what I mean. And I also think that Brad writes for a lot of artists but that we just don't know because he doesn't share it.

I also think it's a difference between promoting songs and promoting products. With co-writing, there's not much promotion to get done cuz it's not ur own song. So it's also understandable why he didn't go all out to promote it. With products, there's something else. Yes there is a contract, but with that contract, Tris has to be backed up by the marketing department of the brand. And what sucks is that i haven't seen much from the brand itself, only what Tris is posting and promoting. So yeah, selling products is so much harder than a song

Btw 🤭🤭🤭 i love causing drama 🤭🤭 u see the difference between Brad and u know who? Who wrote for psycho and HAS to remind everyone that she worked on that song bc her name isn't in the credits 🥴 or weren't, i didn't check to see if they put her name on there.

[hope-of-virgo]

everything old is new again

well, it happened. twexit is upon us.

It's been a while since I've written anything longform that wasn't in a uni assignment, so it might take a while to get back on the horse. For the last 10 years or so my "contributions" on social media have been in the format of 140/280 characters or less. This is both a good and a bad thing; I tend to fuck around a lot less when I have a character constraint, but equally it means a more complex discussion gets more arduous due to Tweet Threading.

Can't wait to read back on this in another 10 years being like "what the fuck happened here?", or maybe we'll all have been fed into an industrial woodchipper to appease the rich. Who knows? But here's the context, mostly for my own reference.

Elon Musk, richest man in the world (although not for long at this rate), bought microblogging site Twitter. This was at the end of a long Legal Thing where he basically fucked around and found out. He tweeted a thing where he was like "I'm buying Twitter" without doing a legal disclosure to a government body that he already owned part of it. If he didn't actually pull the trigger on it, he would be investigated for securities manipulation, so he basically had to. Problem is, Twitter was (but again, not for much longer), worth $44B at the time, and even Phoney Stark isn't that rich, so he had to finance it with loans against Tesla and SpaceX.

Within like a week of the close of sale, which already basically had to be dragged out of him under threat of deposition over Other Stuff, things had already gone to shit. A bunch of advertisers pulled out, he fired literally half of the staff who promptly filed a class action under Californian law, and he formed a Bold and Ambitious Plan to charge people $8 a month for a "verification tick". Previously the mark had been to denote that this is the Actual New York Times rather than an account pretending to be them, but would now be used to denote people who had paid for Twitter Premium.

Now, this sounds fucking great on paper. The problem is, the users are the product, not the customer.

Like it or not, Twitter kind of had the market cornered on "drop a line to a person". As I found out when forming an exit strategy that let me still talk to the people I care about (hello Madboards alumni!), we took the ease of access for granted a bit. The simplicity of the site meant that you had to be laconic about what you wrote, which lead to great headlines in newspapers. Equally it meant that instead of having to repeat "jobs and growth" a thousand times in a political campaign, if you're someone like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, you can just dunk on people you don't agree with, which does a bit of your work for you.

That's the power of ~*branding*~: name recognition, especially in politics, is king. That's a lot of the reason people use(d) it tbh, politicians liked interacting with their audience and the press, and if you were a member of the press or the public, it was easy to drop someone a line for a comment, or contact your local member of Parliament to talk about an issue you felt strongly about.

When you buy a business without really understanding what that business sells, though, you're doing something a little bit stupid. When you buy a business and then upend the entire thing, you're doing something *very* stupid. Likewise, when you have a site that's a) free to use, b) has low barriers to engagement, and c) has such a broad appeal and audience selection that it gets a huge variety of users, doing anything to upset that very delicate status quo is a tenuous prospect at best. So here we are. For clarity, I'm still On There because I have a great list of people that I love talking to, and it never hurts to keep extra channels of contact open.

On the one hand, it'll be great to not wake up every morning and feel the compulsion to scroll through the worst takes by the worst people. On the other, I'm going to miss the unique blend of stuff and people I had going on. I broadly credit this as getting me through the COVID lockdowns; 95% of my IRL friends fucking vanished at literally the exact same time as my ex and I broke up (no coincidence), and while I still had to go to work through Original Recipe and also Delta Strain, I was on the receiving end of pretty much relentless bullying from my boss, dealing with atypical anorexia, and having to manage the realisation that being transgender is a major reason that I've been so unhappy over the last 30 or so years. All that while broadly locked indoors for 2 years and dealing with the stress of working in healthcare during a pandemic by ~*consuming cannabis*~, putting shit up my nose, and listening to the same 1500 songs on repeat.

So here we are. 12000 tweets, 13 years, 85-ish carefully curated followers. Very little of substance communicated in that time. The nature of everything is that everything has its time, and no matter what happens after this point, I'll always remember that I was a Twitter user.

