Portfolio: Web & Product Copy | Karin Gentry

Intro:

Karin Gentry is a contemporary lifestyle brand of fabulous fashion accouterments for women who embrace a casual-glam aesthetic.

Founded and designed by savvy California businesswoman Karin Gentry, the introductory line of gold-plated jewelry debuted in late 2014.

Prior to launch, Stark & Splendor worked with the brand on a web copy project to ready KarinGentry.com for launch.

The Brief:

When Karin Gentry approached me to write the web and product copy for her eponymous brand she had a very developed sense of what her company was all about and how that translated visually - she is a designer after all!  Interestingly though, Karin had very little articulated about her brand in writing, which made it tricky for her to DIY her own copy.  This was particularly relevant when it came time to write her bio and she found herself staring at a blank computer screen for far too long.

She needed a brand translator.  Someone who could get inside her brain and tease out the essence of Karin Gentry to produce web copy that echoed the fun-loving, glamourous, and relaxed brand that she had always envisioned.

The Work:

In addition to writing new and revised copy for KarinGentry.com, I consulted with Karin herself about some of the fundamental messaging that she could use to begin talking about her aesthetic, her products, and the way her brand is linked to a cause dear to her heart, human trafficking.

Conducted over two video calls and two rounds of edits, the project was completed in two weeks.

The Deliverables:

•  "About" page copy
• "Philanthropy" page copy
• Revised product copy describing 45 pieces in the introductory Karin Gentry collection

Web product descriptions for Karin Gentry

The Results:

After collaborating on her site launch, Karin is one of Stark & Splendor's most ardent fans.  She says,

"As someone who hold the reins tight, I was hesitant getting an 'outsider' to help communicate my brand's voice. After our initial call, I was completely at ease that Stephanie would communicate my brand perfectly. She is thorough, insightful, and meets every tight deadline - there is never having to ask 'is it done?'  I was beyond pleased with the final product of our first project. It was a pleasure working with Stark & Splendor and I look forward to collaborating again in the future."

For more information on Karin Gentry, visit KarinGentry.com or connect with the brand on Facebook and Instagram.

Portfolio: Articulation Intensive | Teach To Lead

Intro:

Developed as a signature service, the Stark & Splendor Articulation Intensive is a  monthlong brand key messaging workshop.  Leadership developer and Founder of Teach To Lead (T2L) Shayna Hammond recently went through the process.  Here is a snapshot of how clearly defined communications have helped her move her brand and business forward .

The Brief:

Shayna approached me in November 2014 with the need to get clear on who T2L was and how to convey that message in a clear, concise, and memorable way.

Established in 2012, T2L was already successfully helping charter school principals develop into more effective leaders but, ever the visionary, Shayna's sights were set on impacting leaders well-beyond the education sector.  She needed to establish brand key messaging that would prime T2L for growth.

The Work:

In January 2015 Shayna and I embarked on a bespoke, monthlong Articulation Intensive that not only addressed T2L's pressing communication challenges but also how to differentiate the organization from its current and future competitive set.

The Deliverables:

• New, clearly defined brand essence
• New internal positioning language
• New mission and vision statements
• Refreshed value statements & brand pillars
• New brand tagline - "Leading with the lights on."
• New brand key messages
• New service key messages

After the Articulation Intensive, Stark & Splendor then collaborated with T2L on a number of writing projects including sales proposals, print collateral, course descriptions, and most recently e-marketing campaigns.

The Results:

Stark & Splendor continues to work with Teach To Lead but the deliverables of our first phase of collaboration are already having a positive impact on the organization.  In Shayna's own words:

"The Articulation Intensive was incredibly invaluable for me and my organization. The process invited me to journey back to the genesis of Teach To Lead in a deliberate, compelling, and surprisingly succinct way. In a very short period of time, Stephanie was able to thoroughly understand and synthesize the distance between where our organization is and where we want it to be 25 years from now. As a result, we have powerful messaging that authentically speaks to both who we are and what we're here to accomplish. I have better clarity about our unique positioning power and can better articulate it to my team and clients. I highly recommend this process for early stage entrepreneurs who are preparing to grow!"