Have you ever been perplexed by unusual brand collaborations? So have we! We explore the controversial collaboration between Rowing Blazers and Target and the recent Louboutin x Marvel collection. Discussing the potential interests and lifestyle of the ideal client for such collaborations, we also examine the concept of brand confusion and the importance of putting client loyalty over financial gains. Come along for an episode that's as entertaining as it is insightful.
This week's episode is sponsored by our friends at Retouch Up! Use the coupon code GYST10 for a special discount!
This episode was written and performed by Mary Fisk-Taylor and Kira Derryberry, produced by Kira Derryberry and edited by Joel North.
Have you ever been perplexed by unusual brand collaborations? So have we! We explore the controversial collaboration between Rowing Blazers and Target and the recent Louboutin x Marvel collection. Discussing the potential interests and lifestyle of the ideal client for such collaborations, we also examine the concept of brand confusion and the importance of putting client loyalty over financial gains. Come along for an episode that's as entertaining as it is insightful.
This week's episode is sponsored by our friends at Retouch Up! Use the coupon code GYST10 for a special discount!
This episode was written and performed by Mary Fisk-Taylor and Kira Derryberry, produced by Kira Derryberry and edited by Joel North.
This week's episode is brought to you by our friends at RetouchUp. Retouchup works smarter, not harder. Welcome to Get your Shoot Together at the Photographers Podcast, where we discuss studio business life and keeping it all in line. I am Curie Dairyberry and I'm Mary.
Speaker 2:Fishtailer.
Speaker 1:Hello Mary.
Speaker 2:Fishtailer Hello, hello. I feel like it's been like 3,000 years since I've talked to you.
Speaker 1:It has been. It feels like. Guess what? I am $1,500 richer.
Speaker 2:What Okay?
Speaker 1:And I did nothing. How did that happen? So I was flying out to Atlanta the other day and sitting in the Tallahassee airport and I had my computer out and I was getting some work done and all of a sudden they announced our flight is overbooked and you have, and I need two volunteers. And I was like I guess I could, because I didn't I was coming in the night before and so I started to go and then two people walked up and I went eh, whatever, and then I just forgot about it.
Speaker 1:And then I get in line and I'm boarding and they said we still need one more person to volunteer to take another flight. And now we're offering $1,500. And I just bloop, I just stepped right out of line and he said I can guarantee you a 6 am flight in the morning, which would still get me there on time, or I can, you can and you can wait and see if you can get on this next flight. And I waited 30 minutes for the next flight. It was the last flight out and I was able to get on it and I got $1,500. Why did they start at a thousand? I probably would have done it for 500.
Speaker 2:I wonder who the heck they needed to get there so quick. I mean, wow, all right, right.
Speaker 1:That was. That was crazy. So yeah, I am I. Not only did I make it there the night, I would have gone there anyway, I just waited like an extra hour. I came out of it $1,500 rich.
Speaker 2:Man, now was that a Delta mile, Delta credit or cash?
Speaker 1:So what they do, it's well. It's not cash, it's gift cards. So I mean they give you all these options to use the gift you know and you can split it up into different gift cards so you can use it towards you know Delta mile, or you know airline, or you could use it towards like Best Buy, or you could use it towards American Express gift card.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah. So I'm going to use it to help cover my all the hotel costs for my family. And imaging, heck, yeah, I was like, oh yep, I will take that, thank you so yeah, pretty, pretty cool Dang.
Speaker 2:That's amazing. I I feel like I'm not well. How do I say this and not sound like a complete jerk, but I mean, I very rarely had that opportunity because I don't I usually buy first class and they can't normally guarantee me to get a first class seat on the next flight.
Speaker 1:So the only reason I did it was because I was actually kind of a perfect candidate in this situation.
Speaker 2:I was in person In my home.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm one person. I was in my hometown so I could go home and I did not have a connection because I was going to Atlanta.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there you go.
Speaker 1:So it was like if I get there a little bit later, that's not going to really cost me anything, because my meeting isn't until a little bit later in the morning anyway. So it was pretty cool. I was like because I had almost changed my flight to come in that morning anyway, because I was like, do I really need to come in the night before you know? But yeah, but I didn't. And look at me, look at you go. I know. I mean anyway, work in the system, work in the system.
Speaker 2:But I was like it was not that hard to do.
Speaker 1:So I was just. I think sometimes when you I mean I've never run up and done it either, because you know you never know if you can even get home at that point, if you're like in the middle of a connection or whatever, but in this situation I was like, well, I got nothing really to lose, but an hour, you know, I mean I'm good for you.
Speaker 2:I mean, that's a lot of money.
Speaker 1:I know I was unexpected. It was an unexpected bonus. What a delight, what a delight. How was your week? And you went to Austin.
Speaker 2:I have had the most incredible run. I've just been having such a good, good time. And, yes, I was in Austin for a week, which love the town, love, love, love, love Austin. It's probably one of my favorites, just because the vibe, the music, the food love it. I mean, I just, and it was beautiful we had. So it was my friend Beth's 50th birthday. I'm at Beth, yes, I'm at Beth, yes. So best 50th birthday. And we had awesome swag. Of course, my sister's new company did all this amazing beach Sheldon, but it was so cute. And we were at an Omni and Barton Creek, which is right outside of Austin, cannot say enough about this Omni, like the people in the pool. Oh my God, this is beautiful pool, it was sunny, not too hot, it was just perfection. And then my kids were there, my Jack's flew in, alex went with me and then we stayed through the whole long weekend to go to Austin City Limits and listen to mucho live music, which you know how much I love.
