Social media monitoring becoming necessity

It is important to read the entire story here. The message that I took away was that each brand should pay attention to its online persona and be proactive, not just have a presence on Facebook or Twitter. It's not about that anymore, it's about building relationships with your customers. Customers are increasingly more active online and they are watching every step you make. Take care of them and they will help grow your business. Also, it is important to embrace social media, do not be scared of it. Ignoring it will not make it go away. Just know what you are doing...or find someone knowledgeable to help you out.

Social media monitoring becoming a necessity
via Pizzamarketplace.com

When social media entrepreneur, CEO and investor Peter Shankman landed at the Newark Airport on Aug. 17, he was greeted with a porterhouse delivered by a waiter from Morton's Steakhouse.

Shankman was surprised by the gesture, tweeting "Oh. My. God. I don't believe it."

But perhaps he shouldn't have been, since he asked Mortons directly for the item two hours earlier, also via Twitter: "Hey @Mortons - can you meet me at newark airport with a porterhouse when I land in two hours? K, thanks :)"

The case of the airport porterhouse delivery may be an extreme example of actionable social media monitoring, but it also illustrates how restaurants are increasingly leveraging the service.

Not new, but growing fast

Social media monitoring strategies have been around as long as social media sites have existed. Culver's marketing team, for example, has been monitoring the chain's Facebook and Twitter accounts since 2008, according to Emily Patterson, marketing manager.

"As the use of social media continues to grow, we embrace the opportunity to engage our guests and strengthen their understanding (about Culver's)," she said.

The difference between now and 2008, however, is an exponential growth in social networking sites. Facebook, for example, has grown from 100 million users in 2008 to more than 750 million in July, 2011. To keep up, many chains have turned to third-party companies, added to their agency of records' assignment lists or grown their own social media teams.

Culver's now works closely with its agency to monitor Facebook and Twitter throughout the day, seven days a week.

Chains such as Burgerville, El Pollo Loco and Firehouse Subs have turned to a third party company, Market Force, which has experienced a three-fold growth in its social media monitoring and outreach services in the past 18 months. Other companies are seeing the growth in demand as well. ReviewAnalyst has been offering social media monitoring for hotels for about four years, but jumped into the restaurant industry earlier this year with Hard Rock International.

And FohBoh Inc. just launched FOHBuzz SnapShot, a social CRM reporting tool that delivers real-time, guest satisfaction analysis to help make restaurant operators access real-time "crowd-sourced" reviews and opinions to better manage guest satisfaction and gauge social media marketing efforts.

ReviewAnalyst's product manager Dean Schmit - who will speak on the topic of "Command Station: Monitoring Your Social Sphere" at the inaugural *Foodservice Social Media Universe conference Sept. 18-20 in San Francisco - said the addition of restaurants to the company's proprietary monitoring platform was a no-brainer, especially considering the growth of smartphone applications.

"Now there are augmented reality apps where you can point at a restaurant with your phone and reviews will automatically come up about that specific restaurant. New customers are making decisions on the fly now more than ever and you need to know what is being said about your business instantly," he said.

One of the biggest areas of growth in the social media realm is review sites such as Yelp, Urbanspoon, OpenTable, Google Places and TravelAdvisor. Additionally, check-in options on sites like Facebook and Foursquare allow customers to announce where they are specifically and post an immediate impression of that business.

Customers are not only exposed to these reviews more often, they're paying attention to them and posting them more themselves. Between this time last year and now, the number of customers who read an online blog, post, Tweet or review jumped from 48 percent to 61 percent, according to new research from Market Force. Also, the percentage of social media users who posted a specific opinion about a restaurant has grown from 13 to 18 in that same time.

"Basically you have one in five of your customers posting something about you. That's pretty staggering," said Janet Eden-Harris, CMO SVP of strategy for Market Force. "Restaurants need to focus time and attention on what's being said about them, and stay on top of this explosive growth of content. It's not just Twitter and Facebook anymore."

Turning monitoring into action

Staying on top of the content means providing immediate responses to both positive and negative comments and, in some cases, jumping into damage control mode. Social media experts suggest "responding no matter what" as guests increasingly expect a timely response.

"The challenge now that restaurants are getting more involved in this is doing something with all of the information they have and learning what actions to take," said Schmit. "All of them know they should be doing something, but they're not sure who should be doing it or what they should be doing."

The biggest tip, he said, is simply to interact – whether the responses are plentiful, positive or negative, and whether the conversation is public or private. That doesn't mean "pulling a Morton's" every single time, but it does mean not being afraid to get creative every now and then.

