#Shinola Volume 1 | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

journal4life · 5 years ago

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Code Names

There may only ever be one journal, or in cases like most, there may be a dozen. I myself appreciate variety in its fullest, and actually the only duplicate journal I own is one I adopted secondhand. Even then though, I’m able to differentiate the two not only via content, but by their names.

Naturally anything I suggest is optional, but something to look forward to is bonding with your journal. Think of it as titling a book, or giving a name to a piece of art that is plucked from a place no one’s ever heard of before. Journals often are the product made up of 1/3 planning, 1/3 improvising, and 1/3 natural evolution. Sometimes the name or title that you choose could change by the time the back cover closes.

Having so many volumes myself that I love, each is in a mini-book to the majority of my own life. Therefore long ago when my collection had its own “big bang” I took on the challenge of giving each and every one a code name, simply in the event that I was trying to keep track of them all. These days I use it not only as memory game, but also as a buffer to make me reconsider buying similar journals. For example since I already have an Anchor journal, I tend to be less tempted by others with that design. Sure it’s a flimsy logic, but believe it or not it’s worked for me (more or less).

What I didn’t realize early on was that publishers have actually been titling their products already for marketing reasons. To say I haven’t used those listed on the bar code as inspiration upon occasion would be a lie.

Hypothetically one walks into a store, or scrolls around on Amazon, Etsy, or eBay and a certain piece catches their eye: what was the first thing that attracted it? The color, the graphics, the size? If at all possible perhaps try to imagine what you’d use that journal for, say in the event this was not your first or only one. What is that story you’re already telling?

Anne Frank titled her Diary “Kitty” in a way to feel more like she was writing to a friend. Perhaps the technique of writing to a name is a more comfortable way to open up in writing. That version of spiritual journaling is also outlined in the book Writing Your Soul, which also of course relays to the tried and true beginning for most of “Dear Diary”.

As referenced earlier a name could be simple; Orange Shinola, Purple Piccadilly, Elephant, Pocket Moleskine. Or more cerebral depending on your personality. Personal example: In 2003 I had this purple journal with an inset Sun on it by Cedco which I completed over the course of my freshman year of High School. However rather than call it “Sun” I refer to it as “High School”. That being said I’ll still probably never buy a sun themed journal again.

While I may thrive on owning all the designs of the world, there are those who prefer consistency. YouTubers often review journal products and once certain people find a product they love they rarely stray. However a benefit to the code names technique may not only serve to identify one black moleskine notebook from the next, but to also create a shortcut in memory to recall just where “that thing is from that time” ; be it lists, a photograph, a quote, or the way the sky looked over the campfire amidst summer vacation back in 2005.

As always though a person can be a liberal or direct as they’d like, because in the end either way the idea is all meant for some creative fun.

~journal4life

#mine #journal4life #article #code names #journal #notebook #art #diary #writing #words #journaling

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questionsnooneasks · 3 years ago

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Those Were The Days, A Steven and Joe Story Part 2

Those Were The Days, A Steven and Joe Story

CHAPTER 1 Continued -

“Tonight - We are Young! Let’s Set the Stage on Fire!!” Steven says nodding his Head at Joe .

Joe is Breathless. Something has passed between them that has never happened before. Steven is lighting the fires in the pit of his heart. It was an exciting feeling. And Joes thinks it's BECAUSE of how he was feeling, the band plays one of the greatest sets they have ever played. They put on a spectacular performance. They do indeed set the stage on fire. They are running around happily. Joe is Playing his Absolute Best Tonight. Steven is in Fine Voice and singing at full volume. And he is taking a particular delight in pulling Joe to him via that white scarf. Pulling them face to face for the single mic harmonies; Steven untying it from Joe's neck and artfully re-wrapping it around his own neck with the use of a strategic spin; gently tying them together while draping himself over Joe's back during a guitar solo. The Crowd was going wild at their antics.

They ran offstage after their 3rd encore, hot, sweaty and breathing hard. Joe is not long out of the shower and in his dressing space changing into his street clothes for the party they were expected at, when Steven called him over to his space with his typical "Hey-Perry-bring-your-ass-over-to-me" summons.

“God that was a great show tonight. That's what everyone in management has been saying tonight, and you know those assholes don't know shit from Shinola. You were brilliant Joe. I mean you always are in my opinion, but you were just magical tonight." he says.

Joe raises a skeptical eyebrow at him. "Surprised to hear you say that. Given your behavior earlier." he says

Steven looks sternly back at Joe . “Look, I know that I constantly give you all a hard time. But I like shit to be right and I "WILL" have it right. I mean I have to stand there while people watch me sing it you know. The least you all can do is play it the way we rehearsed it. I mean how hard is that, huh??"

Joe has to admit Steven is right. "Well..yeah. But you don't have to be so god-damned rude about it Steven." and he can tell that Steven feels the effect of his words.

"Well like I said - I truly do apologize. And I'll try harder to be a little less of a terror. At least next time when I bite your heads off, I promise I will lick the wound sooner.” Joe smiles at Steven's rather graphic left handed apology.

"Geez Steven, That was just so heart-felt. I mean you don't have to get all sloppy about it."

"Well Fuck you, Mr. Happy, He of the Ever Present Scowl. That's all you're getting from me on that. Now, Get out of here and let me get pretty. And don't you dare leave with anybody else. I'm willing to try to take it easy on you guys about the music. But you can take it to the bank that I certainly "WILL" kick the Bitch or the Motherfucker's ass who would try and deprive me of my favorite Arm Candy."

Joe just grinned at him. As he turned to leave he said. "Okay, but sometime this side of midnight huh?"

Joe had to spend an extra 15 minutes on his hair to remove all of the face powder that came out of the small container that Steven accurately beaned him with on his way out of the door.

The Aftershow Hotel Party is already underway. It's a typical Aerosmith affair: Babes, Booze, and Blow. Joe and Steven entered together, arm in arm like they were the King and Queen, with Steven maintaining a forceful grip on Joe's arm. Joe could tell that many of the guests already had a good head start on them and he can observe all the various types of intense Party behaviors that occur at these shindigs: The ladies eyeing each others clothes..the men eyeing the ladies deciding who to start with..groups of folks laughing with each other..Other groups laughing att each other..people arguing about things.....all the typical bullshit.

He and Steven haven't been completely left behind tho. Steven had done a couple of lines with Joe in his dressing room before they left the arena and he knew that Steven always had his own stash plus a Tuinol pill or two handy. However, Joe was a traditionalist and had always been a B Y O B (Bring your Own Bottle) type of guy, no matter if there were free drinks where he was going. He was a big fan of mixed drinks and wanted to be sure he wasn't being fobbed off with the cheap stuff.

