Promotional Postcards

We've had a request to submitt a promotional postcard which defines our brand/product. I'm not yet sure what these will be used for, but I like the postcard idea as a promotional tool. I am now considering whether to continue the postcard theme in my other promotional materail such as my press pack, but that will have to wait until my tops are made. This is the postcard I created using my top line up and logo, simple yet effective I think.

Packaging Ideas

This week I am going to be kept very busy making my tops, as I received my final printed fabric back from Fabpad and so far I am very pleased with the results.

As a break from sewing, I have decided to look at packaging ideas which will be used to promote and display my tops and also strengthen B Boutique's brand identity. I have designed these simple yet effective paper carrier bags and swing tags, using the same colour palette from the current collection to create cohesion and impact.

I have also decided to create my own bespoke B Boutique coat hangers, after being inspired by the fantastic Emma Cook hangers from my previous blog post. I wanted the design of my coat hangers to be clean and simplistic as to not distract attention from the tops, however I added design details such as the cut out B in order to personalise them to the B Boutique brand. I got my Dad to make them out of clear acrylic, which I think adds a modern and stylish touch. I am looking forward to trying them out on my finished tops.

Photoshoot Location: Hengistbury Head

I have been on the hunt for the perfect location for my photo shoot, and today I found it. I decided I wanted to use a beach location for the photo shoot as it reflects my concept, but also I have always secretly wanted to take advantage of the beautiful scenery around Bournemouth, as it has always inspired me and this is probably the last opportunity I will get to take advantage of these surroundings.

Hengistbury Head is an unspoilt nature reserve, with a variety of natural scenery. I chose this location in particular as I really like the neutral colours of the sand dunes, grasses and stone cliffs, as I feel this will create a simple and effective backdrop to my bold and vibrant tops. I think the stone jettys against the bright blue sky and water could also create some really nice images, and overall there is lots of variation in scenery to choose from.

Model & Photographer

After weeks of searching and sending out emails, I have finally got a model and photographer confirmed for my photo shoot! I found both my model and photographer by sending out an email across the uni to see if anyone was interested in collaborating with me. Both go to the AUCB and have had previous experience in both fashion photography and modelling. It is always unpredictable working with new people who you haven't meet before, but on first contact they both seem really lovely and really up for the job!

Olivia Huntingford: Model

Min Seok Kim: Photographer

Photo Shoot: Hair & Make Up Ideas

I have created these mood boards to show my vision for the the hair and make up for the photo shoot. I am currently in the process of finding a hair and make up artist and I feel these boards will help convey the exact look I hope to achieve for my model. To achieve quite a dramatic, strong and fashion forward image, I want to create a look which features strong brows, vibrant, bold lips and statement hair. This will hopefully compliment and stand up to the young, fun and funky aesthetics of my designs.

Monsoon S/S 11 Campaign

I have come across Monsoon's latest spring/summer campaign, which has a beautiful summery atmosphere, and is the type of look I am hoping to achieve in the B Boutique promotional images.

I also love the behind the scences promotional film, which really sets the atmosphere. Ideally I think a promotional film could really enhance the B Boutique brand, unfortunately time restrictions mean I don't have enough time to achieve this aswell for this project.

Photo Shoot: Concept Boards

Now that my final fabric has been ordered, I can start thinking about how I am going to promote my designs to the market. I have decided that I am going to do a photo shoot with my finished tops, as part of the advertising and promotion of my brand and products. These are initial concept boards showing my vision and inspiration for the look and feel I hope to create for the photo shoot. 

I very much want to do a location shoot as it will hopefully give my target audience an idea of how my designs can be worn in an everyday context. The shoot also needs to have a summery and fresh feel to reflect my prints and range of products. I also hope to create a strong fashion editorial feel which the right model, hair and make-up and the use of strong and dynamic poses.

Final Fabric Prints

Today is the day I send off my final fabric prints to Fabpad! Each piece of printed fabric is 90cm x 137cm and I need two pieces of each design in order to make the front and back of my tops. I am quite apprehensive about how these new print designs will turn out, as it is hard to visualise the scale and overall effect on a computer screen. I have my fingers crossed that they turn out well as this order is costing me over £300 for 6 metres of fabric!

Product Range

After evaluating my SWOT analysis, I have realised that expanding my product range is great opportunity to increase my brand aesthetic and overall appeal of B Boutique. I have decided to design a range of garments and products that would be featured in a spring/summer capsule collection, which equally reflect my print designs.

I have created a high summer capsule collection, which focuses on wearable and transitional garments from functional beach wear to pretty playsuits. Along with the four top designs, I feel this product range shows how B Boutique's prints can be fully translated into a variety of fashion products, which in turn strengthens the overall brand identity of B Boutique.

SWOT Ananlysis: B Boutique

Strengths ·         High quality fabrics and prints ·         Use of latest digital print technology ·         Fashionable and wearable Exclusive and unique print designs ·         Fresh and fun print designs ·         Boutique brand – aspirational, specialised designs ·         Capsule collections ·         Specialised product range ·         Strong use of colour ·         Refreshing and fashion forward prints ·         Available from a variety of stockists ·         Promotional website

Weaknesses ·         Small product range ·         Small, boutique brand – only available through certain stockists ·         Only caters for sizes 8 – 16 ·         Not much advertising coverage ·         Very distinct, statement prints ·         Not commercial enough for mass appeal ·         Slightly higher price points than large high street brands – too expensive ·         Quite a niche market – style, colours, age range

Opportunities ·         Raise brand profile/ customer awareness through advertising and connections to stockists ·         Increase product range ·         Explore and expand print designs ·         Open standalone stores ·         Increase stockists ·         Use innovative printing methods ·         Incorporate sustainable elements into designs

Threats ·         Competition from other boutique brands ·         Market saturation ·         Economic recession ·         Higher price points than other high street brands ·         Not able to compete with cheaper, lower quality imitations on high street ·         Not able to gain a big enough brand profile through select stockists

I have also created a SWOT analysis of the B Boutique brand, which helps show the strength of my brand and product in the market and is useful in highlighting ways in which I could imporve my brand and product.

Marketing: Seven P's

I have created a mini marketing plan using the seven P's in order to establish how my product will get to market and the promotion involved to do so. This has helped address all the factor I will need to think of when marketing my brand, which will overall strengthen my brand identity.


PRICE: Cost price: Crepe de chine fabric + digital printing + manufacturing costs = £13.05 p/m + £20 p/m = £33.05+

RRP: £33.05 + mark up = £75 per top

PRODUCT: The B Boutique brand offers a range of fashion-forward prints, within wearable and accessible designs for the high street customer. A fresh and fun collection which embraces colour and statement prints.

PLACE: B Boutique would be stocked and sold as a concessional boutique brand within major high street and online retailers such as, Topshop, ASOS and Urban Outfitters. A wider product range would also be sold through the B Boutique e-commerce website.

PROMOTION: Promotional tools will include, a website showing a photographic advertising campaign, a print sample book and press pack.

PACKAGING: A customised B Boutique logo, swing tags, paper shopping bags, website, business cards/ postcards?

PEOPLE: The B Boutique customer is young at heart and typically aged between 18 – 30 years old. She is an avid High Street shopper, who welcomes refreshing and exclusive printed designs. She has a strong attraction to colour and embraces print design as an expression of her personality, by making confident purchases from the B Boutique collection.

PROCESS: The B Boutique collection will be available for customers to buy through selected stockist both in store and online.