The Tin Shingle Blog

This is the first blog post in our series on Oprah submissions from members. Tin Shingle is doing a collective pitch to the producers for consideration in her Favorite Things. Join today to be included in other opportunities like this.

THREE CUSTOM COLOR

The entrepreneurial team behind Three Custom Color is pitching their revolutionary Custom Blending side of their business. That's right - they match any shade of lipstick, eyeshadow, you name it to a color that a client submits by mail. Three Custom Color reunites clients with their favorite colors when other brands have discontinued them. Deep in their laboratory stacked with jars of delicious goopy color, is an online searchable database at www.discontinuedlipstick.com of over 9,000 discontinued shades of color cosmetics dating back to the 1930's.

Since their launch as a mail order company in 1997, Three Custom Color Specialists has expanded its distribution to over 7 countries and an ever-expanding number of specialty stores, spas and apothecaries throughout the United States. They also offer online ordering at www.threecustom.com - an online beauty mecca, recognized as among the best beauty sites by the likes of InStyle, Consumer Reports Smart Shopper and Shop, Etc. magazines.

ABOUT THE FOUNDERS
Co-founder Trae Bodge discovered the art of beauty at a young age while working in her mother's cosmetic store. She studied color theory at the School of Visual Arts and the art of hand-manufacturing color cosmetics by custom blending pioneer, Roy Korell. She then spent seven years at Kiehl's Since 1851 developing lipstick shades and serving as their Director of Catalog Services.

As a child, co-founder Chad Hayduk was fascinated by monster makeup and forensics. He loved monster books and his favorite toy was his "Hugo-Man of 1000 Faces" doll. The Barbie for boys. Chad earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Cosmetic Marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology. He also studied special effects makeup with makeup union head Tom Brumberger. After completing his degree, Chad went on to train and work with the likes of Roy Karell at Visage Beaute, Chanel in Bergdorf Goodman, and Origins Natural Resources.

Co-founder Scott Catto earned a Bachelor's degree from New York University's Stern School of Business in 1989 with a major in Marketing and minor in Art History. Upon graduation, Scott started work in the artworld at PPOW Gallery in Soho where he worked for 10 years eventually becoming the Director. He handled a stable of 25 internationally known artists organizing exhibitions and acquisitions for public and private institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art and the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York City.

From time to time, Three Custom Color offers Tin Shingle members a 30% discount, so if you're a member, click here for details on that! And let's everyone start picking colors!

Tin Shingle members are constantly pounding the keyboard, drumming up press opportunities for themselves. Either they hear about it from one of our PR Leads, or they cold-pitch an editor found in our Media Contact List, or they land a spot thanks to their own PR teams or other leads. We celebrate them, and show you who to follow in the news!

Silver Linings from Chu Shu are one of RealSimple.com's Daily Finds!

Member Nichole Wright Hot New Fashion & Design Sources from Fashion In Flight Event

Spa Week features Dasha Wellness' Kids Wellness Program: Generation D

Nomie Baby's discount to help ease everyone back into fall and back-to-school was featured in People.com's "Fab Sale Round-up!" For the celebrity in all of us, here's 15% OFF with "BTS15"  Enjoy!

Member Connie Wong of Moderne Press says "We're so thrilled that Lo Bosworth wore Emily Elizabeth Jewelry at the Emmy Awards!"

Tin Shingle members are able to submit their press into the Tin Shingle system at any time, at which point it is Tweeted and Facebooked, and entered into this newsletter to inspire others.
JOIN TODAY
 

Seriously, Margaret Atwood is tweeting. Tweeting a lot. Are you? Or, maybe you are at this point, but either don't update it much, or fall off the tweeting wagon from time to time (I know I do). Today on the Brian Lehrer Show, Margaret Awtood spoke about her new book, The Year of the Flood. But really, she spoke about her fascination with Twitter, stating that it is "powerful" and relished in her amazement at how much information one could get from asking a question via Twitter. Note, she has over 85,500 followers, a good many of them are most likely active readers of her tweets, so I'd imagine that her question would get more attention than most.

So how does Margaret know how to tweet? Brian asked Margaret if it was hard for her write in 140 characters because she is such a long form writer who weaves a great story. She explained that when she was creating a website for her new book, her website team told her that she needed a blog, and a Twitter. Not sure what that meant, she agreed, and they created a Twitter account for her. Not sure what to write, she just started writing. Margaret summed it up with:

"you learn by doing"

Earlier in a blog post, I encouraged those of you who weren't blogging yet or were facing bloggers block to "just do it" and start writing. That post was actually inspired by another NPR show, SoundCheck. Naturally, the words of such an accomplished author were music to my ears. Affirmation that even with a powerhouse publisher behind you, and whatever other teams she has, one still has to bunker down and get in touch with Twitter in order to use it effectively. Forget the auto ReTweets. Forget the auto blog reposts. Forget the auto Facebook updated linkages. Twitter is all about people and connecting and words and information. That's it. What do you have that people want? Start tweeting, and find out.

With the birth of my little girl, Ruby Ray, I haven't led a Tweetworking workshop in a while, but i will soon. Be sure you're signed up to our newsletter to learn of the next Tweetworking workshop, along with other workshops your business will benefit from. Until then, tweet on!

If you told me a few years ago that I would be participating on Facebook and Twitter I would have laughed at you....yet these days Facebook is one of the first windows I open up on my laptop after checking the morning's headlines.  Once I shunned Twitter, and now I can thank it for connecting me to editors, new business, Tin Shingle members and in many cases, breaking news before CNN gets to it.  Once I was embarassed about telling friends I was a member of these sites, now I include my Twitter & Facebook addresses in my email signature (a MUST in my opinion if you use either of these networks).

The point is - social media is a must in my life, and not just personally....for me, and probably many small business owners, their social media accounts have become one of their most powerful - and affordable - marketing and PR tools.  When people tell me that social media is just not part of their business strategy I honestly want to ask them, "is a cell phone?".  Point being, you need to be where the customers eyes and ears are, and connect to them - go to the customer/client/media.  These days in many cases that is Facebook and Twitter, who knows what it will be in five years, but you better bet any businesses I work with will be there finding how best we can reach and connect with our audience in whatever the new medium may be.

Today Forbes reported that reports show 54% of small and midsize businesses (SMB) use social media to promote their businesses which is DOUBLE what it was in December 2009.  These businesses aren't only members of these social media communities, 35% are ACTIVE members (after all why buy a gym membership if you don't use it - muscles don't just grow themselves) that post daily.

I encourage you to read the article, and reflect on how you're using social media in your brand's outreach campaign.  Ask youself if you're continuing to educate yourself about which social networking communities work for you, read great case studies to inspire you, and remember to start conversations with your followers, don't just talk at them!

If you haven't checked it out yet, you can read the Forbes piece HERE.

See you online!