Bottega Veneta Has Left Social Media, Deleting Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Today, Italian fashion house Bottega Veneta deleted its social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The luxury brand, currently helmed by creative director Daniel Lee, has not made a statement about the reason and duration of their social media blackout, but perhaps they have already laid the groundwork for a more low-key approach.

The fashion house Spring/Summer 2021 Collection was presented before a shortlist of industry leaders and big-name influencers, in contrast to the swath of attendees you typically see lining the runway at fashion week.

Nonetheless, the move to erase social media entirely is quite novel. ‘Business of Fashion’ rightly notes fashion’s growing reliance on social media as a marketing tool and direct line of communication with customers, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic; over the past year, many fashion brands have adapted and expanded their social media strategies to suit the ‘new normal’, even embracing burgeoning platforms like TikTok.

But influencer marketing on social media isn’t without its drawbacks. In 2019, brands were projected to spend $8.5 million USD on influencer marketing alone, but a report that year found that influencer fraud collectively cost brands $1 billion USD – a number that was predicted to swell by 50 percent in 2020. The report also found resulting that a staggering 50 percent of engagement in sponsored content was fake, driven by purchased fake followers and engagement numbers.

Come into the beautiful world of Bottega Veneta.

L’Oréal Paris Announces Search for Stories of Women of Worth Making an Impact

L’Oréal Paris, the #1 global beauty brand, launches the 15th year of its signature philanthropic platform, Women of Worth. The program searches for, honors and champions women who selflessly give back to their communities and build the worth of others every day. Over the past 14 years, L’Oréal Paris has honored 140 women with a combined $1.8 million, amplified their worthy causes and provided them with a national platform to share their stories to make an even greater impact in the lives of others.

Now more than ever, L’Oréal Paris continues to be wholly dedicated to these women, believing that in a time of crisis, it is crucial to give support to those who give so much of themselves to help the most vulnerable among us. In the spirit of its iconic tagline, ‘Because You’re Worth It’, L’Oréal Paris today announces the call for its 2020 Women of Worth nominations to the public at WomenofWorth.com.

Now through Tuesday, June 30, 2020, nominate a woman who is leading a non-profit organization that is making a difference in her community for the chance to become one of the 10 Women of Worth 2020 Honorees and receive up to $35,000 in donations. Additionally, Americans are asked to share the story of a woman who is truly inspirational in her work on the front lines in the fight against coronavirus. L’Oréal Paris will honor one of these Covid-19 Women of Worth throughout the program.

L’Oréal Paris’ Women of Worth program has always been focused on elevating everyday women who dedicate their lives to serving their communities. Today, their work addressing a wide range of vulnerable populations is more important than ever. L’Oréal Paris has a unique ability to give these women and their causes a national platform, helping to elevate their stories and bring additional resources to underserved communities. We are proud of the 140 women we have honored to date and are humbled to be able to honor even more women this year. They are examples of the change that can happen when we believe that we are all worth it.

Ali Goldstein, L’Oréal Paris USA President

In addition to receiving financial support for her organization, L’Oréal Paris provides each of the Women of Worth with a platform for her story, and the opportunity to build a network that amplifies her cause and makes an even greater impact. The 2020 Honorees will join the 140 Women of Worth alumnae, who stand for a diverse range of causes and inspirational stories. From a survivor of conversion therapy who is teaching women in similar situations how to cope and thrive, to a teenager tackling hunger and homelessness in her community, the multifaceted Women of Worth are embracing their worth and instilling it within others.

Since 2005, L’Oréal Paris has partnered with Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, to orchestrate the call for nominations and welcome Honorees within the fold as shining examples of how giving back can truly change the world. Each of the Women of Worth will receive $10,000. One National Honoree, selected by popular vote, will be awarded an additional $25,000 for her work. All 2020 Honorees will be recognized and celebrated later this year.

For more information about the Women of Worth, to nominate a fearless woman making a difference in the world, or to learn more about past Honorees, visit Women of Worth.

For more information on Points of Light’s innovative programs, campaigns and events, visit Points of Light.

 

 

 

Elizabeth Arden Announces 2020 Support of I Am a Voter.

In her lifetime, company Founder, Ms. Arden, succeeded in many ‘firsts’, always breaking the metaphorical glass ceiling with each accomplishment. A suffragette herself, in 1912 she marched down Fifth Avenue aiding women’s voting rights, handing out red lipstick to fellow suffragettes along the way as a symbol of solidarity. Today, the brand proudly follows in these footsteps by advocating for ‘I am a voter’.