So Joe was feeling mighty fine as he was taking in his surroundings. He and Steven had taken a turn around the room together, posing for coveted backstage pics by management approved photographers, Joe shaking hands with all of the guitar magazine editors who wanted him to “at least try” their endorsed new products or were trying to entice him to do a multi page interview with a guaranteed cover. Steven kissed all the pretty ladies with the (corporate invested) rich older husbands, giving them a thrill by making them feel young again. For all his middle aged reality, Steven was considered quite a sexy man by every female fan between 16 and 60. And by a few of the guys too. It always amused Joe to watch how, when Steve made one of his few nightly forays into or ( if the venue allowed Steven to employ his trapeze) "OVER" the audience, to watch how many "straight" guys would be elbowing the girls and each other out of the way to get just the slightest touch of Steven. And sometimes Steven would allow them more than a slight touch...

Joe ruffles his hair and realizes that he needs to pace himself with the drinks. Some of Joe’s musician friends are in the bathroom getting higher than the Empire State Building and he thinks about going in there to partake of a line or two just to even himself out. But he knows Steven would blow a gasket if he did. 'Don't even think about Baby. I always got anything and everything you want Beautiful. No Need to go looking elsewhere.' As if by Design, Joe turns his head and sees Steven in his line of sight on the other side of the room.

Steven notices and immediately ends the conversation he was having. Steven crosses the room and comes over and stands in front of Joe, pulling him closer by the lapels of his fur lined leather jacket.

"I want to tell you again Joe how good you were tonight and how proud I am to be doing this with you. It wouldn't be the same for me with anyone else you know?? You do get that don't you Beautiful?"

"Of course I do Steven. You are a special kind of crazy you know. The light to my dark, remember? I know I probably wouldn't have made it this far this quickly if you hadn't insisted that we were going to form this band. But you are a true pain in the ass make no mistake. It's not lost on me. But of course if you weren't kicking my ass...all our asses for that matter...none of us would be here."

"Damn straight you scowly bastard. I molded you and this band together with my bare hands. I don't mean to be so hardass about it, but I can't help it. My Calabrese blood just gets up sometimes. And I admit I can be one vindictive motherfucker. I guess I just expect some appreciation, that's all. You can understand where I am coming from right?"

Joe was being forcefully held close enough to see the sincerity in Steven's eyes. He could see also that Steven was gacked to the nines. But he clearly meant every word he was saying.

"I absolutely do Steven. No matter whatever else I may yell at you during rehearsal, you know what I really feel. What I will always feel."

Steven gave Joe one his most dazzling smiles and slowly loosened his hold on his jacket lapels.

"Good. Glad we got that straightened out. Okay now, as a reward, I'm gonna go get shit faced before the bar closes. Care to join me??

"No I'm good Steven. Got my bottle right here. Besides, someone has to make sure we get home okay. But I'll just watch you. Go enjoy yourself."

Steven scampered off after some very tall cute blonde in a cashmere fur trimmed wrap and a leopard print jacket. Being familiar with a number of Steven's proclivities, Joe knew the blonde was going to be going home without the wrap, or the jacket, or possibly even both depending on how fucked up Steven got her.

Slowly, but surely the party was coming to an end. Joe had taken up his position in a chair in a corner, way buzzed but awake, hanging on to the last of his bottle. He was looking around hazily at his bandmates and a few of the party guests still left. A group of a half dozen pretty young ladies were talking and giggling on the couch. At least three of them were braless with their shirts open. Theirs must be whose bras were being used for sling shots for the volley sprays of popcorn that he noticed were frequently being let loose back and forth across the room. Brad the guitar player was leaning on the sturdy back of a conveniently placed iron statue looking awkward with a drink in his hand and smiling at the goings on. Joey was Hammered and having an earnest conversation with that same statue's mustachioed face. Tom was sitting in an arm chair and talking earnestly with some guy in big lensed sunglasses with a girl on his lap who appeared to be very high and nuzzling his neck. It took Joe a bit of time, but he finally located Steven in his peripheral vision. He turned his head and saw Steven on some floor cushions nodding off using his omnipresent handbag has a headrest.

Time to go Joe thought. His first impulse was to round up all of his band mates, but as he had seen before they were all still wide awake and appeared to be enjoying themselves. Especially Joey who had just apparently shared a very hilarious joke with the statue's whiskery iron pan. Besides the only one he had actually promised to be sure to get home was Steven.

To Be Continued....

#HappyPride;#LGBTQIA;#RPF_Stories;#Steven_Joe;#GayHumor;#BadBehavior;#BadBoyGoneGood

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tsgmemphistennessee · 5 years ago

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The Scout Guide Memphis & Oxford’s Holiday Gift Guide 2019

Curated by TSG Contributor, Cara Greenstein of Caramelized

The holidays are upon us, and at The Scout Guide Memphis & Oxford, we won’t shop anywhere other than local. The businesses in Volume 6 have such special and unique gifts you can’t find on Amazon or at Nordstrom. Here is our curated guide on gifts from the best of local. Don’t forget to tell them The Scout Guide sent you!

1. Joseph - Saint Laurent crossbody bag ($995)

The signature calfskin crossbody by Saint Laurent, available at Joseph, will be your gift recipient’s new best friend from daytime to evening! We love the classic black and gold combination with a bold tassel.

2. James Davis -Shinola Leather Watch ($350+)

A contemporary yet classic accessory to his everyday attire; this gift from James Davis is truly timeless!

3. Lori James Contemporary Boutique- Rex Rabbit Fur Vest ($262)

A lightweight, luxurious layer for a night on the town or cozy night by the fire, this on-trend Lori James’ rex rabbit fur vest comes in various colors in-store. Stop into the Laurelwood shop before they sell out!

4. Magnolia Lighting - Tic Tac Toe table game ($117)

This precious tabletop accessory from Magnolia Lighting would accompany any statement lamp or light fixture available in-store! This Crossnought Deluxe Tic Tac Toe is elegantly styled and perfect for teaching good sportsmanship to fierce competitors, especially the kids!

5. A Makeover - Holiday special event makeup ($75+)

Our scouted makeup artists Alicia Lee, Matt Gossett, and Kendrick Simpson bring sophisticated looks for your most special of occasions. Gift a makeover to make an event or gathering ahead even more memorable!

6. Lisa Mallory Design - PJ Harlow Satin Pajamas ($50+)

This one-stop shop interior design destination carries into your closet, too - these soft-as-butter, elegant loungewear pieces by PJ Harlow are the perfect stocking-stuffers.

