"Yes, I Googled"

Google. This little idea born in Larry Page and Sergey Brin's Stanford dorm room (sound like Facebook much?) has become much more than just a simple search engine. In my New Media class, my professor often refers to Google as a person itself. Some PR and marketing professionals now spend their days trying to figure out how to get their clients to the top of search engine rankings. What exactly composes the Google Algorithm? I don't think us normal folks will ever find out.

What really got me thinking about Google, is this story: the other day I had to explain to my lovely mother what exactly "Googling" someone meant. She was trying to find out information about a person, after I did the requisite Facebook stalk, I suggested performing a Google search. Mom's response? "WHAT IS THAT?" I was flabbergasted. Did my mother really not know that you could basically find out a person's life story simply by typing their name into a search bar? This situation needed further exploring.

I knew that there are differences between what Gen Y and Gen X do with the Internet. But I hadn't really thought about the differences between how people use Google. Everyday I learn that there are differences in this ever changing world of Web 2.0 that I will come to understand in the work place.

What did we do before Google came about? I personally have a hard time remembering when the Internet was not such an integral part of my everyday existence. I can't pinpoint a time when I first started using Google or when the word Google became a verb. I'm willing to bet that this holds true for most people that are part of Generation Y. You don't know what the capital of Zimbabwe is? Google it. (The answer is Harare, btw.) Just writing this blog post, I've googled about 5 times so far. Google is a part of our everyday lives, so much so that without it, I think the world would be a lot dumber. Google provides the answer to every question we could ever come up with. What or who would we turn to with all of our random questions? Its a portal to the vast unknown world...this is what makes Google exciting.

For the Love of Marc Jacobs

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

Its a tough world out there for college students. We study hard, we work hard and we play hard. We do all of these things so passionately that most of the time we find ourselves so strung out and stressed that we end up singing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at 11 p.m. during the last minutes of the work shift. Well, this was me last night and let me tell you, this is not an isolated incident. I don't know if this impromptu performance was inspired by the horrific, gloomy Boston weather or because I want the holiday season so badly that I am consuming Pumpkin Spice Lattes at an extremely alarming rate. Anyhow, the life of the college student is a constant struggle. A daily battle between Father Time, the dreaded bank account, and the urge to throw my hands up and surrender to my over-stuffed comforter. It is in these desperate times that I have to remember the beautiful pleasures in life. The small things that I don't often get the chance to do because I am so focused on graduation and the impending (and yet very exciting) doom of real life. This is where my love of all things Marc Jacobs enters.

As a broke joke college student, I don't really have the luxury to go purchasing designer items whenever I am feeling down and in desperate need of retail therapy. But thanks to Marc Jacobs and the launch of the brand's new e-commerce site last week, I can now drift off into a fantasy world from the comfort of my own Macbook. What makes this site so exciting is that it goes beyond the ordinary website that merely show the fall or spring runway shows. It actually enables the consumer to purchase items without having to venture to Newbury Street to visit a boutique. When I find myself with a few extra dollars to spare, I can simply log onto www.marcjacobs.com and shop till I drop without actually getting my lazy self out of my bed. Or in the middle of class when I find myself drifting into the far reaches of my mind. Admit it, we all daydream more than we'd like to.

The storefront of marcjacobs.com

E-commerce sites are the latest trend in  the fashion industry, a lot of brands have realized the potential growth available through a direct online store instead of being sold through third party sites like Net-a-Porter, BlueFly, or Gilt Groupe. E-commerce sites make it that much easier for the suburban woman or college student to make a personal connection with a brand. A brand's site provides a unique experience that one like BlueFly cannot provide. It offers the ability for the customer to truly grasp the core ideas and beliefs behind the brand. The Marc Jacobs site was designed to look like a miniature dollhouse complete with sales representatives to guide you through the store and answer your every question. The store is unique to the Marc Jacobs brand. You certainly would not find male "sales associates" dressed in a woman's clothing on the Chanel site.

These sites provide the much needed escape from the everyday grind. It just so happens that one of the pleasures in my life is shopping- a pleasure that I do not get to enjoy often. But with the launch of e-commerce sites like Marc Jacobs, I find myself taking comfort in the world of Marc Jacobs with just a click of a button.