Speaker 1:All that I know you do so that sounds like a wonderful time, and you are one plus tattoo, I okay.
Speaker 2:So evidently, after seven margaritas you get a tattoo. I don't know if y'all knew this or not, it's a thing. So we were all at a Mexican restaurant. We did a food tour that morning, which loved it. It was so fun. And then we kind of just walked around and shopped and there's so many cute areas. We were in Soco, we were in the South Congress area shopping and we sat down and we started having some drinks and apps. And in the pool the day before, terri one of my very best friends, terri she said we all should get a tattoo to remember this event Because we're like a little tiny gang at least we'd like to think of ourselves as like that and she kept saying let's get a five point star. Now. She was a few cocktails at this moment.
Speaker 1:Why do you keep saying five point?
Speaker 2:star. Like you understand, there's no such thing as a four point star, and if we did a six point star, that'd be a star David, hence probably not appropriate. I just kept saying five point star.
Speaker 1:If it's a four point star, it's a crossed. And then I said but there's six and she goes.
Speaker 2:Well, we can't get a six point star. So it just became this huge joke and we kind of forgot about it. We're sitting at lunch or we're sitting at this early like dinner having apps and drinks and my daughter Alex goes. Are we going to go get a five point star? I just there's a tattoo bar 600 feet away or something, and I said, all right, guys, hold on, hold on, if we're going to, we keep calling it five point star, we don't can't just call it a star.
Speaker 2:At this point I said, well, if we're going to get a five point star, let's at least make it mean something. I said I call her Tess, but Chris text Katie, who is my goddaughter Darrell and I's goddaughter Terry's daughter. She's a junior in high school in Louisville. You know, you know Katie. And I said have Katie draw it and we'll all get Katie, katie a tattoo that Katie drew for us. Yes, because Scott, chris and myself and Darrell are Katie's godparents. Darrell Taylor is not getting a tattoo Anywho. I'm going to go get a tattoo. Katie draws a star. We roll up in the Southside tattoo and all got Katie's five point star. And then Jack flew in the next day and he went back the next day and he got Katie's five point star.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and baby Alex did too, baby.
Speaker 2:Alex got one, all of us did, and Chris and you know, beth and Scott had never had a tattoo before ever.
Speaker 1:Oh, how do they feel about it?
Speaker 2:They. They were fine, they were absolutely fine and these guys were so nice. It was a great experience. But now all right, anybody out there who has a tattoo when you get one, you start literally jonesing for your next one and I mean, I have, I have several, but I've had. I had to stop wanting more. But now all I can do is think about how I want to expand on this tattoo, because I want to get. I mean, there's a couple I want, but one of them is the funny, the way it is tattooed from Dave Matthews bands. Imagine that it's oceans, mountains, winters, rivers and stars. Well, since I had this five point star at the end here, I want to put that, and Katie start calling it a five point star.
Speaker 2:Oh, we're all, we're never not going to call it a five point star again. Like, why would we call it a star? Like it's a five point star. So, guys, if you see me out say it in a joke, we, but you know this group it's.
Speaker 1:Karen, karen, you probably know this, oh yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, we say something, we don't let it go Like 27 years ago and not really, somebody said is calling it a pickle, called it a percol? We still do this.
Speaker 1:So now it's five points. Sorry, I'm sitting here making a three-point star as a triangle.
Speaker 2:I say Terry, why do you? She's like I don't know. And then she we can't have a six-point star. Like no, we couldn't have a six-point star, that would be inappropriate. And it we, just we, we are. You know how we are and you've hung out with us enough that like we cannot let something go once it happens. And you know we all started those people that if we're added meal, we're talking about our next meal and if we're on a trip, we're talking about our next trip. Like that's just how we roll.
Speaker 1:That's how well, that's how you operate anyway.
Speaker 2:I have one speed Absolutely. When we're somewhere I'm like, so where we going next? Because I want to have it because I know it's gonna end, so I need to have something to look forward to.
Speaker 1:I, because I hate for things to end.
Speaker 2:I'm always worse than me.
Speaker 1:I know I'm always like second location, yeah, third location, like back to my house. Yeah, everybody, come back to my house. Do you want to stay over? Stay over, yeah, yeah, let's sleep in our guest room. My friends are.
Speaker 2:They call me a kidnapper, hey you know what that is actually a really valid? That's a very accurate. It's a very accurate, yeah, it's that's actually.
Speaker 1:You know, I used to get offended by that, but now I'm just like you know, I just own it. You're right, I like being around you. Well, I think it's great.
Speaker 2:I mean, I'm flattered, I'm glad that I would be worried if you didn't want to be like, if you didn't say, hey, let's keep it going. I'd be like huh sure doesn't like me anymore.
Speaker 1:Now, we used to be at board meetings and I'd be like, what do you text her? I'd be like, what are you doing? And she's like I'm just watching TV. I'm like, can I come watch TV with you?
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm, and then somehow we'd end up on naked and afraid or Schitt's Creek.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and then I'd go. Can I just sleep here, mm-hmm? So you got a full-ass room right down the hall, but sure.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so anyway, it was a great, great trip. I know you've been busy this week doing your, doing your PPA presidential thing. Yeah, I've been just put loose and fancy free. Oh.
