Twitter – it may be big, but you’ve got to know what to do with it.

It’s the darling of the connected modern world; the top of the social media charts and everyone – young and old – is clambering to get on board. Twitter http://www.twitter.com, the 140-character mirco-blogging platform, is everywhere and everyone is talking about it.

The phenomenal success and user uptake of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter has led to many brands – large and small – getting in on the action.

But what actually is it and how can it be used by brands?

To answer this question, we’ve put together a guide on how to get started on and best utilise Twitter. We’ve also included a word of caution for over-zealous brands wanting to jump in without looking – make sure you’ve thought it through, have a strategy in place and the resources to back it up. The potential rewards are great, but so to is the possibility of disaster if not managed properly.

Click here to view Taylor & Grace’s 101 Guide to Twitter here and start exploring the connected world of social media.

"Tweet themed" Images above by Abigail Brown - a talented textile artist who creates these hand made bird sculptures, to view her portfolio click here - to visit her online store click here.

The Brilliance that is Grace Coddington

On an autumnal afternoon recently, the Graceful Taylor finally caught up with the phenomenon that is The September Issue, the documentary about Vogue and its editor Anna Wintour.

And like many before us, we’ve been captivated by the other woman. Grace Coddington, Vogue’s Creative Director emerges as the creative star, the brilliant driving force behind what we associate with Vogue – fashion photos elevated to works of art, full of whimsy and flawlessly executed. Her fusion of colour and lighting is stunning. Her attention to detail is humbling.

Who cares if she has a reputation as scary and cold? She just gets on with her job and lets the hype pass her by. Look at the images below and we reckon you’ll agree – more power to her!

Above: Grace Coddington, Vogue’s Creative Director

The birth of an exciting arts retail concept

Focusing on the works of Australia’s top ceramic artists, Potier is an avenue for lovers of unique and handcrafted objects.

With a strong background in and passion for fine arts we were very excited about being involved with Potier since inception.

We adore the care and dedication that goes into handcrafted artisan objects: a vase; a cup; a saucer; a bowl. You can see the individuality, feel the passion and admire the craft of the artist in these objects. It’s a beautiful thing.

The newly launched retail concept Potier is a refreshing addition to Melbourne's retail landscape because it places the artist first and provides a desperately needed platform for a section of Australia’s artistic world.

Via their store in Albert Park and through their website, Potier aims to be more than just a store, they want to educate the public about Australia’s largely unheard of ceramic artists. The store places the artists at the heart of their offering. Each purchase comes with supporting information on both the artist and the piece, ensuring the story behind them is carried on to their new owners.

In developing the Potier name, logo and brand it was was essential to ensure these messages were communicated. More than just highlighting the beauty of the works, the brand tools needed to set the tone and mood for the whole retail presence. In short, they had to communicate Potier’s brand and essence.

The product images above & below were art directed and styled by Grace Camobreco, Photography by the very talented Trudy Schuringa.

Potier’s concept store is now open Tuesday–Saturday, 10.00am-5.30pm and Sunday, 10.00am-3.00pm at 29 Mills Street, Albert Park. Phone 03 9645 7158 or email info@potier.com.au

Visual Merchandising – a critical element of the retail marketing mix.

We’ve all done it. Walking along the street, somewhere to be…oh, now that looks interesting! I’ll just pop in here for a moment to check that out/try it on/BUY IT!

Ah yes, we’ve been seduced, in the nicest possible way! The clever visual merchandiser has created a window display so enticing we’re inside the store before we know it. And if they’ve done the same thing inside the store, we’ll be drawn to exactly what the company wants to sell. It’s as effective as a brilliantly executed advertisement or an expertly crafted piece of packaging.

Good visual merchandising is an art. Its aim is to drive sales, which it does by promoting and enhancing specific goods, creating a buzz around a retail space which can drive return business, and even assisting shoppers by informing them of the latest trends.

As an integral part of the marketing strategy for any retail space, VM has the capacity to transform a small business as it builds and strengthens the brand. Think of companies like T2 Tea and Husk, whose success is almost entirely built around a strong concept & excellent visual merchandising. VM can instantly differentiate you from your competitors, build & extend brand culture & create a stronger emotional connection between the viewer and your brand. Get it right and VM will not only increase sales but will build your customer base as customers are drawn back in anticipation of what comes next.

A great visual merchandiser working in Melbourne at the moment is Aimee McCallum (see images above & below). Her incredible work has graced Melbourne retail spaces - such as T2 Tea , Klein's Perfumery, Safari Living and Husk. To find out more about Aimee & her work visit The Design Files

And remember, like any seduction, VM can be playful, serious, funny, sexy, whimsical … the choice is yours. Here’s some of our faves (and thanks to the lovely Lucy of The Design Files for granting us permission to use these images). Be seduced…then take a good look at your own visual merchandising – does it build and strengthen your brand, does it attract new customers and keep your current customers engaged? That’s the key.

Image Credit: Visual Merchandising by Aimee McCallum. Thanks to the Design Files for granting us permission to use these images

A Garden Falling with Grace

Thanks to Yellowtrace, one of our fave design blog du jour, for bringing us this little gem.

"Falling Garden" is, simply, exquisite. God bless the Venice Biennale for inspiring artists to amazing heights (in this case, literally). Created by Swiss artists Gerda Steiner and Jörg Lenzlinger for the 2003 Biennale, situated in the Church of San Stae on the Grand Canal, and made from a worldwide cornucopia of natural and man-made objects, it has brought a little shimmer of joy into our lives. We look at it and we are happy!