14 August 2012

Free Stuff

I'm going to begin this post with a little disclaimer. Lately, I feel like there's been an awful lot of promotion going on around here, and my own feelings about it are mixed. Last year, as I'm sure you know, I started an online business selling my kind of second hand clothing and accessories. What began as something to do on the side has thankfully grown into more than that. One side effect of this is more promotion, shameless or otherwise, here on the blog. I try to keep it to a minimum, but simply put, stuff sells better when I tell people about it.

I've also been getting more and more offers of free goods from companies who want me to review them here. I know this seems like so much empty shilling, and maybe it is. However, I accept only a very thin selection of all the offers that come my way, and at that only ones I truly feel may be of interest to my readers. Forgive me if this seems distasteful, but I work hard at this, and I see no real problem in occasionally reaping the benefits. I assure you my reviews are always honest. Henceforth, any post dealing with review of free goods will be titled simply "Free Stuff".
photo: Hudson Sutler

Hudson Sutler is a company offering a good simple basic that anyone could use: classic duffel bags, available in a variety of colors, in two sizes. Each one is made in USA. When they offered me one to try, I opted for the 'Sconset weekend (larger) duffel. With my family and I heading to Maine for our annual vacation next week, the timing couldn't be better. And Maine is perhaps the only place besides Massachusetts where we call "Pink" "Nantucket Red" and no one bats an eye at a grown man making liberal use of the color. Good thing, because this bag is big, it's a lot of said color, however you might call it. Hudson Sutler suggests it for a  2-4 night trip, but at 20 inches wide and 12 inches in diameter at the round sides, I see no reason why my entire weeks kit won't fit in it.
photo: Hudson Sutler


It's rendered in extremely heavy 18 ounce canvas and finished with thick plastic zippers, sturdy handles and strap, and navy stitching. Inside, the lining is navy anchor print. Who ever heard of lining in a duffel bag? Not me. Aren't those things supposed to be for the gym? I ain't taking this to no gym. At $120 for the bigger (weekend) size and $95 for the smaller (commuter) size, prices are admittedly what I would call steep. But this bag is tough, and I think I'll have it for a while. I'll let you know how it fared when we get back in town. If it really is as good as they say, chances are there will be a blog post next August about a trip to Maine with this bag in it. We'll see.

p.s. round two of our excellent necktie windfall is available in the Shop. Special thanks to Put This On for featuring our first batch last week.

p.p.s. Damn, this whole post is about selling stuff and getting free stuff. Yikes.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Woo hoo! I got a mention at AAW!

-Derek

TJGR said...

Don't beat yourself up about Guiseppe; I'm sure none of your regular readers will begrudge you getting a little something back in return for everything you've put in here.

Anonymous said...

I second TJGR's comment. Love your posts and you clearly put a lot of effort making this blog great. You deserve getting some cool stuff and telling us about what you have in your store!

Anonymous said...

Yeah man, you can't eat prestige.

Anonymous said...

Agreed. Great job. Enjoy your spoils. Now get back to work.-HBG

C.L. Young said...

We all have to eat. I can't beat a guy down because of great side hustle. Besides, you have great stuff in your shop and a good eye for style. Keep promoting and grow your business. When you write your style book, I'll be first in line for a signed copy!

Grant said...

Thanks for the feature! The whole team here at Hudson Sutler knows you DESERVE the bag, after-all, where would we go when we want to kill time at the office other than your site? Enjoy the bag. We're confident it'll live up to your initial thoughts. It's tough as nails and will be with you for many trips to Maine to come.
Thanks,
Grant Hewit
Hudson Sutler

Anonymous said...

Follow the money. Nobody is going to get rich talking about the great sportcoat they bought at the thrift shop for $3.97. You're good at selling, displaying, promoting, and buying cheap--all valuable skills that you obviously like to use. And you can make money at it. Don't worry about the "independent blogger" part of it because, as you've admitted, that's over. So go forward, my son, blaze new trails, try everything. Just go easy on the accessories. That bag is pure crap and no man should even think of owning such a thing. Let Will pitch the otter-bone shoe horns and the Italian silk ear muffs to protect against the air conditioning on planes. Go younger, and maybe a little dirtier, and good luck.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I've been coming to your blog less and less...
I used to love viewing your blog Espessally during the Summertime , But there is no comparison what it's come to now and what it used to be......
I guess you have to do what you have to do...

Christopher Redgate said...

Just want to echo everyone else's comments here. You run a fine operation and there's no shame in making a buck or enjoying the fringe benefits in the form of a free item now and again. The fact that you maintain transparency about what you accept for free is admirable and, I think, rare these days.

Oxford Cloth Button Down said...

I love your blog and please do take advantage of any offer that are interested in, I insist. Keep it up and find some 36s jackets while you're thrifting

notanymore said...

Professional blogging is a job. I have a job. I have a few side businesses as well.

It would be nice to get "free" things to review, but then... there's no such thing as a free lunch. Or duffel bag.

I choose not to promote at all, and as such, it's taken me years to build my readership. Such is life.