You’ve got to hand it to fashion kingdom Lane Crawford. About a decade ago, I still associated this brand with aunties and middle-aged women’s fashion and now it’s pretty much porn to ShoeGeek and I. (And yes, the thought of us having aged ten years being a factor did occur to me but I still think it’s more the brand transforming its appeal to a much younger demographic.) Much of the revitalization of the brand has to be attributed to Jennifer Woo and what I love about this brand is that it’s willing to get creative. From asking Tommy Ton, blogger of Jak and Jil , to shoot their Spring 2009 campaign to this latest approach to get the attention of journalists.

But let’s rewind to give you a bit of background. Back in the day when I was an editor for the magazine, I was inundated with press kits. Folders and folders of paper, CDs and the occasional USB would make its way to my desk on a daily basis. And I’m not afraid to say that I rarely opened any of them. Sure I would take the USB and use it but I wouldn’t even bother opening the files. (Now that I’m on the other side of the spectrum, being in PR, the thought of sending media these kits drive me to despair as I wonder who would actually read them.) So when I received the mini projector pictured above from Lane Crawford, I was intrigued. What it contained was their look book and a video presentation saved on an SD card. All I needed to do was set up the projector and et voila I was looking at the press kit. Not only did I eagerly set it up (I am a Geek after all) but now here I am writing several hundred words praising the brand.

Well played Lane Crawford. Very well played.

Sometimes a well-written press release does garner you attention. Case in point; INDIGO Jeans. I’m giving INDIGO a plug simply the PRs labelled Eizelle Taino as a “Jeanius”. The press release itself is nothing remarkable, in fact it’s basically a promotion release about how you get certain discounts at INDIGO. But by the power of that one word, it is now getting a post for itself. So what special offers are there?

The jeanius suggests any of the following “recession remedies” to boost healthier bank balances when shopping at INDIGO:

1. Year-round denim recycling program: Ladies can save from $50 to $300 AND dispose of unused denim in an environmental way, on their next purchase at INDIGO with the Denim Recycling Programme. Women can drop off their dis-used jeans at INDIGO in exchange for a store credit that can be used immediately on another purchase of jeans. Labels that are already carried by INDIGO are exchanged for a HK$100 credit while brands that are not part of INDIGO’s “Jean Pool” are worth HK$50. Up to HK$300 of store credit can be redeemed against any one pair of new jeans

2. Fill out a Client Feedback Form: Clients who take 2 minutes out of their shopping time to fill out a client feedback form receive 5% off their immediate purchase. Ladies are rewarded with the discount by answering 12 simple tick-box questions about their shopping experience.

3. Bring your own shopping bag: Customers who do not require an INDIGO shopping bag or wrapping receive a 5% discount off their purchase. This thrifty consideration also offers environmental benefits, making the shopping trip doubly virtuous.

4. INDIGO Sales Shelf: Last pairs of runs no longer carried at INDIGO, last season’s jeans as well as discontinued brands can all be found on the permanent INDIGO Sales Shelf for as low as HK$500. Items change from week-to-week, often with current season lines that have flown off the shelf, also available.

The above recession remedies (items 1-3) are applicable for non-sale items only. Combinations of recession remedies are not permitted.

INDIGO is located at Ground Floor, No. 32A Staunton Street, Central, Hong Kong. Tel. (852) 2147-3000, Fax. (852) 2147-3111, or e-mail info@indigohongkong.com

Oh, the beauty of good PR. Hot on the heels of restaurant one scandal comes another. This promiscuous, outspoken, Ferrari-loving chef left Hong Kong last year amid reports that he squandered company cash on luxury purchases for himself. Tail between his legs, he exited the city -- and now he's back, fronting only a quarter of his previous establishments.

Swooning for Lane Crawford's new website and campaign, shot by Jak & Jil's Tommy Ton. How awesome is it that this fashion-week street-style photographer has now been bumped up to be a major player in the fashion-photography circuit? His blog photos are always killer, and now so is the LC campaign. We loved their last "Innovators" campaign, shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin showcasing the various sides of China Chow, Emma Pei, Terence Koh, Victoria Tang et al, but this campaign is even more on the money, paying homage to the growing cult appeal of fashion  blogging (don't believe me? Why else would 12-year-old styleblogger Tavi get a pair of tights expressly knitted for her by the Rodarte girls?) 

...because why let gossip die, when you can fuel it with further hearsay of your own? 

Hot on the heels of Dating Bankers Anonymous comes "How to Marry a Millionaire", the perfect seminar for anyone fed up with their now cash-poor better halves, who want to upgrade to the real deal. Tickets are $380, which comes with cocktails and canapes -- a real steal if you think about the potential return on investment. 

And so the saga continues. Today in our inbox we receive the response to Chef XXX's allegations from the Managing Director...

Dear All,

Chef XXX has sent malicious emails to suppliers, media and shareholders regarding the restaurant.

Chef XXX was terminated for the following reasons:

-poor management skills

-poor work ethics

-criminal fraud

-unauthorize use of corporate assets

Our food costing was running at over 50% for the months of Nov- to Jan due to his lack of cost control and wastage. After we went in and done inventory audit we found over 50kg on meat missing and few hundred oysters for the month of December. Subsequent to terminating Chef XXX and implementing a stricter inventory system our food cost has been reduce to 33% for the month of February. We did $2mn in feb revenues with overall food and alcohol cost of 663k. In January when Chef XXX was in charge we did 1.5mn in revenue with overall food cost of 668k.

