Episode 82: Montclair's Community Response to Corona - Marketing Strategies for Business in Recovery

In this episode, we'll be looking at the strategies and marketing ideas for reopening our local businesses as we continue to recover from COVID19. We'll talk with two of our local business people who are known for their marketing expertise and creativity.

Barbara Lemley is the principal at the Montclair-based branding studio, Identity In Design in Upper Montclair. She's also the founder of Montclair Design Perspectives and has been an active member of the Montclair community for over 15 years. Her experience has been proved in sales and marketing programs at places like Estee Lauder, Donna Karan Beauty and Bloomingdales. Barbara has used her strategic voice in both the retail and wholesale sectors and has developed customer engagement through shop design, digital content, and social platforms. She's been involved with many Montclair-area organizations such as the Montclair Center BID, the Upper Montclair Business Association, and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. She's currently a member of the Board of Management at The Van Vleck House & Gardens.

We'll also be speaking with Paul Giordano. He is the owner of White Rabbit, Black Heart. His first store, Paul Michael Designs, was in Whippany and had a greater focus on floral arrangements and event preparations. But he discovered Montclair and decided to open Sweet Home Montclair on Glenridge Avenue. It carried homemade sweets, cards and stationary as well as unique, thoughtful gifts. He rebranded as White Rabbit, Black Heart about a year ago and he now carries all sorts of beautiful, snarky, spunky, and lovely gifts for all occasions and he still sells those candies he's made famous. We talk with him about these challenging times along with how he has been using his store windows to communicate with his customers through posting sentiments there.