Hi Lorenza, so you are a TrendHunter in Rome, what does that mean?
Lorenza: “Being a TrendHunter is exciting and challenging at the same time. You have to scout the most special stores of a city and – at the same time – do your best to engage them into the concept of online shopping and SugarTrends. I’m currently studying Business and I’m really addicted to fashion – so I feel very lucky to match the love for fashion with the possibility of gaining some work experience.”
How do you trend-hunt, are you always “hunting” when you are outside, or do you plan specific days exclusively for trendhunting?
Lorenza: “I usually take a day off university to walk around selected districts and discover new stores there. But sometimes I also take note of interesting stores while walking with friends and I look for them on Google afterwards, in order to find out more about their story and their current online presence.”
How hard is it not to shop at the stores you visit?
Lorenza: “It can be VERY hard! As I said, I really like shopping so I often fall in love with the products of the shops while hunting. It’s so tempting!”
What are your experiences as a TrendHunter as of today?
Lorenza: “I must say that in general Italian store owners are quite stubborn! But besides this, I managed to find some enthusiast store owners who couldn’t wait to approach the world of online shopping. They want to join SugarTrends in order to boost their online presence and give tourists a second chance to shop at their store after their visit when they are back home.”
What is your favorite district in Rome?
Lorenza: “I personally love Rione Monti! It’s a small and ancient district in the heart of Rom. It is very well known for its small and special streets full of little bars, restaurants and shops. I like hunting in this district because there are some very special small stores there and also their owners are really kind.”
To finish off, do you have any tips for the other SugarTrends TrendHunters?
Lorenza: “Don’t give up if at the beginning the store owner tells you “no”. Don’t give up if they do not answer to your emails, just push, call them, go back to the store… Here’s an example of what happened to me once: the owner of the store Elena Kihlman Store replied “no” to joining SugarTrends in the first place, but then when I sent them an email to better explain once again what SugarTrends is about and how it’s easy to join, they eventually asked me to go back to their store to have a chat. And guess what? They’re now online! So don’t give up, be in contact with them and try to be always happy and helpful because you know, the physical appearance is important too.”
