fmlifestyle.com

Locally, it's probably the third print magazine to expand online following Taste and ME magazine. The web launch for FM (Femme Magazine) took place at Misfits some time in early September. The interesting thing about the website is that it classifies itself as a 'lifestyle website' which really offers endless and diverse content which could fit in and make the site what it aims to be. fmlifestyle.com also includes blogs such as the one by life coach Claude Camilleri. Another interesting feature is the FM Directory which includes contact details and listings related to Women's Fashion, Health and Beauty, Home and Living amongst others.

The first ever YCN Live waits for a bus in Sliema!

Have you seen some more colourful bus shelters recently? The above is the proof that spaces can also be used to promote creativity and ideas...not simply sell messages! The first ever YCN Live consisted of 'A huge amount of events staged on numerous, world-wide platforms including illustrations in bus shelters in Malta (pictured), Sand sculptures on London's south bank, installations in Helsinki and Stockholm and a whole host of exhibitions and professional practice portfolio reviews in studios'.

YCN Live stems from ycnonline.com, which was established in 2001 and exists to inspire and showcase emerging creative talent in design and visual communication. ME design mag has been involved in the above project and were kind enough to let us know. We in return, promised a BLAB or two!

NuvoleFashion.com: Who needs online anyways?!

I've recently come across a very good insight about online vs. offline customer traffic. In history many were the big revolutions that changed the way we do things. On of them, online, has certainly changed the way customers consume brands and products.

Some would have thought that online is for techies and the mainstream consumer will not be interested in this geeky stuff. Others have proved that the mainstream consumer is really online by Google stating that if Internet users were to make up one continent, they would make up the 5th largest one. But a new breed of thought has recently featured in a number of blogs and related articles. The next best thing is the total convergence of online and offline. Consumers need both! It's quite obvious and common sense...but in a tiny market such as our local market, the use of an online space may be underestimated, especially in the fashion industry.


Nuvole has recently launched its online website. The website, designed by Lab1977, exposes Nuvole's fashion collection whilst providing basic info. such as store location, contact details, etc. Strategically enough the website does not include an online store. And yes, I do find this strategic.

The traditional approach would be: Nuvole customer wants to buy some new clothes, drives to Birkirkara (or any other Nuvole Store location), passes by 4 other shop windows, possibly refrains from entering the alternative fashion stores, enters the Nuvole store and does the purchase if he/she finds some interesting clothes.

The new purchasing method should be: Nuvole customer is notified that new collection is in store, logs onto online website at the click of a button, reviews collection, likes the products, drives straight to a Nuvole store and does the purchase!

So should Nuvole refrain from developing an online store? Not necessarily, but the point is that Online complements Offline (seamlessly)...and local brands like Nuvole seem to be getting to that.

Google Chrome is here

Google has 2 days ago released its neew web browser. The launch of Chrome came as a surprise, even for the people at Google! Some guy at Google pressed the send button to early and sent to the public a comic of Google Chrome depicting the new product features. I will not get into the techy stuff of why Google Chrome should be better than IExplorer, Firefox, Mozilla and Safari but considering it came after them all, it should have the best of all as the Google blog proclaims.

In the meantime, to add a more geeky touch to this blog post, below are some stats. about browser share for visitors of this blog. Internet Explorer leads the way, and Mozilla follows considerably (check for yourself)