Speaker 1:How nice for you.
Speaker 2:You just don't understand how much your life opens up and how little you care about things. I had somebody recently and guys, just I had recently somebody reach out because they were appalled by something that's going on on a board, that oh anyway, and I was like hey, you know what? I don't care, yeah, I don't care, I don't care.
Speaker 1:I was like not, my sir, I'm not on that board anymore.
Speaker 2:And, guys, this was at the PPA board. By the way, I'm not on that board anymore and I love this organization, but I don't care their leaders. They're doing the best they can and you know what it's not gonna burn down. This is not. You know, if they choose green tablecloths, it's still gonna be okay.
Speaker 1:It's gonna be okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so people just get really wound up about things and and like to complain. So yeah any who. But you know, what I don't like to complain about is our amazing friends at retouch up. Never, ever, ever, ever. Oh my god, they're working overtime for me right now. I think I uploaded 27 things, 27 orders to the master. I was a little behind because I did fully check out for a week. So pause for the cause to hear from our friends be right back.
Speaker 1:Hey, you is. It 2 am and you're still up retouching that one-year-old cake smash session because there's just not enough hours to get it all done. Stop what you're doing right now and upload that session to retouch up. Never tried retouch up? No problem. Sign up for a free account at retouch up comm and use the referral code G y s t to tell them you're one of our loyal listeners. With retouch up, there are no contracts, no minimums, no complications and nothing to lose. For a limited time. For a limited time, all listeners of this podcast can save $10 with the coupon code. Just fall 10. That's g y s t, f a l l 1 0 for all customers. That's enough to retouch like for headshots, or get five Extractions, or remove all the leaves out of the pool and the cars out of the parking lot on that real estate shot you just took. Get your life back with retouch up at retouch up comm. All right, and we are back.
Speaker 2:Yes, we are. So, Guy, sorry, I have a lot to share. So I want to bring something up because recently I've had two Incredibly disappointing customer service experiences and, contrary to bleep how popular belief, not that it's, but I don't really complain a lot like I, because I'm a small business owner and because I understand all the challenges, specifically after since COVID, with supply chain, things like that, I don't really get super wound up. None of these, by the way, are industry vendors. None of these are photography vendors. So there is a company that I really love and and they're not cheap. There's not a cheap company. I ordered several things for them. Okay, I'm gonna say what it is, because it's that's my, it's girl.
Speaker 1:Are we gonna?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's called rowing. I don't want to, I don't want to disparage this company. It's called rowing blazers. Rowing blazers is a brand that I've followed for a very long time now. Some people may know of it right now because they just did a huge collab with Target, which I have thoughts on this too. Guys, I'm gonna be very honest. Rowing blazers is. They do a lot of things. It's a, it's a British company and they lean into Princess Diana looks a lot and things like that like, but iconic things Like I have.
Speaker 2:I love the black sheep sweater. It's a red sweater with white sheep. Why is this just got a little black sheep in the middle, like it. Just, they have really fun things. They have this weather that says you know, I'm a luxury that few can afford on the back and it's just. I love the brand. You may have seen that that's so. I placed a pretty decent order several weeks ago and I got my order in and I'm going through and I go oh, this must be the. I ordered a like a boyfriend style Oxford with a grateful Dish symbol because I like to wear it as a cover up at the pool or whatever. There was a full-on, extra extra small White Oxford with no grateful dead emblem.
Speaker 1:And I'm like huh what are you wrong so?
Speaker 2:it's totally wrong package. I thought, gosh, I must have ordered it wrong. Like you know what I mean, like something has gone wrong here. No, I know there were three items in there that I ordered. It was this fourth item that I'm like, wow. So I go back to my order and I'm like did I hit the wrong size Again?
Speaker 1:because I'm that person that immediately thinks it's gonna be user error, right, yeah it's my fault, nope, so I go, huh.
Speaker 2:So I think, well, you know what I'm gonna just, I'm gonna just email and I'm sure they'll get back to me. No man, nothing. And then I was a little bit irritated because about a week and a half later still haven't heard from them. And the target collab Drops and I'm like, if they have any one of these items that I just paid quite a bit of money for at target, I'm gonna lose my mind. And did they PS? They did not. But I do worry about the integrity of the brand. When someone Collabs with and I love Target. But if you have a brand that's charging 350 to $500 for a sweater, then all of a sudden they're selling sweaters and Target for 5999, my head's gonna be like huh, what's happening?
Speaker 1:Well, I mean and I actually that's funny that you bring this up, because I just saw the reverse collaboration, like a lesser, a lesser brand, well, a completely different brand Combining with a very high-end luxury brand. So I just saw an ad on tick tock and I thought it was fake. This is how surprised I was, how ridiculous it was. It's the Louboutin and Marvel collection, what I know, and it's not like I love Marvel, I'm a big comic, you know, I'm a big movie comic book person, like I like that and I I don't have any Louboutin, but I mean I it's a luxury brand that I've admired, but there is a collab now between Marvel and this brand and I don't think I'm saying it right Louboutin, louboutin, louboutin.
Speaker 2:No Christian Lubaton, Lubaton.
Speaker 1:Okay, it's almost like Lubaton but it's not.
Speaker 2:That's why I keep correcting myself. I have Lubatons. Yeah, the red soul shoes right Red soul shoes.