But hey, it was fun while it lasted.

[jackfromthefairytale]

No no go OFF kiran i wanna hear cause i'm also nosy and a very opinionated bitch

the most recent set of opinions i've got is about their current marketing strategy (or lack of) cus like. they've definitely got the money for some decent marketing and a social media campaign but they're doing nothing. which. is a strategy that hasn't exactly failed them before because they didn't do shit before just pretend went off, but that's a whole different story

take this ost album that just came out. v.a.n. banger song, banger music video, good idea getting poppy on the track etc. etc., and in terms of garnering attention they did those cryptic videos as a kind of "character introduction" and, in the days leading up, they had the guys deactivate their instagram accounts and it was this whole big thing (which, with the timing of it and three from sleep token taking a break due to doxxing was a little unfortunate but i digress) anyway. this all helped and v.a.n was a hit (maybe a slightly unpopular/controversial one, but it made numbers so. a hit)

then there was nothing. for the next month or so. then the drain got leaked and they did the tracklist announcement, which had a bit of fanfare but not much for one of the biggest bands in metalcore. and half of these collaborations were people that hadn't been heard of but hey it's something different, right?

then nothing for months. then they tell us they're cancelling the festival run due to noah's burnout, and a week later is when the album drops, and still there's nothing on the release side, no buildup no nothing. a couple social media posts/reposts from the collaborating artists and not much more from the band members themselves.

so. album drops. it's an experimental concept album, which most people didn't quite get since they were expecting a run-of-the-mill deluxe and not a 26 track release that had not a lot of relation to the previous album. there's a narrative that most people aren't clued in on because the average guy might be following the band on social media but isn't keeping track of every word uttered in the few interviews they do. to put it simply, there's a bit of confusion.

anything > human is the release day single, which i didn't actually know until i looked at their artist page and saw they put it out as a single but that was dropped at the same time as the rest of the album which kinda doesn't make sense and again, not much pzazz aside from using two lines from the verse as captions on instagram but it got it on playlists and on the charts

(which. the three singles all made the (us hard rock) charts, one hit the number 1 spot which is pretty good but other than that a tad underwhelming for a band who are considered to be one of the current biggest) (which also. poppy has a lot of fans and a lot of brand recognition, health are known in their vein of industrial metal and are professional shitposters and erra are known within their niche but have quite a different audience to bad omens and are generally a smaller band compared to poppy and health)

and maybe, maybe they did have some big marketing plan with music videos and just generally a lot more fanfare which got cancelled with noah not being well, but all of it being cancelled in favour of,, nothing? not even downsizing to a smaller social media campaign to get some eyes on them? the most they had were the visualisers (which are pretty cool, i'm not dunking on those) and whatever sumerian's social media guy was doing, which a lot of people block out anyway.

which bad omens are a big band. sumerian are a big-ish label. a concept-oriented album like this requires some level of concept to build off of that isn't contained in the four issues of comic books that the band wrote/published (and i think some people who read them said that they don't tie much into the ost anyway?) and they have a "creative director", who works in comics and worked on the comics and i just think there's a lot more they could have done to (a) clarify exactly what this release was supposed to be (b) highlight the artists they're collaborating with (c) put a bit more fun into it and (d) appeal to the nerds (like for example, how i managed to infodump about the comics and the concept behind the just pretend music video and got a friend so interested into the storyline that she went looking for live tickets and she doesn't even like much heavy music)

they have the resources/budget and some degree of personnel on the creative non-music side of things yet..?

it just seems really weird and lacklustre that they had just the visuals they commissioned and nothing else to put out on this side when release day came, because if you don't have a level of marketing strategy at this point in your career, is your album really ready to be put out?

(it is also kinda. iffy. how the only thing they've consistently been using their social media for is. merch drops left right and centre. which with the lack of anything else comes off as a slight cash grab (not a comment on merch prices, and i do get that it is the main way of making money as a touring band when not on tour) but maybe that's just me)

[harshada-journal]

Embracing the Power of Milk Branding

In the competitive dairy aisle, standing out is critical. Milk branding plays a pivotal role. It's not just about slapping a label on a carton; it’s about creating a story that resonates with consumers. Effective milk branding can turn a simple dairy product into a beloved household name.

Let’s delve into what makes milk branding successful.

First, it’s visual. The right colors, fonts, and imagery can evoke feelings of freshness and purity. Think of the last time a milk carton caught your eye. Was it the splash of milk on the label, or maybe the promise of organic goodness? These visual elements are not by accident. They are meticulously planned to convey specific messages and evoke trust and reliability.

