The digital platform is filled with endless opportunities - all that your ideas need are a refined feel.

Working in a digital agency I'm continually exposed to a vast scape of online opportunity for both my individual and client's ideas. I'm always intrigued to hear lessons and insights of people that have made a significant impact to their industry online, Refinery29's presentation on Friday didn't disappoint.

An unknown entity five years ago, Refinery29 has since captivated a global following, achieved 100,000 plus visits each month and is set to push more boundaries in the online realm and further challenge fashionistas around the globe in years to come.

Piera and Phillippe put this success down to five key elements: resourcefulness, adaptability, tenaciousness, risk taking and creativity.

Resourcefulness

Launch and operate on nothing

It's refreshing to see that you don't have to have all the money in the world to make an idea/business work. Refinery29 keep their overheads low with only four full-time staff, a large internship program and even to the ways they find news to keep their audience engaged "There's no such thing as a slow news day".

Adaptability

Changing with the scape

As online continues to develop and grow with new digital tools daily Refinery29 have learnt to adapt their online magazine with these trends to further challenge and captivate users.

Tenaciousness

Pushing towards the goal

An important element in Refinery29's success is their ability to focus on their goal. Piera and Phillippe truly believed in their idea and were passionate about their goal. For a year presenting it to ample fashion labels with the rest being history. "There were times when I felt like a used car salesmen going around to these designers but the presentation become better and better with experience."

Risk Taking

Risk is more important than experience

Taking a risk is something that has paid off for Piera and Phillipp with Refinery29 launched in a scape that had limited online publications a little engagement to what it is today. This goes to show that risk taking when you have the passion and ability to drive it can pay off.

Challenge

Challenge is important

Challenge is something Piera and Phillippe both spoke about and emphasised throughout the presentation. Refinery29 continually challenges users with change and the mixture of their content."Challenge your audience so that you don't become stale and predictable."

Creativity

New ideas

Creativity and being able to bring new ideas to the table has enabled Refinery29 to keep pushing the boundaries of online and continue to captivate their global audience.

I took a lot from the Refinery29 presentation with one of the main things being that passion shines over all and mixed with ambition is a weapon to achieving your ideas and goals.

Event writeup by special guest writer, Letitia Power

If you loved this: Follow The Fashion, Virtual Fashion Connect // {Fashion} {Launch} {IRL}, Does Fashion Drive Music? Does Music Drive Fashion, Curating and Collecting Fashion by Foluke Abigail Zrobok, Soul by Juniper Group Show, Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival, BNE Fashion // {Promotions} {A Single Man}, Oh you’re so Vein! // {Launch} {Shoes} {Retail}, Behind the Scenes with Valiant Hire (and their event simulation software), Strategies for a Creative Industry Wiki (from Co-Founders of Wikifashion.com)