I welcome any RL company that is willing to learn the culture of SL, and to invest the time and money to produce something that is actually interesting. It is probably difficult to impossible for a company to make a profit in SL at this time, given their costs, but the promotional value of an effective SL presence might justify the expense.
I yawn at the thought of another RL company that is not willing to do those things establishing an SL presence. They aren't ruining my Second Life; I can just ignore them easily enough. But they might be poisoning the well for companies that want to establish an effective site in SL.
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The Armani store, what the... |
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Shirley Marquez
Ethical SLut
Join date: 28 Oct 2005
Posts: 788
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10-01-2007 07:49
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Aree Lulibub
Registered User
Join date: 21 Jan 2007
Posts: 198
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10-01-2007 09:06
I went to a popular name brand sports shoe store recently. What a joke! It was nicely done too and had "blank shoes" for sale and some weird color station. It took me a while to figure out just what I was supposed to do with them. No instructions. No notecards. Nothing. Very UN-user friendly. I ended up not buying anything!
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Arikinui Adria
Elucidated Deviant
Join date: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 592
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10-01-2007 09:22
Real Life designers coming into SL has been a touchy subject around here for a while. No one wants to see any RL designer come in and steal all of SL away from the "second Life" designers. Really though, that rests on OUR shoulders *by our I mean every single person that buys anything in Second Life. As long as WE refuse to buy/view this pompous crap, we will keep running them off. Exactly. My $L will be spent on the quality products of other independent content creators. Went and looked at the sim the other day. Great build and I hope the builder was paid well. Only a handful of items for sale, the rest of it looked like a 3D Armani ad out of Vogue. Only 2 other people there...the huge cafe was empty. Not sure they are done with it...if they are *yawn*. Wonder if they will start going after anyone using the Armani name on their products. ~Ari _____________________
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Finora Kuncoro
Impish Stoic
Join date: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 213
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10-01-2007 10:52
Well on the plus side I doubt Armani competes directly with my little contribution to SL design.
Does anyone know of any RL clothes brand that has been successful in SL ? To be honest I can't find any that have. American Apparel was the one big failure I can recall. But then to be honest I wouldn't buy their clothes even in RL, they are so dull and boring. Seems like the consensus is that Armani will follow them before too long. _____________________
<Now fully Trout Certified>
I give you a solid 8.2. You can come across as very pure if you want to, but inside, you're a dirty, dirty girl. Shame on you, and congratulations. Designer of clothes and owner of Built For Sin Designs. Come visit us at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Centaur/5/85/399/ |
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Sae Luan
Hardcore 4the Headstrong
Join date: 6 Feb 2006
Posts: 841
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10-01-2007 11:01
If a RL designer wants to make it big, maybe they should try it out by NOT mentioning who they are in RL. I think they are cutting their nose off to spite their face, relying on their RL name in SL. The minute SL finds out they are a RL designer, it's not mass hysteria to buy their things like they think, it's mass hysteria to get them out before they ruin the SL fashion industry...because everyone feels like it is already kinda on the decline.
_____________________
Rave Nation Owner
saeluan.blogspot.com I accept most custom work. IM in world for details. - |
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Felix Oxide
Registered User
Join date: 6 Oct 2006
Posts: 655
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10-01-2007 11:10
I did see it and the building is pretty nice. The sim itself was kind of barren though at the time. They did have some items for sale at one of the N,S,E,W entrances to the store but I forget which.
The trick for RL designers like Armani would be if they can make their virtual items standout from the rest like their RL items do. |
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Conifer Dada
Hiya m'dooks!
Join date: 6 Oct 2006
Posts: 3,716
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10-01-2007 11:18
If big corporations find a use for SL, it probably won't be as a showroom of shop, since even a traditional RL website with photos etc. is probably more informative.
