Patagonia Common Threads Initiative

I don't typically ride for Patagonia because I think most their clothing is over branded. I guess people that spend a lot of money on sweats like to have lots of labels. Snarkiness aside, they do have some corporate initiative when it comes to corporate responsibility. One thing I'm excited about, from a marketing perspective, is their Common Threads Initiative.

Basically, Patagonia helping people sell, and buy, old Patagonia gear on Ebay. They think it will reduce waste, which may be true. What I find intriguing is that Patagonia is making a bold statement about the quality of the gear. If it's good enough to be sold second-hand, it's probably pretty good stuff, (especially new.) The funny thing is that you might that it would hurt sales of new products but I actually really doubt it. I think people that buy new and used Patagonia stuff come from two totally different market segments. Anyways, I'll definitely have a look.

Red Wing shows off its Workhorse

This is the kind of the new old thing. When you make things the old-fashioned way with care and precision, you tend to have some special machinery. Showing off your connection with the machinery is a convincing way to show that you are for real with this. It's also just a great way to talk about how much you care without actually talking about yourselves.

Self Edge just made kind of a deal of the fact that they finally tracked down a chainstitcher that they'd been trying to track down for years. It's pretty cool.

Red Wing is a little bit beyond that though. They've got a fleet of classics that they've used for years. They also just made a great video about it, The Puritan Stitch Machines. It's a nice and sincere video about what the machine can do. The narrator is totally a guy from the floor and you can easily tell that this is no bullshit. I mean I already wanted a pair of Red Wings so maybe they are preaching to the choir but I hope this video inspires some other consumers.

Why does deodorant have to be so corny?

I just ran out of deodorant the other day and buying a new stick is a bigger decision than you would think. They make these sticks so big that I think I only need a new one like every 10 months. With that said, it's a small purchase that you make every 10 months but it sticks with you, literally, everyday. Obviously branding is important here. But what about guys like me that are a little turned off by trying too hard to be masculine in everything I buy and do.

To be honest, it's hard. Deodorant packaging and branding is god-awful. It's all got to be uber-manly so much so that I'm hesitant to be seen in the checkout line with some of these brands. Cases in point

Speed stick used to be my go to brand. The regular scent. My dad wears it and I always used it until I noticed they put grips on the edges. Grips? Why do I need grips on my deodorant stick? My life is so action packed that I put my deodorant on under extreme duress? Using this helps me understand what guys must feel like when they wear mandals.

Seriously Old Spice? You used the word Swagger on this label? Way to ruin a perfectly good word for everyone. It was fun to say "swag" but now it feels cheap and bought. Then it's got to be from the Red Zone Collection. Deodorant collection? Even if you hadn't just ruined the word swagger, that's just dumb.

It's the Mountain Dew meets Newport Cigarettes meets some vague aspirational feat of masculine accomplishment meets my armpits. Everest Adrenaline Series. Cool story bro.

I'll have to reach out to the brothers on what they think about deodorant called Dark Temptation. This one's not going to work for me though.

Well it could obviously be worse. I do like the 48 hour protection touch. Like maybe I'm going to get laid on a weeknight and have to roll to office the next day without a fresh coat of deodorant. Glad Dove is behind me on this one but everyone is going to notice my wrinkled clothes and look of shame.

Stumptown Coffee Tells You How to Brew Coffee

I'm sure it's no surprise to anyone that reads that blog that I could go for a cup of Stumptown coffee right about now. I was buying beans there onetime and the girl at the counter told me, in a French accent, that the coffee I was buying had hints of watermelon. I understood this to mean, "You'll never be as cool as me you preppy dork."

Fair enough, I'm still going to give them credit for this little feature on their site about how to brew coffee. Maybe this is what it takes to actually get those subtle notes onto your palate.

Stumptown Guides

Bring back some simple packaging

I'm getting older and need a little less flash and a little more honesty. Look, I still like Nutella and I'm still going to need Windex. Just make it a little easier on me. The folks at A2591 have worked on  a project to strip down some common labels to their bare essence. I'm posting a few down here for you. Wouldn't you feel better if the supermarket where more like this?

Thanks to The Fox is Black

Harris Tweed, an inside look

It should be pretty clear at this point that I'm becoming obsessed with videos and pictures that show how nice products are made. I really think if you have a great product, the marketing possible is to demonstrate the care that goes into it.

Anyway, Nike and North Face each just dropped a collaboration with Harris Tweed. Only you wouldn't know it unless you read blogs religiously as both runs are probably so limited that you'll never have the opportunity to buy either. In fact the North Face tweed bags are exclusive for the Japanese market.

The Style Salvage writer recently traveled up to the highlands of Scotland to visit Harris Tweed and he took plenty of photos. Please check it out- Style Salvage

Put this by the checkout,

and I don't care with the price tag is. You are telling me about hand crushed rosemary tea infusions with white chocolate and the packaged has watercolor and says "smile" at the bottom. It's going in cart. I don't even like chocolate.

via Lost in E Minor