I used to be the Marketing Manager for Arden B, and part of my job was to scout out our competitors displays, windows, discounts, etc…meaning I had to go all around LA to the malls and take pictures. NERVE RACKING…sometimes I would be on the top level trying to shoot Bebe’s windows a floor below because they’d kicked me out. I completely understood then…obviously.

Now, as a fashion blogger (that was before I started my blog) I want to take pictures when I’m out and about so badly, especially when I’m traveling. I love using my own images but it’s just SO hard. I always get kicked out…I agree with you that it is free advertising, I highly doubt that any reputable fashion blogger would be taking pictures of pieces we hate, or a horrid window display. I think retail is slowly understanding that our voice is a powerful one, and growing everyday.

That was a lot. Ha. Happy Thanksgiving love!

Birdie – They already do prevent mobile phone pics! That’s what I was trying to do for both of the examples mentioned! For Topshop, I just wanted to Twitpic b/c I thought the new collection was awesome! So sad.

Jennine – Haha, nice! Sharing is caring!

Jordan – I know! Thanks!

Jillian – OMG! It’s one thing to ask you not to take pics (per my above examples), but the fact that they kicked you out opens another can of worms! Seriously? Not only do they not want you to help drive positive impressions of their brand, they don’t want your money either? Wow…I don’t plan on going there, but if I did, it’d just be to test them to see how they treated me.

Thom – I totally agree about respecting the policies, which is why I haven’t ever pushed back. I just find it interesting that some shops that would fall into the same category (all your points applied) are more flexible and open. I think there ought to be some sort of compromise or form that could be filled out for editorial purposes, which is still work, but maybe it’s as easy as signing a one-pager on what the photos would be used for? Thanks for weighing in.

Grumpy Little Brand (aww, sad comment name) – To your point, I think it works both ways. Either way, if the shop is open to the public, the products are out there and can be replicated. Out of all the times people try to take pictures in stores, it’d be interesting to see the stats of ppl wanting to share content (e.g. a blog), see how they look in an outfit and think about it (I would do that too…wedding and evening dress shops already encourage this) and who is taking pics to knock something off. I bet the percentages would be much higher among the first two (I’m sure anyone who does it to copycat would be sneaky anyway). Even if you don’t put pics online yourself, how are people supposed to know about and/or discover your brand if you don’t make your products accessible online? Again, it’s very sad when this happens, but I don’t think pics in stores is the driver these days.

Janine – You are so cute, haha! It’s really too bad the “whistle blowers” in these situations aren’t having conversations with PR/marketing. I’m sure you wouldn’t run into this problem (unless the policies are in place as part of a contract with designers per Thom’s comment above) if they were having those conversations. I’m going to pass this post on to some of the retail PR ppl I know to see if they want to chime in.