Established by a woman, for women and part of the only beauty conglomerate in the world (Revlon, Inc.) led by a woman (CEO Debbie Perelman), Elizabeth Arden remains a fervent reinforcer of women’s rights worldwide. The brand has upheld their originator’s legacy over a century later with the recent $1 million March On pledge aiding UN Women, and continues their efforts today by executing this new, highly synergistic campaign promoting ‘I am a voter’.

Our founder was the original #girlboss. She used her voice and business acumen to help further women’s rights in the United States”, says Kiva Silberfeld, Vice President of Global Integrated Marketing Communications at Elizabeth Arden. “Now, by partnering with ‘I am a voter’, we continue to uphold our creator’s legacy by marching together to achieve one goal: change through the power of voting”.

We are so thrilled to have fellow advocate and iconic beauty brand, Elizabeth Arden, support the ‘I am a voter’ movement leading up to the 2020 election. Ms. Arden used her voice and her brand to aid a cultural shift she believed in a century ago – and now they are leveraging their platforms to inform, empower and mobilize citizens to participate in our democracy,

Mandana Dayani, co-founder I am a voter.

Through a 360-degree campaign spanning from March (Women’s History Month) until Election Day in November, Elizabeth Arden will work to create awareness for the ‘I am a voter’ cause and their call-to-action (text VOTER to 26797) via a strategic rollout of consumer programming.

To learn more surrounding the brand’s retailer support, social media efforts and internal corporate endeavors please visit Elizabeth Arden I am a voter. Come into the beautiful world of Elzabeth Arden.

 

 

 

L’Occitane Launches an Inclusive Global Parental Leave Policy

The French L’Occitane Group, a leader in natural cosmetics and well-being products and a pioneer in corporate sustainability, today announced the launch of a global parental leave policy to support families of all shapes and sizes. The new policy gives primary caregivers a minimum of 20 weeks’ fully paid leave and secondary caregivers a minimum of 12 weeks’ fully paid leave to bond with their new child. It will apply to L’Occitane employees worldwide – across its offices, factories and owned retail stores – whether the child is welcomed by birth or through adoption or surrogacy.

To support this new parental leave policy and further advance its commitment to the empowerment of women, the L’Occitane Group also announced that it will join the Leading Executives Advancing Diversity (LEAD) Network.

Empowering women is a core value of L’Occitane. Our new, inclusive global parental leave is a major step forward in our ambitious programme towards gender parity within the Group, aiming to help employees to balance parenthood and career and increase diversity within teams, resulting in better business performance overall.

Armelle Saint-Raymond, L’Occitane Group Human Resources Vice-President

The new parental leave policy seeks to empower all employees and their families. It directly promotes health and well-being through equal opportunities in the workplace and fairer gender relations within the family. With this pioneering initiative, L’Occitane’s new parents enjoy more generous maternity and paternity leave than local legislation would provide for in many countries.

The difference is particularly marked in the US and Asia, which together account for more than 50% of the Group’s activity. The Group’s subsidiaries will provide longer parental leave where required by local legislation.

I am extremely proud that L’Occitane Group joins the Leading Executives Advancing Diversity (LEAD) Network. This is an exciting opportunity to leverage the network’s resources as a means of forging ahead with our diversity and inclusion policies. Membership of the network will provide a platform for our employees to grow on a personal and professional level and drive the Group’s ambition to act as an advocate for women in business within the industry worldwide

Women currently represent 87% of L’Occitane’s global workforce. The new parental leave policy strengthens the Group’s existing provisions to attract, retain and advance women, which is one of the three pillars of its commitment to sustainability. The new leave is company-mandated to lower barriers preventing men from taking parental leave while also breaking the glass ceiling to help women achieve their full potential.

In addition, the Group will continue to further develop flexible working arrangements and support programmes for employees returning to work after parental leave. L’Occitane will begin implementing the policy at its global headquarters in Switzerland in 2020, with the global roll-out set to be completed by April 2022.

For more information about the LEAD Network, visit: www.lead-eu.net. Come into the beautful world of L’Occitane.

 

 

 

Sold! LVMH buys Tiffany & Co in $16.2 billion deal

The luxury French conglomerate and the American jeweller reach an agreement and it’s a big deal… In one of its biggest moves of the year – after Bvlgari, Chaumet, Fred, Hublot, and many others – LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) acquired fabled American jeweller Tiffany & Co. for $16.2 billion, solidifying its place as the world’s biggest luxury group.

