From webinars to virtual trade shows to hashtags that boost morale and a sense of togetherness, JCK’s reporting of late has been focused on the necessity of pivoting to some sort of online solution while we socially distance ourselves and wait this thing out.
New York City–based Mega Mega Projects, which is part public relations agency, part showroom, part branding consultancy and owned by Meghan Folsom and Lauren Abend, is joining the party with a new venture called Mega Mega Virtual Studio.
It’s a great option for designers who are perhaps in panic mode, trying to figure out the smartest action item in uncertain times or otherwise navigate muddy waters.
“It’s intended for new designers in the early stages of their business,” says Abend, Mega Mega’s director of sales. “We are offering consulting services to provide guidance and support for new brands during this time of crisis and hopefully well beyond.
“The Virtual Studio is an incubator. Clients do not get the same level of brand management and outreach that our Mega Mega clients receive but will still have access to and guidance from our expert team via phone calls and video conferencing. We hope to add more interactive features as the program grows.”
Often seeking professional guidance, such as talking with a therapist when the going gets rough, can feel like an empowering and proactive next step.
To that end, on Friday, Mega Mega is also offering a free “designer support group” via Zoom.
Intended to be an ongoing event, “This will be a chance for people to come together to support one another and discuss plans for the future,” says Folsom, who serves as the firm’s director of PR.
“In this strange and surreal climate, now is the time connect with others and get to work so we feel empowered about the future,” she says. “We imagine that so many new designers are sitting at home spinning their wheels. We hope to create a community that supports one another and builds toward a better tomorrow.”
Mega Mega currently exists as a full-service agency assisting and guiding clients in merchandising, public relations, wholesale strategy, digital marketing, social media, jewelry production, and product design review.
Certainly, plenty of PR and sales pros who work independently offer virtual consultations in some form or other (Liz Kantner and Barri Luxury Consulting come to mind), but Mega Mega’s street cred adds a special luster to this particular opportunity. (Current and past clients include Lydia Courteille, Bibi van der Velden, Rush Jewelry Designs, Pamela Love, and other successful brands that also happen to be JCK editor favorites.)
The most appealing and novel aspect of the Mega Mega Virtual Studio is that clients can cherry-pick the services they need most.
The video conferencing sessions are being offered on an à la carte basis conducted in one or several 90-minute sessions targeted to a specific topic or a complete brand audit to identify strengths and weaknesses. This option includes a 90-minute assessment with formal recommendations as to a path forward.
There are also a variety of monthly plans. The “Mega” package includes two 90-minute conferences and the added feature of digital PR representation—defined as housing high-res digital assets and fulfilling editorial requests for slide shows and other digital stories.
Top: La Vie En Rose earrings with carved morganite and pink sapphires by Lydia Courteille, a Mega Mega client
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