"Get involved in a customer's conversation and have that interaction. You have to balance the positives and the negatives and pay attention to both because they're equally important," Schmit said. "You'll be surprised about how much you can learn about your business just by interacting with those who took the time to go and to comment about it."

For example, if a handful of negative reviews are coming in about a certain offering, the restaurant can reconsider its inclusion or menu placement. If an unfavorable post slams a specific unit's cleanliness, a monitor can respond to the customer with an apology then contact that unit's team directly to remedy the situation. Monitoring and reacting is becoming critical as negative comments on social media sites spread like wildfire.

"If you don't make the customer experience fantastic, they not only won't come back, they'll tell their friends and before you know it, it will be viral throughout that entire social circle," Eden-Harris said.

If a customer feels dissatisfied, she said, offer them a coupon, gift card or discount to get them back in the door.

"Most brands are terrified of social media because they assume it's just going to be a big rant session. But what's true is that most customers take the time to talk about their positive experiences and are actually brand advocates," she said. "Reaching out to customers makes a huge difference for brand advocacy."

Culver's goes a step further, actively soliciting customer feedback to gauge interest about a new product or promotion. This active virtual interaction promotes guest loyalty.

"If a customer feels like they have a good relationship with the brand, they'll be more loyal. Even if they have a negative experience one time, by monitoring and responding, they'll feel better immediately because they'll feel a connection and you're making sure their experience gets better right away," Eden-Harris said.

Although the ROI of committing a team to social media monitoring is tricky – Schmit likened it to having a billboard – "you know there's value from it, but it's difficult to quantify" – most agree the ability to interact with customers is valuable and quickly becoming necessary.

"Through monitoring, we are able to speak directly with our guests and provide the same hospitality they would experience at our restaurants," Patterson said. "As the world becomes ever more social, it is imperative that we have an active presence with these platforms."

50 Little Things For A Better Memphis

50 Little Things For a Better Memphis
Posted by John Branston on Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 11:28 AM
www.MemphisFlyer.com

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A couple of months ago I wrote a column headlined “What Would You Do Now?” after a friend asked me that question. The context was what would you do to make Memphis a better place short of ending poverty and crime, fixing schools, reforming government, or bringing major corporate headquarters and thousands of new jobs to Memphis.

My answer had two parts. One was to boost the profile of the University of Tennessee Medical School and the downtown/Midtown medical center so that it looks more like Birmingham, Little Rock, Jackson, Mississippi, and Nashville. The other was to focus on 50 little things instead of a few big ones, on the assumption that one-third of them might stick, which isn’t bad. With some reader input, here are 50 little things. Most of them require no legislation from Nashville or Washington. In theory, at least, they are doable right here. And most would cost less than $1 million.

1. Start school at 8:15 a.m. instead of 7:15 a.m.
2. Start school closer to Labor Day if not after.
3. Have an attendance requirement.
4. Baseball is half sport, half foodfest. Better hot dogs and cheaper food at AutoZone Park.
5. Boiled peanuts at the ballpark and farmers markets.
6. A pontoon bridge to the tip of Mud Island.
7. A German restaurant.
8. Wildflower cannons fired over Sam Cooper-Interstate 40 junction and vacant lots.
9. Put the Grand Carousel from Libertyland some place other than in storage.
10. Improve Overton Park golf course even if it loses money.
11. Emphasize the black middle class and professional class.
12. Kirk Whalum and Soulsville USA are to Memphis as Harry Connick Jr. and Wynton Marsalis are to New Orleans.
13. Splash parks.
14. Stop running the monorail, trolley cars, and buses empty.
15. Let cops take patrol cars home.
16. Homesteading.
17. One full-time job per city employee.
18. A five-parks bike ride along the river.
19. Do the Harahan Bridge project.
20. A public dunk tank for owners of blighted property.
21. Repeat, Memphis: It’s not 1968.
22. Face it, school consolidation is not a civil rights issue.
23. A local TV channel for food, houses, and extreme sports.
24. Local television stations honor one graduation a year.
25. A $5 fine for downtown parking meter tickets.
26. Teach For America for people over 55.
27. A North Parkway public entrance to the zoo.
28. Fix the broken sidewalk on the north side of the zoo.
29. Cheap bottled water on the river.
30. Water fountains that work in public places.
31. Before building, ask: If you can’t keep a public outdoor bathroom clean, functional, and safe then why do it?
32. Create a journalism endowment.
33. Memphis vs. Louisville, Cincinnati, and Ole Miss.
34. Outdoor basketball goals and soccer goals with nets.
35. A tennis racquet and bike giveaway.
36. Vocational education.
37. Sex education.
38. Nutrition education.
39. A salary cap for nonprofits tied to the salary of the President of the United States ($400,000). More than that and they make “voluntary” tax contributions.
40. Put Bud Chittom in charge of Beale Street.
41. Undercover cops in the Old Forest at Overton Park.
42. Redbox outlets that work.
43. Insurance incentives for not going to the doctor.
44. Shade trees at playgrounds.
45. Deductible payments of principle instead of interest on home mortgage loans.
46. Move the barbecue contest to Tiger Lane.
47. An alternative “Get Motivated” speakers day.
48. Reinvent Peabody Place, soon.
49 and 50. Scratch 1-48. It’s schools and crime.

