July 20, 2009, 11:47 PM CT

Personal connections improve sales

If a salesperson shares a birthday or a birthplace with you, you're more likely to make a purchase and feel good about it, as per a newly released study in the Journal of Consumer Research

"This research examines how the fundamental human need to connect with others plays a role in sales encounters," write authors Lan Jiang, JoAndrea Hoegg, Darren W. Dahl (all University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC), and Amitava Chattopadhyay (INSEAD, Singapore).

In one of the studies, a personal trainer introduced participants to a fitness program. People who discovered that they shared the same birthday with the trainer reported that they liked the program better and were more interested in purchasing a membership.

In another study, patients who learned that they were born in the same place as a dentist reported a more favorable attitude toward the dental care they received and showed a higher willingness to book their next appointment with that same clinic.

"Across individuals, we observed that naturally social people are more responsive to such coincidences," write the authors. "Conversely, people who tend to isolate themselves from the outside world are less sensitive".

The scientists concluded that revealing personal information helps service providers create connections and initiate conversations with customers. When information is provided on nametags (as Disney does with employees' hometowns) or on websites (as a number of health organizations and fitness centers do), most consumers react positively. However, when service providers exhibit negative behavior, like rudeness, the shared similarity loses its positive influence......... Posted by: Trista      Read more         Source

July 20, 2009, 11:43 PM CT

Consumers link unfamiliar products to surrounding items

Sometimes we judge a product by the company it keeps. For example, we might think a car advertised among expensive cars is also priceybut only if we're unfamiliar with the car, as per a newly released study in the Journal of Consumer Research

Authors Michelle P. Lee (Singapore Management University) and Kwanho Suk (Korea University) set out to examine a paradox of consumer behavior: Sometimes consumers are swayed by the surrounding context in which a product appears (an "assimilation effect"). In other situations, a product that appears among cheaper items seems to be more expensive ("contrast effect").

The scientists designed a series of three experiments where they asked participants for assessments of restaurants and cars. In the car studies, participants were asked to rate car models for how expensive or inexpensive they thought they were. Unbeknownst to them, only a subset of the cars was critically important.

"We observed that for cars that were completely novel to the participant, in the sense of the participant not having previously encountered them, perceptions were skewed in the direction of the context," the authors write. "The expensive cars seemed to rub off on these novel cars so that they, too, came to be perceived as expensive, and on the other hand for the inexpensive cars"......... Posted by: Trista      Read more         Source

July 20, 2009, 10:16 PM CT

Louis Galvin hair care

Louise Galvin, with her twenty years of hair styling experience, has revolutionized the method of hair care. She has introduced a huge line of hair care products and also happens to be the first Carbon-neutral beauty company in the United Kingdom. The celebrity hair colorist, who is based on her father's salon in London, takes special care in ensuring that her products are absolutely environment-friendly, as all of them are made out of natural or naturally derived components only.

The products at Louise Galvin range from shampoos, conditioners, and masque for hairs to even body and face lotions. The hair care products are different for various hair types, such as fine hair, thick or curly hair, and many more. All the products are aimed at providing maximum benefit at the minimum effort.

The latest addition to the product line of Louise Galvin is the hair care for pregnant women. This product is specially made for women with pregnancy, and helps in retaining the style and vitality of the hair. The hair care products, marketed as "Mother To Be" include shampoos, conditioners and masques.

A complete list of Louise Galvin products and their prices can be found on the official website of Louise Galvin: www.louisegalvin.com........ Posted by: Trista      Read more         Source

July 8, 2009, 9:50 PM CT

Sport the Sporty Look with Cool Eye Gear

If you are an outdoor sports person then a good pair of sports sunglasses is an absolute necessity for you. Sports sunglasses are very important for an athlete. Being involved in sports requires you to be outdoors most of the time. You are dangerously exposed to the ultraviolet rays of the sun, dust, strong winds and dirt. Sun block will help protect the exposed surface of your skin from the sun. But what about your eyes? Eyes are more delicate and sensitive to any kind of harshness and glare. Apart from that, sporting a pair of great looking sunglasses will give you a cutting edge look among the rest.

Quality sports eye gear that is both effective and stylish is available in different varieties of designs, styles, colors and sizes. Sport-specific sunglasses are also available in the market. Different kinds of sports expose your eyes to different conditions. For this reason sports sunglasses are available for specific sports.

Types of Sports Sunglasses:
Cycling Sunglasses: Whether you are cycling on the road or down a mountain trail, cycling at a high speed subjects your eyes to a high airflow. Apart from this your eyes could get damaged from continuous exposure to sharp sunlight. Cycling sunglasses ensure a clear vision as well as protection for your eyes. They come with strong lenses and the arms of the sunglasses fit well around your helmet straps.

