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Fairfax & Favor Oxblood Reginas – Monday Musts

Fairfax and favor oxblood reginasToday’s Monday Must is kit based, and it’s all about the Oxblood Reginas from Fairfax & Favor. I really do love them…

Before we go any further, these were gifted to me. I know the team at Fairfax & Favor very well, work with them on other projects (like competitions with other brands, etc), and they felt that these boots, in MY colour (other people are also allowed to use burgundy, but you know what I mean!), would become my new favourite, and they have. However, I’d like it noted that I wasn’t asked to write this, or photograph them, or talk about them on social media. They were sent to me as a thank you. And I just really, really want to share.

A bit about Fairfax & Favor

If you’ve followed me on social media at all, you’ll know how much I love this brand. I wear and use their products whenever I can and they always make me feel special. I know that Fairfax & Favor products aren’t cheap. I also know that when I took the plunge and bought my first item (my Windsor Bag), I had a flutter of ‘should I?!’. And I did. And I’ve been hooked ever since.

In addition, I also had the joy of interviewing Felix Favor Parker (one half of Fairfax & Favor) for a behind the brand interview. And I did a podcast with Lucy, who works on the marketing team, about the pink tassel Breast Cancer Care Campaign. With my Hiho hat on, we also worked with Fairfax & Favor on the Style, Skills & Silver event and Ben (aka Staggy Stag who is the tradestand manager) came in person too. I also tend to gravitate towards the stand at shows and events. I get to see all the lovely products, treat myself, have a drink… and I’m always assured of a warm welcome. But not just because they know me, everyone receives a warm welcome at Fairfax & Favor. That’s one of the great things about the brand.

But now, let’s talk about these boots…

The Oxblood Reginas from Fairfax & Favor

I have a pair of tan Reginas. I’ve had them for quite a few years now and I love them. I wear them whenever it’s appropriate to, so days out, at events, going to meet clients, etc. I love them. A lot. They actually live in my office rather than my house as if my children get within five metres of them I get a real sweat on and turn into a dragon.

So when Lucy told me that they were bringing out an Oxblood collection (including Oxblood Reginas) I was excited. I have a bit of a thing about burgundy. Not only do I use burgundy in my branding, but I’ve also realised that quite a lot of my clothes are this shade too. I’m wearing a burgundy gilet as I type this. So it kind of felt like I was going to have to own at least one item from the Oxblood Collection. It would be rude not to, wouldn’t it?

When the Oxblood Reginas came out, they looked lovely on all the pictures I saw, but a bit brighter than I imagined they would be. Despite being a burgundy fan, I’m not that into red. I like the colour red but it’s not a colour I wear. But then they arrived. And they are beautiful.

The Oxblood is a deep, rich shade of burgundy and is very, very close to the burgundy I use whenever I can! The actual boot has changed a little since I got my tan version and they definitely feel a lot more luxurious now. I should say I still think the original are very, very special, but these have lots of extras. There are three areas that I think have been upgraded since my tan ones were made: the sole, the lining and the insole.

Which areas have been upgraded?

The outer sole now has rubber elements for improved grip, whereas the original was just leather. I’ve only ever had one issue with the leather only sole… but that was more to do with me looking in one direction and walking in another… while stepping on an escalator. I do think that the rubber makes a very welcome addition though!

The inner sole is a lot more cushioned than my tan ones. A bit of website reading revealed that these boots have a memory foam comfort insole. So that’s that mystery solved! I can wear my tan ones all day without any sore foot issues, so the insole hasn’t ever caused me an problem… but the extra cushioning in these ones is rather lovely!

And the lining. Again, this is something that makes the boots feel really luxurious, but I didn’t have any issues with the unlined ones! The lining does tend to give the boot more structure and I imagine it will help them keep them shape for longer.

Styling the Oxblood Reginas

I wore these for the first time at the Farm Business Innovation Show were I was giving a seminar and then chairing the PR and Marketing Live Panel. For some reason, it didn’t enter my head that wearing new shoes to run around the NEC and stand up most of the day could be a bad idea. It dawned on me when I stepped off the bus entering the NEC and thought ‘oh… what have you done?!’. I’m very pleased to report that they were incredibly comfortable and were much admired. More than this, I felt really smart wearing them.