Welcome Barrett Miller Waddell

WELCOME BARRETT MILLER WADDELL



So, I've taken a hiatus from my blog this year as I have had to make some major adjustments to my life.

The biggest change has been adjusting to the birth of my first child, a son, Barrett Miller Waddell. After a long day starting at 5AM, Barrett was born at Methodist Germantown Hospital on Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 8:44PM after a long labor that didn't progress quite the way we had planned and ended in a c-section. Blake and I had an outpouring of support from family and friends, food, flowers and finally, much needed rest. I am so blessed to have delivered our healthy 19 3/4 inch, 8 pound 4 ounce baby boy.





I'm also thankful for all the gifts, prayers and love that we received during my pregnancy.



We hired Lisa Thomas of Kiralisa Photography to take newborn pictures of Barrett and they could not have turned out better. I have recommended her to everyone I know (kiralisa.com). Here is a sneak peek of some photos that she took.





Barrett is now 6 weeks old. The change has been great so far! Blake and I are adjusting just fine. I can't wait to report the changes as he grows.

10 Marketing Trends Popping Up in 2011

10 Marketing Trends Popping Up in 2011
via USAToday.com
January 23, 2011

You can say one thing with certainty about new product trends for 2011: They're pretty wacky.

That's a good thing.

It could be a sign of an improving economy. Or a signal that consumers and consumer product makers are ready to break out of the box after two years of recession-induced creative immobility.

For two years, the snake-bitten economy has fostered one overriding new product trend: fewer gee-whizzers. But things are changing in 2011. Just ask the folks at ConAgra (CAG), who designed a microwave popcorn bag that opens into a serving bowl. Or Procter & Gamble (PG), whose Olay brand is turning budget skin cleansing on its head. Or Colgate (CL), which concocted a super-foaming toothpaste that cleans choppers with shampoo-like foam.

"We're going to see a ramp-up in risk taking," says Tom Vierhile, director of product launch analytics at researcher Datamonitor.

Even then, chief among 2011's consumer-packed good trends are these: Keep it simple. And better for me. And cheap.

PHOTO GALLERY: See products that illustrate top marketing trends for 2011

"The major forces in the marketplace for 2011 are those that help consumers simplify," says Lynn Dornblaser, new products guru at Mintel, the research firm. "Consumers are more financially, physically and emotionally stretched than ever. They are looking for ways to accomplish more — but do it economically."

The sheer numbers are on the rise, too. New product introductions began to increase last year after plummeting in 2009. Some 40,820 new products were introduced in the U.S. in 2010 — up from 38,738 in 2009, says Mintel.

Many of the packaged foods and household goods that align with the new trends are coming from giants such as Kraft (KFT), P&G and ConAgra. They've got the deep pockets to concoct them and the dough to market them — increasingly with social media.

Not only will Facebook, Twitter and YouTube be used to market most of the products behind the trends, but social media itself has played a critical role in creating the trends. It's hard to find a new product that hasn't been driven by consumer actions, reactions or demands. Among 2011's top 10 new product trends — in no particular order:

1 Simplify my life

Consumers aren't just time-pressed — we're downright lazy. We sit at our computers or in front of our high-def TVs and look for ways to do less.

The folks at ConAgra, maker of the Orville Redenbacher Popcorn brand, are helping in an outside-the-bag way. In March, they will roll out the Pop Up Bowl ($2.99 for a three-pack). It's microwave popcorn that pops into a round bowl shape instead of a tall bag.

"This is the biggest thing to happen to popcorn in 25 years," says Jesse Spungin, general manager at Orville Redenbacher.

The bowl shape means no worry about finding a bowl for your popcorn. For germ freaks, no worry about touching the same greasy bag that the gang's sharing.

With the typical household (with two kids) popping about 30 bags of popcorn annually, this is no small thing. Says Spungin, "This will become the new standard of microwave popcorn."

2 Look younger, cheaper

Oh, how badly we want to look younger — but without paying big bucks to accomplish that.

