Sparkles and Shoes

A Fashion, Travel, and Lifestyle Blog

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
  • Fashion
    • My Style
      • Spring Style
      • Summer Style
      • Fall Style
      • Winter Style
    • Really Love My …
    • Shop My Instagram
    • Style Icons
    • Trending
  • Travel
    • Africa
      • Egypt
      • Kenya
      • Morocco
      • Southern Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Indonesia
      • Qatar
      • Russia
      • Singapore
      • Turkey
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Croatia
      • Cyprus
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • England
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Monaco
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Scotland
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Turkey
      • Vatican City
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Caribbean
      • Central America
      • US: East Coast
      • US: West Coast
    • South America
  • Lily Harper
  • Favorites
    • Beauty
    • Delicious Eats
    • London
    • My Wedding
    • Sparkle Sessions

My Thoughts on Influencer Marketing

01/22/16 | blogging

On Sunday morning I woke up excited. I usually despise Sunday mornings and like to sleep until noon but when my alarm went off at 7am I was ready.  Part of my energy was likely due to the fact that I did not drink the night before, thanks dry January, but mainly I was delighted that I was going to be speaking at a huge conference about my thoughts on influencer marketing as a blogger.  

NRF Big Show Influencer Marketing Selfie

Over the past three and a half years I have worked with dozens of amazing advertisers on Sparkles and Shoes and many of these opportunities came about through Clever Girls, a company that connects brands with influencers, including Olympus, Izze, Zappos, and M&M’S.  I have always had a great time working with the “Clever” ladies and I was especially flattered when the founder of the company asked me to be on a panel at the National Retail Federation Big Show on how to ‘Amplify Your Brand With Influencer Marketing’.  So on Sunday morning I jumped in a cab on the Upper East Side and headed to down the Javits Center. 

NRF Big Show RegistrationNRF Big Show BadgeNRF Big Show Javitz Center
After checking in I walked what felt like a mile to Hall E where I met the other panelists in the speaker ready room, adjacent to the large conference rooms where the sessions were held. We had planned to meet more than an hour before our talk to get to know each other and go over last minute prep.

With this extra time we were able to get a coffee refill, take a brief tour of the room before our session, and also had plenty of time to get hooked up with the microphones. For a bit more background you can head to the NRF website to see all of the details of our panel as well as my very own bio which I was (and still am) very excited about. 

NRF Retail's Big Show Amplify Your Brand with Influencer MarketingNRF Big Show Amplify Your Brand with Influencer Marketing PanelNRF Big Show Tech Setup

Before I knew it, it was show time! Kristy introduced Jackyln, Kris, and I and over the course of our panel and I was asked to answer three questions (1) please tell us about a great case study (2) what is one pitfall everyone here should avoid and (3) what is one thing everyone could go home and do tomorrow to kick off a successful influencer marketing program.

I was a bit nervous speaking in front of that many people but walking off stage I was really happy with the responses I put together and was impressed with the great answers Jackyln and Kris has as well, all three of us having a different perspective on the topic. I might share my answers at another time but now, a few shots from our panel and a big thank you to one of the Clever Girl team members for taking pictures while I was on stage! 

NRF Big Show PanelNRF Big Show Amplify Your Brand with Influencer MarketingNRF Big Show Amplify Your Brand with Influencer Marketing VideoNRF Big Show Speaking on How to Amplify Your Brand with Influencer MarketingKelly Donlin at NRF Retail's Big Show

And then, just because, a view from the stage as we were speaking. The lights were so bright I could not make out anyone’s face so I scanned the large room as a whole while talking to the hundreds and hundreds of people who gathered to hear what we had to say about how to amplify your brand with influencer marketing! 

NRF Big Show View From Stage

After my panel I got the chance to explore the main Expo Hall and truly gained a sense of how massive the conference was, over 33,000 attendees I heard one person say.  After walking through the dozens of booths and passing hundreds of men in suits I was surprised for it being a retail conference how tech heavy it was – all of the big booth and sponsors were buy computer or tech companies offering their best solutions for retail. 