Speaker 1:So it's just, but it seems like such a odd combination because it's, it's okay. I mean, of course, people who are hella rich or can afford these luxury items, they can also like Marvel. I mean I have, I like Marvel and I have a Louis, I have Louis Vuitton bag, and you know what I mean, but I don't know that I would buy a Marvel Louis Vuitton bag, right, like I don't know, like that lives in a different space in my, in my mind, within branding.
Speaker 2:I'm not going to buy a Marvel Louis Vuitton. I'm not, but I'm not a Marvel person, but I can't. I'm a both person I'm a Louis Vuitton and I'm a Marvel person.
Speaker 1:So it's like a weird. It's real. They have a, they have a collaboration, they have like a set of shoes that are out and, I guess, luggage or bags or something you know. That's all a common like a Marvel collab, and I was just like, who is this for? That's my question. Who is this for?
Speaker 2:Well, I know like who is the avatar that they identified, that's that's buying this right, that like who's the ideal client, like you know what? What would be really great is.
Speaker 1:You know what's missing in the marketplace? Yeah, what is missing.
Speaker 2:But you know, I, now that you mentioned that, I feel like there was a pretty high-end brand recently that did a collab with Disney. There's nothing wrong with Disney, guys. I I'm not a Disney person.
Speaker 1:Maybe that's the space that's coming from the people that do you know?
Speaker 2:Yeah, but it was a fairly high-end brand and I'm looking through in the bags and the wallets and the zits and I'm like what a grown-ass woman wants goofy.
Speaker 1:Oh, there's, disney adults.
Speaker 2:Okay, well, I guess there's Marvel adults.
Speaker 1:But I'm saying there's like a Venn diagram of interest right, interest, tax, bracket, lifestyle. And when I think of that Venn diagram, lubiton and Marvel.
Speaker 2:Don't go anywhere.
Speaker 1:Do not cross, there's no shading, not even a. The circles interacting must be so the sliver must be. They must be barely touching each other. You know what I mean Like, but maybe I'm wrong. I could see like at Disney, in their luxury shopping areas, you know, having Disney themed luxury items like a Tiffany collection or a. You know, I could, I could see that. Okay, maybe that's the idea that Marvel is trying to do.
Speaker 2:I think maybe that's the same thing then. I mean I really do. I think that's the same thing. I would think the Marvel collection they're really marketing I might be wrong to young men, right, or?
Speaker 1:men. No, no, no, no. Women, it was women's shoes and men's shoes.
Speaker 2:Okay, I can't wrap my head around this at all. I mean, everybody's looking it up right now right, Because I need to see it, but huh.
Speaker 1:The ad was a cartoon. What, yeah I? If I've been duped, shame on me, but I looked at it and I was like what I'm going to look?
Speaker 2:at it there, I'm looking, I'm looking too.
Speaker 1:Because, because Blue bootin.
Speaker 2:The bootin to Marvel. Sure enough, sure enough yeah.
Speaker 1:Marvel capsule.
Speaker 2:Look at those boots. That's insane yeah.
Speaker 1:So anyway, I'm sure this is.
Speaker 2:Sorry guys, I'm in, I'm in, I'm in.
Speaker 1:I'm shook in the bags and the shoes. Yeah, I mean, hey, they're cute, you know, but it's just such a strange, it's sold out. Look, the bag is sold out.
Speaker 2:It sure is.
Speaker 1:It's got a little rubber Marvel key chain on it. I mean like come on, but you know, marvel is owned by Disney and maybe that's the idea is like it's a Disney. You know, it's maybe Disney's like, because I don't, I don't think that's been forever, I think it's been a few years.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but I just still can't wrap my head about what. And I and this is great to talk because I mean we all are, hopefully all of us are constantly like trying to identify our avatar. Right, we're trying to identify that I do client Like. I know, I am like because it changes. It changes as generation, you know change and things like that. So but I'm just trying to understand under what universe that that, that they thought that it because the investment level into the design, marketing and production of these items is huge. Now they, they cost a lot more than your average pair of Louboutin. So I don't know, but I just because now, if you're paying $3,500 for a pair of these cosmic boots, who's buying those.
Speaker 1:I mean the thigh high ones any of them?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, because of the 4mm strappy sandals of calf leather, calf leather and spikes, cause we don't cows are too old for no, no, no, you wouldn't have them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you have to have your baby cow. That makes me sad.
Speaker 1:I know why would they specify this?
Speaker 2:I don't know. So it goes both ways. I think that's a really fair point. I mean, you know, it's not like a brand that actually has a brand for each level of the market. For example, Ralph Lauren, Genius. You have purple label, you have Ralph Lauren and you have polo sport. You can find polo sport at Dillards or whatever.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you could probably find it Right.
Speaker 2:So that's different levels. But they're marketing. It's like old Navy versus Gap versus Banner Republic. It's very different markets they're going after. They're trying to capture all levels of the market. That's kind of like in my business and even in yours to a small extent, like we, and it's not all under the same roof but we have the whole entire school event division and then we have our portrait division. You have your headshot corporate division and you have your portrait division. So you kind of are trying to angle for two different markets. Those are two different avatars, right? Yeah, so I understand that piece. It's just I cannot wrap my head around why Christian Levitton would do this. But I'm angry as a rowing Blazers consumer that all of a sudden you can get a similar, similar sweater Not the exact same quality but for a fraction of the price at Target.
