Wow, what a whirlwind! I can’t believe this whole experience is wrapping up. In mere hours, I will be presenting my final project for Global Advertising and Public Relations. Of course, this is a relief, but certainly a bittersweet one. As much as I’m ready to complete the work, I don’t want this time to end. With interviews falling through and last minute strokes of luck, the project itself has had so many ups and downs. My research on fashion campaigns in PR was difficult yet rewarding because I am truly interested in the subject and got the chance to speak to some pretty cool and interesting individuals. I am now much more confident in my abilities to contact professionals and a more efficient researcher. Not to mention I’ve had plenty of practice presenting to a group.
Academic

    My research discovered that PR practices in fashion in the US and the UK aren’t all that different. However, that’s not to say that I didn’t learn a lot. It seems like no matter where you go, each PR campaign has different challenges and audiences, so practices may be similar but there will never be a clear-cut formula for reaching a specific audience. It’s about trial and error.

Professional
    Though I have grown by learning from an academic standpoint, I have also grown professionally. Until this trip, I had never really been in an office setting or truly had insight into the daily lives of professionals in the field I am studying. It’s so different learning about business practices in a book and actually experiencing it firsthand through physically meeting professionals in their work environment. To me, this experience is invaluable. I was always worried that if I decide to want a job in PR, my degree in communications would not be enough to make it. However, not one person that I met here working in PR started out seeking a career in that specific field. I feel so much better knowing that you don’t really need the pressure of sticking to a specific degree and having your life laid out in front of you. It’s very comforting to know this. Seeing the offices at Edelman PR made me realize that I’d love to work in a creative environment similar to that.

Personal   
    All academics and professionals aside, this study abroad experience changed me as a person. I’m no longer Natalie from Pittsburgh who goes to Kent State. Now I am Natalie from Pittsburgh who conquered Kent and even moved on to a big city like London. True, it was only three weeks, but there’s a certain confidence that comes with knowing what it’s like to live outside of the country. Some of the best times of my life happened during the past few weeks, and I did it all without a cell phone (something else to be proud of). All in all, I can’t put a price or description on this experience. I wish it could last longer, but I’m ending this last post on a cheesy 90’s pop song note by quoting Semisonic. “Closing time, every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”

                                          Cheers to all!

     In the spirit of The Sound of Music, how can I simply pick a few of my favorite things about London? I love everything about it! Though this isn’t my first time in the city, I truly feel like it’s my first time actually experiencing it. Being older and more independent has really played a large role in making this trip unforgettable. There are also some other things that play into having such a great time, and I can really chalk it up to some great nouns- people, places and things, that is. I have organized my favorites into those categories.

People
    I must say, the people of London are generally an extremely welcoming culture. From those irresistible accents to their personal interest in our backgrounds, it’s been really easy to fit in. However, it’s been even greater getting to know the classmates and professors better. At first, I knew everyone’s name and general Facebook personas, but that’s about it. I never imagined that I’d become so close with my flat mates! We practically have our own language now. In the rare case that anyone could understand the Brooklyn accent we’ve developed, they’d never understand our references, code words and inside jokes. It’s going to be tough adjusting back to our normal dialects.

Places
    I can’t say enough good things about Clerkenwell. Maybe it’s not the stomping ground of royalty, but it’s absolutely perfect for us. When we first got off the bus, all the streets looked the same to me and I thought I’d need a map everywhere I went for the next few weeks. However, that only lasted a few days. Now I can buzz around like I’ve been living here for ages and I feel right at home.  There are three great pubs within walking distance that I have fallen in love with-The Slaughtered Lamb, the Betsey Trotwood and The Bowler. They’re so full of personality and warmth. Each one is traditionally British but unique and quirky at the same time. We became friends with the owner of The Bowler and I refer to it as Cheers now… it’s where “everybody knows your name.”
Besides The Bowler, I’ve also befriended Tesco and a small place called Gail’s that is right up the street. Let me let you in on a secret: everything at Gail’s is the best. The pastries, the coffee, the tea, the salads, the breads, the breakfast, the juice… when I start to think about it, I realize that I won’t be here long enough to try everything at Gail’s that I want to!

Things
     Though people and places are making this trip worthwhile, those two aspects would be nothing without the “things.” Unfortunately, most of these “things” are clothing stores and food items. For example: I can’t get enough chips. They’re better than French fries and I just can’t explain why. It should not make sense because they’re one and the same. However, I drench my chips in vinegar (something I’ve never done at home) and are usually accompanied by an amazing sandwich from The Bowler called a toasty. It’s like a grilled cheese but infinitely better.  When I’m not gaining weight by smothering myself in fried food, my second favorite thing to do is shop. This is equally as unhealthy because my dreams are bigger than my wallet, and Topshop is bigger than both combined. It’s not so much Topshop that I’m in love with, but the things inside. The clothes and accessories are like the extremely cool and hip cousins of American clothing. Everything is bedazzled, bright and studded- a fashion fanatic’s dream come true.

All and all, these people, places and things have broadened my horizons (and perhaps, my waistband). OI will continue to “live it up” because as soon as I get home, it’s back to the grind of summer classes and work!

    So far being in London has been exciting in many ways. Of course, the fashion presence in this big city is unbelievably more visible and diverse than in Kent, Ohio! There’s no single style- we keep saying to each other that in London, “anything goes!”
       
    Though the styles are very vibrant and individual, from the surface the fashion campaigns don’t seem to be very different. I’m seeing a lot of advertisements that look similar to the ones at home, especially saturated around the shopping areas. Researching individual campaigns on the internet proved to me that the process is pretty much the same- get to know the audience, offer a discount, use social media as a means of engaging communication.

            I began to think that I wouldn’t find many differences until I spoke with Josh Solana, account executive at We Are Social, who worked on a campaign that launched a fashion line in Tesco stores. He reinforced that the practice is about the same here, but the difference lies in the message.
            Josh had just returned from the U.S. and said that the messages there are more direct whereas in the U.K. brands rely on brand power and creativity rather than one clear-cut message. After hearing that, I noticed that the ads around aren’t so “in your face.”     
            By that I mean I haven’t seen so many billboards or posters for stores where the main focus is the website or the particular promotion going on- rather there’s just the name of the brand and photography.
            It seems like speaking with professionals is going to prove to give the most tangible information for me. So far, I have only been able to speak with one but I have two more in the works that will hopefully be able to better answer my research.