FREE Sample Color Outlook Podcast
CLICK HERE to go to Spring 2011 Color Outlook Sample Podcast

Welcome to Color Outlook!

Lori Sawaya, Executive Producer/Owner

As executive producer and owner of Color Outlook, I’m especially proud of the team we have assembled — Your Color Outlook Team.  Truly, it’s an amazing group of best-in-class experts. And I can not wait to share them with you. I realized that I took the relationships I have with these skilled professionals for granted.  Their insight, their opinion, their exceptional good taste, their knowledge — all of that is just an email or phone call away for me.

It’s an incredible network with a national reach.  Color Outlook is a way for you to benefit from this network too. So, please read on and learn more about why you need to become a member of Color Outlook.  If you have any questions, send me an email.

Color Outlook in a nutshell:

Length: 60 minutes each podcast

Structure/tone: Condensed, succinct quarterly outlook reports from each expert for first half hour, then lively, free-form review and group discussion for second half.

Price/availability: Offered four times a year.  Special introductory rate of $99/podcast or $297/ 4 podcasts (Buy 3 Get 1 Free).  Maintain your membership and keep renewing for $99/quarter or take advantage of Buy 3 Get 1.  Prices/rates subject to change.

Delivering: What’s hot in color right now from design experts dealing with clients on a daily basis.

Coast to Coast Coverage: Representing key regions from coast to coast, The Color Outlook Team provides color direction points of view from best-in-class industry experts.

Listen up! Excerpts of Rachel Perls’ and Amy Woolf’s Regional Color Trend Outlook Reports:

TANGIBLES INCLUDED: Show Notes from each speaker and the Regional Color Card Overview (pdf).

Example of talking points per podcast:

1.  What single color are we gravitating toward right now — and why.

2. Specific color schemes our clients are asking us about.

3. Why we’re attracted to these colors. For example, we may pinpoint a design style that we see gaining traction and popularity, or cite an issue of a shelter magazine or recent catalog.

4. How our Color Outlook reports have changed from same time last quarter.  What color information is in the forefront again and what has moved to the back burner.

5. It’s not always about solid color.  We will also share our observations about finishes, wood tones, textures, and patterns.

Background on Color Outlook:

The idea for Color Outlook came from one question that I keep seeing asked repeatedly.  That question is “what do forecasters and color marketers look for in determining trends and how do they make their forecasts?”

I have seen that one question posed to many.  However, what is interesting is that even though the question is posed to different people, the answer is always the same.

They study information from several resources, like current events, economic conditions, travel destinations, cinema, theater, trade shows and fashion shows.  But here’s the the kicker — they always cite various trend-watching organizations, social media and blogs. Yup, social media and blogs.

Valuable nuggets of color thoughts:

Color forecasters and marketers view blogosphere and the social network universe as an avenue to those who are the trendsetters and tastemakers — like color consultants and designers.  Because it is true that color consultants and designers working in the field are on the front lines of identifying the ebb and flow of how real people with real projects are thinking about color right now. Thus, completed projects soon materialize.  Those completed projects then become tangible evidence of color thoughts — all from color consultants and designers who happen to also blog and have a social media presence.  That evidence can then be plotted on paper using swatches of fabric and paint chips and turned into forecasts.

I recognized the fact that trolling social media and scrolling through blog after blog looking for these valuable nuggets of adoptable color thoughts required trend spotters to invest a lot of time and effort. I saw a need and decided to develop a product that was an efficient solution and Color Outlook was born.

Access an extraordinary caliber of color expertise:

Not only are color consultants and designers identifying that ebb and flow mentioned earlier, but they are also contributing to them.  Color consultants in particular are directly responsible for how color organically evolves in the market. We are the ones working one-on-one to help our clients develop their expectations for what they want color to do for them in their homes, places of work, schools and more.

Also important to note is we help clients address and define their tolerances for color.  We help determine what their tolerances are to start with and then offer the guidance and encouragement that is sometimes needed to push beyond those tolerances into new ways of experiencing color.

So you see, it’s not just a matter of condensing resources into one affordable destination.  Color Outlook is also about quality of expertise. Because I’m in the industry I know and have access to the most articulate, qualified and talented color professionals. Color Outlook is a way to bring a few of the most extraordinary consultants I know together in one place and offer you access to my network.

Exclusive insight and information:

Your Color Outlook membership grants you access to insight and information that doesn’t exist anywhere else. Have you noticed the content on some color, decorating and design blogs has consistently over the years gotten *lighter*?  By *lighter* I mean some bloggers are giving away less information and instruction for free.  I think blogosphere is at a major turning point.  Bloggers are realizing that  giving away their best content isn’t smart. It hasn’t gained clientele, it hasn’t helped them land the big jobs.  Instead, all it’s done is educate and inform a general readership who will never become a paying client.  Those who have wised-up to the fact that sharing their best information for free isn’t getting them anywhere still have blogs but they’re being much more selective about what they post — there is still some substance, but you can tell they are holding back.  And for good reason.

What you need to know is you’re not going to get “the good stuff” for free any more from blogs and social media — everyone is keeping their best content for where it can be turned into revenue. It might sound harsh to say the gravy train is coming to a screeching halt, but I believe that’s the truth. So, where are you supposed to go?  Who are you supposed to trust?

You need color guidance:

We know what you need.  Here are three examples of who we serve:

Paint retailers - You struggle with in-store displays every season.  Listen to the podcasts and learn what colors from your chip racks you need to pull forward and feature.  We know that typical color forecasts and color marketing information focuses too far into the future for you – you’re not manufacturing cars or widgets. You are selling paint today. Your Color Outlook Team will help you stay current and up-to-date with information that you can put action on NOW.

Color forecasters - That next meeting is right around the corner.  You haven’t had the hours it takes to be online reading blogs.  Who has time to stay connected and engaged on Twitter, FaceBook and LinkedIN?  What are you going to bring to the table to your meeting that is sure to sound clued-in and relevant? Listen to the podcasts and hear directly from the trenches of paint, color and design what’s happening right now. Spend one hour with your Color Outlook Team and we will hook you up with new ideas and fresh vocabulary that will inspire and prepare you for what’s next.

Color consultants -  We know you are looking for a mentor. Listen to the podcasts and DRAMATICALLY EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE BASE.  Grow your color point of view by learning from six experts.  Six experts all on one podcast. Best of all, once you are a member and as long as you maintain your membership, you can listen to the podcasts as many times as needed.  We even include downloadable PDFs of the show notes.

What and who you need to know:

Color Outlook is on the leading-edge of this new evolution — a New Age of Color — and I’m offering you not only WHAT you need to know but also WHO you need to know. Click the “About” menu button to learn more about your Color Outlook Team.

► Guarantee your “First Members” status pricing NOW! Sign up for the promotional rate of $99 per quarter for as long as you maintain uninterrupted membership.  Or, buy 3 podcasts for $297 and get 1 free + renew next year and keep your $99 per quarter “First Members” status. An active membership is the only way to lock in special pricing and maintain “First Members” status.

► Buying now means you will lock in the rate of $99 per quarter for as long as you are a member.

I hope you decide to join us here on the leading-edge.  Sign up for your membership NOW and get IMMEDIATE access to the Color Outlook podcasts.

Regards,