This doesn’t have anything to do with Beijing, except that I am working in Beijing and exploring PR/marketing. Mostly I’ve been helping out with PR for my company, but I realized I’m also interested in marketing (social media marketing in particular) and branding.
The other day, I had plans to eat dinner with a friend in Sanlitun. Since I had gotten to the area before her, I had some extra time, so…..I went shopping. Mango was having a sale (not sure if it’s still going on), so I bought a dress and a white button-up shirt for work. Necessary purchases, of course.
When my friend arrived at dinner, I showed her the dress I’d bought. She said the obligatory “That’s so cute!” (who would actually voice what they’re thinking and say “Oh. That’s kinda ugly.”) and then she said, “It’s so you.” I realized that she wasn’t the first friend to look at one of my new purchases and say, “It’s so you.” When I go shopping with my Chinese girlfriends and pick out something I think is cute, they tell me, “Yeah, that’s your style.”
While I normally don’t like people making assumptions about me, I take this as a compliment. I was thinking, it’s like I’m branding myself, with clothes. If that makes sense. My friends see a certain style and think of me. And then I thought, “That’s how it should be for a company. People should know exactly what that brand stands for.” For example, when I think “stylish and affordable” I think of H&M. When I think of the Four Seasons, I think “great service but out of my financial reach right now (but maybe someday).”
Anyway, just some thoughts I wanted to write down so I don’t forget. Happy Friday, everyone!!!