In the extremely unlikely event that I was going to make an SL showroom to advertise RL products, I'd just have webpages with photos and text pasted on the walls, so that people who didn't want to log out of SL could go and learn about RL consumer goods in-world. _____________________
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Felix Oxide
Registered User
Join date: 6 Oct 2006
Posts: 655
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10-01-2007 11:24
If big corporations find a use for SL, it probably won't be as a showroom of shop, since even a traditional RL website with photos etc. is probably more informative. In the extremely unlikely event that I was going to make an SL showroom to advertise RL products, I'd just have webpages with photos and text pasted on the walls, so that people who didn't want to log out of SL could go and learn about RL consumer goods in-world. I went to the Circuit City store inworld and was very dissappointed that they only had links to their website to buy things. I was hoping I could buy a television for my home in SL. I wish RL companies would actually try to contribute to the community by providing content. Sure it is more competition in the market place, but competiton is good because it provides fertile ground for more innovation. |
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Lexxi Gynoid
#'s 86000, 97800
Join date: 6 Aug 2007
Posts: 3,732
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10-01-2007 11:29
I went to the Circuit City store inworld and was very dissappointed that they only had links to their website to buy things. I was hoping I could buy a television for my home in SL. I wish RL companies would actually try to contribute to the community by providing content. Sure it is more competition in the market place, but competiton is good because it provides fertile ground for more innovation. Comcast island was rather fun (USA Cable Company) Big Pond (or whatever it is called) is a very fun place (Australia Cable company and . . more?) Other than those two companies, the only RL companies I've been impressed with in world have been one or two car companies that have had free versions of their cars and tracks to try them on. And they were high-quality cars that could cross sims and seems very detailed. Mercedes, on the other hand, has you accept a lengthy note-card before you accept a free racing suit. That annoyed me. The car was ok, I guess, but was distracted by the experience with the driving suit. Oh, and the car had a one or two freebie ride thing. And it was for sale. _____________________
Her Royal Highness Buttercup Meow the XXI
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Felix Oxide
Registered User
Join date: 6 Oct 2006
Posts: 655
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10-01-2007 11:50
I went back and the items are at the north entrance to the store. For grins I purchased the one suit they had for sale and while it is pretty nice, I would have to say that the only thing going for it is the fact that it is based on a RL Armani suit. I really don't think the clothing designers in SL have much to worry about here.
Heh I wouldn't be surprised if some of you end up getting approached someday by these companies to actually design stuff for them in world. |
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Michael Bigwig
~VRML Aficionado~
Join date: 5 Dec 2005
Posts: 2,181
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10-01-2007 11:55
Listen guys...Second Life is a free-world--let's not lose sight of that. You may not like some of the things here...but it's made to be free, very free, free for all. Not everything in Second Life needs to be fantastical and imaginary.
There are real life companies all over SL. What's the difference between American Apparel, and Armani? Reebok and NASA? And most importantly, there are people all over the world that shop from catalogs alone--they buy clothing all the time this way. My X used to do it a lot. Don't you think it's a viable solution to create a 3d catalog in Second Life? It's smart business...especially for clothing. And even though you might not be able to buy anything now in Armani...they might just be testing the water. I'm sure there will come a time when they will make RL items purchasable. ps. Would you rather see a big floating box with a penis on it, or a well-designed clothing store from RL? _____________________
~Michael Bigwig
__________________________________________________Lead Designer, Glowbox Designs  |
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Nyoko Salome
kittytailmeowmeow
Join date: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 1,378
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10-01-2007 11:58
If he missed the point, well, he won't be the first. I'm beginning to think even Phil has missed the point of SL. hmmm... what -is- the point?? (just askin'!!  _____________________
 Nyoko's Bodyoils @ Nyoko's Wears http://slurl.com/secondlife/Centaur/126/251/734/ http://home.comcast.net/~nyoko.salome2/nyokosWears/index.html "i don't spend nearly enough time on the holodeck. i should go there more often and relax." - deanna troi |
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Oryx Tempel
Registered User
Join date: 8 Nov 2006
Posts: 7,663
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10-01-2007 11:59
OK, so I'm a crass consumer, but I bought a dern Mercedes in SL just because I can't afford one in RL. It still tickles me to drive it around.
