Richard Kuchinsky recently launched a blog that caught our eye. first pullover focuses on the creative process of footwear design and development from a unique inside industry perspective. first pullover is a personal blog but it’s focus on his job as Product Manager in the Footwear Department for hummel International brings the brand to life in a way traditional marketing couldn’t.
We asked Richard if his blog was ’sponsored’ by hummel or was even part of your job description. This was his reply:
As a matter of fact, my blog, first pullover is indeed a personal blog. hummel now knows about it (they didn’t until a week after it launched) and is OK with, but I do it all on my free time, and for sure it is not in my job description!
Initially, I started looking to just provide a creative outlet for my knowledge and love of footwear design and development. I have been a footwear designer for 4 years, and have always had lots of interest from friends and family interested in the process. Tired of answering the same questions over and over, and hoping to educate some people about process, I created the blog one weekend at home. I have always LIVED footwear design, and the blog is an extension of that.
For sure, I am aware of the good will towards the brand it may create. More important to me personally however, is letting people about the hard process involved and the creative energy myself and my team put into every product.
With hummel being a relatively small company, and very open in management style am fortunate that they are supportive of my personal project, and see the potential benefit of my blog. Still, it is a personal effort, and I think this is one of the reasons it has been so successful so far. I try to keep it open, honest and as personal as possible providing useful content.
IF thinks first pullover is a great way of bringing the brand story to life. How could you empower your employees to do the same?
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