Next, consider the messaging. Good milk branding communicates more than just the product. It speaks to a lifestyle. For instance, phrases like "farm fresh," "non-GMO," or "enriched with vitamins" cater to health-conscious consumers. They reassure you that you’re making a nutritious choice for you and your family. This kind of messaging transforms a simple beverage into a health and lifestyle ally.

Storytelling is another cornerstone of effective milk branding. Where does the milk come from? Who are the farmers behind it? Brands that tell a compelling backstory create a deeper connection with their audience. It feels more personal when you know about the lush, green farms and happy cows. It’s about bringing the pastoral to your kitchen table.

Additionally, milk branding must also adapt to changing consumer trends. With the rise in plant-based diets, for example, dairy products find themselves needing to highlight nutritional benefits more than ever. Competing with almond, soy, and oat milks, traditional dairy milks have sharpened their branding strategies, focusing on natural protein and essential minerals.

Finally, consistency is key. When brands maintain a consistent theme across all packaging and marketing, it reinforces recognition and loyalty. This reliability builds a comforting familiarity for the consumer, making it more likely they’ll reach for the same brand each shopping trip.

So, when you next browse the dairy section, take a moment. Each brand is more than just milk; it’s a narrative crafted to appeal just to you. It's the art and science of milk branding at work.

[twenty7incpr]

5 PR Strategies to Strengthen Your Brand

Apple. Disney. Marriott. Amazon. Which is your preferred brand? No matter what it is, whether it's big-box stores, e-tailers or local hotspots that are smaller Customers are loyal to their top vendor of services and products. They visit every time. Sure, they could find similar products elsewhere but why should they? Smart clients know exactly what they like and where to purchase the item, why would they do any other thing?

Small-sized businesses are fierce competitors when they compete for attention. They must work harder to increase brand recognition and reach new customers and increase their longevity value (LTV). In any industry, and more definitely in business-to-consumer (B2C) or direct-to-consumer (D2C) contexts, it is costing 5 times the amount to gain new customers in comparison to keeping existing customers. There are likely to be several hundred locksmiths within a 10-mile radius, however, a customer is likely to stick with the locksmith they choose due to the quality of service and quality of service they offer.Contact us right now if you need a PR Company in Delhi. To increase the value of your brand,

One tool for marketing that helps to keep the brand's recognition can be the use of public relations (PR), while many business owners believe that marketing and PR are the same things but rest assured that they're not. PR is the way in which the brand is promoted and is one of the conventional Five Ps of Marketing (product cost, location people, promotion and place). Although we won't dive into the science behind marketing in this piece you must be aware of the five Ps to ensure longevity.

Affordable PR Tactics That Can Be Implemented Right Away

Many businesses are concerned that the PR efforts can drain their bank account and, instead of doing something that's a great choice for their company, it's better to do nothing. Since cash flow is the king of many small businesses, which is why committing a large amount of money to PR won't seem sensible if you have employees or rent to pay.

Just a few hours each week in PR results in results, and, more importantly, provides low-cost awareness opportunities that can easily advertise your company's image. There are five strategies to think about.

#1: Create Drip Marketing Campaigns

What's the deal with "marketing campaigns?" Remember that PR is among the five marketing pillars, therefore one method to build brand recognition for a company is to keep its brand consistent before customers and potential customers. With an annual cloud-based subscription to an email service like Constant Contact and a little time, companies can create a sequence of automated email marketing campaigns that have a predetermined frequency of promoting the products or services. After a few weeks, the recipients will start to recognize the name of the company and be more interested in what they can provide. Check out the website of the Delhi-based PR firm at https://twenty7inc.in for more details.

Here are some fundamental guidelines for drip campaigns that work:

Start slowly and don't rush off from the beginning with too much at a time. Make one campaign, test what happens, and after that, retool it to create the next.

#2: Teach Something You Know

We've all attended conferences, participated in webinars, or attended local gatherings in which there was a speaker. Maybe they published a book or were famous or seemed to have more knowledge of the subject than those present.

Public speaking or on the internet is a powerful PR strategy since it improves your standing and helps build confidence with your audience. Customers are more likely to purchase from a company they admire and trust The credibility that is displayed by the person(s) who run the company can be an asset to increase returning customers.

But, if speaking publicly isn't something you'd ever want to do You're not alone 75% of us have glossophobia which is the fear of speaking in public.

If you're aware that you are aware of the subject matter. If you're a landscaper and you're aware of how to properly water or xeriscape your lawn. If you're selling plant-based footwear and accessories, you're well versed in the impact on the environment. When you've conquered your fears you'll be able to get speaking opportunities by simply notifying others that you'd like to address an audience.

One tip to help you overcome anxiety around speakers (that's been used by some of the best speakers) is to remember that at some point, you'll commit an error. When you recognize that, it's much simpler to stand before your audience.