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Michael Bigwig
~VRML Aficionado~
Join date: 5 Dec 2005
Posts: 2,181
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10-01-2007 12:00
hmmm... what -is- the point?? (just askin'!! The very point is freedom. Freedom to explore and create. And just because you have a successful RL company, does not mean you should be banished or slandered--they want a piece of the pie too, and we shouldn't bad-mouth that. It's not fair. It's an open platform, for everybody. _____________________
~Michael Bigwig
__________________________________________________Lead Designer, Glowbox Designs |
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Finora Kuncoro
Impish Stoic
Join date: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 213
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10-01-2007 12:33
Listen guys...Second Life is a free-world--let's not lose sight of that. You may not like some of the things here...but it's made to be free, very free, free for all. Not everything in Second Life needs to be fantastical and imaginary. There are real life companies all over SL. What's the difference between American Apparel, and Armani? Reebok and NASA? I think most people in SL are not automatically anti RL corporate. I am certainly not against them (being a true liberal in the original UK definition, before the US politicians distorted it). I'll quite happily create designs in competition with Armani (or more realistically Victoria's Secret) if that is what it takes. As you said SL is open to all. I think the point being made was more that most RL companies don't really understand SL (which is true IMO). To answer your question about what the difference is between American Apparel and Armani, the difference is that Armani's SL store is still open....  http://americanapparel.net/presscenter/secondlife/ _____________________
<Now fully Trout Certified>
I give you a solid 8.2. You can come across as very pure if you want to, but inside, you're a dirty, dirty girl. Shame on you, and congratulations. Designer of clothes and owner of Built For Sin Designs. Come visit us at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Centaur/5/85/399/ |
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Katier Reitveld
M2 News Manager
Join date: 13 Sep 2005
Posts: 412
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10-01-2007 12:37
I wish RL companies would actually try to contribute to the community by providing content. Sure it is more competition in the market place, but competiton is good because it provides fertile ground for more innovation. Not all companies have missed the point. Probably the best example of a success story is the Pontiac/Motorati story. Group of sims where Pontiac support, with land, SL motor related projects. |
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Jumpman Lane
JUMPY!!!
Join date: 7 May 2007
Posts: 2,114
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10-01-2007 12:39
that armani turd aint sellin crap!
i was hopin i could ditch all that coyyright infringin armani crap i got saddled with (trickd inta buyin MONTH ONE) and get some O ficcial armani crap! (not really, i figured he'd get suckered by some so sl designer who would stick him more millions on some trash that would better be found in a freebie box) BUT I THOUGHT HE'D SELL STUFF! crap! i'm just gonna walk around nude like i used to! _____________________
Ya girlfriend says she loves meh! But it's just the jewlreh! Multicolored carots got ya girlfriend kinda curious!
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Twosteppin Jewell
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Join date: 27 Mar 2007
Posts: 308
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10-01-2007 12:41
... I just tried it on again. I was going to take a picture but thought better of it.  ..... The scary part here is that you still have it. _____________________
Sorry, I was temporarily lost in thought and it wasn't familiar territory.
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Bradley Bracken
Goodbye, Farewell, Amen
Join date: 2 Apr 2007
Posts: 3,856
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10-01-2007 12:54
I had to go check it out and put in my two cents worth.