7. Hollie Winter Fine Jewelry - Gold, Prong Set Diamond Stackable Band ($325)

This gold stackable band with .25CT set diamonds, available at Hollie Winter Fine Jewelry, is just what you need for some extra sparkle this time of year!

8. G.Brady Boutique- Mignonne Gavigan statement earring ($225)

An elegant yet elaborate design by Mignonne Gavigan is a year-round treasure for sweater weather or summer sundresses! Pick your favorite style from G. Brady’s in-store collection.

9. Tilton Street- Fan Tassel Statement Earring

Choose between green, cream and white for with this feminine and flirty design from Tilton Street. The silk fan tassels with a mother of pearl topper are simply darling! You can also find Tilton Street at Stovall Collection!

10. Old Dominick Distillery- Huling Station Bourbon ($35)

11. Cicada on the Oxford Square- Golden Goose sneakers ($550)

Our favorite Italian leather on-trend sneakers with unique sparkles, embellishments and finishes are available at Cicada. We drool over the collection each time we stop in!

12. Kittie Kyle- Statement Scarf ($175)

A French-designed statement scarf adds just the right element of sophistication to one’s wardrobe. This particular design, available at Kittie Kyle, is a wool, cashmere and silk blend, beautiful from fall to spring.

13. Katie Toombs Fine Art - Liberty Bowl 11x14” Print ($68)

One of the most “Memphis” experiences can be treasured in your own space thanks to Katie Toombs’ delicate capture of a coveted local landmark! For this particular piece, you can message Katie on her Instagram or Facebook!

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markjsousa · 6 years ago

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Four Elements That Shape Brand Experiences

To build more relevant experiences you need to take a step back and consider the context your brand and the associated experiences will be built within. In Building brand Experiences: A Practical Guide to Retaining Brand Relevance this context is called The Brand Experience Environment and comprises of four elements:

Understanding your stakeholders

Fine-tuning your perspective

Considering the mechanics of delivery

Adopting a data-driven approach

A closer look at each will help you build more relevant brand experiences.

1. Understanding Your Stakeholders

Profiling stakeholders: Empathy is insightful and provides a solid foundation for building relevant brand experiences. Profiling key stakeholders keeps them center stage and provides a powerful platform for building relevant brand experiences.

Helping stakeholders get ‘jobs done’: A ‘jobs to be done’ approach will focus your mind on building brand experiences that help stakeholders achieve goals or solve specific problems (for more detail on jobs to be done thinking read Prof Clayton Christensen and Steve Wunker’s work). The launch of Pfizer’s rheumatoid arthritis pill, Xeljanz, focused on helping customers get a specific job done: to enjoy moments that people without chronic pain don’t even think about. These include swimming, yoga or even standing on tiptoes to give their partner a hug. Such scenarios were incorporated into Xeljanz’s launch campaign that increased brand awareness by 24%, brand recall by 25% and prescription volumes by 95%.

Encouraging stakeholder engagement: The days of focusing on customers and talking at them have long gone. Relevant brands engage with stakeholders via the experiences they build. Mondelez encourages Oreo fans to showcase their dunking prowess via #OREODunkSweepstakes. Sime Darby’s Young Innovators Challenge engages the Millennial generation through innovation and the sustainability agenda. As part of the Virgin Active Australia rebrand launch, the Virgin Active team were invited to a special unveiling event to learn about the values, what they meant to them before getting down to a 30-minute DJ-led yoga experience. This shows how brand engagement goes far beyond customers now.

Managing stakeholder expectations: It’s common for brands to promise the universe but deliver far less. This is tantamount to brand experience suicide. Some time ago we were was asked to complete an annual report for a big bank and we needed to obtain their brand guidelines in addition to other marketing materials by mail. Usually this wouldn’t pose a problem but the client’s country was experiencing serious civil unrest. A DHL courier was in our reception three days later. I told him I was delighted to see the parcel arrive, not to mention so quickly. His response was ‘We under-promise and over-deliver.’ For an organization of DHL’s size to deliver a brand experience in this way is a testament to their internal communications and employee engagement efforts. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve shared that story.

Familiarizing yourself with your stakeholders, not just customers, is an important part of the Brand Experience Environment. Once you know who your stakeholders are, where they go, what ‘jobs’ they need to get done, how you can engage with them and are realistic about what you can deliver, you’ll be well placed to build experiences that are more relevant to them.

2. Fine-Tuning Your Perspective

Embracing transparency: Stakeholders, especially the Millennial ‘generation’, are increasingly drawn to brands based on who they are, what they stand for and why they exist. This trend looks set to intensify with the advent of ‘Generation’ Z who expect brands to conduct their affairs in an open and transparent way. Patagonia’s Footprint Chronicles show the textile mills and factories it works with around the world while Unilever invites children to farms to learn what goes into Hellmann’s mayonnaise. Being able to stand up to this kind of stakeholder scrutiny is key.

Adopting a holistic mindset: Building brand experiences is everyone’s job. Research conducted by IBM shows that most sophisticated brands adopt a cross-functional approach to building brand experiences. It’s unlikely human resources, operations, facilities or customer services think building brand experiences is part of their job. Nothing could be further from the truth. When building brand experiences be prepared to cast a wide net.

Competing primarily through value not price: Between autumn 2009 and early spring 2014, we experienced the worst recession since the 1930s. Tough times teach valuable brand lessons. Ryanair’s cost-cutting exercises lost them customers and led to the company issuing two profit warnings in 2013. At the other end of the spectrum, between September 2009 and January 2014, Apple’s stock value soared from US $25 to $77. These examples show that even in austere times customers make buying decisions based on factors other than price.

Having patience: A glance at the Millward Brown BrandZ list shows the world’s most valuable brands are the result of years, if not decades, of hard graft. IBM, Coca Cola, AT&T, Visa and McDonald’s illustrate this point. Google, Facebook and Amazon have grown astronomically in a short time but they are the exception, not the norm. The cold truth is that building a brand and the associated experiences takes time. It takes time for your brand values to resonate with stakeholders. It takes time for brand positioning to fuse associations in memory. The experiences that bring your brand to life also need time due to the structural and cultural changes that may be required. Time is a luxury most CMO’s don’t have but there are ample case studies, when combined with a data-driven approach, which will catch even the most skeptical CEO’s eye. The key is to manage expectations and not to expect overnight miracles when building brand experiences.