P&G's Olay brand is about to delve deeply into the down-and-dirty world of keeping skin super clean — on a budget. All of the anti-aging moisturizers only work if they can get below the skin. If the skin isn't clean, it's a waste.

So, this month, it will officially introduce the Olay Professional Advanced Cleansing System ($30). It's a brush with rotating bristles that removes dirt and dead skin.

The target: women over 35. P&G calls it the first budget at-home facial cleansing tool. "It cleanses like pro systems that sell for $200," says Joe Arcuri, North American vice president of beauty at P&G.

3 Fast scratch

Just as the world of social media has made instant gratification a cultural norm, it's also become the norm of our kitchens.

We want our meals fast — but not tasting that way. With that in mind, Kraft is turning its Philadelphia brand on its head. This month, it's rolling out four Philadelphia Cooking Cremes ($2.99 per 10-ounce container), which look like sour cream but taste like seasoned cream cheese.

The move is a no-brainer. Philadelphia Cream Cheese sales are flatter than a bagel. Kraft kept pushing the line to be spread on bagels, but it discovered via social media that up to 25% of consumers were using it, instead, to cook, says Dan O'Leary, marketing director. "We're repositioning the brand so we're no longer tied down to the bagel," he says.

4 Pro hair for pennies

Dry shampoo might not sound sexy. But in the world of mass hair care, it may well achieve cult-like status in 2011.

It's all about wanting the stuff celebs get — but on the cheap. Like big hair. Dry shampoos have found their way into chichi salons in recent years and are often used behind the scenes before photo shoots and red carpet events. But they can cost a bunch.

In February, Unilever (UL) rolls out Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo ($2.74 for 5 ounces). The trick that celebs use as a quick way to give hair volume will now be on store shelves at a budget price. It's actually a spray-on powder — mostly made of clay and alcohol — that absorbs oils from hair.

"One of the best weapons that stylists have will now be available to consumers," says David Rubin, Unilever's hair marketing chief.

5 Almost homemade

How do you make a prepackaged chip dip seem somehow homemade — and even natural?

Give Frito-Lay (PEP) credit. It's concocted something it dubbed Tostitos Dip Creations ($1.59 a pack). On the shelf, it's just a small envelope filled with seasonings.

The key for consumers is what they do with it at home: add fresh ingredients. Chop up an avocado. Squeeze in some lime. And voilà: homemade chip dip.

"When you bring it to the table, people will think you made it from scratch," says Ann Mukherjee, Frito-Lay's marketing chief.

6 Flexitarians R Us

There was a time when the divisions were crystal clear: Folks were either red-meat-eating carnivores or dedicated vegetarians.

But along came trends like Meatless Monday. And other considerations, like cholesterol. Enter the new world of folks who enjoy eating meat — but want less of it. Some 47% of Americans are trying to reduce meat consumption. That's the flexitarian (flexible vegetarian) trend that the MorningStar Farms division of Kellogg (K) has latched onto.

In March, it will roll out its first complete soy-based breakfast entrees: Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuits and Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuits ($4.19 for a box of three biscuits).

The target: Boomer women, says Cathy Schneck, vice president of marketing at Kellogg Frozen Foods. Some 75% of its customers eat some kind of meat — but just want to eat less.

7 Instant whiter choppers

It's too much to ask the Facebook crowd to spend weeks with whitening strips in their mouths.

P&G gets it. Later this month, the company behind Crest Whitestrips will roll out Crest 3D 2-Hour Express Whitestrips ($54.99 for four packs that last a year). That's right. Whiter teeth in two hours instead of three weeks. Sure, it's peroxide heavy. But P&G insists it's enamel safe.

"The biggest barrier to using Whitestrips has been time," says Marchoe Northern, associate marketing director for P&G's North American oral care. "It whitens without the wait."

8 Sweet on potatoes

If 2011 is the year of anything, it's the year of the sweet potato. The orange spud has broken away from the holiday stereotype, thanks to growing consumer awareness of its health benefits, such as vitamin A and beta carotene.

Hopping onto the trend is ConAgra, whose Alexia line already owns 44% of the frozen sweet potato market. In March, it will introduce Alexia Sweet Potato Bite Sized Puffs ($3.49 per 20-ounce bag). That's right, potato puffs made from sweet potatoes.

And why not? The $147 million potato puffs segment has been flat for years due to lack of innovation, says Michael Smith, marketing director for the Alexia line. "We're reinventing the classic by putting a sweet twist to it."

9 Cracker chips

Think of them as Goldfish crackers — for grownups.

One of the hot snacking trends for 2011 will be better-for-you snacks that are part cracker and part chip. Pepperidge Farm (CPB) calls them cracker chips.

