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Tag: Patagonia

Patagonia, Jumbo Wild, catalog, Patagonia catalog, content marketing, direct mail, mail order sales

Content Marketing Example: The Patagonia Catalog

October 18, 2015 /

“We have three general guidelines for all promotional efforts by Patagonia, both within and beyond the pages of the catalog:

  1. Our charter is to inspire and educate rather than promote.
  2. We would rather earn credibility than buy it. The best resources for us are the word-of-mouth recommendation from a friend or favorable comments in the press.
  3. We advertise only as a last resort.”

Written by Patagonia’s founder Yvon Chouinard and quoted from page 155 of Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman, these words set up a strong content marketing approach.

Part book review and part illustration of content marketing, this post breaks down the why and what of a beautiful, 68-page print catalog recently delivered to our home by the United States Postal Service.
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Classic, Aspirational, and All-American

March 3, 2010 /

Ralph Lauren partners with the US Olympic team as official outfitter.

Ralph Lauren has outfitted the U.S. Olympic athletes at both the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing and the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.  They will do the same for the 2012 Summer Games in London.

The Wall Street Journal was told that a 10% royalty was to be paid to the United States Olympic Committee on sale of all Olympic-themed Ralph Lauren merchandise; I would expect that there are further considerations to be given the USOC.  Beyond a few facts, then, I know little about the financial details or general depth of their relationship.  My knowledge of the situation is limited to how it plays out on television and online to a passive observer.

I simply wanted to take a moment to say:  this partnership between the two really seems to work.

Both brands are classic, aspirational and all-American.  It’s refreshing and satisfying to see a marketing and branding partnership that fits so naturally.

Though I personally favor outdoor lifestyle brands like Patagonia, Columbia, or REI and though I find the polo horsemen obscenely oversized in their Olympic incarnation, I can’t see our Olympians on parade in anyone else’s gear.

The Opening and Closing Ceremonies – as well as all the other Olympics-related photo opps – are strictly fashion events and no other brand fits.  Try to name one that would.  Hilfiger?  Izod?  JCrew?  Banana Republic?  All laughable.

Here’s the Ralph Lauren 2010 Olympic Collection – all available for purchase (be warned: prices marked up with a serious Olympic premium).

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