Ask the Attendees: @cool_effect #techstylenyc

At the height of NYFW, Janine Just Inc. presents TechStyle NYC, a day-to-night leisure of experiences at the nexus of fashion & technology, drawing influential media, bloggers, & celebrities into one fashion-forward event. Set above the bustle of fashion week, the lounge offers a welcome reprieve to VIPs to discover, the new, next and now among the emerging brands curated into the showcase. The event had a wonderful turnout and attendees enjoyed the chance to celebrate NYC’s fashion week in techsy style!

But just who are the brands that attended the event? What’s their take on the event industry? And what did they think of TechStyleNYC? We took the opportunity to interview a few of the attendees and over the next few days will be featuring their interviews, read on for a peek inside the experience:

We talked to Jodi Manning, Director of Marketing of Cool Effect

First of all, please tell our readers about you – what is the company all about?

Cool Effect is a non-profit designed to unite people with the common goal of fighting global warming. We enable individuals to have a direct and personal impact by connecting them with the highest-quality carbon reducing projects around the globe. Or as we like to say, carbon done correctly. By giving people the ability to simply and directly fund these projects, we’re helping them grow and reduce even more carbon pollution. Because we believe together, small actions can ignite planet-sized change.

What were the 3 keys to getting the company off the ground – where did you invest your time?

1. Building the product. We wanted to make sure to provide individuals with a simple yet compelling way to reduce carbon pollution. It is actually an incredibly powerful ecommerce system underneath with an easy interface on the surface.
2. Marketing and Media. When you’re a new brand, you have to go find people.
3. Creating the brand. We needed a whole new voice and a whole new approach to communicating with consumers interested in this topic.

Just having participated in TechStyle NYC at SXSW, what role do live events play in your branding and marketing initiatives?

The ability to connect with individuals on a personal level is really important to Cool Effect. Although we are a digital platform, our goal is to take the technology one step further and be a community to the people supporting the projects represented on our platform. We want to hear from these members of our community and understand what moves them to be encouraged to help take action against global warming.

What was a successful social media campaign you hosted that showed great engagement and traction?

Our #LetsSave campaign in Austin during SXSW was extremely successful. On the ground we were asking individuals to take a custom photo and write what on Earth they wanted to save. In the digital world we invited anyone to engage and tell us as well.

Finally, what is your favorite app?

Waze. It helps me solve problems and is friendly.