Media
In the media section you will find press releases, film clips, interivews and magazine appearences. Please contact Bridget for any further information. bridget.west@piecesofyou.co.uk
This is a little blurb on Pieces Of You on Channel 4's website http://www.channel4.com/4homes/style/features/Best-New-Designers-Part-2.html#skipMPU
|
|
Magazine and Website Appearances
Pieces Of You has been featured in the following magazines and websites:
A friend and I did a 3 month stint in a gallery in Merton Road, London, to see if London was ready for a little designer Eco shop. It was beautiful! It will be an ongoing project for us to try our new places so watch this space!
1) House and Garden, April 2008, p105
Designer Lisa Harland, of Harland Organic Furnishings (http://www.organic-furnishings.co.uk/), and Bridget West, of Pieces Of You (www.piecesofyou.co.uk), have opened a boutique shop at 264 Merton Road, SW18. Our Eco Shop sells interior products with impeccable eco credentials, including fabrics, furniture and lighting. For further details, visit http://www.ourecoshop.co.uk/ (image of Delicates Cushion).
2) House and Home Ideas, December 2007, p76
Snap up eco-slogan cushions (£45) and cubes (£250) in organic hemp cotton canvas, or pretty cushions in reclaimed and vintage fabric form this ethical, designer store, wwwpiecesofyou.co.uk
http://www.theaccidentalecomaniac.com/portfolio-section/portfolio/take-a-closer-look/
3) The Weekend Guardian, Domestic Reincarnation, 6 October 2007, p78
Designer Bridget West’s Handle With Care cushion is made from old clothing care labels; £120, from Pieces Of You, 0208 567 9692 (piecesofyou.co.uk)
4) Build It, The Young Contenders, October 2007, p20
Pieces Of You offers individually crafted contemporary and ethical homeware. By ensuring that my products take nature into account, my brand encourages an environmentally friendly lifestyle and allows the consumer to make valuable environmental contributions.
“I’m an eco-designer and so I think that sustainable design is here to stay. I love chic handbags made out of car tyres, recycled saris and skirts made out of shirts. I love being surprised by design – it should make you feel a little envious, like you wish you had thought of that.
The way forward is not to simply allow objects to be superseded through time, but to change our whole attitude towards them, bringing a level of appreciation of them to an extent that they are kept and valued as timeless.
“This modular seating’s surface design is a mosaic of ‘Made In‘ labels. It forces us to take stock of our current label obsession and takes being a ‘label snob’ to a new and quirky level as it poses the question: Where was this made? I am hoping it is an honest and classical piece in that as long as we wear clothes, these products will remain timeless. ‘Made In’ as a statement that encourages critical awareness and ethical consumption”.
5) Hidden Art magazine, Autumn 2007, p14
Article on Pieces Of You and Bridget West
6) Hidden Art magazine, Summer 2007, p4
Image of Delicates Cube by Pieces Of You
7) Gift Focus, About The Home, July/August 2007, p42
Imitating nature’s eco systems, waste becomes resource for designer Bridget West. She uses recycled and organic textiles to make contemporary homeware. The process is an organic one and the collections evolve.
She says:” As a designer, opting for ethical is oftentimes more difficult and always more pricey. It is cheaper to mess up the environment and that is the bottom line.
As a teacher, she runs eco-workshops with children in order to pass the message on. The surface print is digitally printed onto organic hemp cotton canvas for the cushions which come in sizes 40cm x 40cm and 50cm x 50cm.
The filler is organic wool balls from the UK. For more information please visit the website www.piecesofyou.co.uk
8) Kitchen Bedroom Bathroom, Inspired Style Buys, p71
Pile up plump cushions on your bed to achieve a decadent environment you won’t want to leave. Bridget West’s Shimmy and Shake bespoke designs feature the belt of a kimono to make them truly authentic with an Eastern touch and cost £40 each, at Pieces Of You. Tel: 0208 567 9692, www.piecesofyou.co.uk
9) 2007 Time Out, London, Shops and Services guide The New Green, pg 7-10
Image of cushion stocked in Potassium Store (2 Seymour Place, W1H)
“Potassium stands out for it’s commitment to ethical sourcing and sustainability, supporting London Sustainability Weeks in 2006 by featuring members of the [re]design collective. You could spend hours browsing the collection; on a recent visit we were wooed by lovely embroidered reclaimed fabric cushions by Pieces of You.”