The deal, which saw LVMH initially bid $120 per share back in October before both parties settled on $135, will help re-energise the jewellery brand and its business which has seen a substantial drop in interest in America as well as abroad. The blockbuster move will strengthen LVMH’s position in jewellery, creating heady competition for Swiss conglomerate Richemont, which owns both the French Maison’s Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, and has dominated the hard luxury category in the past few years.

We are delighted to have the opportunity to welcome Tiffany & Co, a company with an unparalleled heritage and unique position in the global jewellery world, to the LVMH family. We have an immense respect and admiration for Tiffany and intend to develop this jewel with the same dedication and commitment that we have applied to each and every one of our Maisons. We will be proud to have Tiffany sit alongside our iconic brands and look forward to ensuring that Tiffany continues to thrive for centuries to come.

Bernard Arnaul, LVMH chairman and chief executive officer

With 75 distinguished Houses, Tiffany & Co now joins LVMH’s massive stable of luxury brands which include fashion houses Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, and Celine, as well as beauty retail giant Sephora. “As part of the LVMH group, Tiffany will reach new heights, capitalising on its remarkable internal expertise, unparalleled craftsmanship and strong cultural values”, Alessandro Bogliolo, chief executive officer of Tiffany.

Come into the beautiful world of Tiffany & Co.

 

 

 

 

Facebook is set to hide the number of likes to protect user well-being

Earlier this year, Instagram started to cut off its most addictive feature yet: the number of double-tapping likes you get on your posts. With an aim to boost users’ wellbeing, it seems like there’s another social media platform following in Instagram’s footsteps, and rightfully so.

In a bid to boost users’ wellbeing, Facebook will start hiding likes on posts…  They’ve already begun testing the new feature.

Facebook (which actually owns Instagram) has announced that its users will no longer see the number of likes, reactions or video views on other people’s posts, however, comments will remain public.

“We’ve had really positive feedback from a lot of the anti-bullying groups and mental health organisations that we work with,” Mia Garlick, Facebook’s director of policy in Australia, told the Guardian. “It really is just taking that number out of the equation, so that people can focus on the quality of their interactions and the quality of the content rather than on the number of likes or reactions.”

There’s are indications the likes trial will be made permanent and that it will be rolled out globally.

 

 

 

 

Love is Love, also in Hungary

We believe that we are all equal, irrespective of our nationality, religion, gender, age, ethnic background, spoken language, hobbies and opinions. We believe that both hetero- and homosexuals have the right to love the person who is best for them.

A new advertising campaign from Coca-Cola Hungary is causing controversy for showing same-sex love. The ads show several couples lovingly sharing bottles of Coke. One of the ads shows a mixed-sex couple, another shows two women, and the other shows two men. The posters are part of a ‘Love Revolution’ campaign centered around Budapest’s Sziget music festival, which takes place this week.

Boldog István, an MP from Hungary’s conservative, right-wing party Fidesz which has held majority power in the country since 2010, has said he is boycotting the brand and is encouraging others to do the same. He wrote on Facebook: “Until they remove their provocative posters from Hungary, I will not consume their products! I’m asking everyone!”

István Boldog, who earlier this year called for a ban of the Budapest Pride Parade, is spearheading a petition and boycott against the brand for the posters, calling for their removal.

But Coke is standing by the ads. The soft drink company said in a press release: “The three different posters feature both hetero- and homosexual couples drinking Coca-Cola. With this we really want to convey a message: our belief that everyone has the right to affection and love; that the feeling of love is the same (#loveislove). Many advertisements – not just Coca-Colaʼs – divide peopleʼs opinions: some like them, some do not. Of course we respect the opinions of others that differ from our own. We believe that we are all equal, irrespective of our nationality, religion, gender, age, ethnic background, spoken language, hobbies and opinions. We believe that both hetero- and homosexuals have the right to love the person who is best for them”.

 

 

 

Fake influencers are costing brands more than $1 billion USD a year

According to a new report from Business of Fashion, influencer fraud is costing brands more than $1 billion USD a year. The study, which was conducted by cybersecurity company Cheq and the University of Baltimore, states that influences who pay for fake followers or engagement will cost advertisers $1.3 billion USD this year alone. This number is also projected to grow to $1.5 billion USD by 2020.

The reason behind the staggering amount of lost dollars is due to ‘influencers’ purchasing fake followers and engagements (including likes and comments), which then in turn makes brands believe they are worth collaborating with. Marketers then spend big bucks to provide free trips, gifts and more for these ‘influences’, but don’t gain anything in return. According to Mediakix, this year marketers will spend $8.5 billion on influencers alone.