As for what to wear them with, I went for more conservative tones. I felt that having knee high burgundy boots was making quite a statement and I didn’t need to wear anything else that competed with that. And I think that was a good call. I wore skinny jeans, a burgundy long sleeved top, and a grey knitted poncho over the top. Accessorised with Hiho Silver jewellery (who am I kidding, I’m ALWAYS wearing Hiho jewellery) and my Windsor Bag, I think everything worked really well together. I have a pretty busy month lined up so I know this outfit will be getting another outing very soon!

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How to sniff out time wasters… 5 ways to spot one | Rhea Freeman

how to sniff out time wastersI know that most people have to deal with time wasters in their business… and I guess it’s part of it all. To be honest, I can usually spot them a mile off, and I don’t always mind. I regularly take calls from people who just want to pick my brains. I get it. I have questions pop through on social media and I don’t mind answering them when I can. But proper time wasters are different.

Are we thinking that time is money?

I would like to note here that it’s not about money. It might be for you but, for me, it’s a bit different. I have a number of lovely PR  social media and coaching clients who pay me. They have paid for my time. And I am sure you’re the same – you have people who pay for the service you offer, or frequent your shop/store regularly and purchase from you. These people, our customers, allow our businesses to exist and allow us to do what we love. So we need to treasure these people. So why should some people have to pay and others not? Is that showing our customers a lack of respect? Is it a bit like being an insurance company and offering a HUGE discount for a new customer as you shaft your old ones and don’t offer them the same discounts and rewards?

On top of this, it’s our time that is being used. Time is one resource we can’t buy more of. If it’s my time, I could be working on my own business, I could be walking the dog, playing with the children, keeping the house in order, doing some ‘life admin’… but this doesn’t seem to figure on some people’s radars. I, like the vast majority of the population, am a very busy person. And I like to be busy. I go above and beyond for my clients and I enjoy doing this. I love my job and the work I do. And I don’t want you to think otherwise. But as with any resource, time needs to be protected and looked after…

It’s more about respect… and it’s rarely deliberate or malicious

I appreciate that the goal posts change and that life moves on. And the lack of respect for your time or knowledge from the time waster is rarely deliberate. If ever, actually. But I’m going to share five ways to spot time wasters so you can conserve your most valuable resource and spend it where you want…

How to sniff out a time waster…

  • They’d like to work with you but…  I work with some of the most incredible people in this equestrian and country industry and one of the things that comes through time and again is the importance of honesty. If you want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, that’s absolutely fine too… just be straight with people. It saves everyone a lot of time.
  • They forget your sessions/appointment… they book, it’s sorted… and then you call at the allocated time and they’re not there. A while later it becomes apparent that they have completely forgotten the session/appointment. I’m lucky that this doesn’t happen very often at all, and I also charge for missed sessions when less than 24 hours notice is given.
  • There’s always a crisis… and you feel you need to help. As a people pleaser when someone sends me a ‘help’ message, I tend to respond. Well, at least I did. For clients, I’m all over it and I will help them solve it if I possibly can, but for people that have never even bothered to comment on a social media post? Umm. They’ll happily use my time and then carry on with their lives. Umm.
  • They start off chats with ‘I don’t have any money, but…’. That’s completely fine… I get that 100%. But maybe have a Google? I also have a lot of free resources out there – blogs, podcasts, free groups – use them as much as you like. Please. That’s why they’re there.
  • They don’t do as they say. One of the things about coaching is that if you don’t put the effort in – if you don’t do the work- nothing will change. And that’s true of life. The sad thing about this is time wasters aren’t just wasting your time, they’re wasting theirs too. Making progress isn’t just in the theory – if only- it’s in the action. Also be aware that if someone hasn’t done the work before and they’re promising you the moon on a stick, but a bit wary.