Accepting a loss of control: Executives who think they control the brand experiences they build are mistaken. Burberry can do little to stop soccer hooligans from covering their faces with Burberry scarves when running riot. Many moons ago Burberry’ could control brand communications using magazines, newspapers, radio or TV. Then social media came along. Boom. Everything changed. Brand messages can now be modified or even distorted at frightening speed. Executives need to embrace this change and accept less control, but not relinquish it entirely. Nestle’s Data Acceleration Team (DAT) monitors real time data feeds so they can guide conversations in ways that are more on-brand. Google’s YouTube Labs works with social influencers to shape brand perceptions for the likes of L’Oreal and BMW. You have to let go – to some extent – or you’ll be building brand experiences for a bygone era.

When building brand experiences it’s important to fine-tune your perspective. This entails embracing transparency, adopting a holistic mindset, competing primarily through value, having patience and accepting a loss of control. Keep these in mind and you’ll be on track to build more relevant brand experiences.

3. Considering The Mechanics Of Delivery

Creating an emotional connection: The decisions humans make are primarily influenced by the emotions we feel that are associated with a memory. So if your brand carry’s no emotion it’s not playing a tune the human brain will be receptive to. Research shows the positive influence emotional rather than rational content has on brand favorability while another study showed the profitability of ads with purely emotional content was approximately twice those with only rational content. Emotion also plays a powerful role in B2B markets with IBM, GE and Caterpillar leading the way. B2B markets are characterized by complex, high-risk, high-value and long-term investments. This means experiences that mitigate risk, provide security, reassure, give peace of mind and enhance personal or organizational reputation are relevant. Irrespective of the market you operate in you need to understand how you want to make your stakeholders feel then build experiences that help you do that.

Facilitating co-creation: Empowerment and autonomy give brands appeal. One study showed that 54% of 18–34-year-olds feel having the opportunity to personalize products influences brand loyalty. Porsche Exclusive lets customers personalize their car while Shinola’s #LoveMyCity challenges local influencers to make a city guide they publish digitally. These world-class brands understand the need to delegate responsibility for building brand experiences because it engenders a sense of control. This is powerful because it’s liberating and taps into the human desire to feel useful. Co-creation also pushes some of the cost of producing the experience onto the customer.

Delivering omnichannel experiences: Customers know brands analyze vast amounts of data to understand their lifestyles, interests and purchase habits. In return they expect brands to deliver increasingly personalized experiences where, when and how they want. In Sephora stores customers can attend an online make-up tutorial at a ‘Beauty Workshop’ while pure-play digital brands like Amazon are moving into the physical retail space. The experiences you build need to unify mobile, tablet, desktop, retail or more so customers can glide between in and between channels a single, seamless sweep. That’s the expectation.

To build relevant brand experiences you need to consider the mechanics of brand experience delivery. This entails thinking about emotion, co-creation and omni-channel experiences. Doing so will encourage you to think about important details associated with building brand experiences.

4. Adopting A Data-Driven Approach

Obtaining robust (quantitative and qualitative) insights: Insight, not anecdote, needs to drive the brand experience building decisions you make. The perceived objectivity of numbers means they tend to talk in the boardroom but informed executives obtain qualitative and quantitative insights to shape the experiences they build. This compensates for each approach’s weaknesses, provides a more rounded perspective and robust results, as you’ll be embracing multiple prongs of attack.

Measuring holistically: Brands tend to focus on financial metrics because money talks in the boardroom. Understandable but not always advisable. Financial metrics are retrospective, have short-term horizons and account for only part of the brand experience measurement puzzle. It’s better to adopt a holistic approach to measuring brand experiences that spans employee, brand and financial metrics. Research shows employee and brand metrics drive financial performance so measuring all three delivers powerful cause-and-effect insights. The lag effect associated with employee and brand measures also means they act as a metaphorical crystal ball giving you time to take pre-emptive action before financial metrics slide.

Summing Up

Before you dive into building brand experiences you need to consider the context your brand and the associated experiences will be built within so you build more relevant experiences. Taking time to understand your stakeholders, fine-tune your perspective, consider the mechanics of delivery and adopt a data-driven approach will go a long way in helping you do this.

The Blake Project Can Help: Accelerate Brand Growth Through Powerful Emotional Connections

Branding Strategy Insider is a service of The Blake Project: A strategic brand consultancy specializing in Brand Research, Brand Strategy, Brand Growth and Brand Education

FREE Publications And Resources For Marketers

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glenmenlow · 6 years ago

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Four Elements That Shape Brand Experiences

Understanding your stakeholders

Fine-tuning your perspective

Considering the mechanics of delivery

Adopting a data-driven approach

A closer look at each will help you build more relevant brand experiences.

1. Understanding Your Stakeholders

2. Fine-Tuning Your Perspective

3. Considering The Mechanics Of Delivery

4. Adopting A Data-Driven Approach

Summing Up

The Blake Project Can Help: Accelerate Brand Growth Through Powerful Emotional Connections

Branding Strategy Insider is a service of The Blake Project: A strategic brand consultancy specializing in Brand Research, Brand Strategy, Brand Growth and Brand Education

FREE Publications And Resources For Marketers

from WordPress https://glenmenlow.wordpress.com/2018/10/23/four-elements-that-shape-brand-experiences/ via IFTTT

#IFTTT #WordPress

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stephmolliex · 6 years ago

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Review: Master and Dynamics MW50+ 2-in-1 wireless headphones -- move aside Beats Studio3!