Chef XXX requested that the restaurant sponsor 15k for a banner with the HK softball league. I gave Chef XXX a check and instead of paying for the sponsorship he used the monies to pay off his old debt with the softball league. Hence our sponsorship deal never materialize and this constitute criminal fraud.

Chef XXX catered a launch event for another company without any authorization from the company at a cost of 5k to the company. He might have pocketed the revenues from that event.

I tried my best to do the right thing for Chef XXX but he took the petty road to disparage the restaurant. Feel free to hit me up with any questions or speak to any of the restaurant staff for their side of the story.

Best,

XXX

There really isn't much to write about these adidas shirts even if they are made with the advanced ClimaLite Cotton. Was not impressed by them at all when the press release came in, however, these savvy PRs managed to put the Beckham photo at the top of the release so I actually scrolled through the email instead of moving onto the next email. Well played adidas PR, well played.

It had all the indications of being a mundane Wednesday until this email falls into my lap. Written by a disgruntled chef.. this email had been sent to ALL the media contacts he had... 

Dear All,

 I want to thank you for visiting XXX during our opening period and the many great things you wrote about me and the restaurant.

 While the initial success of XXX has taken a lot of hard work and planning by me over the past 5 years, it only takes a few months for “crooks and cheaters” to take over.

 Behind the scenes at XXX have proved to be quite a challenge. Usually the process now underway at the restaurant happens to good places after a couple of years of success. But for this to start only a month or two into the project is absolutely irresponsible and bordering on the criminal.

 From the second month, Managing Director XXX has tried to push me to the boundaries of deceit. First he kept insisting that I buy Chinese Kobe beef and sell it as 100% Japanese Wagyu. I have fought this from the beginning refusing to deceive our customers. Then came the idea that we should serve FROZEN lobster (and tell people they are live……even though we have a live lobster tank in full view of everyone?) He has given the ultimatum….to get cheaper and cheaper with product quality while at the same time continuing to raise prices at XXX for these same substandard, low quality products. (To heighten their profits of course. They are money guys……..buy low and sell high is their motto) How long can you CON your customers before the truth gets out? Just ask Bernie Madoff!!!!

 They haven’t paid suppliers in months. I found out just a few weeks ago (CNY) from many of my suppliers (who I was able to use my good reputation to get credit and set up accounts) that some had NEVER been paid since we opened. The kitchen contractors, builders, designers got paid finally only a portion of their agreed upon fees after 3 months! Constantly chasing our office and accounts, only to listen to lies and excuses is no way to run a business. As I began to speak up for the suppliers and our quality standards they looked at me as not being “a team player”. Well if that team is the Detroit Lions then I do not want to be part of a losing team. People seem to always forget that there are winning teams and losing teams and just being a team player doesn’t make you a winner?

 While business has been good at XXX, where is all of the money going? Each month, they are more than $2 million+ behind in the way past due bills. They closed down their lousy XXX in January after taking in $2.5mil in sales and didn’t pay the landlords and accepted deliveries up until the day they closed. What happened to that money? We had thugs going to XXX, our office, XXX and our other outlets looking for Managing Director XXX. We were informed to tell anyone who came into XXX that we do not know him nor is he involved in XXX. They tried to tell many suppliers that the Managing Director just took off with all the money. (Maybe not too far from the truth…only that he never took off?) They folded their colossal failure XXX in Beijing after only a few months open “burning” everyone to the tune of millions in Beijing.

They owe me for two months salary. It is difficult being around a criminal culture while trying to paint a rosy picture on the outside.

 Why do these financial guys (investment bankers), many of whom are highly dubious in their business practices (which have come to light globally over the past few months) ruin the reputation of the restaurant business. Almost every restaurant I have opened has become a success and is still up and running while at the same time, almost everything these guys touch has turned to shit. XXX brags that he opens two restaurants a year, well he has closed down that many in the past few months and I am sure more are on there way. XXX is a disaster. XXX is on its’ last legs. At XXX, nobody can figure out how they make any money because they are virtually empty half the week?

Money Laundering/Drugs has been brought up by others but who knows?

 While you guys have seen many restaurants come and go over the years for various reasons, it is disheartening to have a restaurant that I put my heart and soul into taken over by a crook Mr. XXX. He has tried to hide his name as much as possible, obviously to avoid legal challenges to his dubious business practices.

 While as of two weeks ago, I am no longer involved in XXX and thought it my duty to warn you about these deceitful practices. How do you know what to trust anymore while dining at XXX?

Is that USDA Prime Rib Eye really Prime? Really from the US?

That $1500 100% Japanese Wagyu is not really cheap Chinese Copy beef?

That my lobster on the surf n’ turf is frozen from a box?

Are my $600 Colorado Lamb Chops really from Australia or New Zealand?

Is this fish fresh or frozen? They are currently buying some fresh fish then freezing them WTF? Of course they have bought more freezers to buy all the cheap frozen product.

Remember that part of my concept was a freezerless kitchen, well that has been shot-to-hell.

 While I am no longer there to hold the line against this crook, it will be hard to trust anything coming out of that kitchen. Well, with their new Japanese-Canadian chef I am sure that they will have many surprises in store for you in the future………….

 …………..just beware of what those surprises may hold?

 Best Regards,

 Chef XXX

 P.S. Look for my latest new project later in the year. Cheers!