Here are some additional ideas:

#3: Write Articles and Columns for Business Publications

Everyone would like to be part of the Wall Street Journal, but very few companies really require the international arena to effectively promote their brand.

Instead, think about writing short pieces and columns for publications prospective customers and potential customers might be interested in reading. Some publications that allow content that is bylined are Forbes, American Express, and Medium. There are many publications that are looking for content and enjoy featuring authentic contributors who have the ability to contribute instead of distributing national news and other content.

The best advice is to determine prior to making an article submission whether the publication accepts contributors. Look up the editor's email address and name or contact the publisher. Whatever you have heard about editors being too busy to make calls or reply to any email messages, their most resentment is to ensure that they know about their publication and its audience.Twenty7 Inc. is the most trusted organisation to work with if you need expert support. It's possible to find it in pr agency in Delhi  visit here 

#4: Create a News Hook for Your Business

It's possible to spend a lot of time creating press releases and then sending them to the media, but they aren't effective or relevant because they're not relevant or newsworthy. Consider this "new" is in the very word itself... It has to be NEW in order to be considered newsworthy.

Instead, come up with what's known as PR to be "news hooks" that is, reasons for you to request journalists to write about something that you're offering or doing. Here are a few of the most popular news hooks:

Have a discussion with your colleagues or staff on what would make a great news story or how to draw attention from the media In the end, getting a reporter to write about the work you're doing is at the very least free PR.

#5: Network, Network, Network

You may be wondering why it is important to network as an effective PR strategy. Who is better to share your story than you and your team? You are after all at the center of your company Any 1:1 opportunity to shine is a winner.

Although it can be difficult to devote time off from work to attend a local event or social gathering, particularly when other priorities may be more urgent at the time an effective networking strategy that has been gaining traction is "keep the basics." Make it the goal of connecting once per week to anyone new, whether that's in person, via LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook or any other place.

In-person, swap business cards and follow up with those who could recommend the business to you, or refer them to them. Keep in mind that networking can be a dual road. On the internet, keep a professional presence, but you should also think about being part of groups like LinkedIn and taking part in conversations. Networking is a powerful strategy for PR that isn't anything more than the time you spend.

Make sure you discover local groups like The Wing, Soho House The Assembly, The Assembly, and The Assembly -- that are member-based and comprise a range of members you can connect with. Networking doesn't have to be related to work. Engage in activities you love You'll be amazed at the people you'll meet on the way.

Branding for Your Business

PR doesn't need to cost an enormous amount of money or require lots of time However, it has to be carried out regularly in order to keep brand awareness. The strategies that are discussed in this article are just one of the options to think about Take the time to think about the type of brand you would like yours to be and develop an effective PR plan to achieve your primary goals.

PR isn't something that happens overnight requires time. Be patient and persistent. If you plan to write an article, you should write each month rather than one time per year. If you're involved in networking do not put it on the back burner because you'll never return to it. Encourage your staff to participate also -- they constitute your team and are eager to be a part of your company.

[followtrendings]

7 Legit Reasons Why People Don’t Buy Tesla Cars (Maybe after knowing it, you won’t either)

The image of Tesla Cars among people is an innovative and luxurious car brand. In our eyes, we put the Tesla brand equivalent to Google and Apple brands. Most of us buy Tesla cars because of the brand value and the unique features that it offers compared to their counterparts. To support this argument, this figure will help. In the market for electric automobiles, Tesla has an excellent brand loyalty of 73.1 percent (as of March 2022), an increase of 24 percent from March 2021. But there are people who hate or let’s say don’t prefer to buy a Tesla car. Instead, they buy other brands’ EVs. Today we will discuss the 7 reasons why people don’t buy Tesla cars. These are true and legit reasons.  Maybe after knowing these, you might not also like Tesla cars. But let me clear one thing, the purpose of this article is not to defame any brand. We just provide facts and share customers’ feedback. 

In-car cameras make people concerned about their privacy

We all know that Tesla vehicles are equipped with cameras. Of course for the security point of view. Many Tesla models manufactured in and after 2021 are equipped with rearview mirror camera which records video in case of accident or when automatic emergency braking (AEB) is activated.

There is a feature called Sentry mode in Tesla. This works as a security system or you can say act as a surveillance camera system in the event of attempted break-ins or mischief attempts. This is a one way to look at it. Those who are very much serious about their privacy and security see this as a breach of their privacy. Consumer Reports, however, expresses worry that Tesla may exploit the recorded film for purposes other than safety, such as access by criminal actors. Some say Sentry mode always records everything (even lawful activity), which seriously jeopardizes individual privacy. This way video recording constantly and the use of facial recognition has made people worry who prioritizes their privacy all of above. Also Read: Before buying a used Tesla, pay attention to these things

Expensive car, expensive repair and expensive battery replacement

First, the brand new Tesla vehicle in itself is way too expensive. Let me show you with figures again. The base Tesla 3 model may cost close to $50,000, and that's before you start putting on all the glitzy extras like a larger battery, heated seats, and autopilot.