This month, it's rolling out Pepperidge Farm Baked Naturals Cracker Chips ($3.49 for a 5.5-ounce bag).

For parent Campbell, it's about rebalancing its cracker line. In the nation's $4 billion cracker category, its Goldfish line has grown from No. 6 to No. 3 over the past decade. But its adult cracker line is just $35 million. This is a bid to boost that.

Cracker or chip? "If you press me," says Steve White, vice president of crackers, "it's more of a cracker."

10 Feel the clean

It's not enough anymore to just brush your teeth. These days, it's got to be an experience.

"Consumers are seeking products that are not just functional and effective, but also touch their senses or emotions," says Philip Durocher, general manager of Colgate's U.S. oral care business.

Enter: Colgate MaxClean SmartFoam ($3.29 for 6 ounces).

The toothpaste, available later next month, tingles and foams like crazy when used.

Colgate spent nearly three years developing the foaming toothpaste, Durocher says, measuring everything from how much, how quick and how thick consumers wanted their foam.

Ken Robinson: Changing education paradigms

Check out Ted Robinson's Changing Education Paradigms. This is an incredibly intereresting look at our "education" system.

Ken Robinson: Changing education paradigms | Video on TED.com

VIP Memphis Magazine December 2010: Letter from the Editor

From November to December we tend to shift our thinking from a list of what we are thankful for having to a list of what we are wishing for. For most, it is a time of celebration and family time. This year, I will be celebrating with my family and my husbands family and wishing for safe travels for all.

I’m looking forward to all the celebration dinners that I will get to indulge in as well. Each year, in addition to my parents’ house, we travel to Atlanta and Chattanooga for extra family time and holiday dinners, which include traditional favorites such as turkey and dressing, green beans, sweet potato casserole, Greenwood’s chocolate and pumpkin pie and homemade peppermint brittle. And speaking of peppermints, we have some great recipes from local chefs of Napa Cafe, Flight, Grill 83 and The Grove Grill.

Take a look inside to get some fashionable holiday gift ideas, tips on keeping your rugs clean throughout the years, recipes for your own festive holiday meal and enjoy Santo Claus and Friends shots of the VIP staff and our VIPets.

Merry Christmas!

Kristen

VIP Memphis Magazine November 2010: Letter from the Editor

This past month we were fortunate to be involved in many exciting events around town such as the 17th Annual Blues Ball that celebrated the lives of Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis as well as Dress For Success Memphis’ 1st Annual Little Black Dress Preview Event to their Upscale Garage Sale, the Laurelwood Appreciation Party, several anniversaries and business openings, Halloween Parties and fall festivities. I had the chance to meet Stormy and Speedy, two incredible greyhounds who reside at the Memphis Jewish Home and Rehabilitation Center. Finally, I spoke with a local investor with Memphis Invest, a family-owned real estate investment firm in town whose mission is building wealth through real estate investing, about why Memphis is a strong market to invest and real estate is a viable solution to long term wealth. It made me realize that we really do live in a city of opportunities and possibilities.

November is the month of Thanksgiving, a month in which we all stop to reflect who or what we have in our lives that we are thankful for. Among so many things, I am thankful for my health, my family and friends, for the magazine’s leadership, advertisers and contributors and I am grateful for all of the possibilities that I am faced with each day.

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough. ~ Oprah Winfrey

Best,

Kristen

VIP Memphis Magazine October 2010: Letter from the Editor

My husband Blake and I celebrated our one year wedding anniversary in September, which has officially become my favorite month of the year. We had a fun filled month including the Women + Running Graduation 5K - congratulations ladies, Art on Tap, Panera Bread and Wing’s Foundation Bet Against Breast Cancer event, which will be featured in the November issue and many others.

There are many upcoming events to mention including Little Black Dress at Lexus of Memphis on October 21st to benefit Dress For Success Memphis, Memphis Area Legal Services 40th Anniversary Celebration, Zoo Boo and Susan G. Komen Race For the Cure.

October is historically the most beautiful time of year to live, work and play in Memphis and this year should be no different. I expected the Autumnal Equinox to bring a wave of cooler weather with it, and it has taken some time, but it is finally here. It’s difficult to know what to wear when calendars show that fall has begun, fashion etiquette tells you not to wear white after Labor Day and public pools have closed, the temperature outside tells you to wear additional outer coverage and you have not pulled your winter clothes out of the attic.

Besides the weather, some of my favorite things about October (in no particular order) are SEC football, outdoor walks with my husband and my black lab Hunter, leaves changing colors, jackets, apple pie and Halloween - for the candy, decorations and trick-or-treaters at my door.