Speaker 2:Like huh, in what universe did you not think your loyal buying clients would be? Like, well, why bother? Like, why bother? It's not special anymore. That was one of the things I loved about this brand is they would create pieces and they were incredibly unique. They're not something everybody's got and that, granted, they didn't put all their pieces, they didn't put their iconic pieces in Target, but it was like huh, you know what I mean. Like well, that was just weird. And you know, I don't know, several years ago, there was another brand that tried to do that with Target and it absolutely failed miserably. I think it was it wasn't Christopher Radco, but it was something along those lines and it just didn't compute.
Speaker 2:Because one of the things we know with Storybrand is confuse. You lose right If you start sending these mixed messages. It's like, all of a sudden, if I started marketing angel pictures, people would be like what in the? Did somebody kidnap Mary and Hayes and Fisk because this isn't their brand at all? You know what I mean. Did we just cut off abruptly? Oh guys, hey, so I had the best conversation with myself.
Speaker 1:And.
Speaker 2:I was looking at the screen. I'm like, wow, kara's really interested in what I'm saying, and then I realized it was frozen and yeah, so my Wi-Fi went out. So, honestly, our poor editor Joel. We tried to have him fix things like this in the past and you know what? It's just hard.
Speaker 1:So just easier to be like the internet guy the internet died and now we're back.
Speaker 2:But we were talking about the confusion and why brands do what they do and it's always confusing to me and I don't know about you, but I look at brands like Lovitan or Gucci or whatever and I think they're smart, like they're really smart. But sometimes I do look at these collabs and I'm like huh, because it's not very. It's confusing, I think, to your established clientele.
Speaker 1:I think it's confusing too, but you know, it's probably one of those things where they've done some research and they've decided that there's obviously a big enough market to put it out. Maybe it's a limited, you know, and honestly I don't hate when I look at this collection. Of course, somebody like me who does like Marvel and likes my shoes, I don't hate the collab. It's just confusing. If I saw that collab with, like Betsy Johnson, like mid-range, you know, If I saw it at a mid-level, like if I were, I would pay Kate's paid kinda.
Speaker 1:Kate's paid, I'd pay $200, you know, maybe $30,000, $500, you know what I mean. Like that's the mid-level. I see it working High-level.
Speaker 2:I'm confused and I think that's a great thing, no offense, but I mean and I feel like I'm a middle-up income America kinda gal, but I mean I can see wanting to have something. It's like I well I'm sitting here right now like I will spend way too much money on concert t-shirts or those type of things, but that's a mid-range investment. You know what I mean. Like and a lot of like. I know that, a lot of like. I just was at Austin City Limits and a lot of local designers had collabed on the merch and their little local shops. That collab made sense to me. Like, oh yeah, it's kind of a mid-level whatever, but these higher ends or the other way, like I was saying that higher-end rowing blazers, which is not at the equivalent of a Louis Vuitton or a Louis Vuitton or whatever but, them collabing with Target and I'm like, hmm, like I just I don't get it, like I don't, I don't understand it, and us, as small business owners, we don't have.
Speaker 2:I think your point is valid that they have done their market research. They have figured out that this collab is worth it and maybe and this is the only thing I can think of, and I was thinking of this as I was praying for my wifi to come back up maybe the point was it gives them such buzz-worthy pieces that it brings them people to their website and people might not end up buying the $3,500 Cosmic Boots, but they might buy a $1,000 pair of shoes or boots.
Speaker 1:Does that make sense? Yeah, it might be an interesting experiment. I mean, here we are talking about it. It certainly has us interested and, like I said, I didn't as a fan of both. I didn't hate the look of it.
Speaker 1:I wouldn't do it you know, that's just not in my budget but I mean it's just, it's interesting. But you know I was thinking about how it correlates to our businesses and creating brain confusion. Like you know, when you collaborate with another store, let's say, you know what I mean You're always we've said this many, many times you're always thinking about, like similar clientele. You know what I mean. Like that Venn diagram of like, where the crossover between my avatar, my client avatar, would not only appreciate luxury photography and, like you know, large wall art, but they would also spend, you know, mid to high level money on shoes and more expensive brands for their children's clothes and things like that, right, so we think about those collaborations. So it doesn't make sense to collaborate with your high end brand and say, old Navy, you know what I mean. So, like, if you're styling things for your clients too, you might be suggesting like a local boutique to style them at rather if you're high end Now.
Speaker 1:If you're mid level, there's nothing wrong with that, Correct?
Speaker 2:No, you're absolutely right and I've made those mistakes. I know I've talked about it on this podcast where I thought, oh, the numbers are so good it'd be worth it. It very rarely is worth it, like I absolutely agree, I'm not going to go out and, you know, set up or collab with a mid range children's clothing boutique because it's just, I know, because I have the history to prove it, it's not going to be the right fit. But I agree and I think because we're such small businesses, we can't take that chance. I don't have any extra energy or money to say let's see if this works. I don't know. You know, I guess the only thing I do every year that's not the same, but we've talked about this many times is my Quick Takes, which are only open to clients, and it's very, you know, it's a very different experience and a portrait experience with me.