Also that there is no bargaining option at Tesla. Other brands may lower the price of an EV when bargain but at Tesla the price is written in stone. Also let’s not forget about the insurance cost. It is also more expensive than other brand cars. After expensive bought comes an expensive repair. For example, replacing Tesla Model X windshield may cost over $1000. When there is something to be repaired in a Tesla vehicle, you will have to visit Tesla’s service center or autorized provider because there are some parts that are available here only. Also if you mistakenly go to local garages or unauthorized centers then you can lose the warranty of the vehicle. So what is the reason behind Tesla’s expensive repair cost? The reason is simple that Tesla do not manufacture parts at a massive scale plus limited service centers and limited qualified technicians make the repair hefty. Many people buy Tesla because it is environment friendly but let me warn you that it is not budget and pocket friendly. Battery degradation is not only for Tesla, it applies to all the electric vehicles out there irrespective of their brands. But comparatively, the cost of new battery of Tesla vehicle is way more costlier than any other brands. For instance, the standard cost of a battery replacement for a Tesla Model 3 is around $9,500, but the cost of an extended-range battery replacement may reach $16,000. In this price you can easily buy an excellent used car. One incidence relating to hefty price of battery is one Tesla owner went beyond and destroyed his 2013 Model S with 66 pounds of explosives after learning that replacing the battery would cost over $22,000. Also Read: This Electric Vehicle Without A Battery Might Be Elon Musk’s Worst Nightmare

Poor build quality of the vehicle

You must be surprised knowing that Tesla which is probably world’s no.1 electric vehicle manufacturing company makes cars with poor build quality. Tesla is popular for cutting edge technology and innovation but as much it is criticised for its build quality.

Due to reportedly defective door handles, Tesla was sued in 2019 for wrongful death. But don't simply just us (or anybody else's) word for it. Elon Musk himself acknowledged there are concerns with the quality of Tesla vehicles. People criticized Model 3 for a number of issues, such as panel gaps, poor paint, and sloppy welding. Many people reported about the Model 3 door handles to be made of subpar materials resulted people to be locked out of the car just because the handles got frozen. Now let’s talk about the tires as well because it is something everyone will just ignore. I mean who asks about tires health, capacity, durability or warranty when buying any car. Noone. Tesla tires are expensive because of the quality, durability, size, thicker sidewalls and probably because Tesla use Michelin tires. But it is not the main problem. Tesla tires wear out quicker than other vehicles. So one needs to frequently keep changing the tires.  One reminder that Tesla does not come with a spare tire so just think what will happen if a tire gets punctured on the road. You can’t just go any garage and will need to call Tesla support helpline number and wait.

Tesla’s performance drops when temperature drops

Performance drop is something very common in electric vehicles irrespective of brands. According to a study of more than 10,000 electric vehicles, it was found that in cold weather, all the vehicles saw some range loss, with the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4 suffering a confirmed dip of 30%. On the other hand, the verified range loss for the Tesla Model Y was 15%, while the verified decline for the Tesla Model S was 19%. Also the acceleration becomes slow in cold weather and the regenerative brake does not function properly. It is important to note that Tesla was fined 2.85 billion won ($2.2 million) in South Korea for allegedly misrepresenting the range of its electric vehicles in cold weather. Also Read: It’s not as easy as pumping gas to charge an electric vehicle. What you should be aware of before purchasing EV?

Autopilot not so reliable

Autopilot is a feature of future. For many of us it is very appealing and for some it might be the reason of buying a Tesla. We see people napping, eating, working, reading and doing other things while driving a Tesla on the internet. It is very cool. But we cannot deny the fact that as much as it is impressive, it is not perfect yet. In just 10 months, there have been 273 documented collisions with Tesla's autopilot technology, some of which have unfortunately resulted in fatalities.

Some don’t like Tesla because of Elon Musk

Source: Google Elon Musk is the face of Tesla. Whatever he does or say will directly impact Tesla. Musk has been in controversies lately and his abrupt actions and decisions have changed people perception not just towards him but everything connected to him such as Tesla, Twitter, cryptocurrency and SpaceX.