Motorcycle Sunglasses: Motorcyclists should opt for sunglasses with 50% tint. This level of tint is the maximum as permitted by the law. Polarized sunglasses are preferred by most motor bike sports persons. They sunglasses need to have a firm skull fit and straight arms so that you can put them on and take them off easily with the helmet still on your head.
Running Sunglasses: Bolle edged, half jacket and full jacket sunglasses are well suited for athletes participating in running events. These sunglasses protect your eyes from factors such as wind and sun. They ensure clarity of vision and help you maintain a clear focus of your goal.

Skiing and Snowboarding Sunglasses: These are specialized sunglasses that are resistant to intense cold as well as give you maximum UV ray protection. They offer you comfort and are designed especially for snowboarding and skiing. The lenses of these sports sunglasses are well equipped for extreme conditions.

Apart from these there are many other sports sunglasses available for different kinds of sports like swimming, fishing, cricket, tennis, golf and extreme sports. All these and more varieties of sports sunglasses are available in retail or wholesale sunglasses stores. These online stores also offer great discounts on their products.......... Posted by: Trista      Read more         Source

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:37:18 GMT

Drop Dead Gorgeous

New Yorker TV Spot 2009 - Drop Dead Gorgeous.



(thanks Cora) Posted by: Gerard      Read more     Source

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:35:18 GMT

Monica Botkier LIVE!

Don"t miss out on a chance to chat live with Monica Botkier of Botkier handbags next Wednesday, June 3rd from 10am-12pm! Find out how this photographer started her cult favorite bag line. Hers is a story of the ultimate female entrepreneur and one that should not be missed. You"ll be able to ask her questions and advice on your favorite arm candy. We will see you online!

When: Wednesday, June 3rd 10am-12pm
Where: Bag Snob.com

Check out Botkier bags here. Posted by: Tina      Read more     Source

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:33:17 GMT

Paula Patton Wears Andrew Gn

s: Scriptgirl/TFS and Style

Paula attends the Cannes premier of "Precious" based on the novel Push by Sapphire.

As beautiful as Paula is, I don"t always love her clothing choices but she looks spectacular here. I love the neckline. I"m glad she opted for color instead playing it safe with a black evening gown.

I cannot wait to see this movie! Posted by: Brigitte      Read more     Source

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:28:09 GMT

Smashbox Lash DNA Mascara

I will never be over my love affair with Mascara - I can admit that. However, I am very picky about them and it still take a great formula that does what it says (whether that be lengthening, volume, curling, long lasting, multi-use, waterproof, etc.), brush, (and packaging if I can get it) to make me really fall in love.

I haven"t used a lot of Smashbox products, and I"ve never tried their mascara, so this was a great surprise that it was such a winner in my book!

I do have fairly long lashes, but I"m usually looking for a mascara that can also give me more volume, a little curl effect and some additional length. Lash DNA did all that and more. This is a great everyday mascara that immediately pumped up and stretched out my lashes, and did not flake or run (it is not waterproof however). As an added benefit, Lash DNA has proteins and amino acids that aid in conditioning and repairing lashes.

The shape of the brush itself is designed to look like a "double helix". It"s fairly round, but on the short side. This shape however, actually allowed it to grab on to each and every one of my lashes, and then give a fanned out effect. I loved it! It was great for defining the lashes, giving some volume and most of all, additional length, with NO clumping. Please note that because of the helix design, you may need to go slowly the first few times as you take the brush and start at the base of your lashes and move upwards. It"s very easy however once you get the hang of it, and it comes with very detailed instructions.

The formula also kept my lashes nicely curled with not a lot of stiffness or crunchiness, stayed on ALL day and was easy to remove at night with regular cleanser or eye makeup remover.

If you have a "library" of mascara"s you like to use, this needs to be included in your collection ASAP! - RLB Posted by: Palacinka Beauty      Read more     Source

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:47:20 GMT

Handy Python Clutch

Oversized clutches are handy but this is "handy" on a whole other level. Literally handy, many many hands with rings and bracelet on to boot. Wow. This pushes the outer boundaries of ugly. I might have to take back everything good ever said about Carlos Falchi. Only the hands are of python, the rest is textured cracked leather, which is an interesting choice because they usually use snake or crocodile on lotion commercials to represent dryness. This is not even funny and costumey for special dress up occasions like Halloween, it"s just bad. Maybe this is the "Why can"t we all get along" version of patchwork to work in different patterns, colors and textures. But I am being lenient and kind flexing all my might to find an explanation and bright side to something that defies all rationale. At Bergdorf Goodman for pre-order, $1510. Thankfully, this is not allowed to be sold in California. Posted by: Kelly      Read more     Source

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:40:32 GMT

Georgie Baddiel

Georgie Baddiel is one of those models that seems to get a decent amount of runway work but somehow, never manages to land many editorials. Thankfully, the editors at Arise have seen fit to spotlight her on the cover of their May issue. I just love her face.

s: TFS/Arise Posted by: Brigitte      Read more     Source