New at Carbon: PR for Talent

We’re Pinking Out.

One week from tonight, Bright Pink will pink out Saks Fifth Avenue on the Magnificent Mile for VIPink 2011. Three floors, hundreds of your closest friends, kicking off a month where Saks will donate a cut of its sales back to Bright Pink - the only charity dedicated to raising awareness of breast and ovarian cancer among young women at high-risk.

Carbon’s Philip Chang is one of your hosts. Need $70 tickets to the pinkest party happening next Thursday from 8-11 p.m. at 717 North Michigan Avenue? Click below. We can’t wait to see the way you pink.

Hat Tip: VIPINK Chicago on Eventbrite, Bright Pink

Viral Marketing? Sick.

Friend Jeana Anderson, social media manager at startup Marqeta, blogs on creating a transparent brand. Well worth reading, and if you can’t read, then the words we’re typing really don’t matter anyway. slfkwje.

“Transparency” doesn’t sound as cool as the word “viral,” which someone taught to CEOs and Presidents a few years ago and, I suspect, regretted immediately. What “transparency” has on “viral” is that transparency puts consumers first in an effort to be trustworthy, whereas “viral” puts the company and its message first – betting the house on consumers’ willingness to share it.

Corporate communications wants a brand that’s above the fold, Business Development wants to create the perfect solution for merchants, Marketing wants consumers to get excited and to share their excitement, Operations wants to build a brand that’s trustworthy.

We choose transparency as a foundation because by asking consumers what they want from Marqeta and sharing news with our consumers first, we’ll insure that we don’t take them by surprise in a negative way. We want the decisions that impact consumers to make sense and to account for their needs.

Hat Tip: marQetplace, the official blog of Marqeta

Start Your Submissions

Techweek, the largest technology and innovation festival in the Midwest, is now accepting proposals for a 60-minute conference panel, workshop or solo/double presentation. December 16 will be the last date to submit your proposal before democracy springs into action and public voting begins.

Techweek 2012 happens June 22-26 at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart.

Hat Tip: TechWeek Call for Speakers

Can a Song Save the World?

Tonight, Vocal Impact hits the loft of Platform Studios (1821 West Hubbard) from 8-11 p.m., featuring New Zealand singer-songwriter Miriam Clancy, high-impact spirits, and fresh bites from the Gourmet Gorillas. All-you-can-rock for $40.

“a pearler of an album… there are flashes of influence from artists as broad as Al Green and Ryan Adams. Clancy has a strong voice and a musical style that sits across the divide between alt-country and pop.” Steven Shaw, spareroom.co.nz

“It’s a beautiful album. Clancy has a sweet, powerful voice and her music has hints of rock, country and pop. A girlie version of Elliot Smith or Jeff Buckley – a soul laid bare, but with a pretty twist.” Josie Steenhart, Pulp Magazine

“You haven’t heard of Miriam Clancy? Well maybe you’d be forgiven, but perhaps not for long.” Andrew Tidball, cheeseontoast.co.nz”

Hat Tip: Ticketleap, Art Works Projects, The Voices & Faces Project

Rhetorical Question, Isn’t It?

Should you upgrade to the iPhone 5? Inc. magazine asks Carbon’s Philip Chang to weigh-in.

Philip Chang, a partner at the PR firm Carbon in Chicago, had an interesting point to make about why his company plans to jump on the iPhone 5 bandwagon. The main draw has to do with the apps. Businesses are constantly evolving in how they communicate with new apps like LiquidSpace and GroupMe, which often appear first on the iPhone. Chang says, the iPhone 5 will just encourage new app development, and not being able to use these apps will cause problems in communicate between his team and with their customers. 

“Nothing else on the market enables its users to share and create content as effectively or easily as the iPhone,” he says. “It gets the most attention from developers when it comes to rolling out a new communications tool.”

Hat Tip: Inc magazine

So You Think You Can Model

Know someone who thinks they could be America’s next top model? Start with Factor Women’s open call during Fashion’s Night Out at Michigan Avenue’s Neiman Marcus. This Thursday from 6-8 p.m.

Agents are looking for girls ages 13 and up. You will also need to bring two non-professional photos which will stay with the agents.

Hat Tip: Factor Runway agency

How to Make It in Fashion

Launch your career in fashion. Applications are now open for the 2012-13 class of Macy’s Chicago Fashion Inucbator program. Six Chicago-based designers will be pronounced rising stars of this city’s fashion scene - but what’s really in it for the designer is work space, curriculum on business development, mentoring, a shared showroom, and events to help trend-seekers find trendsetters. Like you.

Hat Tip: Chicago Fashion Incubator, Chicago Fashion Resource