Tesla’s updates history not so good

We know that Tesla gives over-the-air (OTA) updates to its vehicles. Just like smartphones, when there is any problem with a vehicle, Tesla provides OTA updates and the problem gets fixed. The vehicles do not have to visit the service centers saving the time and money. Also not just repairs and solving bugs, through OTA update new cool features are added too. But sometimes, instead of solving a problem, an update (buggy update) can raise another problem. Once Tesla gave an OTA update to solve CPU overheating issue and it did solve but due to some bug in the update, it started causing power steering failure especially on rough roads or making a turn. In order to fix the power steering issue caused by the software update, Tesla was forced to recall approximately 40,000 Model X SUVs and Model S sedans from the 2017 through 2021 model years. Read the full article

[jaredonlinestore]

Fair Price Engagement Rings In Phoenix

Brand Recognition Redefined: Jewelry Phoenix diamond district

Diamond engagement rings can be expensive. But, there are some things you can do to make sure your budget doesn't exceed the value of what you're buying. The first thing to do is research the market for engagement ring in Phoenix, AZ and compare prices with other stores. You'll want to buy from a local jeweler instead of a franchise store where prices may be higher because of markups and overheads incurred by larger stores.

Research the market before you settle on a ring.

Before you settle on a ring, research the market. You’ll want to know what other people are paying for engagement rings in your area, so it’s important that you do your homework. Start by looking at websites like Google Shopping or Amazon (both of which have price filters). This will help narrow down the options available and help ensure that you are getting a fair deal.

Once those two options have been exhausted, try searching within Yelp! There is probably no better resource than this site when shopping locally as they list all businesses near where they live/work with details such as hours of operation and prices for items sold there.

Consider going to best jewelers Phoenix rather than a franchise store.

When you’re shopping for engagement rings, it can be tempting to go with a big-box chain store. But even though these stores might have all the bells and whistles you want, they may not be as experienced in your area as local jewelers are. Local jewelry store Phoenix are more likely to know how the local economy works and what makes it tick—they also know that there are many different factors that affect pricing at any given time (such as demand for certain goods). As such, their prices will reflect those changes instead of remaining static throughout each year or even decade.

Local jewelers also tend to have better relationships with their suppliers than franchise ones do; this means they get better deals on materials like diamonds or silver because they aren't paying overhead costs from being part of a larger corporate entity. And finally: if something goes wrong during your purchase process at one of these chains (or anywhere else), chances are pretty good that someone else has already experienced this problem before—and maybe even fixed it!

Find out how long the company has been in business.

If you're looking for a good jeweler, it's important to know how long they have been in business. This will give you an idea of what their reputation is like and if they have any history of dishonesty or unethical behavior. It's also helpful if the company has been around for a while because this shows that they have more experience than other businesses in your area.

Another factor that should be weighed heavily when choosing an engagement ring in Phoenix vendor is whether or not their prices are fair. If a company charges too much money for engagement rings, it might not be worth buying from them at all—it could mean paying more than necessary!

Don't accept an appraisal as the actual value of the diamond.

Don't accept an appraisal as the actual value of the diamond. Appraisals are only a guide, and they can be wrong. In fact, it's common for diamonds to lose value over time because people don't realize how much they're worth or what their true value is in the first place. The only way you'll know exactly how much your ring should cost is if you get an independent appraisal from someone who knows about diamonds and their quality (and not just a friend who works at Tiffany's).

The price of diamonds is set by market forces—not jewelers! Jewelry stores often pay less than wholesale prices because they have higher overhead costs than larger businesses like mining companies or mining operations do; this means that if you go into one without looking into other options such as finding someone else with similar tastes who lives nearby (or even within driving distance), then chances are good that all these factors will add up eventually lead towards paying too little money whenever possible - which could mean having problems later down road when trying sell off those old rings anonymously through eBay where there might not be any buyers interested anymore due being so Phoenix luxury jewelry priced compared against other alternatives available today,"

Bring your diamond to the store for custom rings or resizing.

If you have a diamond that needs to be sized or resized, bring it to the store for an appraisal. The jeweler should be able to tell you what the diamond is worth and how much it could cost to customize your ring.

Local stores may offer better value and service than big box stores.

Local jewelers may offer better value and service than big box stores. Many local jewelry stores have more expertise in the area of fine diamonds, which means they have access to better-quality stones that are more suited to your budget. They can also help you find a ring that is unique to your tastes or style.

Conclusion

With all the options available, it can be difficult to choose an engagement ring that fits your budget and style. But with our guide to finding a good deal on engagement ring in Phoenix, we hope that you’ll be able to find something that makes your heart happy!

Get in Touch with us!

Website –https://www.diamonddistrictblock.com/

Skype – shalabh.mishra

Telegram – shalabhmishra

Whatsapp – +919212306116

Email – info@diamonddistrictblock.com

Mobile – +919212306116

[everythingwonderful2021]

Clashing Styles Ch1 - Levi Ackerman

Levihan Fashion AU with Designer!Levi/Ex-Pageant Winner!Hange Rated M for explicit language. Fanart by @catyypss Betaed by @itsshailam and @djmarinizelablog Read the story on Archive of Our Own

Summary:

If there’s anything Levi Ackerman has learned from his career as a fashion designer throughout the years, it is that:

1.) When it comes to hosting a runway show, you can never believe anything will be alright until you personally check on it.