Celebrities like Kim Kardashian with a following of tens of millions can earn up to $300,000 USD a post, while other top fashion influencers are said to earn around $12,000 USD per post. For those looking to expand their social presence, influencers only need to spend $16 USD for 1000 followers on Instagram.

There are significant further indirect costs – notably erosion of trust and potential brand impact.

Roberto Cavazos

Roberto Cavazos, a University of Baltimore professor and economist in the BoF report, also conducted a study and found that 25 percent of followers of 10,000 influencers were fake, while another study stated that out of 800 brands and marketing agencies, two-thirds found out they had worked with influencers with fake followers.

Following the research, Cavazos believes 50 percent of engagement on sponsored content is fake. Aside from buying engagement, Cavazos noted that some influencers post fake sponsored content “to dupe brands into believing they have a proven track record – and in order to get hired for a future engagement”.

Head over to Business of Fashion to read the full report.

The age of the influencer might be coming to an end

Influencer marketing has boomed in popularity because it leverages the dedicated following of social media influencers to reach targeted audiences. Advertisers are estimated to spend $2.3 billion in Instagram influencer marketing in 2020.

Instagram is almost single-handedly responsible for the rise of the influencer, and yet it is now reportedly considering changing the platform in a way that would seriously impact the influencer industry.

According to TechCrunch, the social media giant is testing hiding likes from public view. That’s right – you may no longer be able to see how many likes a picture has received which would put a serious dent in the business model of influencers who use those metrics as leverage to sell posts.

Instagram confirmed the news saying it is testing the feature because it wants “your followers to focus on what you share, not how many likes your posts get”.

We want your followers to focus on what you share, not how many likes your posts get. During this test, only the person who shares a post will see the total number of likes it gets.

Instagram

That’s how Instagram describes a seemingly small design change test with massive potential impact on users’ well-being.

Narcissism, envy spiraling and low self-image can all stem from staring at Like counts. They’re a constant reminder of the status hierarchies that have emerged from social networks. For many users, at some point it stopped being fun and started to feel more like working in the heart mines.

If it goes ahead, likes will still be visible to the person who owns the account though the public will only be able to see a handful of handles that have liked the image. It is believed that the move is in response to growing concerns over the impact the app has on mental health. When asked about the change, Instagram told TechCrunch, “exploring ways to reduce pressure on Instagram is something we’re always thinking about”.

If Instagram rolls out the feature, it could put the emphasis back on sharing art and self-expression, not trying to win some popularity contest. Does this mean the age of the influencer is finally coming to an end? We’re certainly entering unchartered (and very interesting) waters. Watch this space.

 

 

 

 

Instagram is going to start banning fake followers and paid-for likes

Instagram is littered with accounts whose followers are made up of paid-for bots and fake comments, but not for much longer. In the wake of similar crackdowns on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, Instagram has announced that it will begin banning paid-for likes and followers in the coming weeks.

Recently, we’ve seen accounts use third-party apps to artificially grow their audience. Every day people come to Instagram to have real experiences, including genuine interactions. It is our responsibility to ensure these experiences aren’t disrupted by inauthentic activity.

Instagram

In a post on its website overnight, Instagram has announced that it will begin to crack down on inauthentic activity. The social media platform has been taking down fake accounts since at least 2014, but this is the first time it’s publicly discussed removing fake likes from posts. To help combat this, the company says it has ‘built machine learning tools to help identify accounts’ that buy followers and likes.

Recently, we’ve seen accounts use third-party apps to artificially grow their audience. People come to Instagram to have real experiences, including genuine interactions. It is our responsibility to ensure these experiences aren’t disrupted by inauthentic activity.

Instagram

Taking a number of steps to limit this kind of unwelcome behavior, accounts that will be identified using these services will receive an in-app message alerting them that they have removed the inauthentic likes, follows and comments given by their account to others. Older posts won’t be affected however for those who have purchased any of the above, the newer posts will show a significantly lessened number of likes and comments making it fairly obvious they’ve previously dabbled in paid-for engagement. They will also be asked the to secure their account by changing their password. People who use these types of apps share their username and password, and their accounts are sometimes used by third-party apps for inauthentic likes, follows and comments.

Anyone willing to pay for fake followers doesn’t deserve your attention, and Instagram should not hold back from terminating their accounts if they don’t stop.

With social media being this generation’s great source of revenue-earning, being ethical and authentic in how you use it, especially as an ‘influencer’ has never been more important. Still thinking of buying followers? We advise you don’t!!

Looks like it’s going to be a very interesting few weeks ahead!