Speaker 1:It's a vetted situation. I just had an inquiry. I feel like this is all connected really, but I just had an inquiry. That is a somebody I know in town but I've never actually worked with. I think I did a headshot for her within a group a long time ago, but she's been a client of other people I know for a really long time, you know, and she was contacting me because they're not able to get her in this year because they're traveling a lot, and so her email to me was I'm not sure I can afford you So-and-so, always just does this for me. And so if let's just say that I was like let me take this on and let me try and price match or let me try and offer the same, it's brain confusion, right?
Speaker 1:Like how can you justify trying to match what they always got, because that's what they always got right, when that's not really what you do? And she's already concerned that she can't afford me and so you know if it works out, great. But my response to her was hey, you know, I'm not sure what the budget was for that, but here's my products and pricing, here's how I can get you in. And I didn't really compromise on like what I could offer, simply because you can't Right. And she's also saying I wouldn't always come to you, I just can't get my person. So now I'm coming here, you know. So the brain confusion there is would be if I did this compromise here just to kind of get help out this sort of colleague person here. How could I justify what I offered to my client?
Speaker 2:You know what I mean. You can't justify it.
Speaker 1:You've got to be it. You've got to be consistent with your brand and what you offer, right yeah?
Speaker 2:it's unjustified? I don't think it's. You know, and this early, early on in the studio I mean I think we were only in business for like maybe four years we had an amazing client. We did her wedding, we photographed her maternity, we photographed her three-month portraits and she was, at that time, invested very well.
Speaker 2:And then I had this bright idea to run this weird little flash sale. And I will never forget her calling me and being so angry with me because she's like I just literally was in there last week and spent XYZ and you're telling me that you couldn't have given me a heads up, because I'm a loyal client and I've spent a lot of money with you that you were going to run this flash sale. What I had to tell her is I didn't know I was going to run the flash sale, I just felt a little desperate for money. And what do we do? My first instinct is lower prices or we're the sale. Do that fire sale, which I learned the hard way, and I know we teach it and talk about it, but I learned the hard way. Guys, Don't do that, because I know it upset her and it probably upset others.
Speaker 1:It's the same thing as your company you're just working with. You're like I'm sad that now I can get the. It's not exactly the same product, but it is the same product and it's in a lower end brand and now anybody can have. And so I mean, I think that's actually. I mean now I'm thinking of all kinds of situations where this was the case. So let's talk about the headshot market, right? Okay, that's a great point.
Speaker 1:So I just had an inquiry last week from an organization and they had been referred to me by another photographer and they said what we're trying to do is we have a week-long event and we're trying to have blocks of time covered by photographers. And if you can only do so much time, that's fine. So I think what they thought they were going to get is a bunch of photographers to cover a different amount of time, which seemed wacky to me, but let's say that I said yes to that. And then another photographer comes in and does the next two hour block. But I think they were doing it because they were expecting to get a bunch of people for less money in volume, right? And so what I did instead because my clients, who I do multiple day sessions for, for their companies or whatever. If they saw me there at this event, at this corporate event, and then the next two hours it was somebody else, it would be really confusing that.
Speaker 2:I was like does that person?
Speaker 1:work for my company or do I work for this company that's coming in? It would be super strange. So when I came back to it I was like, listen, what I'm going to do is quote it as if I'm doing the whole event. So tell me what days and hours you're going to be needing coverage and let me give you a quote for the whole event I did, which was a high quote because it was like a five-day event. And then he came back and said you know what, can you just quote it for two days, and we'll just do two days of two half-day events. And so I came back and I and I and I'm the only photographer doing the job now for two days of the event.
Speaker 1:That's great, and there will be no brain confusion, and I didn't compromise on the pricing, exactly, you know. So, yeah, I mean, I think these are things that like we see it in the, in the real world, outside of our own businesses. But then you have to look at how, when something confuses you, like it is with your old Navy, you know, versus your high end, and when it's something's confusing me with this Lubitan versus Marvel thing, we have to equate it to like why is it confusing us?
Speaker 2:Right, you know. Well, that's a really good point. I mean, that's a great point. I didn't think about that. And first of all, good for you for saying, standing your ground and saying, nope, this is what, um, this is it. And you know you were willing to walk away from the opportunity because it doesn't fit your brain, it doesn't fit your, you know your profitability margins, et cetera, et cetera, and absolutely I think that that's an excellent point. I just, I don't know, these were just weird. But I started talking about the customer service long story bearable guys, because I think it's always interesting when brands do these things and and I'm sure there's been some very successful ones out there, and I'm always looking at an opportunity, but I, ever since that one client walked away, I am so mad, like literally took it personally.
Speaker 1:I thought I can't ever do this again.
Speaker 2:Um, even if I feel, you know, desperate desperation, you know, only fosters desperate measures, it feels like. So the point is I emailed here we are worth, we're a three and a half weeks later, nothing, finally. And I tried to call and you literally call and it says it just hangs up on you because their volume is so big. Someone finally emailed me last night with apologizing but literally said we're so overwhelmed with this target collab I can't see straight and I'm thinking, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's great, but you have $280 of my money and I have an extra, extra small shirt that won't even fit my dog. Like, what are we doing about this?
Speaker 1:I can't even imagine a company like writing back and being like, and here's what I'm dealing with.
Speaker 2:She literally said how overwhelmed she was by the target collab and I'm thinking, okay, maybe you're too big for riches.
Speaker 1:All of a sudden.