2.) If you think you have checked everything, check again.

3.) Once you’re confident enough to dare believe that everything will go smoothly, Fortuna herself will make sure you learn a lesson by sending someone to screw things up!

Chapter 1 Levi Ackerman

If there’s anything Levi Ackerman has learned from his career as a fashion designer throughout the years, it is that:

1.) When it comes to hosting a runway show, you can never believe anything will be alright until you personally check on it. 

2.) If you think you have checked everything, check again.  

3.) Once you’re confident enough to dare believe that everything will go smoothly, Fortuna herself will make sure you learn a lesson by sending someone to screw things up, in the most unexpected way.

And that is exactly what is happening right now.

“What do you mean she cut all her hair?” Levi hisses to Miche, one of the show producers. The broad man is equally dumbfounded, doesn't even bother to reply. “We specifically told the modeling agency we want long hair models. How on earth…” 

Levi finds himself losing words, unable or unwilling to comprehend the rather unique situation, whether it is the state of the said model’s recognition skills or the fact that they need to find a replacement NOW, in the middle of Fashion Week when literally all decent models in the city had been booked out!!

Four hours before the show is set to kick off, they are already screwed. 

Terrific.

“I’ve already called other agencies to see if they can send someone,” Nanaba, the other show producer, speaks up while she’s staring at her phone. "But don't get your hopes up, Levi. From the photos they sent me, those available either do not have long enough hair or just don't look the part. Maybe we should settle with what we've got, you know? I mean... I'm sure we can still create a fitted look with the headpiece or..."

“That would be unfit to the narrative, and you know it!” Levi fires back, gritting his teeth while looking around the packed backstage. The whole place is in clutter. A necessary evil he is willing to put up with for making a show. But at the moment, with one model short, the mere sight of Nifa, his lead make-up artist, using the working table instead of one of the dressing desks to show other make-up artists the final look, is enough to drive him crazy.

Slowly, Levi breathes in, and out, forcing his shoulders to relax. A rustle catches his attention. Beside him, Mikasa, his intern, and little cousin, is pulling the racks of showpieces to the middle of the room before she and other dressers can start dressing the models. Just as he had instructed 5 minutes ago. 

"Do we really only need long hair, Levi? It’s nearly impossible for us to find someone who not only has waist-length hair but also can fit into the dress and walk the runway," Mikasa says, blinking at him. as she always does since she was a little girl when she senses Levi is about to lose his temper. 

"Well… Petra and Oluo said they can try extensions or wigs,” Armin, the marketing intern who reports directly to Erwin -- the brand’s co-founder and CEO who’s in charge of anything but design -- hesitantly suggests. The boy doesn’t dare to look at Levi’s face when he speaks, “I mean, they are confident that the audience won't notice."

"But I will," Levi sighs in defeat. He glances at Mikasak, the even edge of her inverted bob sticking out like a sore thumb to his eyes. When his little cousin decided to cut her long hair last year, after starting her first term in fashion school, Levi was happy for her. The style suits her. But at this very moment, he really misses her fuzzy locks.

"Do you have any friends from school whose hair is long enough and is willing to walk the runway?" Levi asks Mikasa and Armin. The two interns stare at him, shaking their heads

"Walk the runway? Lots! Long enough hair? One or two. But no one can fit into the dresses." Mikasa shrugs, settling the last rack right in front of Levi, before walking to the dressing desk nearby to grab her phone.

"I can think of one person who’s thin enough and has long hair," Eren says as he sits at the dressing desk suddenly decides to make his presence known, kicking to swivel the chair around to face them. The tin foil Petra and Oluo put on the crown of his head to give his shoulder-length hair a silver highlight shines brightly under the warm lighting.

Levi scowls, knowing the boy’s about to say something dumb, and only Mikasa when he's making that face, something only Mikasa would laugh. 

“Who? Do we know her?” Mikasa asks, giggling as Eren puts his hand on her waist. Levi closes his eyes for a second, swallowing whatever he wants to say to the lovebirds.

The only reason he tolerates Eren in the working environment is because Miche and Nanaba, as well as Erwin , think it’s a good idea to have a rising soccer player on the runway as an athlete cameo. To attract more youth attention. As Erwin puts it.

Focus , Levi says to himself, We have a problem to solve . 

“Aunt Kuchel,” answers Eren. Levi rolls his eyes.