The Master and Dynamics 2-in-1 MW50+ wireless headphones represent a "master" class on build quality. These hefty over-the-head cans sound great and look great at the same time. AppleInsider takes them for a spin and compares them to Apple's similarly-priced Beats Studio3. Subscribe to AppleInsider on YouTube The MW50+ isn't an entirely new headphone for Master and Dynamic. They've upgraded their popular MW50 set with easily swappable earpieces, keeping the rest unchanged. There are a lot of components in any headphone review. From what is included, to the possible frustrations that only present themselves after long bouts of listening. So, let's get started. In the box Opening the box, you are greeted instantly by the headphones, with a soft leather box nestled between the earpieces. Below is a trio of compartments housing a travel bag, a getting started guide, and a pair of cables. The small leather box is home two a set of replacement ear pads that go over-the-ear rather than sitting on it. Herein lies one of the most unique aspects of the MW50+ that separates them from any other headphones on the market, which we'll get back to in a bit. With the MW50+, you get a USB-C to USB-A cable and a 3.5mm audio cable. AppleInsider has been fans of their standalone cables for some time, most recently checking out their Lightning to 3.5mm audio cable. The two cables are very nice with a braided-nylon wrap and metal caps on the ends. The travel bag is made of a thicker, black canvas that is pliable rather than the rigid cases we see included with most other headphones. Initially, we were disappointed with just a fabric sleeve, but after using it for a while, we prefer it to the hard case. It is able to be compacted when not in use, and even when in use. The top is rigid and magnetically closes. The bottom is double-lined for additional padded protection for the earpieces of the headphones. Near the top, is a small pouch that can house both of the cables, should you ever need them while on the go. Build quality This is one of the strongest aspects of the MW50+. They feel hefty and solid in the hand, but not as heavy as those we reviewed from Shinola. On the back of each earpiece is a metal mesh with the Master and Dynamic logo squarely in the center. Most of the headphones themselves are metal -- including the headband, the ear cups, and the extensions on either side. Leather is used in many areas, such as wrapped around the headband, around the back edges of the earpieces, and the soft lambskin ear pads. Each of the earpieces is able to rotate to make the headphones flat for storage. On the bottom of each earpiece is a port -- USB-C charging port on the right and 3.5mm audio jack on the other. We haven't been shy about wanting USB-C on accessories, and we can't praise Master and Dynamic enough for their inclusion of USB-C over micro USB. The controls are made up of a series of minuscule metal buttons located on either side. The left side has a three-way switch for off, on, and entering Bluetooth pairing mode. The right has a trio of buttons representing volume up, down, and play/pause. They are subtle and don't draw attention, but still easy enough to find when needed. Audio quality When it comes to audio quality, what sounds great to one, may not offer enough bass response for another, or similar unique perspectives. We've put together a small sample of our testing tracks that we rely on when listening for audio fidelity on headphones. There are many others we listen to, but these are some of our favorites to test things like sound reproduction, the 3D soundstage, and audio fidelity. When we talk about sound quality, a lot of what we experienced is due to the custom 40mm beryllium drivers. At the inset, we attributed this to a marketing angle and nothing more. Yet, the beryllium is able to create a light and stiff diaphragm and cuts down on distortion found with more flexible materials. The sound is very well balanced, leaning towards a more warm tone. Songs sounded quite full, with a lot of definition on both the high and the low ends. Even subtle bass hits were shockingly clear, often muddled together when listening on something with a less refined sound, such as our AirPods. As we listened to Moving in Stereo and Baba O'Reilly, we were shocked at the 3D soundstage that they were able to create. It brings a new dimension to these songs not often realized. When listening to Gaelic Storm -- an Irish band that puts out a variety of different musical styles -- the balance was undeniable. Patrick's slightly alto voice is able to put crystal clear in the foreground while the undeniable bass hits consistently and heavily in the background, without ever being too loud or sloppy. Master and Dynamic opted to include support for AptX (though not AptX HD), which can improve sound quality on devices that support it. Unfortunately, that doesn't iPhones or iPads. Living with them We've spent copious amounts of time listening to these headphones. Inside the MW50+ are custom aluminum antennas that should garner about 30 feet of unobstructed usage. Unfortunately, we got a bit less than that. I'd say 20 feet is a solid usable range, which is perfectly fine for most listening. It seems a whole lot shorter when compared to the possible 100 feet you can get out of any W1-equipped headphones. After long listening sessions, we can happily say that the lambskin-covered memory foam ear pads are extremely comfortable, some of the best we've ever used. Whether you use the on or over ear pads, they always felt soft and rarely felt overheated. We experienced nearly no dropouts in audio (other than when we were pushing the range), which is a crucial aspect to any wireless headphones. Possibly our favorite feature of the MW50+ though is the swappable ear pads. There are times where you want the small, on-ear pads and others when you prefer the more sound isolation provided by the over-ear pads. Using magnets, these can be swapped at any time, making these our new go-to headphones. They are great at home lounging on the couch or sitting at the desk using the less obtrusive on-ear pads, then jumping in the car, a bus, subway, or plane and getting some much-needed audio isolation from outside noises. The magnets make them a dream to take on or off at any time, and the included leather case is even better to protect them when not in use. VS Beats Studio3 Wireless Apple's Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones are similarly priced, but there is really no comparison when it comes to quality. The Studio3 are largely made of plastic, in stark contrast to the metal body of the MW50+. This is noticeable just by holding them in your hands. Whereas the MW50+ feel undeniably solid, the Studio3 feel a bit flimsy. Areas of the MW50+ that are covered in leather -- such as the upper headband and back of the earpieces -- are made of either plastic or rubber on the Studio3. This does add a bit of longevity to the lifespan seeing as leather can break down over the years, but it still has to be done well. On our Studio3's we already see the rubber separating from the top after not much use. The Studio3 headphones give off a more youthful appearance, and with the ability to collapse, can be more compact than the MW50+. They do feature Pure Adaptive Noise Cancellation, something out of scope for Master and Dynamics' headphones. The ear pads are very comfortable, though you are naturally limited to over-ear. Where we really give Beats Studio3 Wireless the edge is the wireless connectivity. Thanks to the custom Apple-designed A1 chip -- the same one found in other Beats headphones and AirPods -- the Studio3 utilize Class-1 Bluetooth audio for up to 100 feet of range. That is three times what you should be able to get out of the MW50+, and a more reliable signal strength all around. It is hard for competitors to compete with this. In the all-important audio quality category, MW50+ win out. They are more balanced, sound fuller, and still bring decent bass without overpowering the rest of the mix. Jam on The Master and Dynamic MW50 headphones were already a spectacular set of cans. The + makes them better and more useful. Even though they lack noise canceling and amazing range, they excel in spades in the most important categories of build and sound quality. Their quality is even more noticable when compared to the similarly priced Beats Studio3 Wireless that have a distinctly cheap feeling. Quality doesn't stop with just the audio or the physical build but extends to all accessories included in the box. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Where to buy Master and Dynamic's MW50+ headphones can be picked up directly from their own website or on Amazon for $399. They come in three colors including the black/black option AppleInsider reviewed as well as black/silver and silver/brown. https://goo.gl/yi1Tya

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technoapprenuer · 7 years ago

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Coworking: The Benefits of Sharing Your Workplace With Other Businesses By Luke Rees

Coworking spaces have been perceived as informal, café-like collaboration spaces – mainly for self-employed individuals looking for an excuse to get out of the home! However, in recent years, sharing work space has grown in popularity and is now a practise used by a wide range of businesses of all sizes and sectors.

Sharing office space has more direct benefits to businesses than one might think and can be carried out in many types of venues. Why has this trend evolved and how can it benefit your business? These are the questions we will answer in this article.

Coworking is on the rise

The UK and US are leading the way in coworking spaces, with London and New York, in particular, embracing collaborative working spaces. In 2017, 10,715,677 square feet of London workplace stock was categorised as a coworking spaces, whilst in Manhattan, flexible workplace represented an average of 2.9% of the market, or 5,452,900 square feet.

2017 was a record year for coworking spaces in London. Areas leased to flexible workspace providers saw an 190% increase from the previous year. According to The 2018 Global Coworking Survey, in 2018, 1.7 million people around the world will be working in coworking spaces – a 212% increase from 2015.