This month, in addition to our fashion and culinary features, we have added an addition to the magazine, VIP Pets. We have met some great new friends including Jasmine from Delphinium and Hugo Boss from Muse. We also had the pleasure of getting to know Chip Brown and Red from Brown Dog Lodge. We hope that you all will enjoy our new feature and this month’s issue as much as we are!

Kristen

VIP Memphis Magazine September 2010: Letter from the Editor

With the start of school, the calming of the weather and the arrival of football, one thing is for certain. A change is among us. On the evening of September 22nd, we will enter the fall equinox, the official beginning of fall. With the changing of the seasons, our mindsets change as well. Many of us begin to think about a wardrobe change, travel or holidays just around the corner. After all, Halloween costumes are already on display and shelves are being cleared of candy sales.

The end of summer has brought about a welcomed change for VIP Memphis Magazine, our new fall intern Brittly Butler, a Senior Marketing major at Christian Brothers University. Brittly and I have already attended several events including Vernon’s House Party 2010, an unofficial Elvis Week event with Hard Rock Cafe’s ETA winner Cody Slaughter, pictured with us above. You will read more about our Elvis Week encounters in Brittly’s feature inside.

There are many things to look forward to in September including Panera Bread and Wings Foundation’s Bet Against Breast Cancer. Don’t forget to purchase your tickets early as they will sell out quickly. Also, my Women + Running group will be coming to an end with a Graduation 5K fast approaching. In this issue you will find quick and easy deserts as made by your favorite local chefs, a fall fashion preview and a planning guide for fall landscaping.

I am so grateful to our readers for your feedback on our features and photos. Each month, I grow more excited about the direction of the magazine through Kat’s vision and will continue to keep a watchful eye on the trends and happenings in Memphis to keep you all abreast. Also, to our advertisers, contributing writers and those of you who are submitting your upcoming events, please keep them coming. We could not survive without you and appreciate your continued support.

Best,

Kristen

VIP Memphis Magazine August 2010: Letter from the Editor

With average temperatures in the upper 90s, its been difficult to enjoy the outdoors in Memphis without serious hydration and the right clothing. And with August here, we will take any help that we can get. Thanks to Breakaway Running and River Workout instructor Stacy Chick, I have been able to stay cool during this season’s Women + Running program in all the right gear. Stacy and I are pictured above.

Also, thanks to several of our local chefs for their favorite gourmet sandwich recipes that will allow us to take our picnics, lunches and special event brown bags to the next level with gourmet to go.

Several dates stand out in my head from last month. I had a chance to catch up with Rhea Crenshaw and view her new Blue Moon Bedding product line. Check out our Spaces + to see the customized design options that Blue Moon Bedding has to fit all your needs. The Redbirds game was a blast thanks to Mona Sappenfield, for allowing me to enjoy the game with some of my favorite girls in the comfort of an airconditioned suite. My friends and I made our own picnic for Robert Randolph and the Family Band and the infamous Al Green at Live at the Garden Series. Also, ArtsMemphis BRAVO kickoff was a chance to preview this year’s arts season.

This month we celebrate back to school, Elvis Week (7-14th) and personally, my birthday. Also, I am a board member of Volunteer MidSouth, which will be hosting its annual fundraiser - Summer in the City Fiesta. We’d love to hear from you about any local organizations or events that you support. Reach out and also learn other VIP Memphis staff picks for organizations and upcoming events online at Facebook.com and Twitter.com!

Stay cool,

Kristen

VIP Memphis Magazine July 2010: Letter from the Editor

This month in honor of Independence Day and the summer heat, six local bartenders have shared their chilled red, white and blue drink recipes for you to serve during your own events and festivities. We’ve named these sweet refreshing drinks “Essence of Summer”.

And speaking of summer, I visited Vignettes new showroom and found several summer color choices that I would like to include into my own home design. You can read more about Vignettes’ color recommendations in our Spaces +.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Chef Ben Vaughn of Au Fond Farmtable and learn a bit of history about his culinary experiences and how they led him to open a French market and bistro in midtown Memphis. I can’t wait to begin attending his weekly cheese classes, and I recommend you do the same.

June has been a whirlwind of many firsts for me, including a road trip down the west coast with my husband, a family wedding at the Malibu Family Winery and of course, the editorial responsibility for VIP Memphis magazine. I am so excited about the upcoming opportunities and I have had a blast this past month attending and sponsoring some of the greatest events of the season. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation celebrated Memphis’ Finest Young Professionals which we were honored to be presenting sponsors. I had the chance to get to know Nancy Nichols, organizer for Women ‘n’ Wine this month. Also, I will be joining the Women + Running group this season and will be writing about my progress in upcoming months.

