Dec 27 2016. 2 WEEKS INTERNING WITH HEAT MAGAZINE

An insight to Heat's fashion and beauty section.

Heat magazine is an affordable gossip loving read, packed with celeb news and designer looks fused with high street fashion. Over two weeks I worked within the beauty and fashion area with editors, writers, stylists and many other inspirational people. Here I'll talk through my experience and what I got up to!

‘Every beauty product that I researched... I wanted.’ 

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I worked in the ‘Beauty and Fashion Cupboard’ for two weeks carrying out tasks in preparation for the January issue. I looked over all the current issues that Heat published and had to always stay up to date with the latest issue with everyone reading it before starting to work. One of the main tasks I had was to RESEARCH potential 'tried and tested' beauty products. This involved finding beauty products that fit into the feature areas of the beauty section like what to use 'after a night out'. Every beauty product that I researched... I wanted. From activated charcoal tooth polish to Illamasqua highlighters and Cult Beauty buys, I admit I was in awe and my Christmas list was getting longer and longer. I can now say I am much more informed about what certain brands offer and how to replenish damaged hair, and soften dry skin.

As well as researching products about what they contained, the quality and celebrities who use them I also had to email for 'Call-in's'. This meant emailing the correct PR or person of each brand asking for samples and hi-res images. I used fashion monitor and initiative to decide which person would be best to contact and quickest to reply. I learnt further about different PR groups and which companies owned certain brands.

‘Flying Flee.’

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Returns were a small part of my experience and unlike my other internship Heat used a different system involving 'Flying Flee' couriers. Through this I learnt a different way to file each docket and look for the correct buildings and brands where clothes from Heat's fashion shoots had to be returned to. Time was a huge aspect of the job as all deliveries had to be collected by 16.30. Along with packing parcels I had the duty of collecting them throughout the day from the Post room. As it was near Christmas there were lots of deliveries and I had to keep on top of bringing up the loads.

Scouting out competition is a tactic used by Heat to find out whats trending and what competitors are doing inside their magazines. I had to find openers and the first fashion type spread in the publications during the week of Heat's releases. Closer, Grazia, OK!, Hello and many others had to be analysed, photocopied and pinned on board ready for those in the morning meeting. I had to figure out what elements in each magazine were common and repeated to compare how they attract their audience. After I then filed the pages away in folders for later viewing. What's on trend is a big part of Heat's content and stimulus for each issue which is why similarly I had to research the SS17 fashion shows of designers fashion and beauty trends. The SS17 look books of upcoming spring/summer collections had to be gathered via email also. These are used to then help Heat decide what they might advertise or write content about in their following issues. The sites 'Tag-Walk' and 'Pr Shots' helped me a lot within these areas and taught me more about how designers mimic each other according to what is on trend.

‘Burberry products for £2.’ 

Finally to the perks and treats! I can't explain my gratitude for freebies. Over the weeks, not only were there beauty sales by each magazine with designer products and expensive gift sets for a ridiculously cheap price(everything under £10 for example Burberry products for £2) but there was an ongoing element of brands/restaurants sending free things every day just to promote themselves. McDonald's breakfast, Chinese food, Benefit makeup, books you name it there was everything... presents just kept flowing. Beat boxing Santa's and 'hang-over' doctors were wondering around too... few of the many Christmas surprises. Of course there was a beauty advent calendar also which I got some great matte glosses, eye products and more. It was amazing and had a whole different work vibe than I expected. The atmosphere was chilled and everyone worked together as a part of a team even though the competing magazines were working near to each other. Closer magazine wasn't far from us, being in a building with multiple magazines.

Overall the internship was definitely worth it and being around the corner from Oxford street at Christmas wasn't too bad either!

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