The Tin Shingle Blog

I just went to the kind of event that makes you unable to stop talking about the cool companies and brands you discovered at it, and tell their stories to everyone you know.

I've been privileged to attend TechStyle NYC for the past couple of years and I cannot say enough about it - so for those fo you who couldn't make it there in person I'm going to break down some of the highlights and amazing stories of entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity for you here today. 

A bit of background before we begin: TechStyle, the brainchild of uber-entrepreneur, event and experience guru and PR pro Janine Just, founder of Janine Just Inc. is a series of events that happen during Fashion Week and combine conscious fashion brands with the latest technological innovations. Basically the experience invites you to meet, try and test out some of the coolest brands out there - from fashion to tech to food. I now see it as the place to discover some of the next big things in business!

I went this past February and fell in love with it, and was lucky enough to be invited back again this past week and it did not disappoint. From two guys who worked as engineers in a nuclear power plant who now run a tea company to technology that will actually calm you down via your brain waves, this event had it all. And I tried them all - for you of course!

Read on and get to know a few of my favorites, watch some video clips, get some scoop about what's new and next in the worlds of lifestyle and tech, and then click through to their websites to get the full stories from the brands themselves!

Thync Wearable Technology:
I have to begin with Thync because they honestly blew my mind. Actually, they calmed it. Upon entering TechStyle NYC I saw several people with small white patches over their eyes and I thought, "oh bless, they've hurt themselves."  Oh no.  They were wearing Thync. (Way to brand and draw attention to yourselves guys and gals).  What is Thync? It's wearable tech that you can use along with your smartphone to either calm yourself down or energize, all through the power of low energy waveforms that signal your neural pathways.  I know. Sounds high tech, but does it work? It does. I was highly skeptical when first checking it out but within minutes of "plugging in" to the calming function I felt as zen as if I'd had a glass of wine.  A  fellow user nearby who was using the energize function said he "felt like Superman."  And we're not the only ones who love it. The Wall Street Journal, CNN and PBS are all fans as well!  Even cooler? you can wear Thync for minutes and feel the effects for hours. Curious, aren't you? Visit Thync online and get the full story (and perhaps a Thync for yourself!

Sound, the sparkling tea for me!
[Editor's note: these entrepreneurs' career changes are the most interesting I've heard in a long time, be sure not to miss it!]

Fun fact about my family: my husband LOVES carbonating anything and everything drinkable via our Soda Stream. But I'll also admit that not all of it tastes great (like the time he tried to carbonate coffee...not good). Another fun fact: I love tea. LOVE it. But I hate how so many teas I grab at the store are packed with everything I don't like about soda (sugar, chemicals I can't pronounce, preservatives).  That's why I was so pumped to discover Sound sparkling tea at TechStyle NYC. Sound is delicious, sugar free, preservative fee and fizzy.  Their chamomile vanilla flavor tastes like a cream soda, without the guilt. Just as interesting? They were created by two engineers who previously worked at nuclear power plant.  Now they make tea.  I just love entrepreneurial stories like that!  From their taste to their packaging, Sound is spot on and you can buy them online or in select retailers.  Give it a try! In a world of questionable beverages, they're the real deal!

Rejected Hearts Club
See below for a beautiful video the team took of the event.

This accessories company's motto is: The heart you gave away, the heart that was rejected, the heart we give back to you. Makes you curious, eh? Was there a breakup involved in this brand's birth? Yes there was. But instead of wallowing in post-breakup-pity, founder Jamie Batiste started a business after making jewelry as a creative outlet for her painful split. The breakup, which was intially a bummer, has blossomed into a thriving accessories brand.  As Jamie herself has said, "I turned a breakup to a business and regained my independence. We have all had plenty of struggles; its how you come out of it that matters the most. I create jewelry for men and woman that transform into stand-out pieces that command attention and exude confidence. Always remember to love yourself no matter what or who hurts you."   The end result of her personal and professional journey is a beautiful and affordable accessories brand. Silver lining! Bonus point to mention: Jamie is an incredible entrepreneur with an amazing team of hustlers. Their energy and enthusiasm is palpable! Expect big things from this business!