10) Home deco and Furnishings, Why Go Green? Nov 06/Jan 07, p18-19
Cushions made from vintage fabrics by Pieces Of You, whose collection of eco-home accessories was on show at Top Drawer Autumn.
11) Kitchen Bedroom Bathroom, Inspired style buys, December 2006, p76
“A believer in ‘waste as resource’, designer Bridget West at Pieces Of You has created quirky handcrafted contemporary pieces from recycled textiles and their labels. There are three ranges available, including this Made In cube seat in organic hemp cotton canvas. Priced at £250 Tel: 0208 5679692. www.piecesofyou.co.uk”
12) Home Décor and Furnishings, A Greener Top Drawer, September/October 2006, p28-29
“A charming collection of eco home accessories was shown by Pieces of You, (o2o8 567 9692) set up by Bridget West after graduating from Central Saint Martin’s School of Art and Design. Her beautiful cushions are made from vintage fabrics such as Victorian lace, and she also creates bespoke designs to commission.
13) World Wildlife Fund Magazine, Better Than New (and better for the planet too),
September/October 2006, p22-23
A new alliance between design and recycling is changing the face of products. Has the consumer culture finally met its match?
No Logo
Pieces of You
Handcrafted cushion making colourful re-use of clothes, labels and denim.
Links
We have affiliations with the following companies:
http://www.dawnscott.co.uk/8.html
Interview
Pieces of You
Bridget West, Entrepreneur, Founder of Pieces of You
September 12, 2007; 30 minutes; at Bridget’s Studio
What do you want your consumers to associate with “Pieces Of You”?
Most important really, is the ethical thing. To be an ethical company that supplies both high-end and not so high-end. And I want people to think, when they think of Pieces Of You, of contemporary, ethical designer homeware.
Which product benefits do you promote in the communication with your consumer?
Definitely the 'feel good' factor. You are doing something good by buying and enjoying this product.
Would you say that your communication is more emotional or rational? I guess when you think about it, ethical discussions and ethical arguments tend to be more emotional. I am not really sure. I want people to feel good about buying my products and contribute to something, maybe even by passing that message on and those are both emotional and rational.
Would you say that your environmental responsibility is rather prominent in your communication?
Yes. It is really the driving force behind everything I do.
If you think about the near future, which communication objectives do you have?
I would like to do more trade and crafts fairs, I would like to do more in the education sector as well. I run workshops with children, which I love and which spread the message at grassroots level. Ultimately I would love to have a shop or a gallery space were could sell ethical products and art.
In terms of communication objectives it is really about awareness and spreading the word, which is why the educational part of the company is so important.
Where do you give these workshops?
The workshops are mainly in the community centers and in schools.
And does that also bring you any sales?
Well, parents come back and ask about products. But I find that my products are just too expensive for those groups, which I need to work on as well. I would really like to reach everybody.
And who are your current consumers?
Well, there are galleries, high-end galleries. There are eco shops, also high-end-boutique type stores. In terms of consumers, it is often well off females, couples and urban dwellers. I really do need to think about how to reach a broader audience.
Which communication tools are particularly successful?
The website works very well. I have just set it up so that people can order directly. I think people are put off if they have to call to make an order. And the trade shows and also craft shows. I have also had quite a bit of press coverage and journalists often find me through the trade shows.
And these shows target to the retailers or to the end consumer?
Both actually. The craft shows are just retail.
How many shows do you visit each year?
Last year I think they were 20, which was a lot. Too many. I want to cut down this year. But it is also important to try them out and see which ones work. It's also expensive so research beforehand is essential. This year I am doing the craft shows that worked. I am also doing some eco fairs this year.
