The Kush Report

 

 Kush Support Photography [17:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We are joined today on The Kush Report podcast by Charlotte based photographer Angus Lamond, considered the Official Photographer of Kush Supports. Angus is originally from England, and is now based in the U.S., shooting for numerous advertising, public relations and marketing agencies.  All of the photography that you see on this site can be credited to Angus.

Angus has been with Kush Supports from the inception of the brand, and has been instrumental in developing the graphic appeal of the product, web site and collateral materials.

Cathinka credits Angus’s ability to create a relaxed atmosphere, putting the models at ease, for ensuring a great photoshoot with exceptional results. A Kush Support is a breast sleep support and it takes considerable people skills from the photographer to gain the trust of the models to attain the perfect shots. If someone is tense before a camera it will be noticed quickly, whereas someone who is relaxed will take great photos.

Angus speaks to the fact that the style of photography for Kush Support has changed over time from the initial shots which were more of a “sexy” variety to the current “spa” elements that are in use today.  The background colors, lighting, and props changed the scene to achieve the more realistic representation of the product. It was determined that the Kush Support has features and benefits that are more related to health and wellness, so the direction of how the brand was represented changed accordingly.

As the additions to the product line are rolled out in the near future, bringing more pastel colors into the Kush Support options, Angus will once again be called upon to visually present these varieties.

The introduction of photoshop software into the photography process has provided the ability to radically change the end results of the shoot.  However Angus believes that a product shot in particular must remain true to reality or there will be a negative response from a customer who does not recieve the product they expected.  He will look to fix minor blemishes on a product or correct some colors, but not much more than that in a product shot.

To view more of his work or to contact Angus directly, you can click on this link to his web site Angus Lamond Photography

 

 Packaging is Presentation [19:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

For regular listeners of The Kush Report, this is part of a continuing series of podcasts in which we speak with guests about the products and services that they provide, which help to bring Kush Supports to market. Each contribution to the process is carefully considered to ensure that it meets the standards that the company founder, Cathinka Chandler, requires in order to ensure that the product experience is incomparable.

In this episode we speak with Indra Seepersaud who is a Production Coordinator for a company called Fashion Ribbon Worldwide. They are the company that provides the beautiful pink bags that store and protect a Kush after each use.

The company specializes in utilizing their worldwide resources to come up with custom solutions for each customer that they work with.  They have the ability to provide samples from their New York based offices until the correct packaging has been determined and is ready for production.

As an example of the evolving process that takes place trying to identify the correct packaging for a product, it was determined after an initial round of bags were produced it needed an enhancement of a sewn in cardboard base, so that when not in use a Kush could stand easily on the nightstand.  It was even determined that after this enhancement the bag makes a great case for storing jewelry!

Fortunately, it was a simpler process for Indra and her team since Cathinka immediately had the vision that the Kush product would come in a bag, after a box option was discarded early in the product development cycle.

Having a great partner like Indra and her team at Fashion Ribbon Worldwide has made the presentation of the product another element that supports and promotes the brand image that Kush Support is representing.

To contact Indra, she can be reached at 718-482-0100

 

 The Kush Report - Homemade Remedies [19:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this first episode after the launch of the official home of The Kush Report podcast, Cathinka and Joe touch on a number of specific topics concerning retailers and consumer customers of Kush Supports.

Show Notes:

Kush Co. personnel were focused this last week on the followup to The Curve Expo.  Customer service is at the top of the list as far as company principles, and Cathinka wanted to make sure that anyone who had expressed interest during the show were promptly send information and samples.

There is a display unit that is available to the retail channel as a best practice for presenting the product, and it was discussed that future iterations of the web site include a specific segment addressing retail & wholesale support.

Many web site discussion boards and direct communication with the public indicate that consumers might attempt to come up with their own Homemade Remedy for achieving the comfort and support that a Kush would.  It was discussed that a ball of socks will not maintain shape, will not stay in place, nor will it provide the amount of breast support necessary to eleviate neck and shoulder pain associated with augmentation and side sleeping.

The market awareness challenge is a big initiative at this stage.  Consumers may not actually be aware of the symptoms that they are experiencing without the use of a Kush Support, so they aren’t looking for the simple solution that purchasing a Kush can provide.  The marketing effort is geared towards exposing the brand and educating the marketplace about the product.

The Google Adwords campaign has been adjusted to reflect the discovery that search placements are not generating enough impressions. Joe discusses the difference between paid search and the content network approach.