The shift to self-employment and the rise in freelancing has accelerated the phenomenon of businesses co-sharing spaces. In London, the volume of self-employed persons has grown by a quarter since 2009 to nearly 5 million people today. People Per Hour has predicted that one in two Londoners will be freelance by 2020.

Advances in internet connectivity, communication apps and other technologies are also contributing factors accelerating coworking.

How businesses are sharing workspaces

Sharing work space is practiced by business of all sizes and sectors, but is mainly found in office-based companies, retail stores and hospitality. Below I discuss the cases of WeWork in London, Shinola retail/The Shine in Detroit, and Free the Robot/Bitter and Love in Singapore.

In the past five years, WeWork has emerged as the largest space holder in London, with more space than giants like Google (1,344,121 sq ft) or Amazon (1,012,649 sq ft), offering shared work places for individuals and businesses. Since 2012, WeWork has acquired 2,578,000 square feet of space in London. More and more businesses choose WeWork or similar companies like Regus or Kontor, particularly start-ups or entrepreneurs who don’t use shared spaces for a long period. However, bigger companies have also found sharing space useful as 20% of WeWork’s revenues come from enterprise clients, who typically take a lease of 1-3 years.

Concept stores in the retail sector have further underlined the growing popularity of sharing commercial space. With the rise of e-commerce, traditional brick and mortar stores looking to improve their customer experience have had to shift their commercial strategies. Concept stores – the cooperation between a larger commercial store and smaller boutique cafes or retail shops in one location – has been a solution for many.

Shinola, a clothing store in Detroit which, in recent years has diversified its shopping strategy by opening their retail space to a café and newsstand run by restaurant The Smile. In this way, they offer a more comprehensive experience to customers, who can browse the Shinola clothing range while drinking a coffee from The Smile. Whilst many stores will be bound by regulation on when they can and cannot open – particularly on Sundays – this is certainly a viable option for many places looking to rent commercial space in cities.

In the hospitality sector, bars and cafes have also increasingly started sharing space. In Singapore, on 118 Telok Ayer Street, by day resides coffee shop Free the Robot. While at night, the venue transforms into a chic and trendy bar called Bitter and Love, under separate management. By sharing their spaces, both businesses increase their efficiency and put underutilized space to commercial use.

How coworking can benefit your business

Coworking spaces is typically an interesting option for businesses based in larger cities or where commercial rents are particularly high. In London, for example, sharing work place can help small businesses, start-ups, entrepreneurs and many more to enjoy the prestige of London, without the cost/commitment of renting an office.

Ann Wright, entrepreneur and co-founder of RoughHouse Media, found that renting her own space can be very isolating. To share a space and have colleagues from various different backgrounds can be more productive and allows her creativity to thrive.

Coworking spaces can serve a variety of people, which ultimately means businesses from different backgrounds can share their skills and exchange knowledge. There’s also the benefit of networking, meaning companies have the potential to expand both their client base and grow.

According to Deskmag, 71% of coworking members have collaborated with other members in some way or another. Either with small tasks, projects with and without contract, or through networking events. But most of all, coworking offers a flexibility that a regular lease would not allow for. Companies can move more freely, at a lower cost, while still enjoying the comfort of a central venue.

Coworking is increasingly becoming the dominant way of renting space in major cities around the world and isn’t forecasted to stop. People more and more are recognizing the urgency of being more efficient in terms of space, not only for cutting down on their spend but also for environmental reasons too.

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alfonsomilner9-blog · 7 years ago

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Fat chance (Including Datsik) (SMOG) By Reality.

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The FCC is actually practically proposing to carry out exactly what can merely appropriately be carried out by Congress: devise a brand new lawful regimen for broadband. In plain English, right here is actually the bargain that Tesla is offering to suppliers as well as individuals of its electric automobile technology: for using Tesla's licenses, the users from Tesla's patents can easily not file patent infraction legal actions against Tesla if Tesla uses their other licenses. This isn't really consisting of active suspension ... although we performed tune a Nissan GT-R in 2015 using the OE Adaptronic Bilsteins. After a bunch of to and fro on citywide diesel bans as well as bunches from company rumor, the German automotive business has actually taken a social pounding. A horrible condition transpired in Midtown Detroit the other day night, through which the vehicle driver of an outdated Chevrolet Silverado pick up crossed the facility line on Canfield Opportunity, near Next Road, and struck four people standing up outside the Shinola store. He asks for a return to the genuine 1st concepts from the license body in discussions concerning patent licensing, too as for more gauged thinking and evaluation concerning the costs of anxiety produced through endless systemic changes off legislation created by heavy lobbying through curious parties. I stay in a community where everybody has loads of Televisions, video game consoles, pcs, 2-3 automobiles and houses 2-3x the dimension of the ones their moms and dads grew up in. Our team possess a wonderful neighborhood. Johan de Nysschen is actually giving 400 low-volume Cadillac suppliers cash money to close store and also walk away, Automotive Report. The automaker, which lately viewed a slew of remembers munch exuberantly on its own business revenues, claims improperly tempered accessory screws might trigger some of the components to give way during the course of an accident, or even an abrupt stop.

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Waymo, the independent auto organization had by Google parent Alphabet, as well as Uber's chief ride-hailing competing Lyft have become part of a self-driving relationship -- relatively to perform little over argue Big U. With 99 per-cent from cigarette smokers beginning prior to age 27, college grounds are actually crucial to stop young people off beginning tobacco usage, assisting existing tobacco smokers in lowering and giving up direct exposure to secondhand smoke for all. The energy to calculate whether the methods from nearly any type of United States company are unjust" techniques of competition (specifically if UMC preserves the vast grasp Tim Wu describes in his blog post) produces the FTC distinctively strong. The study, released in Nicotine & Cigarette Analysis discovered that use of a World wide web cigarette smoking cessation system was greatest one of smokers who received these added assistances"- both pharmacologic as well as social. Right now add Guangzhou Automobile Team to the list from Mandarin automakers that have actually refuted interest in obtaining Fiat Chrysler Vehicles (FCA). The Christ like Walk from one along with Guileless Feeling abiding in The lord - 1 JOHN ii. 6. The teaching would not use, for example, to the FCC's Open Web Order considering that edge companies possess access to customers over networks, even where network service providers desire to zero-rate, utilize usage-based invoicing or otherwise work out link costs and also prioritization. Of course, a bright-line secure port regularly provides even more certainty to a firm compared to a standard that demands harmonizing, but there is absolutely nothing in the attributes of Section 5 enforcement that calls for this level of assurance. This would be actually unwise to puzzle planters' issues concerning the competitive impacts of the kinds of mergers our team're observing now along with the actual motorists of improvement in the agricultural value establishment. As the next-generation 2018 Vehicle Wrangler attracts ever closer to its launching, a confidential resource that evidently went to a comfortable, invite-only Fiat Chrysler Autos dealership appointment has blown his/her digestive tracts. Also assuming that this restrictive review from effect/causation is needed under Segment 2, though I don't feel that is, presumably proper to rest this need in a pure Part 5 situation for the reasons that I have discussed: the vacancy of collateral effect of an Area 5 infraction and the limited solutions that the FTC may find. Because many electronic devices are exclusive to the personal producers better accelerates the progress from autos in to electronic beaters" which end up being demanding and expensive to diagnose and restore. To state that Google dominates search" or even on the internet advertising" fizzles specifically due to the fact that there is actually just nothing especially antitrust-relevant concerning either search or on the internet marketing.