Have a safe and Happy 4th of July and enjoy the issue!

Kristen

Women + Running Week One

Week one turned out to be a lot of fun. I heard that out of 1,500 registrations approximately 600 of them joined the Beginning Runners group...I'm impressed Memphis! Pictured below is me and River Workout instructor, and my personal trainer, Stacy Chick. Thanks again to Stacy and Breakaway Running for providing me all the swag to keep me cool and dry this running season.



I ran three days of week one at the pace of 1 minute run, 2 minute walk. Week two steps up a notch to a pace of 2 minutes run, 3 minutes walk. I tried that yesterday on a treadmill and it actually wasn't so bad, except for the minor shin splints I got last week. Let's just see if I can add heat and humidity and keep up the pace this evening. Hope the rain holds off until after the run.

Wish me luck!

Jerry's Sno Cones

Three words. Jerry's Sno Cones.

If you have not yet tried Jerry's Sno Cones, may I recommend the White Wedding Supreme? Or the Raspberry Supreme? Or the Tangerine Supreme? Do you see a pattern here? Supreme equals "add layers of vanilla soft serve to my sno cone". Oh my gosh, where has Jerry's been all my life? How am I just now figuring out that it exists? And only 5 minutes from my house? Blake, Cami and I went for the first time on Saturday and tried the sno cones. I'm already craving another three days later - although from previous reviews, the burgers look great too! I may have to stop by for lunch sometime.

For those of you who have never been to Jerry's, it is located at 1657 Wells Station Road - take Summer Avenue to Waring and go north. Jerry's is cash only and you should expect a line of at least 15-20 minutes. Menu and photos below:






Let me know what your favorite flavor is..

Women + Running Registration

Today is day one of MRTC's Women + Running program at Shelby Farms. My mom and I have registered for the program - me for Beginning Runners and her for Power Walkers (because she broke her shoulder 4 weeks ago and has not been approved to run yet by her physical therapist). Here we are at registration last week:



Teams are organized into Power Walkers, Beginning Runners, Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2 and Advanced Levels. Registration is going on so there is still time to sign up at womenrunwalkmemphis.com.

My goal is to build up to running the graduation 5K after 9 weeks of training with local running coaches. My coach will actually be my River Workout trainer Stacy Chick - how lucky am I? She actually helped me pick out shirts, socks and a new pair of kicks from Breakaway Running.

Today, we will run 1 minute then walk 2 minutes for a total of 20 minutes. This shouldn't be too hard.

Check back next week for my progress report!

Jaime Camil

I had the pleasure of meeting actor and emerging Latin superstar, Jaime Camil, at a meet and greet last month at Art Under a Hot Tin Roof. The event was a benefit for Rally For Kids. Below is a photo of my publisher Kat, Jaime and me. Jaime will be a new guest star on this season of Desperate Housewives. Look for Jaime this fall or go to his website jaimecamil.com.

Memphis Invest

I wanted to take a minute and tell you about my friends Chris, Brett and Kent Clothier Sr, at Memphis Invest.

Memphis Invest is a Memphis-based, family owned firm that works with investors to build long term wealth through real estate. The MemphisInvest.com team provides investors with strategically-located residential real estate properties that provide positive cash flow, tax benefits and peace of mind investing as an alternative wealth management. By concentrating on the fundamentals of real estate investing and great customer service, these guys offer the only true turn- key option for real estate investing in Memphis.

Memphis is the perfect city to invest for many reasons. Due to its low cost of living, affordable housing and surprisingly stable rental market, Memphis offers advantages that few cities in America can boast. A few other statistics: Memphis was 21% undervalue entering 2010. Over 48% of Memphis residents rent their housing. Memphis is home to four Fortune 500 company headquarters.

Than Merrill and JD Esajian, stars of A&E’s Flip This House, and FortuneBuilders.com have teamed up with Memphis Invest to host the Ultimate Cash Flow Buying Tour, a two day buying conference and tour to be held in Memphis on July 9 - 10, 2010. Guests will have a chance to learn about investing in Memphis from the experts and an opportunity to network with the MemphisInvest.com and Fortune Builder teams and will also be available to meet one on one to discuss the buying and investing process including property locators, closing attorneys, insurance agents, rehab specialists and property managers. Guests will also have the opportunity to tour available homes in the stages before, during and after the rehab process.

If you are interested in earning cash flow each month and building long term wealth through real estate, visit http://bit.ly/al07Jd to join the bandwagon and learn what these guys have known for years. There is no secret, and they want to share their knowledge with you.

