Victoria's Secret... Marketing

Every mall in America has a staple store that every girl loves. This store, of course, is Victoria's Secret; a store that has a wide range of products that appeal to all different types of girls and women. Whether you're a pastel flower frills kind of girl or a punk rock princess, you'll be able to find something to fit your style. Not to mention the wide range of body products, makeup, and perfumes you will find there as well.

With sales over $5 billion, Victoria's Secret is a power player in the retail industry. However, it is interesting how Victoria's Secret got to that point with highly overpriced products. Each product is marked up by more than double its cost, and are not always made with the highest quality materials. However, like a cult following, customers repeatedly purchase $10 pieces of fabric and elastic bands.

I love walking into a Victoria's Secret store, no matter where I am. Being a girly girl, I'm immediately drawn in by the expanse of pink stripes and lace. I always know that when I step into a Victoria's Secret that I will quickly be greeted by someone and reminded that if I need any help that there is someone there for me. I always feel that sense of luxury and grandeur, even if I'm just in my local mall.

This is the bread and butter of Victoria's Secret's business strategy. The company relies on this prestige and has gathered a huge customer base that buys into it. Unlike many other huge retailers, Victoria's Secret lets the customer know that it is a designer brand. Each year the Victoria's Secret fashion show is broadcast on television and is a highly anticipated event. Both women and men gather to watch the hour long show featuring the Victoria's Secret Angels strutting their stuff down the runway. The outfits are outrageous and fun, sexy and gorgeous and appeal to both sexes. The funny part is, people are really just watching an hour long commercial. I think it's amazing that a marketing ploy is something that people all over the U.S. will watch while drinking wine and having a good time.



Both the stores and products appeal to women and men due to the atmosphere and attitude that they convey. Victoria's Secret is a brand that everyone can identify from the pink-striped shopping bags to the semi-annual sale. This yearly event is nothing crazy or new in the marketing world, but Victoria's Secret has almost branded the phrase "semi-annual sale" with their onslaught of commercials and social media strategies. I follow Victoria's Secret on Twitter, and was surprised to see that people were sending in photo's of their "haul" from shopping the semi-annual sale to the company. I would really like to meet the marketing genius to came up with
this idea because it helps the company in so many ways. Not only are they getting the customers to interact with the brand, but they're also sending these posts that their friends can see. I know that I get jealous of every post that I see and wish I had a better income so I could buy all of it (man am I materialistic).

I would be honored to work for the marketing department of Victoria's Secret because they are really masterminds when it comes to selling. I have yet to see a marketing tactic that Victoria's Secret has used that I haven't thought was brilliant!!

Taylor Swift is gorgeous!!

Enchanting Lady

My choices in music are not always considered cool or hip or original, but I don't care. I like what I like, and I don't care what other people think of my choices because music is a source for me to get lost. Whether I'm just driving in my car with the windows down or I'm listening to my iPod trying to fall asleep, music can make or break a mood. With that said, I'd like to discuss my favorite artist for years, Taylor Swift.

When looking at the iTunes top 100 there seems to be a common theme... A lot of artists are singing songs that were written by SOMEONE ELSE. I know that there are people with creative talent, and others with technical talent, but when you can find an artist that you can relate with that are both technically and creatively talented it's like "awwwww yeahhhhhh," and that's the reaction I have to Taylor Swift and her music.

I've been a fan from her first self-titled album. Like most people, I first heard of Taylor from hearing her song "Teardrops on my Guitar" on the radio, and from the first time I heard, I was hooked. I went onto iTunes to hear what her other music was like and I was very impressed. I had heard that Taylor Swift was 16 years old, and I expected that her music would be corny and pop crap. However, I found that her lyrics were refreshingly mature, but not fake. She writes about what she knows, and does not pretend that she is something else.

I quickly fell in love with "Our Song," and I have to admit that it's still one of my favorite songs. It's fun and original, and it's really something that I could picture coming from a 16 year old girl.



Not to mention, Taylor Swift is gorgeous in this video!

When Taylor came out with her Fearless album, I was itching for more. I could not wait to hear her as she grew, and experienced fame over a few years. I wondered if her fame would change her lyrics or sound, such has happened with many artists before. Happily, I found that her sound had changed but she still kept her style. Though Fearless was a great album, thus far it is my least favorite.

Speak Now, on the other hand, is my favorite album of any artist ever. (Sounds extreme, but it's actually true). There is not a single song on the album that I do not like, and I continually change my opinion on which song on the album is the best. I absolutely adore her newest single music video for "Mean."



I just can't get enough of Taylor Swift, and I'm very happy to say that I will be seeing her for the second time on June 25th at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. The only reason I would wish this summer to go by faster is so that we will be closer to another Taylor Swift album!! :)