Without a word, the designer turns on his heels and walks away, physically extracting himself before he has a chance to hit his cousin's stupid boyfriend. 

But Aunt Kuchel’s on holiday in Buenos Aires, Eren! Mikasa exclaims. 

Shaking his head, the designer blames himself for agreeing to let Eren walk on the show. 

As if I haven't had enough of his stupidness in my private life. The brat.

“Hey, Nanaba!" Then suddenly, another voice catches Levi’s attention. 

"How’s the replacement search going? Any luck?” Nifa, Levi’s trusted lead make-up artist whom he has been working with since day one, speaks up as she finishes demonstrating today's look to the make-up team.  

“No. Why? Oluo and Petra are trying to figure things out with headpieces…” Nanaba replies with a rather uncertain tone which Levi is too familiar with. She only speaks in that way when they are trying to salvage something.

Is there really no other way?

Frustrated. Levi turns to look at the entire room. The 44 minus 1 models have begun to find their designated clothes from the racks. 11 of them, plus Eren, will walk for the diffusion line Wings of Freedom . The other 33 minus 1 are walking Levi Ackerman , his eponymous brand, with each look completed with a delicate hairstyle and headpieces, making it inconvenient for models to change clothes during mid-show. Not to mention, the clothes Levi designs for his signature line are not meant to be put on hastily.

Maybe instead of making up a plan B for the hairstyle, he should just pull one look out of the show, sending only 43 models off the runway?

The mere thought of it feels like a punch to his stomach.

“Because if you haven’t found anyone. How about I give Hange a call? It's Wednesday so she's about to finish lecturing like...” Nifa says, pulling out her phone to look at the time. "...like now."

As soon as the name ‘Hange' leaves Nifa's lips, Levi can tell that something has changed. Because immediately, Miche and Nanaba stop, eyes lighting up.

"Hange?! Yes, of course!" Nanaba cries, looking up to Miche, elbowing him. "Why didn't we think of her sooner? Of course, Hange can do this, Miche! She'll be perfect!"

"What are you waiting for, Nifa? Call her!" Miche encourages, smiling as Nifa runs to the side to make a call. 

"Well, it seems that things will turn out as you want, Levi." Miche lets out a long sigh. " I can't believe we can actually find someone at this hour. You should give Nifa a raise." 

Levi stares at the show’s directing duo and long-time friends, trying to feel their enthusiasm as Nanaba goes back to work, talking to the lighting technicians through wireless. Yet, as much as he trusts his friends, he cannot allow himself to share their optimism so easily. Not until he finds out more about this Hange they seem to have so much faith in.

“So, this Hange, ” Levi starts, walking beside Miche as the show producer goes to check if Nifa has successfully made contact. “She’s yours and Nifa’s friend?”

“Roommate,” Miche answers swiftly, arms crossed over his chest as he leans against the wall, waiting for Nifa to finish the call. “Hange is Nifa’s roommate. Nanaba shared their apartment before moving in with me. She fits all the criteria, Levi. Long-hair, 5 ft. 7. Fun and pretty. Runway-experienced . You’re going to love her!”

Love, huh? Levi can’t help but click his tongue . As much as he wants to share Miche’s optimism, his instinct doesn’t allow him to simply accept what he is told without getting further confirmation.

“If she’s that good, why didn’t you or Nanaba bring her up?” he asks, deadpan. “Neither of you thought of her earlier. And you expect me to just…“

“Because she doesn’t do this anymore! And Nana and I haven't seen her for months. Gosh, Levi! you need to have more faith in people. I’m starting to feel a little hurt!” Miche exclaims, fingers caressing his chest while making puppy eyes. 

Levi cringes and looks away. Miche snickers, taking a moment to enjoy his reaction.

“Okay, to answer your question,” the show producer continues, “I didn’t think of asking Hange, because she had retired from the limelight long ago. She’s an academic now. When we hung out, she didn’t behave like a showbiz gal. You know what I mean? But don’t worry about that. If I’m being honest, she’s more than competent to nail a runway. Overqualified , actually. And — ”

He tails off, as Nifa puts down her phone, looking up to face them.

“Well?” The show producer asks eagerly.

The make-up artist grins, fingers curl to a big OK. “Great! Let’s get to work!” 

Miche jumps to his feet, ready to resume whatever he’d left. Levi had no choice but to follow, running behind to keep up. He still has questions to ask.

“What do you mean overqualified ?” The designer yells behind the tall man. “Was she some kind of supermodel I’ve never heard of?”

Miche laughs, catching the sarcasm. 

“Not a supermodel.” The show producer smiles, turning around to face him. “You’re going to love this.”

“Well, what was she?” Levi asks. He’s already starting to feel irritated.

“She was Miss Humanity .”