And do people buy at the shows right away or is it more a means of communication?
Both. It depends. At the trade shows people buy directly, they place orders. But there are a lot of stands so it is harder to stand out. But, being ethical narrows down your audience automatically and people come looking for you, because you are ethical. Also 'eco' and 'sustainability' is getting more and more attention at fairs, which is great.
And you have your own stand and promotion material?
Yes, I do. I also have an outfit that is made out of my textiles, a Victorian style dress. So, I advertise Pieces Of You wherever I go at the show.
And do you actively do PR? Do you send out press releases for example?
I do, but I have never sent them proactively to magazines. I am always been approached. Journalists also talk to me at trade shows and call me up, like the Guardian, which is doing an eco-spread for example. I have been actually meaning to target specific magazines, but have not got around to it yet.
Do you think it is easier for ethical companies to get media coverage?
Definitely. It was not as easy two or three years ago but now they are crying for it. Great.
When they feature you, do they talk about your ethics or also about the designs or…?
Both. It depends which magazines are asking, genereally, at the moment, the ethical approach is the hook and the design is kind of secondary.
Are you able to track which pages of your website are most popular?
Yes. It has just been updated so that I can do this.
Can you think of any communication that you tried and that was not as successful?
I guess some of the trade shows. There was a massive show in Birmingham and it was far too big and we were placed next to a 'Made In China' stand. That was probably one of the most unsuccessful. Picking the trade shows carefully is really important.
And do you advertise?
I never advertise. I refuse to pay such mad prices.
If you had to rate your communications in terms of bringing sales, what is most effective?
Trade shows, because they bring bigger numbers. Sometimes craft shows bring press coverage though.
How do you encourage a dialog with your consumer?
Again, it is the craft shows. I can have lots of conversations on a very personal level. Trade shows are the business to business contacts, which are important. I also send out flyers to people that gave me their contact information to keep them informed about new projects.
Is there one group of consumer that is very eager to communicate with you? That asks a lot of questions?
Not really. No. Females maybe.
Do you observe that your consumers are doubtful or skeptical about what you are doing?
I find that consumers are either very excited about the products or they are still a little uncomfortable about the recycled items. The printed work is fine. I do get a lot of positive comments. And people are interested and want to know what is inside. But nobody is asking if I am really green or questioning me in any way.
Do you feel like you still have to provide a lot of background information and explain your claims?
Always. I am also very passionate about it, I want them to know these things. So, I love to talk about it. And often this is how a conversations will start, moving from ethical issues to the product.
Do you think that your communication differs a lot to other ethical homeware companies?
Not really. I think we all communicate quite similarly. A lot of it is internet-based. Trade shows are expensive though and not everyone is able to afford them. But also new eco fairs come up that are often more affordable. And most of us are small.
Do you think your communication differs a lot of mainstream companies in your industry?
I think we are doing pretty much the same thing. Small designer-maker-companies will also do small craft shows. I am often surrounded by people like me, but not neccessarily 'ethical'.
Would you say the tools are the same, just the message would differ?
Exactly.
If you had a bigger communication budget, what would you do differently?
Beautiful adverts in my favorite magazines, television ads, if I had a massive budget. It is important to hit the mainstream. I actually hope to get a few of us together to share costs for advertising eventually.
Surveys indicate that consumers show a preference for responsible products, although purchasing behavior does not reflect these findings. In your opinion, why is this and what can be done by EPs to close the gap between consumer attitude and behaviour?
I think it is the price. I think everyone would, given the choice, buy something ethical, but the price is a big problem as well as ignorance. People do not know about environmental issues and we have to do something about it, to educate them. I think the government should support this as well, which they are starting to do in places. They place recyling adverts on TV and at bus stops. The laws have to become tighter. Companies that are not responsible should be fined. There has to be a financial incentive for companies. Or ethical products should be subsidized, which is happening with green boilers.
