Three Big Tips

The Big C. Crunch is right here right now the topic of banter up and down the UK and promptly leaking into Europe. So, we can’t avoid it.
Following on from our optimism in 2008, we’re thinking 2009 is the year for survival, not just for consumers but for brands too – being positive about the future here’s our critical three big tips to get you through the year.

1. Spirit of Do

In-experience.
Hidden in the word but not that secret it’s about staying in, and why not?
With the British pound deflating the Euro is getting that little further out of reach and people this year can’t afford to be star-railing it around the EU as much, so focus here is going low key and local. So staying in.
Sunday DIY. Supermarket sprees. Pre party drinking at home. Allotments. Frugal cooking. Board games and playing cards. Achieving more within your community and quality time with friends and family.
Holidays and mini breaks on the cheap and more importantly that extra peek into what the UK has to offer: grand history and glorious inbound trips.
Rounding that up, these concerns and a considered focus cover a number of things. You may not be able to afford niceties but be resourceful with the opportunities around you and grab the Spirit of Do.

2. +Positivity

As we said this optimism stuff is infections and like moths around a light consumers want to gravitate towards things that make them feel happier.
Brands providing experiences where consumers can socialise and enjoy new things will be seen as champions of the cause to feel better.
It’s about being generous – Generation G. Consumers hate greed – embrace generosity and give something back to the people.
In tough times it accentuates how you need a little more in life – self-help, physical support, seeking a little further afield to untap lost potential to deal with the doom and gloom. Not running away, facing things head-on.
Maybe brands can start redistributing? Giving is the new taking. Share it out.

3. Creative Capital

Brand involvement in culture and arts is longstanding – a deeper brand collaboration responding to the pressures and expectations of X-tra. 2009 is about integrity and brands truly facilitating new arts and culture, not just sponsoring it.
Social pressures are extreme – being complacent doesn’t cut the mustard any more; so we’re all having to work harder, take deeper roles, have greater substance. Using what brands can offer to our advantage.
Take it on board. Use it to get through it in 09.

Louis Vuitton Stephen Sprouse Collection : Launch Party

Enticing halls of graffiti, custom neon coloured signs and live 80's shows.

A few of the things that brightened our eyes to the Louis Vuitton launch held last week in NYC.

Breaking all moulds of the usual fashion launches this party kicked off at the Louis Vuitton flagship store in SoHo to celebrate the new Stephen Sprouse collection.


Louis Vuitton Vs Stephen Sprouse.
Fashion/Design & Art.
nice.

Aloha Optimism

Here at Open we're a pretty bright and breezy bunch. But even our chipper smiles could be faded by the tough times and uncertainty in the world today!

BUT, we are optimists and our optimism is infectious!

With this in mind we're also predicting that 2009 will be the Year of the Optimist! Folks that work harder to see the positive will be the ones that stay ahead and we also believe that brands that represent an optimistic outlook to consumers and provide communications that focus around hope, self help and positivity will gain the most attention.

Adding to the feel good vibe, this month a book on the said same subject. Entitled... wait for it... The Optimist is being launched this month. The author has interviewed folks whilst traveling around the world, from Bill Clinton to the Dalai Lama's head adviser, to Desmond Tutu.

Here's his top tips learned:

Accept your reality and embrace it. Modern culture is about creating an ideal or fantasy reality and then spending our energy and efforts trying to change reality to our fantasy. Accept the good in what is.

Or

"Happiness is wanting what you have not having what you want."


Listen to the negative voice in your head and be observe what it's saying. Only then can you know the negatives to overcome.

Each evening take moment to recount 3 positive things that have happened in your day. You may even find that things that negative things you were forced to do meant that you experienced things that are actually positive.

Have a nice day!

Open running club

It was nothing if not predictable that a few of the girls would search a quick fix for January fitness and start munching down salads.

After 3 days of route planning, 1 hour choosing the right outfit/ trainer combo, 30 mins getting changed and 10 minutes waiting for each other to warm up... Off they went, bounding through the snow no less!!!

15 mins later they were back and a little camera shy!

To be fair it's a good motivation guys, nice one. Next stop sounds like it'll be the triathlon in May?!

Open t-shirt line

Back at the beginning of 2008, we promised we'd launch a line of T-Shirts under the Open brand.

Well we nearly nailed it...

Yes there are the excuses, big staff growth, new business wins to look after, moving offices in Worcester and opening the London shop, etc. etc...

But we just managed to squeeze in series of designs and slogans in December that have started off the intentions for 2009.

I hope you like them and we'll share a full 'designed' range shortly.