See, time wasters don’t just eat into my time, or your time, they’re eating into theirs as well.

Why have I shared this blog? Is it a rant?

No, it isn’t. These are things I have observed over the years. Some have happened to me, some haven’t, but they have to friends. The thing is, if you sharpen your identification skills when it comes to time wasters, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and stress. Being aware of what’s happening is half the battle. And if you want your year to be the most amazing ever, and to achieve your biggest goals, you’re going to need every space second to make that happen.

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Brand ambassadors 101 – Small & Supercharged Podcast | Rhea Freeman

I get asked about brand ambassadorships so much, so it seemed like a great subject for a podcast. The thing is, brand ambassadors can get a hard time… and sometimes quite rightly. I’ve worked with a number of people who take their role really seriously and do an amazing job, and others who don’t. Working with someone, even ‘just’ on a brand ambassador level costs the company money. Money that could be spent elsewhere. So it’s really important to make sure that you as a business invest your budget in the right way. Equally, from an ambassador point of view, you want to make sure you’re connected to the right brands, or else your personal brand takes and beating… and you lose that reputation you’ve worked so hard to build.

So, in this episode, I’m going to talk about this subject from two sides. From the brands seeking to work with the right people, to influencers looking to work with the right brands. Yes, brands, you need to pick carefully, but in a time where personal brands have never been stronger, influencers need to be really picky too!

Let’s talk about brand ambassadors – how to pick the right ones for your brand… and how to decide, as an influencer, which brands you want to be an ambassador for.

Show notes for the Small & Supercharged Podcast – Episode 16 – Brand ambassadors 101 with me, Rhea Freeman. In this episode we talk about brand ambassadorships from both sides of the coin. Whether you’re a brand looking for the right people to work with, or an influencer who is looking to work with more brands, this episode for you. In this episode you’ll hear…

  • What a brand ambassador is, how it came to be a term… and how social media, in my mind, is a key part.
  • Why brand ambassadors don’t need to be high performing athletes as per sponsored riders or sponsored sportspeople (depending on your industry!), but how they can be ‘normal’ people who are excelling on social media.
  • How sponsorship and brand ambassadorship differs, and how sponsorship used to work before the rise of ambassadors.
  • That you don’t have to work with sponsored riders or ambassadors… and why I believe this.
  • Why the numbers aren’t everything – how engagement matters. Whether you’re a brand looking for influencers, or you’re an influencer trying to appeal to key brands.
  • How as an influencer you can be really valuable to a brand, even if you have a modest following.
  • Why it’s important to be genuine and honest with your following if you’re being paid, have products gifted, or something else.
  • How using hashtags like #ad and #gifted aren’t a negative if you’re assessing an influencer. However, if the post doesn’t fit the feed and they’ve just done it for the money, then it is.
  • Why you need to look at the person as well as the following… are they the kind of person your target market can relate to? Or are their worlds miles apart?
  • We go through a mini ambassador checklist and things to look for and assess over time before making an approach.
  • We talk about how to start small and test the water with potential ambassadors. And how you can get the most out of the influencers you do decide to work with (and how you should allow them to create the best content for their audience). And how this will help you in the long run.
  • The importance of a potential ambassador having a genuine affinity to the brand. You want to know them and see that they really do love the brand.
  • From an brand ambassador’s point of view, we talk about why it’s important to find a good fit for YOU. You don’t need to appeal to everyone.
  • Why it’s important to respect you audience at all times. As in influencer, you have a personal brand, and your following have invested their time and energy in you. You need to respect that.
  • The importance of sitting back and learning about brands before you agree to be an ambassador.
  • Why saying yes to one things means you’re saying no to something else, so make sure you say yes to the right things.
  • The importance of gut feeling. You might not be able to explain it but if you have that niggle, watch a bit longer. You’re in no rush.

And that’s this episode. I hope you enjoyed it!


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If you liked this podcast, you might like these blogs too:

When you should say yes to being a brand ambassador

What you should look for in a brand ambassador?

Could you be a brand ambassador?

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