Hunter's Revenge

Blake and I have black lab, Hunter, that turned 6 years old this month. After thoroughly cleaning under cabinets, drawers and beds to get rid of any lingering dog hair that Hunter left behind this winter simply to mess with our allergies this spring, we decided to put Hunter's dog bed in the attic for the summer. Its been SCORCHING hot outside already this year, which makes me really nervous that its just mid-June. Although we've attempted to keep Hunter comfortable outside with extra servings of cold water, shade and a daily bath, digging holes in our yard seems to be the best cooling method for him.

Today, Blake noticed a damp water spot in the back bedroom ceiling and after checking in the attic, he determined that the water was coming from the air conditioner. He called a local A/C company and requested an emergency visit. The receptionist suggested that we turn the air conditioner off until the tech could take a look, in case we were freezing the unit. It is now 85 degrees and rising inside our house. Apparently, we are freezing out our air conditioner trying to over compensate for the outside heat.

We have decided that this mildly uncomfortable afternoon was just a nudge to remind us of Hunter's misery. Now with the house beginning to cool back down, we are ready to pull Hunter's dog bed back down. We give in...karma you win!

California Vacay

My husband Blake and I had a family wedding to attend last weekend in Malibu, so we decided to make it a vacation opportunity. Since neither of us has ever been to California, we flew to San Francisco for a long Memorial Day weekend, rented a car and drove down Hwy 1 then made our way up Sunset Boulevard through Malibu, Bel Air, Beverly Hills and through Hollywood before spending the wedding weekend in Malibu. Wow, what a week! California truly is one of the most beautiful sites and a must see if you have never been. My only regret is not making it North to wine country or south to San Diego, but those are trips for a later date. Here are some pictures of our incredible week on the East Coast: Enjoy!

Pictures:
San Francisco Cable Car to Fisherman's Wharf
Giants v. Rockies game on Memorial Day. Both teams played their #1s. Great game!
Scenic Highway 1 Southbound
Josh Fritts and Anya Monzikova wedding ceremony at Malibu Family Winery
Anya Monzikova, the newest member of the Waddell family!!

On the Move

Today, I am honored to announce that I have accepted the Editor position at VIP Memphis Magazine effective June 1, 2010. VIP Memphis Magazine distributes a free social and entertainment magazine throughout the Greater Memphis area, focusing on Culture + Fashion + Culinary + Society + Entertainment.

Preceding me in the position is Ann Cunningham O'Neill. Ann has taken the magazine to new levels over her tenure and is moving on to other opportunities. I have extremely big shoes to fill and I am excited about each moment. I will be joining a team of incredible dreamers and doers:

Kat Semrau, Publisher
Lorne Semrau, Administrator
Mark Ramirez, Senior Account Executive/Photographer
Joey Miller, Photographer
Andrea Zucker, Photographer
Christina Trask, Photographer
Jay Adkins, Photographer
Ben Williams, Graphic Design

I'm looking forward to working with each and every one of you. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, inquiries or concerns.

Kristen Myers Waddell
VIP Memphis Magazine
4711 poplar avenue, suite 215
memphis, tn 38117
O/ 901.766.2999
F/ 901.766.2977
C/ 901.212.8884
kristen@vipmag.com
www.vipmag.com
Facebook.com/vipmemphis
Twitter.com/vipmemphis

Memphis Happenings

I'm really excited about a few upcoming Memphis events that I would like to share.

L'ECOLE Culinaire Memphis is hosting their Spring Scholarship Dinner in their new on-site restaurant (open to the public Tues/Thur) this Sunday night, May 23, 2010 at 6PM. Tickets are $75. Proceeds benefit the scholarship fund for incoming students. Ticket prices will include passed Hors D'oeuvres and a five course dinner and there will be silent and live auctions. Call 901.754.7115 for more information.

Skirt! Memphis magazine is hosting Juleps in June: A Garden Party at the Germantown Charity Horse Show arena on Saturday, June 12, 2010 from 5-9PM. Tickets are $20. Proceeds benefit the Exchange Club Family Center. Ticket prices will include wine, beer, mint juleps, hors d' oeuvres and live music. There will be a Kentucky Derby style hat contest, door prizes and a viewing party during the $25,000 Grand Prix event. Email kristenmwaddell@gmail.com for more information or check out Juleps in June on Facebook.

Save The Date: Volunteer MidSouth is hosting its annual fundraiser Summer in the City: Fiesta on Saturday, August 7, 2010 at 7PM at Chickasaw Oaks Mall. Tickets are $40. Visit volunteermidsouth.org for more information.

If you know of any upcoming events that you would like to share, please let me know!