Brode
Do you Brode when you're having drinks? What about during a workout.  Well you should! What is Brode, you ask? Down with the Gatorade and other hydrating, electrolyte repleneshing drinks and up with Brode. These babies are electrolyte vitamins that are free from sugar, sweeteners or gross flavors (I'll be honest, I think that Gatorade is the Axe Body Spray of drinks) that you pop mid-cocktails or mid-workout to guarantee a smooth recovery. You can even take these when you're flying in a dry airplane cabin.  The convenient pill works to give your body an extra signal to maintain a proper electrolyte-water balance, supporting proper nutrition. I love it already because it keeps your recovery process - from whatever you're up to - healthy, instead of filling it with more gross or unappealing stuff.

Score your packets of Brode online and head over to their site to learn more about their story, and #BrodeBenefits.

Peach

If you're a woman you know the struggle behind finding a perfect bra. Straps are slipping, padding is prodding, the whole experience can be disheartening. Enter Peach. Founded by two business school classmate, Peach is revolutionizing the bra-fitting and wearing process, and has also moved on to the softest most inviting loungewear I've felt in a long time. But that is not all they do! Peach is also "paying it forward" in a way with their sales model, as they employ "stylists" who do the bra fittings for you, in your home, using their own sizing method, thus giving hundreds of other women the chance to work independently for themselves while spreading the Peach message.  Think Stella & Dot for intimates.  This totally makes sense to me as bras are one of the only articles of clothing that you really should get fitted properly for, yet most of us aren't.  Yes, you can buy them directly online but who doesn't want to have a bra that really fits right? Visit Peach online, set up an appointment and get a bra that you like.  Thank you innovative entrepreneurs!

Lifetherapy
Color me impressed. The moment I met Lynette, the founder of Lifetherapy that's how I felt, though "met" feels funny to say now as she already knew about Tin Shingle and me before we crossed paths. The world of entrepreneurship is small my friends! Lynette's company focuses on the power of scents and colors to impact the way we feel and influence our frame of mind. Makes sense as how many of us relax when we smell cookies baking, cut grass, or light a candle when we take a hot bath. Scents and colors have power, and Lynette has made a business out of just that. I was instantly obsessed with her fragrances and body products, which were packaged as perfectly as they smelled. Breathe in relaxation, calm and positivity and visit Lynette and Lifetherapy online. One more shout out to Lynette: she blogs about all things related to her brand, a good business move and a sure sign of a savvy entrepreneur. I smell big success in her future. (Couldn't help myself).

Kopi Trading Co. / Kopi Cold Brew

Listen, I won't even pretend I'm a coffee connoisseur but I know when it tastes delicious. And I'll leave the higher level critiques to my husband who scored the bottle of Kopi Trading Company cold brew that I brought home from TechStyle NYC. Maybe it's because they use Indonesian beans (so many other companies use African beans), maybe it's because they roast them locally, maybe it's because they donate a portion of their profits to an Indonesian literacy charity or perhaps because they are founded by a brother/sister duo. Or maybe it is because they were serving coffee-based cocktails at TechStyle. What I know for sure is that they were delicious, and gave my other half energy all day long. Shop Kopi cold brew online and choose from ready-to-drink cold brew, cold brew concentrate or the beans themselves and experience the difference that Indonesia beans (and an entrepreneurial spirit) can mean for your coffee!

To learn more about TechStyle and all the brands featured there, as well as those at their upcoming LA events, follow them on Facebook and search the #TechStyleNYC hashtag on Instagram for photos of the events from the brands and attendees themselves!

