This is such a great site

sounds great

Hello Kenneth,

In a couple weeks, I'm going to e-mail a group of leaders I know with an idea. An idea I have that could make the world better. Unfortunately my idea will need the support of many leaders. I would like to include you on my list of leaders. To do so, I need your e-mail address. I can't find it on this site. Could you e-mail me it at jeffrey dot mclarty [at] gmail.com?

Thanks,
Jeff McLarty

Hi Jeff -- On the left sidebar of the blog, there's a section called "Ideas for a Better World." If you'd like to share your idea with the visitors to this blog, that might be one place to start building support for your idea.

It's difficult to ignore the social media realm. With Blogs and websites now effecting a companies reputation, these new lines of communication can present themselves as a pro-active atmosphere in which dialogue can be exchanged and opinions shared...welcome to the revolution.

Here is what I have been doing to make a part of the world better:

THE BEATITUDES NETWORK – REBUILDING THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES OF NEW ORLEANS http://www.beatitudesinneworleans.blogspot.com

*Lyn LeJeune is helping rebuild New Orleans, specifically the public libraries. She is donating ALL OF THE ROYALTIES from the sale of her novel, THE BEATITUDES, directly to the New Orleans Public Library Foundation; that’s three years of hard work You can help us, The Beatitudes Network, help New Orleans. Simply buy the book for yourself and anyone you know who wants to see New Orleans come back as one of our great American cities. THE BEATITUDES is a great crime novel set in New Orleans. Go to Amazon.com and see 5 star reviews!

Come to The Beatitudes blog www.beatitudesinneworleans.blogspot.com and read excerpts from The Beatitudes, by Lyn LeJeune, now available at all book distributors around the world and amazon.com, of course. If you like what you read on our blog, please order the book, enjoy, and help NEW ORLEANS and the world. Again, the blog is www.beatitudesinneworleans.blogspot.com- come and join The Beatitudes Network – Rebuilding the Public Libraries of New Orleans.

“BUY A BOOK, BUILD A LIBRARY,” AS QUOTED AT FREAKONOMICS, NEW YORK TIMES, 8/14/07.

One click of your mouse helps NOLA.

Merci mille fois- thanks a million.

Nita Cowart, Publicist for The Beatitudes Network at lynlejeune@cox.net

PS: if you have an organization or are an author, please contact me and we will be happy to list you on our blog as a supporter of The Beatitudes Network.

Welcome to the blogosphere, sir ...

Hello Kenneth Cole and viewers, I know many ideas
that can help make a great start for a better world. Firsthand, all Corporate leaders need to acknowledge that they have the power and or position to hear from the public and then consider the ideas that may help....!

It can be said, "we live in a world of intence marketing " the question then becomes, what do we get marketed these days by corporations ? For example, my thing is, I hate social littering, filth that is littered destroying societies beauty!

When was the last time a corp[oration did a anti litter tv commercial or for that matter a TV commercial that projects a view towards social issues that can help make a difference.

Personally I believe in example setting marketing, it might seem a little silly to some, but I dress up as a King, built a mascot mobile singing talking trash bin with a head, eyes, ears, hands, feet, and me and my muiscal trashbin hit the streets cleaning up....yes could be called crazy

But, in my view, Im creating awareness to a social problem, littering that destroys societies pride and image....so the question would be...why just me....where are the other Kings and Queens of the environment...where is some funding to sponsor incentive driven contest for a cleaner society ?

Countless areas of society can be solved through live awareness do something tangible marketing....but rather, millions upon millions of dollars are spent on marketing that only says things, and actually does little or nothing of tangible benefit to society...until this is discovered and changed...the norm will continue!

Thanks for allowing me the freedom to express myself, would very much so enjoy conversation with you Kenneth Cole, you have great insight!

Sincerely Canada Litter King

Kenneth,

You have always said that what you stand for is more important than what you stand in. I agree, but I think some of our Canadian politicians could use your help. Canadian tradition calls for our Finance Minister to wear new shoes to deliver the Budget Speech. The current Federal minister delivered his recent speech in old repaired, resoled, loafers. Hardly appropriate!
Today's Provincial budget speech in Ontario, means the new Minister,shod in steel toed boots, will get a chance to place blame on the Feds. No one wants to be in his shoes. Feet planted on the ground instead of mid air might be a start.
We need your help! Our politicians definitely need a little more Sole!

