Today my intern experience began. I was nervous, excited and keen to learn something new. I chose to come and work at DeWInter rather than with a stylist or photographer as I already work with photographers on a weekend. I have always been really interested in blogging and the use of social media within the fashion industry. I know that DeWinter contributes to several local fashion columns and works closely with some retailers too. This was a perfect opportunity for me to expand my interest in fashion journalism and also to apply the skills I already have as an image maker. Hopefully at te end of this six weeks I will have gained a whole new skill set.
Jenna Vernon, director of Digital and Social Media is the person I will be reporting to throughout my internship.
My first task as part of my placement was to attend a meeting alongside Jenna with an expert social media strategist. This was a great start as it gave me a great overview of how both business to business (B2B) and business to customer (B2C) companies are best using social media to their advantage.
The meeting discussed several points.......
After the meeting ended Jenna briefed me on updating DeWinter's social media sites, Facebook and Twitter, daily during my placement period. She asked me to look at sites such as Social Media Today, Marketing Week, Mashable, The Drum and Creaive Review. I was then to tweet and post links to the most up to date news articles on these sites each morning via Hootsuite. I felt this was to be invaluable to me as I was also reading the articles and learning how social media and great marketing can benefit a business. Jenna also asked me to tweet and post via Facebook the most up to date news on the company including awards nominated for and events handled etc. As a great believer in social media as a brilliant platform for any business I am really looking forward to handling this aspect of my job ole during my placement.
During the afternoon one of the PR executives asked me to do some competitor tracking which n clouded researching the latest news articles relating to the competitors of one of DeWinters clients, Flextronics and then putting my research in to report form using a template she gave to me.
Day one of my internship went really well and I feel I am already gaining valuable knowledge.
Week 1: Day two
This morning I scheduled tweets for the DeWinter social media sites as Jenna asked me to yesterday.
Today I worked alongside Jas Melling. Jas is the main PR exec for The Golden Square account at DeWinter. Th Golden Square is my local shopping centre and so I was really excited to be working on a retail based account.
I did some research for Jas this morning. I looked at competitor shopping Centres, Manchester Arndale, The Trafford Centre and Liverpool one. I researched by looking at their online sites and social media accounts, what offers they are running, competitions and upcoming events. I took some screen shots of the 'coolest' pages on their sites.
Jas also asked me to research the main clothing retailers which are based in the Golden Square. They are Topshop, New Look, BHS, Wallis, Warehouse, Bank Fashion, Oasis, River Island, Monsoon, HnM, Debenhams and Jack and Jones. She asked me to again, look at their online sites to try and gage any up and coming collections etc which they are promoting. For example, the Kelly Brooke collection is due to land in New Look stores any day now.
Jas wanted this info so that she can check if the Golden Square stores have any of this stock when she visits them later this week so that she can photograph it and promote via the social media sites for the centre which she manages.
I then relayed all my research back to Jas via email. She told me that it was a great body of research and thanked me. This task felt enjoyable and pretty easy for me as research is such a big part of my degree as a styling student.
During the afternoon today I was de-briefed by Kate Cox the MD and owner of DeWinter on an upcoming event that the company would be managing for their client, Mottram Hall. Amanda Wakely will be showing her collection here next week and Kate wants me to collate a list of national and local press contacts through a system called precise. She said to focus on fashion editors and features writers as the main contacts. Invites will need to be sent out by the end of the week so this is a really important task.
Week 1: Day three
This morning I scheduled tweets via Hootsuite for DeWInter. The theme I focused upon for today's tweets and posts was 'How will social media shape the retail experience of the future?' I found some really interesting articles.
I then went on to organise and format the list of press contacts for the Mottram Hall event. I used Excel to do this and then printed it off and handed it to Kate for her to highlight which people she wanted to invite.
During the afternoon I went to visit the retailers at the Golden Square with Jas. This was really interesting. We took the research I had done yesterday and she queried with some of the shops when the collections will be in store. Jas had also checked items in nationalmpress magazines such as Look and Grazia. She photographed some Topshop shoes in store which were advertised on the cover of look magazine. She also took some photos of some of the new shop displays for on the Facebook page.
Jas also asked the retailers if they wanted to take part in a competition that will be advertised at the Chester Rocks event at the race course in June. It was a really great afternoon as there was lots of interest in the competition with Topshop willing to donate a Miss Patina dress and Jack and Jones were interested in donating some menswear.
Week 1: Day four
This morning I spent scheduling posts via Hootsuite focusing on the emergence of Facebook Home. They discussed the features of the app and how they could benefit both a B2B and B2C business.
I then binded several monthly reports for the DeWinter clients. Clients include, The Golden Square, Flextronics, Adoption Matters. Dr. Beckmanns, The Grovesnor, CLNR and Mottram Hall. A real variety of companies.
I then formatted a monthly competitor report, I used links to articles which I had been emailed and put them in to the form of a report.
During the afternoon I was introduced to Laura Jones. Laura is an ex journalist and fashion stylist. Her background includes working for both I.D. Magazine and alongside Katie Grand. She graduated 7 years ago with a degree from LCFin Fashion Journalism. Laura asked me about my degree and my styling work and seemed to really love the visual work I showed to her.
Laura briefed me on a new fashion column she had just began to work on for the Warrington Guardian. Laura asked me to help out with the column and asked me to take on the responsibility of styling two shoots. I was so excited. She asked me to start thinking of a concept for one of the shoots. One had already been decided upon which was a spring florals theme.
During the afternoon Laura asked me to write 200 words on the Monochrome trend to go alongside the shoot they had just done for the first column.
The first week of my internship has been fascinating. I am so glad I chose to come to DeWinter. Not only am I learning a whole new world of skills and about how PR and Marketing benefits my local retailers and shopping centre. I am also getting the opportunity to manage a shoot which is great to go alongside my degree.
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