James Fund research successes have attracted the attentions of discerning donors in New York City, resulting in their generous support of ongoing James Fund projects. We are delighted to be working with our friends at Solving Kids’ Cancer, created in memory of Penelope and Hazen, two extraordinary children who will not be forgotten.
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Mount Nelson’s New Spa Promises To Soothe The Senses
Time is drawing near for complete luxury and indulgence to descend upon the Mother City in the form of the Mount Nelson Hotel’s new R18 million luxurious Librisa Spa, which opens in December 2007. Set in the lush gardens of the hotel, yet located in the heart of Cape Town, the Librisa Spa will offer visitors as well as local Capetonians, an oasis of unsurpassed splendour and attention to detail.The architecture of the 570 square meters development will incorporate design features of the Victorian era combined with a contemporary look that is guaranteed to impress. The spa entrance is adjacent to the main Oasis swimming pool and will consist of a spacious and welcoming reception area. Upon entering, your eye will be instantly drawn to the impressively large silk hand-painted wall paper feature, located behind the reception desk, reflective of the botanical theme and in synergy with the soothing setting of potted flowering annuals, topiary and palms. Soothing tones of pleasant creams and luxurious wood decorate an elegant and spacious interior.
Gorgeous off-white marble flooring makes for luxurious stepping as you browse the spa boutique area for beautiful handcrafted pieces of jewellery and other accessories or as your curiosity leads you to the beautiful open-display cabinets that allow you to sample the premier internationally as well as locally sourced beauty products. A comfortable seating area with refreshments is at your disposal whilst you wait for your pampering to begin.
To the left and right of the reception area are spacious ladies and gentlemen changing areas. Guests will be invited to disrobe and enjoy a sauna or steam bath as well as make use of the ‘his and hers’ plunge pools or a sensation shower, prior to the arranged treatment. Dusky tones create a calming environment with the fusion of elements such as timber, marble and warm, natural stone. Unwind on heated hot marble slabs after your steam or sensation shower guaranteed to completely relax your muscles in preparation for your pampering treatment with one of the qualified therapists. For those in need of a little grooming, there are separate manicure and pedicure rooms.
A covered walkway leads to the treatment building where a beautiful water feature captures your imagination at the base of the double volume staircase that leads to the first floor, offering stunning vistas of Table Mountain and the hotel’s landscaped gardens. Eight (8) treatment rooms are split between the ground and upper floor, with four (4) rooms on each level. Generously apportioned, the rooms create their own unique ambience, carrying the natural and botanical theme throughout. Locally sourced hand-painted botanical textile panels compliment the décor which comprises of natural and gentle tones of whites and creams. Bronze mirrors are carefully positioned to reflect the soft light that balances the soul and mind.
Romance will play a key note in the spa concept where four (4) treatment rooms have been designed to offer dual treatments for partners. Stepping further into the spa, there will be an idyllic resting area replicating a quintessential English conservatory room.
Here, spa guests will be able to enjoy refreshments whilst taking in the atmosphere of trickling water and colourful blooms, before being met by their therapist.
Time spent at the new Librisa Spa allows for the perfect opportunity to escape from every day stress. Luxurious, serene – the ultimate sensual escape.
Comments the hotel’s Managing Director, Nick Seewer; “The Mount Nelson provides guests with an unparalleled choice of accommodation and world-class facilities. The Librisa Spa is an important extension of this brand philosophy ensuring visitors and guests of a pampering and invigorating experience”.
Brand Culture | Household Gods
In the old days our ancestors often appealed to a set of household gods to help them “magically” achieve one tricky task or another — to make sure, for example, the fire burned, the bread rose, and the beer bubbled. These domestic spirits are the boggarts, brownies, dobbies, hobgoblins, and pucks of British folklore (and Harry Potter).
It’s clear this belief in household gods persists to this day, only now we call them household brands. Like household gods, household brands vary from family to family and are part and parcel of your cultural background.
In my case, the brands that spring to mind are: WD-40, Arm & Hammer baking soda, McIlhenny Co. Tabasco Brand Pepper Sauce, and Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce. To me these all share a certain “magical” quality, and somehow I don’t feel quite right unless I have them in my house.
I can also think of two brands that are in danger of losing their household god status: Morton Salt and C&H Pure Cane Sugar. I no longer feel quite so compelled to have these on my pantry shelf, and it may be no coincidence that I’ve become intrigued by gourmet salts and sugars — you often want to replace one bit of magic with another.
So, what are your household gods?