I'd love to tell you I'm feeling the end-of-summer blues right now but I'd be lying. I actually love this time of year, not only because it heralds in the start of fall, but because so many members of the press and so many business owners begin to kick it up a notch around this time of year.  Not only does back-to-school mean increased freedom for entrepreneurs who are also parents, but the press calendar is packed with hot topics, from fall fashion (Fashion Week fever has already hit NYC) to football anything and everything related to this new season.

At Tin Shingle we want to be sure you're in the loop in terms of the press-worthy topics that you can be pitching and blogging about, so we're back with our monthly What to Pitch list for you. Get inspired by our ideas below, and listen to my full webinar on this topic that shares even more ideas and strategies for how to pitch the press: What To Pitch The Press This Month: September. In that webinar, I explain how your product, service or expert-based brand can incorporate them into your PR campaign for big buzz!

The Emmy Awards

It's nearly time to celebrate the best and brightest on television folks!  That's right, the Emmy Awards are right around the corner, and will be airing live this September 20th.  What does this mean for your business? It means that you can piggyback on this topic to bring attention to your business by weaving the topic into your blogs, your pitches and your social media posts.  Don't worry, you don't have to reveal juicy celebrity scoop or be in any way attached to an Emmy nominated show to make this hot topic work for you.  You just need to get creative.  Perhaps you can give tips or recipes related to throwing an Emmy viewing party.  Maybe you have some insight into the fashion and accessories we'll see on the red carpet. Even at a most basic level you can throw an Emmy-inspired sale on your site or be sure you're using the correct hashtags when tweeting or Instagramming about the big night.  My point is, there will be people from coast to coast, from press to bloggers, from Facebook to Instagram talking about the Emmys.  Want to build buzz instantly? Join in on the conversation with them!

September Celebrations

To know me is to know that when we talk about what to pitch every month, I'm often encouraging you to do some research, check out what the monthly celebrations and observances are, and assess whether or not you can tie your business into any of them. Figuring out these holidays does require a little bit of research, but the rewards are worth it - as is avoiding that "oh I WISH I knew it was National XYZ Day" feeling you get when you don't plan ahead. To inspire you to do your research, I've got a few of September's more colorful holidays listed below. Remember, you can take a more serious route, or you can highlight a wackier or sillier holiday in your pitch or blog post. It doesn't matter which way you go, as long as it authentically connects to your brand or expertise.

Happy Cat Month
National Milkshake Month
Sept 13 - Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day
National Yoga Awareness Month
Whole Grains Month

Halloween

I know. It's barely September and I'm already talking about Halloween. Call me an early bird, but here's the scoop: if you want to have your product, service or expertise featured in a Halloween story you have to think about the timing strategically.  No one is going to want your pitch or blog post the day before Halloween, or even the week before in some cases.  Those posts could be too late. Instead, you want to share the value you're offering for this holiday in advance, giving the press and potential readers, viewers and customers plenty of time to use it. This is especially true if you're pitching or reaching out on a national level, as these stories are planned in advance at these outlets more than ever. Does this mean start pitching Halloween stories right now? Not for every outlet, but for national press I'd say you want to start connecting and checking in with them to see if they're planning October on their calendars already, and if so, you want to share your offerings with them! No press outlet is alike (just like snowflakes and people) but one thing they do share is the ability to plan their stories ahead, especially if they aren't breaking news (which Halloween isn't). So do yourself a favor. Begin planning your Halloween angles now and once you do that start reaching out to your press contacts. Check in to see if they're open to hearing your ideas, and impress them with your fresh and interesting ideas you can share with their viewers, listeners or readers!

Want to talk about September's long and short lead press angles and PR strategies a bit more in depth? Listen to this recorded webinar, What To Pitch This Month: September, from anywhere! Tin Shingle hosts a Live Training Webinar TuneUp every Wednesday at 12pm EST. Attending the live version is free! Get notified for new Webinar TuneUps and to register, and look at our upcoming schedule for one you don't want to miss!