Was a bit appalled by the "Sonia. Undocumented Immigrant and Mother." ad in a recent issue of GOOD magazine. Wondering whether she is someone you pay a non-living wage under the table for making bags in sweatshop conditions, or simply another person unable to afford your products. Either way, poverty is not ironic.

truce57,
Sorry you feel that way. Our goal was to create a campaign using non-uniform people who are prejudiced against because of their situation or just because they choose to live their lives in a different way. We wanted to make the point that this country has millions of undocumented immigrants who are persecuted because of their legal status. Sonia believed in the campaign and participated willingly. To see our full campaign, please visit http://www.kennethcole.com/thinkers/

I'm really impressed by this site and thank you for setting such a good example for other successful corporations. I've been familiar with your product for a long time, but became a fan after hearing you on Donny Deustch and enjoying the results of your collaboration with Bon Jovi. Keep up the great work, and thank you for giving your fans a forum.

- a friend from Martha's Vineyard

i am a college student (well, just a week away from graduation)and i decided to spend some time on your site because i wanted to get to know the face behind the shoes and handbags i love so much (although, unfortunately, i cannot always afford them!)
i have to admit i was really impressed by your relaxed, welcoming and warm style with which you approach the virtual community. i congratulate you on your endeavour of creating a space for dialogue. Although, as you rightly say, you are joined by 59 others the minute you created this, it is important for people who are already recognized as established personalities to send out positive messages and take initiatives towards addressing crucial issues pertaining to today's world because you have a lot of 'power' invested in you by society. great work! having heard your views, i think i would be more proud the next time i carry one of your handbags or wear your shoes!

Kenneth,

This is Danielle, aka:"Sunshine" I never had a chance to tell you how much I loved working for you! It was one of the most special times in my life. I tell my Kenneth Cole story often. I was the subject of a magazine launch a year ago. Much of it was about you and your company. Please take some time to read it at: www.DanielleBarnwell.com. You have my email. Please contact me!

Danielle

great stuff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tz-CM55yKHA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClAs1BhsxB8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClAs1BhsxB8

When Service is the Real Thing.
The contrasting story of Cartier and Coca Cola

Successful brands are the result of great thinkers and doers, putting their heart and soul into creating, nurturing and building a mutually beneficial relationship with their customers. The best of the brands have enduring relationships, built on trust, on quality, on consistency and on service.

It all adds to consumers enjoying an emotional relationship with the brand, that results in ongoing loyalty, and that means ringing the cash registers, on a regular basis.
And those loyal customers tell others in their social network. And conversational marketing pushes the brand to new levels of trust. And those brands evolve and grow.

Here is a story about two brands that I have always respected. I view them both from my perspective as a marketer, but more importantly, as a consumer. I would be happy to work with both of these brands. But I don’t. So I will tell the story. Maybe that will get their attention!

It is about Cartier and Coke.

It all started in June of 2007. We were moving into new offices, which we planned to completely deconstruct and rebuild, to reflect the look and feel of our agency. This would be the third office interior designer Monique Le Ray would create for us. She knew us and knew all the “stuff” we had to fit in. We were really happy to be leaving the entertainment district (but sad to lose the neon BrainStorm sign that often made it onto City TV weather reports.) Finally, our own building on 191 Niagara, next to a Buddhist Temple. Good Karma.

Possession date was September 1st and move in date was Halloween, October 31st.

We toured the new premises in June, when the previous tenants were still in and active. They had a giant Coke machine in their kitchen at the back, a space I immediately thought of as my new office, because of the great windows and brick feature wall. We discussed the Coke machine and the current tenant advised they would call Coke to pick it up immediately.

Over the next several weeks, when we met there Ms. Le Ray’s team. I was surprised to see that the Coke machine had not moved.

On August 2, we got the phone number for the Coke service department and our office called directly, passing along all the necessary information.

By coincidence, I was in New York that day for various meetings in the afternoon. Strolling down 5th street, in between meetings, I decided to browse in the Cartier store. The sales person there noticed my Cartier watch and offered to have it cleaned while I browsed. How nice. This watch was important to me. I bought to recognize a significant accomplishment a couple of years ago.