Brand Culture | The Otherworld
The recent brouhaha over the Burning Man trademark got me to thinking about the role of the Otherworld in pop culture. One common feature of Indo-European mythology (as well as of many other cultures) is the concept of an alternate world — existing side by side with ours — where the conventions of “our” society are flouted (or even reversed) and which can be entered into only at special times or places. The Welsh land of Annwfn, the Breton city of Ys, Arthur’s Avalon, and the Lord of the Rings’ elvish realm of Lothlórien are all descendants of this very rich mytheme.
I suspect this age-old tradition continues to play a major role in modern American society, exemplified by such cultural touchstones as “escapist” entertainment (In A World Where … ), Las Vegas (What Happens In Vegas … ), Disneyland (The Magic Kingdom), and Halloween (when the worlds of the living and the dead intersect). The Burning Man festival, of course, has quickly become the countercultural event par excellence (note the literal meaning of the word counterculture). If it’s creators want it to keep that unique status and not be replaced by something else, they need to tread very carefully. The Otherworld is by its very nature ephemeral and not to be trifled with!
Celebrity Branding | Who’s In Fashion?
The Washington Post has a fun little story on the ever-growing number of music and movie celebrities who are committed to extending their personal brands beyond the entertainment industry and into the realms of fashion and fragrance. Can you name the celebrities behind the following fashion brands (clues in parentheses)?
- L.A.M.B. (named after her best-selling CD, Love. Angel. Music. Baby.)
- Sweetface
- Princy (named after her father’s nickname for her)
- House of Dereon (named after her late grandmother, Agnez Dereon)
- Twenty8Twelve (named after her birth date, 12/28)
The answers are:
- L.A.M.B. — Gwen Stefani
- Sweetface — Jennifer Lopez
- Princy — Jessica Simpson
- House of Dereon — Beyoncé
- Twenty8Twelve — Sienna Miller
It may not be much of a jump from celebrity to fashion icon, but the usual caveats of brand extension apply:
You’ll want to give your new fashion brand its own identity, breathing life into it rather than naming it after yourself. Your fans normally want to live your lifestyle, not be you, and this brand strategy enables your line to flourish independently, more or less unaffected by the ups and downs of your entertainment career.
That said, your designs should reflect your own sense of style. In other words, you should actually want to wear your own brand — not all the time, but often enough that we know it’s “you.” Otherwise, you risk being a fashion fad, not a brand.
My prediction for the next big celeb-turned-fashion-brand? Fergie.
Architectural Branding | Building Brands
Korea’s largest newspaper, The Chosun Ilbo (in English), has a beautifully-illustrated story on the use of eye-catching architecture as brand symbols. Their examples include the Galleria department store, the Ferrari showroom, and Hyundai headquarters in Seoul and the Mikimoto and Prada stores in Tokyo.
Movie Branding | Best Picture Of The Year
What’s your pick for Best Picture of the Year? If you know I call the Beach Cities home, you can guess mine.
Product Branding | California Cuties
I suppose when it comes to groceries I’m a brand slut. I shop at the local farmer’s market for specialty produce, Whole Foods for healthy stuff, Trader Joe’s for something different, Vons and Ralphs for everyday meals, Marukai for Asian and Hawaiian food, and Costco for bulk items.
Anyway, after a great deal of trial and error, I’ve learned how to shop at Costco — without bringing home a bunch of stuff we’ll never finish up, that is. Lately, my favorite Costco buy is a box of Cuties® brand California Clementines. Also known as a mikan, satsuma, or Christmas orange, a clementine is a delicious little easy-to-peel variety of seedless mandarin.
I’m not a big fan of your garden-variety orange, but Cuties are just right. I love the expressive name, the cute logo, and the just-right five-pound box they come in. It seems like a nice step back to the “good old days” of the early 20th century, when California citrus came packaged in crates adorned with the most elaborate and colorful labels imaginable. It’s good to see more and more of our local growers are rediscovering the art of branding.
Place Names | Nameless Islands
If you thought your last naming project was a challenge, be very thankful you’re not the government official in charge of naming Indonesia’s 10,000 or so as-yet-unnamed islands! According to an article in The Jakarta Post, the United Nations is insisting that Indonesia give every one of its often-uninhabited islands an official name by 2007.
Naming an island is serious stuff, as the lack of a name makes it difficult for the government to enforce its territorial claims. Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Freddy Numberi acknowledged that the job is the responsibility of the central government, but he is wisely encouraging the local authorities to take the initiative.
We’ll gladly volunteer our services in exchange for a little uninhabited island in the sun to call our own. (Reposted)