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nicholaslovett-blog · 7 years ago

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How I Learned to Research Literary Magazines

Where a guy that’s been published once dispenses advice.

Part One:

Like most younger writers looking to be published, it came to me as a semi-shock that I would actually have to read the magazines. Of course, before I started submitting, I read literary magazines. I read The Paris Review, Tin House, The New Yorker and McSweeney’s. The problem? So does everybody else. (If you don’t read at least one literary magazine from time to time but submit, what’s wrong with you?) But I’m telling you, even though in theory a strong piece will be published either way, you’re wasting your time if you don’t read an issue before sending your work. Do you really think someone like Joyce Carol Oates, the most published writer in literary magazines this side of John Updike, sends out her work scatter-shot, or do you think she reads and keeps up with dozens of venues regularly?

So how do I try to find a home for my mediocre work? When you get rejected as much as I do, you’re always on the hunt for new venues. There are five billionty fiction markets, and if you’re behooved, you can create one yourself. There are sites that aggregate lists that I use now like Entropy, but I think the best place to start is the Pushcart Prize anthology. (Forget that wonderful list on the internet, read the damn thing). I find that “The Best American Stories” anthology gravitates towards commercial markets like The New Yorker or Harper’s. The Pushcart Prize is “the best of the small presses.” Truthfully, I haven’t read much of The O Henry Prize Stories because I already read two short fiction anthologies yearly.

Let’s take a quick look at the 2016 volume, and see whom they’re publishing:

Zadie Smith - “Miss Adele Amidst the Corsets”

Edward McPherson - “Telref”

Wendell Berry - “The Branch Way of Doing”

Colum McCann - “Sh’khol”

I won’t go through the entire list of short stories, but that’s just the first 100 pages of a 600 page anthology. The Pushcart Prize is a “who’s who.” It’s what’s happening in fiction. The stories are penned by two rising stars, and two crusty veterans that in music we used to say “played everywhere with everybody.”

Here’s where those stories were published:

The Paris Review

The Gettysburg Review

The Three Penny Review

Zoetrope: All Story

There are four venues, and we’re only 1/6th through the anthology. Are these the best place to start? I would say so, though according to Duotrope’s crowd sourced data, they accept between 1-3% of all submissions. A lot of these magazines solicit work from famous writers, and only publish 4-6 pieces an issue. So why read them? First of all...it’s great fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry. I always have a literary magazine on my person or my side table, and at the rate they publish, a story a day will make a serious dent in the short fiction ecosystem. You’ll be entertained, and you’ll notice trends in the way modern fiction is being written, if you usually read Edgar Allen Poe or Sherwood Anderson.

But, you want to read these great publications to learn hecate from hecuba, shit from shinola. What passes for great writing in 2017, and what passes for a great writing publication. Read the Editor’s Note, and come away with an impression.

Have they done anything interesting with their publishing medium? Design? Like ten other magazines, is their cover an oil painting of flowers? Cool photography? Do they have a unique feature like Carve Magazine’s Decline/Accept? If they’re online, is the format cheesy? Did it just start yesterday? Or are they creative, like Cleaver and include radio plays? Do the contributors read their stories or the work of others like The Tahoma Review or The New Yorker? Do they offer a writer’s regimen like The Southeast Review or assorted schoolin’? There’s no reason an online publication has to be worse than print, and heavyweights like Conjuctions, and The Collagist have been mostly, or all digital for years.

So once you’ve learned the lay of the land, how do you find worthwhile venues where your work has a chance? The impulse, after The Paris Review sends a rejection on a mimeographed paper the size of a postage stamp, is to race to the bottom and forget the venues that you need, and need you the most.

In Part Two, I’ll detail how to use aggregate lists to find markets, and how to make sense of and organize your research from those publications.

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onlynews2017-blog · 8 years ago

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The 80s womens fashion has a totally distinct type of its very own and that's what helps make the womens fashion within the 80s so fashionable. Today brought in big and bold styles that yelled individualism. Actually a number of fashion looks ran parallel to one another during this time period.

Fashion history unveils the eighties womens fashion look would be a tailored look. The eighties fashion introduced in regards to a outstanding alternation in the style industry. From footwear, clothing, and hairstyles, just about everything handled to produce an effect and most of which continue to be popular.

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Jeans were greatly popular throughout the eighties. Actually an 80s womens fashion wardrobe is not complete without some good pairs of jeans.

The Acidity cleaned jeans miniskirts and jean jackets were extremely popular.

Despite the fact that miniskirts acquired recognition throughout the 1960s however they came in fashion throughout the eighties womens fashion.

The only real difference could be that the miniskirts in eighties were mostly made from tight, clingy material that was produced in jeans.

During this period women frequently used miniskirts with legwarmers or tights.

During this period, the aerobic fitness exercise craze was at full pressure and also the head bands and legwarmers grew to become very popular. The legwarmers soon left a fitness center when style conscious women felt these fashion add-ons looked nearly as good with jeans and miniskirts because they did with tights. The legwarmers were broadly obtainable in the majority of the colours and were hugely well-liked by the ladies in eighties.

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The 80s womens fashion is incomplete and not mention Madonna. Madonna was a massive fashion icon within the eighties.

Her short skirt, fishnet mitts, rubber bracelets, bleached hair and also the dangling bracelets were very well-liked by the trendy women for the reason that era.

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The most crucial part of the eighties women's fashion is it is extremely simple to recognize the style of the period.

It's got its very own distinct fashion quite not the same as the prior decades.

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exfrenchdorsl4p0a1 · 8 years ago

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How these 3 Seattle-based retailers are differentiating in Amazon’s backyard

The Amazon Bookstore at Seattle’s University Village. GeekWire Photo.