Speaker 2:Okay, Brooke, Um, maybe y'all. First of all, I don't believe you because there's no way you set up a target collab. You have to have, and my kids are in supply chain. They had to have warehouses guaranteed full before target.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, yeah, we've heard about that. They're lying to me.
Speaker 2:Like that's not even possible. You're not personally handling target, like you're not. It's not how supply chain works. But it was disappointing. But she did email me back. However, for the, I don't know that I've ever had to do this. If you ever had to go back to your AmEx and dispute a charge, meaning you paid for something and it wasn't, you know what I mean, I had to. I know you can, but I have not done it now. I did yesterday.
Speaker 2:So there is a company I've worked with locally that I've worked with for many, many years. It's my, my company that I do my client gifting with. Have you worked with them years? Remember that year we decided I'm going to send gifts as they order and not wait till Christmas. I have loved working with this company. The first owner sold to a new girl. She everybody's been lovely. I saw where the. The second owner did send an email out about six months ago that, um, due to some you know just essentially hard times and supply chain, she was going to be closing the company. Then I noticed like 30 days later she said surprise, I got a buyer. This person will be taking over. Great, I'm just going to keep ordering what I order, no problem, I uh August 28th I placed two client gift orders.
Speaker 2:Nothing nothing nothing, email, email, email, nothing, nothing, nothing. They've got my money. My clients don't have a gift. When I went and I unfortunately did not realize it till I log back in to order another client gift and I noticed on my account that those two from the end of August were still pending. So I'm like, great, my clients didn't get gifts and they've got my money. I emailed them one more and I sent like three emails nothing. They did respond one time. I'm sorry, I'll get right back to you Nothing, nothing, nothing.
Speaker 2:I went to log on the site yesterday the site's gone. You get the message and I emailed one more time and I said I'm going to give you till 12 noon tomorrow and if you don't respond, I'm going to go to AMEX and they will refund the money, which they did immediately, by the way. But yeah, I thought, wow, this company has been in business for almost five years, I've been such a loyal client and whoever this new owner is couldn't even just send an email and say hey, I'm drowning here, I'm going to give you your money back because I can't fulfill the orders or whatever. They spent your money, oh yeah.
Speaker 2:They bought into this company and couldn't handle it, or I don't know, but thank God I use my American Express. Another testimonial for AMEX.
Speaker 1:Yeah, AMEX is actually great.
Speaker 2:I mean they immediately, on the spot, refunded the money.
Speaker 2:So I was like I mean, I filled the dispute form out and I went back into email and they'd already said we've credited your account. I was like, okay, thanks, thanks American Express, thanks, friend, but customer service, that's kind of was my thing. I was just I don't tend to get too wound up about things, you know like I don't know. I I many times I know, you know this all too well being in an airport or whatever and people will start getting real wound up and I'm like guys, everybody's doing the best they can.
Speaker 1:It was your best.
Speaker 2:Just calm down, it's fine, but for some reason this really got my goat. I don't even know what that means, but it got my goat, kira.
Speaker 1:Got my goat. I think we, I think we have a decent amount of patience. You know, I we went to brunch this this weekend with my family members and they were just overwhelmed of the place that we went to brunch. It wasn't that busy, but they just didn't have enough people. And there were two people at a table next to us that were just so mad, oh my God, and I was just looking around and like they're doing their best.
Speaker 2:They're doing their best, you know it's not the server's fault, that the kitchen stuff is not. You know what I mean. Like, this person is literally just juggling what they walked into that day they, you know I mean unless you were dealing directly with the owner.
Speaker 2:I, I absolutely agree, like it, it just makes me nuts Like I don't, I don't know. But people, you know it goes both ways. But just you know, guys, sometimes it happens right, Like I remember one time I could not get this bride's wedding album straight to save my life, like I misspelled their name. Then I had the date. I mean, I literally reprinted the stupid things so many times but every single time I would reach out and say I'm so sorry, I, I, I, it's my mistake. I take full responsibility, and even if it isn't your fault.
Speaker 2:So, going back to that Rowan Blazer's example, brooke, I don't want to hear about your problems. I want you to talk about me, right? So let's go back to Storybrand. Talk about me. My problem is what I need solved. I can't solve your problem. Don't blame it on target or your distributors or whatever. Tell me you're sorry and that you're going to fix it right. Don't tell me your problems. That'd be like if we have a problem with a client because our lab messed up, or shipping, or you peed, whatever that's calling the complaint, saying I'm yeah, I feel terrible, but my lab is this, or my UPS or FedEx or whatever your problem. No, your client does not want your problems, they have their own.
Speaker 1:And I get it. I'm cause. I'm the worst about oversharing when I'm overwhelmed, you know what I mean. I will basically be like and I woke up and my ear hurt. You know what I mean. Like I slept on my arm wrong. It's like whatever.
Speaker 2:It's like that's what's the commercial where he's like it's hard to be your parent, grow up like your parent and to keep people. Homeowners should not end up like their parents. And the lady goes. They're at the salad bar place. It always reminds me that they're at the salad bar place. They goes. Do you have any allergies? She goes. Well, my teeth are sensitive to cold.