There are things to buy. They are located right near the entrance door (if you can find them since you land in the front but the doors are on the side). Simple t-shirts for L$150 and jeans for L$250. No thank you. The store is horribly laid out for a VR environment. Too many pillars to block the view. I don't think I'd like it in RL much less SL. I'm hoping that this is a place they will use for mock ups of store layouts, training or both. That would be an excellent use. Overall, not impressed. If it isn't for their corporate use but is for marketing purposes, I'd say they failed miserably. |
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Nyoko Salome
kittytailmeowmeow
Join date: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 1,378
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10-01-2007 13:00
I'll quite happily create designs in competition with Armani (or more realistically Victoria's Secret) if that is what it takes. As you said SL is open to all. -wow- yah - actually -there's- the point!  -the people- can make virtual goods just as well as rl designers/manufacturers. the platform leveled the playing field. To answer your question about what the difference is between American Apparel and Armani, the difference is that Armani's SL store is still open.... well, it's only been three days - i hope AA lasted longer than that, lol i admit, i crashed the armani opening (well, at the incorrectly listed time so missed the whole deal - wandered around the store; found the few items for sale in the corner; found the store too prim-heavy for my poor lil' vidcard. i kept walking in circles._____________________
Nyoko's Bodyoils @ Nyoko's Wears http://slurl.com/secondlife/Centaur/126/251/734/ http://home.comcast.net/~nyoko.salome2/nyokosWears/index.html "i don't spend nearly enough time on the holodeck. i should go there more often and relax." - deanna troi |
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Sensual Casanova
Spoiled Brat
Join date: 28 Feb 2004
Posts: 4,807
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10-01-2007 13:03
That *was* funneh. Personally, I think it's damaging to the game not because these big corporations are evil, but because they just don't *know* what to do with private sims to make them commercially effective. I visited the Armani sim last week, and I have to say, it's a million times more bland than any of their RL stores (and that's saying something), but at least in a real Armani store I can actually buy something. Armani - the sim, is nothing but an ornament that you get bored of looking at within one minute, and frustrated at not being to interact with within two. A few months down the line, the marketing bods at Armani will let out a big sigh before pulling out because nobody visits their sim. Linden Lab (and we) are the ultimate losers. They need to understand that a build in Second Life isn't just something pretty to look at, but something which has enormous interactive potential; and if they just had the foresight, and took the right advice, their sim need not be like every other bland commercial graveyard in SL. I think the problem is Armani, like many other RL businesses coming into SL, don't know much about SL and the people they are hiring to build their sims are not getting the point across or not doing their job. These companies are only using SL for marketing purposes when in fact they could be using SL for alot more. If I were Armani, I would have done some research, hired a good team, and made sure that not only was the island a replica of one of their rl locations but also hire designers to make replicas of their rl products, promotions, etc. For what they have now, they could have saved some money and just made a billboard =/ _____________________
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Ciaran Laval
Mostly Harmless
Join date: 11 Mar 2007
Posts: 7,951
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10-01-2007 13:11
For what they have now, they could have saved some money and just made a billboard =/ Indeed, I don't understand why some of these RL companies don't actually start with just having a billboard. I mean they don't advertise themselves very well inworld. With a product like Armani, it's actually sensible to engage with existing clothes makers...maybe someone like you would be perfect actually, and ask them to make replica designs, that way not only are they engaging with exisitng residents but they're also engaging with someone who knows how this place works. |
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Chas Connolly
Registered User
Join date: 24 Jan 2007
Posts: 1,433
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10-01-2007 13:17
This is way too much undeserved publicity for a company that now caters to people with too much money and too little taste. Can we end it now, please.
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Marianne McCann
Feted Inner Child
Join date: 23 Feb 2006
Posts: 7,145
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10-01-2007 13:18
There are real life companies all over SL. What's the difference between American Apparel, and Armani? Reebok and NASA? I tink it's not an issue of brand name, an more an issue of quality of content. It seems rare dat a corporate sim really creates someting dat not only highlights their brand, but also draws people in. Motorati (mentioned below) is a good example. Ditto with The Weather Channel's sims, which build their presence while also creating a fun "destination." Aside: dis is a good place to see how some of the corporate sites do in attracting peoples http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2007/09/taterus-mixed-3.html#more It's not about "Armani" or "American Appearl," or any RL brand name. It's about providing something dat will best work for its audience. So ya, provide high quality outfits -- an people will be more willing to look at the RL counterparts/ Make the sim a positive visitor experience, an you might build some brand loyalty. Make a place people want to come back to, an maybe they'll associate your name with the fun you've had. Mari _____________________
 "There's nothing objectionable nor illegal in having a child-like avatar in itself and we must assume innocence until proof of the contrary." - Lewis PR Linden "If you find children offensive, you're gonna have trouble in this world " - Prospero Linden |
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Brenda Connolly
Un United Avatar
Join date: 10 Jan 2007
Posts: 25,000
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10-01-2007 13:21
This is way too much undeserved publicity for a company that now caters to people with too much money and too little taste. Can we end it now, please. Yeah but any thread that doesn't discuss VAT is a blessing. _____________________
Don't you ever try to look behind my eyes. You don't want to know what they have seen.
http://brenda-connolly.blogspot.com |