Amazon’s appetite for disrupting retail appears as if it will never be sated. In the past two years, we’ve seen them launch bookstores, add a restaurant delivery service, integrate shopping capabilities into its voice-controlled home assistant Alexa, and beta test an innovative urban grocery store with a virtual checkout.

And they aren’t just innovating.

Amazon’s business results have also impressed. This holiday season Amazon doubled their volume of shipments from 3rd parties – a staggering number when you consider third party fulfillment is not a new offering.

While other retailers cannot keep pace with these volumes, nor with the pace of Amazon’s innovation, they aren’t exactly asleep at the wheel. Last May, I wrote about how born-on-the-web etailers have been opening stores to expand their reach in urban centers.

Meanwhile, traditional retailers, arguably those slow to initially react to the rise of e-commerce, are also fighting back. Filson, Eddie Bauer, and Nordstrom, all Seattle-based, are investing in differentiation, but each in their own way.

With Christmas rapidly approaching, I set out to do some holiday shopping and a bit of field research.

What would Eddie do?

After filing for bankruptcy twice, Eddie Bauer is returning to its mountaineering roots by focusing on performance-based apparel. It’s a crowded field that includes the likes of Patagonia, the North Face, and its in-town direct competitor, REI.

Over the past few years Bauer has been steadily investing in reinvigorating its brand with new campaigns as well as in-store investments to better align with its more focused strategy.

Bauer’s recently remodeled flagship store in Bellevue Square includes a walk-in “Ice Box” to let consumers try on apparel in below freezing temperatures. I must admit on hearing about this I thought it was a bit gimmicky, but, after a quick trial, the ice box is (forgive the pun) pretty cool.

Upon arrival I was surprised to find I didn’t need to sign a waiver or be escorted by a salesperson to enter the ice box (tip of the hat to Eddie Bauer’s Chief Counsel).

To properly kick the tires, I donned a down jacket and stepped inside. I was looking for something lightweight to wear skiing. I was skeptical that such a light weight jacket would be sufficiently warm, but the ice box field test worked great and assuaged any concerns. In this regard, the in-store experience completed my online research in a way no website could.

Bauer isn’t the first retailer to integrate in-context trial experiences into their stores.

REI’s Seattle flagship has a mountain biking trail and climbing wall. Brooks Running’s flagship store in Fremont integrates stride analysis and treadmills as part of its sales process. Such experiences are great for high consideration purchases where field use is key.

And, importantly, they differentiate the retail experience from what Amazon (presently) offers.

The Personal(ized) Touch

Like Eddie Bauer, Nordstrom is not immune to the challenges of adapting their business in the face of strong online competition and evolving customer needs. Earlier this year Nordstrom laid off hundreds including over 100 technology-related roles, but they haven’t stopped innovating in their e-commerce or in-store experiences.

Renowned for their service, Nordstrom has been exploring different means to play to their strengths. Armed with a very real gift-giving challenge, finding something suitable for my mother’s Christmas present, I decided to pit their recently launched chatbot-based gift recommendation service against an in-store personal stylist in a head-to-head challenge.

I started with the chatbot experience in hope of avoiding an in-store visit. Integrated directly into Facebook’s messaging client, the user experience of the chatbot was seamless.

However, right at the on-set, the questions didn’t inspire confidence. I was surprised to find age and gender of the recipient weren’t questions.

And the emoji-based questions felt forced. The resulting recommendations were either on-the-nose obvious (the Leica camera presumably derived from my camera emoji choice) or entirely inappropriate for a woman in her 70s (fake tattoos).

Common sense prevailed so I decided to try my hand with the personal stylist instead.

Right away, the stylist booking experience seemed promising. After selecting my preferred store, I was pleased to see they inquired about the gender of the recipient as well as the nature of the visit. Appointment types ranged from quick updates to multi-hour sessions.

I opted for a half-hour and then was asked to choose a stylist. I found this aspect of the experience wanting as there was nothing to distinguish the stylists save for their name and a clearly template-based description. After a frustrating scheduling process, I provided a briefing on my Mother’s size and preferred brands. An email confirmation arrived immediately.

A few days later, I made my way to the store for my scheduled appointment. As if sensing my location, I received a text message when I entered directing me to the 2nd floor. I was greeted warmly by my stylist, offered a bottle of water, and shown a dressing room laid out with a broad array of choices that were clearly tailored to my appointment.

I checked a few prices and quickly decided on a vest. I paid for my item, with no additional fees for the style consult, and was out the door with my gift-wrapped package within 15 minutes. Humans 1, chat bots 0. What I loved about this experience was that it fused the convenience of technology with the human touch. Additionally, it was a great extension of the Nordstrom brand which places a premium on service. Armed with a gift for Mom, it was time to find something for my Dad; an avid outdoorsman and athlete.

Made in the USA

Founded in 1897, Filson is perhaps the longest standing retailer in the Northwest; preceding Nordstrom by 4 years. Getting their start outfitting the stampeders to the Klondike Gold Rush, Filson is dripping with heritage and authenticity.

Their new flagship store south of downtown Seattle is a love letter to active retail with its barn ceiling, open fire place, and integrated restoration department. While the store lacked a means to battle test their gear, they do stand behind it with a lifetime guarantee.

More than just a flagship store, Filson also does its manufacturing on site. Just below the store you’ll find scores of sewing machines and products in varying states.

Like Shinola, Filson’s partner in watch design, Filson is doubling-down on it’s made in America story which strengthens its brand and helps justify higher price points.

And while I didn’t find a gift for Dad, I did fine some great hiking boots for myself.

A flagship future

If there’s a pattern here it’s retailers finding new ways to tell their brand story by investing in the in-store experience. Forced to reduce costs and shift more business online, retailers will likely continue to shut doors in small markets.

Having fewer stores lets retailers invest in building out flagships in key markets which benefit from not only from international travelers, but also the reversal of urban flight. Cities are becoming increasingly dense which lets flagships do double-duty becoming galleries to market their brands to the affluent masses.

Of the three retailers reviewed only Nordstrom has gone to great lengths exploring different ways to drive users from site to store. Their size and capitalization gives them room to experiment through trials and acquisitions.

Other retailers, no doubt, will benefit from their public experiments, adopting those that work and adapting them to suit their brands and consumers.

There are few industries that adapt as quickly as retail. With Amazon keeping the pedal down we’ve got a front row seat on the future of retail – right in our backyard.

Alex Berg is the Director of Strategy & Analytics for Fell Swoop – a digital design firm in Seattle. Prior to Fell Swoop Alex held leadership roles with Ritani, Expedia, and Blue Nile. Follow him on Twitter @alexwberg.

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