NRF Big Show Javitz Center AtriumNRF Big Show Save the DateNRF Big Show Expo HallNRF Big Show HP Booth Retail's Big Show 2016NRF Big Show Microsoft BoothNRF Big Show Paypal Booth

The panel was incredible, the conference was eye opening, and I had a terrific time speaking about influencer marketing. I have to say thank you to Kristy again for inviting me to be on the panel and to the 600 people I spoke to, I hope you learned something! 

Signature

Subscribe

« Cozy Pajama Sets
Currently Coveting: Five Under $50 »

Related Posts

  • Surprisng Social Media Stats
  • Introduction to My Favorite ThingsIntroduction to My Favorite Things
  • Sparkles & Shoes Top 10
  • Robin Piccone Cold Shoulder Cover-Up with Marc Jacobs Sunglasses and WatchTell Me What You Want, What You Really Want

Comments

  1. ellesees.net says

    January 25, 2016 at 8:15 am

    what an amazing experience! congrats!

  2. The Girl says

    January 25, 2016 at 6:06 am

    great post! peaking for 600 people, this is great!

    https://everydayfacts.wordpress.com

  3. Mica says

    January 25, 2016 at 12:50 am

    Oh wow what an awesome thing to have done, congrats! I’d be too scared to speak in front of that many people, haha!

    It’s an amazing accomplishment and I’m glad it went well for you 🙂

    Away From The Blue Blog

  4. AikA❤︎ says

    January 24, 2016 at 11:33 pm

    What an amazing experience!!!! Definitely the great way to start your new year!!!! Congratulations!!!! Keep up your great work!!!!

    xo from Seattle,
    AikA❤︎

    ★BLOG★
    ★INSTAGRAM★
    ★FACEBOOK★

  5. Hailey says

    January 24, 2016 at 11:26 pm

    What an awesome opportunity! Congrats to you!

    Hailey
    http://www.themiddlecloset.com

  6. Kim @ HappyPrettyBlog says

    January 22, 2016 at 2:13 pm

    So exciting! I’m glad that people are seeing the value that bloggers can bring to the table for their businesses!

  7. Randy Kershner says

    January 22, 2016 at 1:21 pm

    Kudos to you – what a great opportunity!

  8. TAMMY says

    January 22, 2016 at 10:45 am

    I am very impressed. One I can say that you were the best dressed speaker by far on that panel. Two you marketed your fashion/lifestyle/marketing ideas. Love the dress and the high heel boots.

  9. Amanda says

    January 22, 2016 at 10:39 am

    Wow, this is so cool! I hope you do post about what you spoke about – I would love to know!

  10. Cynthia G says

    January 22, 2016 at 10:36 am

    I have to say this is amazing, I work for Oracle Retail, this is my booth you were by. I love my job and have been a long time reader. We are #1 in retail and seeing your thoughts and pictures on our stuff is amazing

Hi, I am Kelly and welcome to Sparkles and Shoes, a fashion, travel, and lifestyle blog founded in 2012.  After six years of living in London I am back in New York with my husband and two littles! 

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Search

Newsletter

WHERE I SHOP

Amazon

Anthropologie

J. Crew

Minted 

Sephora

Target

Walmart

Zappos

Archives

  • 2025
  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012

Fine Print

Sparkles and Shoes is a part of several affiliate advertising programs. This means that if you click and/or make a purchase through certain links on this site or any related social media platforms (including Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest), I may make a commission from that click and/or purchase. All opinions are my own.

© Kelly Donlin and Sparkles and Shoes, 2012-2022 Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kelly Donlin and Sparkles and Shoes with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Get the latest

Receive Sparkles and Shoes right to your inbox!

Connect with me

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2025 · Designed by High Note Designs, LLC

Copyright © 2025 · Tasteful Theme on Genesis Framework