Speaker 1:And that has nothing to do with it. Wait, are you? Are you doing it? I know I do it. It's like nobody wants to hear that. Yeah, I mean like honestly, there are things that people are understanding of family emergencies and things like that, but you don't have to be like you know, you know my, I don't know. You know my cat like fell off my roof and now their leg is broken and just my daughter has a cold, my pants split.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, just just move on. We do like to over, we do like to overshare, but I have to that. Those commercials make me giggle so hard, david, and I will literally text about those commercials Like I think that they are so funny. My favorite part, though, and guys, this is because there was a salad plate. There is a salad place in Atlanta food court where we would go a lot.
Speaker 2:I don't go there anymore because I'm not going to Atlanta anymore. You know what I mean and you know it's expensive. You're like huh, how did I spend that much money on a salad? Like that's insane. But the guy gets up to pay have you seen this one? And he goes that'll be $20 and 92 cents. He goes oh no, I'm just paying for mine. Well, I remember that actually happened in that salad place one time and the guy was behind. They gave him the total and he goes oh, I'm just paying for my salad. And I thought, oh my gosh, it's actually real, because it does add up, doesn't it guys? I ordered it completely for lunch the other day and I was like how did I spend $32 on three tacos? It's guacamole, I know it's insane.
Speaker 1:I did that last night with Lucy. They were like $48 at this Mexican place and I was like I'm just paying for mine. But I was just buying me and her.
Speaker 2:It's just for me and her. She's a child. We need $48.
Speaker 1:I didn't even do her alcohol.
Speaker 2:How is this even?
Speaker 1:happening? I don't know.
Speaker 2:I did not order alcohol from Chipotle, I was $10 cheaper. Anyway, customer service and brand identity, I think, is the conversation we're trying to have today. They don't actually go hand in hand, but the stories do. But it's just interesting, I think, with getting ready and gearing up for this little tiny thing around the quarter called Imaging USA, which, oh my gosh, I'm so excited about. We go and we see these amazing programs and this cool stuff, and I know you and I say this all the time but make sure, even if you'd love, love, love, love, love it, it has to fit into your brand, Unless you're going to create a whole other division or you're going to rebrand. That's one thing, but if you have a client base and you've established that and it's one that you track and you're really happy with, it's so hard and I know I use this example all the time.
Speaker 2:I love what ATJ does. Alison Teller Jones, who doesn't love her? She's a delight, but her style would not work for me, like I have a very nailed down, boring style. You, however, can take an ATG class because you all have similar vibes, similar vibe, yeah, and you can go, yes and run with it, whereas if I were teaching, there's nothing that Jamie or I could show you that you could really as far as portrait work. You know, hang, that would work with you. You started trying to do what I do. People would be like, yeah, what happened?
Speaker 1:to Kira, like this is not her, yeah, yeah. Well, I'm always guilty of like oh, I love that, I want to do that, but it's taken a lot for me to scale that back, you know. But hey, but speaking of Imaging USA, I did get a note that we're like 80% booked in Marriott, in the Marriott. So if people are looking to book and they want to be connected to the convention center, you better get on the horn or the internet or both. That's my dad, my dad's coming out. Get on the horn, I know that's the phone.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I literally just got tested Get my goat. I don't even know what that means. I'm like it's stupid, but I get my goat. I also used this the other day and I feel like it needs to be used more. Mukitty, muck, mukitty.
Speaker 1:Muck. Yeah, that sounds like rigamarole. You know that whole rigamarole, rigamarole, well, mukitty.
Speaker 2:Mucks. I mean, these are words that, if you guys let us know, I feel like we should bring them. They should be used more.
Speaker 1:Mukitty. Muck is a great word.
Speaker 2:How can you say Mukitty Muck or Rigamarole and not kind of smile, it's yeah.
Speaker 1:You know, dad says is when I'm on the phone with him and I've interrupted something important that he's doing, and that could be Everything dad's doing is important and John Dodd's important John is and you'll say, all right, let me let you go, let me get back to my rat killing. Okay, that's okay. I say that sometimes I'll go. Well, I'll let you get back to your rat killing.
Speaker 2:Isn't that funny. My grandfather had some real zingers that I would use sometimes, and I'm like gosh Papa, we shouldn't always use some of those, because they're just some of those don't translate.
Speaker 1:They're real weird.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. I mean you know kind of interest, not modern at all, absolutely. But guys, anyway, sorry about the glitch, guys, sorry about my rambling. It's just been a week Like it's been being gone and being with my kids was so great. But then coming back and catching up and actually have a whole nother topic I was going to talk about today. But we're going to save that for another podcast.
Speaker 1:We will save it, god knows. We need more topics, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, always feel free to let us know, guys. But obviously we're getting ready to get into busy, or it may be for you guys busy or season, at least for me. It gets a little busier around this time, personally and professionally. Right, it's busier all the way around, but you know we'll have, I'm sure, some cool announcements coming up when we're going to take some time off for the holidays and stuff. But for now, how could they get in touch with us that they would like to?
Speaker 1:Well, I think I agree. I think it is time to let people get back to the rat killing and let them go. I just wanted to say it again you did.
Speaker 2:I'm using that today one way or the other.
Speaker 1:Please do and just pause for confusion, you know just leave it like hanging, just see what happens.
Speaker 2:People are like what the heck just happened? Oh, I just said a terrible guess word. Oh who?
Speaker 1:cares. All right, you guys can follow us on Instagram and get your shoot together. You can follow us on Facebook and get your shoot together. You can email us at girl at getyourshooteogethercom and subscribe to us. Everywhere we're podcasts are played. We will see you guys next time. Yes, we will. Bye.