Marcus Troy: Montreal web entrepreneur takes the conventional blogosphere to the next level

Born and raised in Montreal, Marcus Troy has taken his enthusiasm for fashion and culture and turned it into a full-time job. Having spent some time working in the industry, he started a blog three years ago as a showcase for his varied interests; this was before the web became saturated with fashion and lifestyle rants. Being a keen student of fashion trends with an entrepreneurial zeal, Troy quickly realized the importance of staying ahead of the curve.

Unlike many bloggers, he was not interested in acting as a news site or a mere aggregator of cultural ephemera. Troy sought to transcend what he saw as the trappings of the conventional blogosphere by producing his own creative content and engaging his readers through various forms of social media. His blog features an assortment of self-produced fashion shoots, videos, reviews, random musings and updates from his near-constant travels to factories, trade shows and other industry events.

“When I first started, it was really fun to go out and hunt for things. I remember sneaking into showrooms and taking snapshots of new sneakers with my cell phone,” said Troy. Eventually, the fashion industry realized that there was an opportunity to be had by engaging with bloggers like Troy who could provide advice about fashion trends and consumer interests.

“Now we get press releases, everything is written specifically for us. If Brand X decides to send something to all the blogs at midnight, it’s really become a race to be the first one to put it online. There is competition. I want to go further and actively collaborate,” he said.

These days, Troy finds himself busier than ever carving out a unique online niche for himself. Having forged relationships with fashion brands worldwide to create everything from custom products to advertising campaigns, he recently unveiled his own smart phone app. Of the experience, he said “I wanted to be the first one out of the gate with an app of my own. In a digital world, it is a new way to connect with my audience.” This creative drive has made Troy an interesting example of a new generation of Montrealers who have harnessed the power of the web to turn their passions into careers.

 

 The Marcus Troy Experience | marcustroy.com

 

 

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