After a reasonable amount of browsing, my watch re-appeared, looking like new. A couple meetings and a couple of hours later, on my way to La Guardia Airport, I glanced at my watch and noticed the crystal was foggy. Actually I was panicky. It was completely steamed up inside. I felt faint. I called the New York store. They couldn’t be more apologetic. I explained I was on my way home to Canada. They offered to contact the Toronto store. They said they would look after me.

August 3rd I took my watch into Cartier. They were alerted by the NYC store and were expecting me. They expressed real regret. They said they would fix my prized watch like new at absolutely no cost to me.

Bessie Aulicino, the Assistant Manager, gave me her card. Said she would be in touch. I went back to the office thinking about Cartier and just how good the experience was. My watch will be good as new, I thought. I felt so good. Back in the office, I decided I would call Coke myself. Had a pleasant chat with the service person. Exchanged information and was assured the machine would be picked up the following week.

As it turned out, my watch was full of steam from the cleaning and not in good shape. Bessie called me to say it would be a while. She again apologized and said they would definitely make this up to me in some way. She also offered to loan me another watch, which I appreciated, but declined.

Over the next few weeks, Bessie would call with status reports. Eventually, pretty much every part was replaced, including the face. Bessie told me parts and labour were about $15,000, the approximate value of the watch.

At the same time, I was contrasting the service with Coke. They simply ignored our avalanche of calls. I then got the name of the Coke Account Executive who placed the machine. Three voice mails later and no response.

On Sept 1st construction on the new BrainStorm building, started. We worked around the Coke machine, calling constantly and begging someone to pick it up.

By mid September the walls were closing in…around the neglected Coke machine. My calls became more frequent.

Near the end of September the dry-wallers were at the critical point where my office had to be enclosed and the machine had to go.

I called Coke again and again and again. Nothing.

In the meantime, Cartier’s Bessie Aulicino was doing her best to put a smile on my face and tell me how close delivery was.

On the third Friday in September, I hired 4 strong men, at $100 a piece, to carry the machine out of the building and place it in front of our office, on our property. I called Coke customer service again and told them we had done this and they had all day to come and get it. When the workmen showed up on Monday, the machine was on its side, vandalized. Again, calls went out to Coke.

Throughout the week, the machine received further nightly beatings. Everyday we called Coke. I even asked them if they had the log of my calls. They said it was extensive.

During the week I received a call from Cartier. My watch was ready to be picked up on Friday.

Friday morning came. I pulled up to the new office to check on construction and to my amazement the Coke machine was gone. But it wasn’t Coke that finally picked it up. It was an old man, in a beat up truck, who makes his living scouring the lanes of Toronto for scrap metal. He and his associate apparently spotted the derelict machine and hauled it away. I called Coke to tell them. I never heard back. Nothing. Nada. No coke for you!

What a greeting, later that same day at Cartier!

Bessie and her staff, my new Cartier friends, gathered, as my watch was presented back to me. It came in a new red suede pouch. It also came with a new burgundy leather watchstrap, a gift of appreciation, for the inconvenience. Wow!

I was blown-away by Cartier. Especially, as I experienced the appalling lack of customer care from Coke, during the exact, same time period.

I will never look at Coke the same way again, or drink it for that matter.

In the meantime, I can’t afford to buy the world a Cartier, but I do believe They are the Real Thing!

Hello Kenneth,
It is a pleasure for me to be able to write this note to you. I love all your cloth, shoes, perfumes, and virtually every thing that says "Kenneth Cole." But what I most like from you is your enthusiasm and wish of making a better world, where awareness is the flag of decisions. I wish everybody has the same inspiring spirit that you have. The only thing I have to say I don't understand from you is the fact that you said in you biography that you are "a frustrated activist." I think that just by the fact that you are trying to make a difference and you have never decline already makes you a successful activist. ;)

Danny...

Hi Kenneth,

I just saw you on GMA promoting your book, Awareness. I think you are a fantastic writer! I would love to offer my virtual assistant services and have the privilege to work with you. I will be keeping up with your blog and ask that you check out my website at www.execassistu.com.

Have a wonderful exciting day!

Thanks for tracking me down here in 2010 Olympic host city Vancouver and showing interest in my documentary photojournalism as I chronicle the impacts of the coming Games on the city's poor and marginalized residents. Vancouver is full of affluent activists with no shortage of energy who offer a collective warning cry to other urban centers considering a host city bid for a future Olympic Games.

This Awearness blog and the book are a wonderful idea. I enjoyed the book event in Boston last month. It's neat that I now have Kenneth Cole's signature in my book, and it looks just like the Kenneth Cole New York logo. I'm a huge fan of Kenneth Cole shoes and bags, and now also a fan of Kenneth Cole the person and philanthropist and advocate for social change. This has caused me to think seriously about ways to make this world better and help others. Thank you!

Has anyone seen the November-December issue of Utne Reader? There is an article Giving Till it Hurts. The New Colonialists.
Humanitarian groups and well-meaning charities keep failing countries afloat. They also create a crippling cycle of dependence.
by Michael A. Cohen, Maria Figueroa Küpçü, and Parag Khanna, from Foreign Policy. It talks about how giving to third world countries can result in their governments not picking up the ball and providing services they may not be providing such as health care. I'm curious how people on this blog would respond.

Dear Mr. Cole:
I have become a wearer of your brand only more recently, and am using this opportunity to write and express the opinion I trust you are desirous of receiving.
It is hardly of any import that a person with name recognition wants to add a few inches to his manhood by thrusting himself onto the public even more than he already does through his company's products, marketing and the wastes they generate in ways I doubt you consider.
But it is your claimed desire for "social change" that is most annoying, at least to me. What gives you the idea that anyone cares that you want to effect change? Usually, people who need attention call attention to their so-called charitable endeavors. People who need change and have the resources to actually effect change don't discuss it; they're too busy doing it. Only phonies and hypocrites talk about it, or spend resources (and create wastes) developing a blog to "announce it."
I wonder what it is you want to accomplish? Could it be ending world starvation? Improving childhood literacy? Ending "social injustice"? Protecting puppies?
In fact, you're just another very wealthy individual who really couldn't care less about any of those so-called social causes, too greedy to stop creating wealth for himself and too much of a hypocrite to act like a man, or even like an adult, and pronounce the true changes that you would like to cause: what I call "Leave Me the Fuck Alone."
Want proof?
-Have you divested yourself of all of your own wealth? Why not? Do you know how many starving and homeless people there still are, and how many of them would benefit from that money?

-Do you pay your employees their full salaries who want to join any political cause for change they desire? Why not? Why do you give only yourself this recognition?

-Do you live in a home with less than 2000 square feet? Why not? How can you claim to support any environmental cause when you are one of its biggest offenders?

-Do you take the subway? Why not? It's good enough for the people who work for you. But not for you.

-Did you send your children to public school? It's good enough for the people who work for you. But not for your children.

-How many servants do you have?

I could go on, but you get the point.

So, instead, you spend money (and create wastes) appeasing the groups you need to create your continued wealth; this blog is an example. Appearances and perceptions are all most phonies and their followers care about. How you actually live, what you actually do with all of your wealth, what you actually believe and do is of no import, so long as you have firmly anchored those perceptions for people to embrace. That's the person you need them to think you are. When, in fact, you aren't.

Whatever you do, don't misunderstand what I'm saying. I think you deserve every penny of the money you have. Now I want you to feel that way, too, and stop pandering which makes you the hypocrite you now are.

If you really want to help people, ALL PEOPLE, preserve your resources to spend on programs that provide people with the KNOWLEDGE and EXPERIENCES they need to help themselves. And then get the fuck out of the way. That's what I do. There is no better feeling I can think of than knowing you have answered someone's need for the assistance they want to help themself succeed in life, in their way. Not your way.

Want to know how? Simply reply.

Hello

My name is Kaitlin Herring. I am a senior at Luther College and I am currently conducting a project on visual sociology with a focus on advertisements, and an emphasis on representations of homosexuality. I am particularly interested in the "Awearness" campaign as well as the advertisements that remind the public "We All Walk in Different Shoes". I was hoping you would be willing to share any reactions from customers or the public in general to this campaign or your representations of transsexuals or gays and lesbians. Would you be willing to share these responses with me? I would greatly appreciate any information you have to offer. Thank you for your time.

Kaitlin Herring

It would be great if you could confirm to being the author of this blog on the facebook-app NetworkedBlogs. I'm a follower there instead of using the "fan"-page since i like to keep the blogfollowings gathered in one spot...

Thanks for a great blog!
/Sanna