Comments on: Moleskine Notebooks and other wonders of the Boutique Era http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/ a world uncommon Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:03:36 +0000 hourly 1 By: ::HorsePigCow:: marketing uncommon » What Boutique is: part I http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/comment-page-1/#comment-18656 ::HorsePigCow:: marketing uncommon » What Boutique is: part I Sun, 08 Apr 2007 23:22:31 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/24/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/#comment-18656 [...] Some people are getting my reference to boutique mixed up with luxury brands. Personally, I wouldn’t be caught dead with Louis Vuitton bag and I’m sure most Boutiquers wouldn’t be either. The difference, as the diagram suggests (and there are many more differences than I quickly plotted in this image) is the motivations for buying. I said, “Bought for connection” because, as Sanford commented in the previous posts comment section: [...] [...] Some people are getting my reference to boutique mixed up with luxury brands. Personally, I wouldn’t be caught dead with Louis Vuitton bag and I’m sure most Boutiquers wouldn’t be either. The difference, as the diagram suggests (and there are many more differences than I quickly plotted in this image) is the motivations for buying. I said, “Bought for connection” because, as Sanford commented in the previous posts comment section: [...]

]]> By: Blog Mirrors » Getting/Staying Organized: my Moleskine PDA http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/comment-page-1/#comment-1023 Blog Mirrors » Getting/Staying Organized: my Moleskine PDA Thu, 08 Feb 2007 12:42:07 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/24/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/#comment-1023 [...] Side note: my friend Tara Hunt recently started a mini firestorm when she called a Moleskine a “bloomin’ pad of paper”. Tara, Moleskines are an acquired taste and… you obviously Just Don’t Get It. ; ) [...] [...] Side note: my friend Tara Hunt recently started a mini firestorm when she called a Moleskine a “bloomin’ pad of paper”. Tara, Moleskines are an acquired taste and… you obviously Just Don’t Get It. ; ) [...]

]]> By: Brian F http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/comment-page-1/#comment-1007 Brian F Thu, 08 Feb 2007 02:09:19 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/24/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/#comment-1007 I picked up my first Moleskine notebook today. I've been impressed with others' experiences of the quality and overall design of the product. After I got it home, I looked at the back label, and saw the following: "Printed and bound in China - Designed and assembled in Italy." Sadly, despite the quality, I don't think I'll be buying another one. Why not? I'm not the type of person who thinks it's unpatriotic to buy foreign products. My issue with this is environmental more than economic (though economic factors are involved at one level or another) - how much fossil fuel is burned transporting these things around the world? I hesitate to ask the source of the wood pulp. Lots of people are worried about our dependence on foreign oil, and the issue of global warming and energy consumption, and I expect that group contains most Moleskine customers. At the risk of stereotyping, I'd venture a guess that Moleskine users as a group tend to recycle, and worry about fuel efficiency in their automobiles. But I have a feeling most of those people are oblivious to the embedded energy costs of a product that has traveled farther in its short life than many of us have. I picked up my first Moleskine notebook today. I’ve been impressed with others’ experiences of the quality and overall design of the product. After I got it home, I looked at the back label, and saw the following:

“Printed and bound in China – Designed and assembled in Italy.”

Sadly, despite the quality, I don’t think I’ll be buying another one.

Why not? I’m not the type of person who thinks it’s unpatriotic to buy foreign products. My issue with this is environmental more than economic (though economic factors are involved at one level or another) – how much fossil fuel is burned transporting these things around the world? I hesitate to ask the source of the wood pulp. Lots of people are worried about our dependence on foreign oil, and the issue of global warming and energy consumption, and I expect that group contains most Moleskine customers. At the risk of stereotyping, I’d venture a guess that Moleskine users as a group tend to recycle, and worry about fuel efficiency in their automobiles. But I have a feeling most of those people are oblivious to the embedded energy costs of a product that has traveled farther in its short life than many of us have.

]]> By: The Waving Cat » Blog Archive » Moleskine PDA (getting organized, part XII) http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/comment-page-1/#comment-965 The Waving Cat » Blog Archive » Moleskine PDA (getting organized, part XII) Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:13:22 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/24/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/#comment-965 [...] It is said that Moleskine notebooks serve mainly to pose around in street cafés. Let’s just assume, they can also be used to scribble stuff into them. (Maybe even useful stuff, on rare occasions.) They are, after all, notepads. Or so Tara Hunt insists: truth be told, it’s a bloomin’ pad of paper. It doesn’t have any special pockets. It doesn’t make you more creative. It certainly won’t get you laid…strike that last one. It may. But seriously. We go out of our way to buy Moleskine Notebooks. Why? There is no rational reason. Sure, they are a perfect size, good quality and all of that, but it really is the essence (mojo) that we buy them for. [...] [...] It is said that Moleskine notebooks serve mainly to pose around in street cafés. Let’s just assume, they can also be used to scribble stuff into them. (Maybe even useful stuff, on rare occasions.) They are, after all, notepads. Or so Tara Hunt insists: truth be told, it’s a bloomin’ pad of paper. It doesn’t have any special pockets. It doesn’t make you more creative. It certainly won’t get you laid…strike that last one. It may. But seriously. We go out of our way to buy Moleskine Notebooks. Why? There is no rational reason. Sure, they are a perfect size, good quality and all of that, but it really is the essence (mojo) that we buy them for. [...]

]]> By: surfer http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/comment-page-1/#comment-716 surfer Fri, 02 Feb 2007 18:57:44 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/24/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/#comment-716 Wow u people have a lot of time on your hands. I'm going to get on my bike ($100, 7 years old) and go to the beach (free). Wow u people have a lot of time on your hands. I’m going to get on my bike ($100, 7 years old) and go to the beach (free).

]]> By: Comodity, Luxury… Boutique? « GiddleBits http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/comment-page-1/#comment-648 Comodity, Luxury… Boutique? « GiddleBits Tue, 30 Jan 2007 22:25:52 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/24/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/#comment-648 [...] The original conversation started with this post laying out the rough idea of Boutique, which Tara followed up with a more solidified idea as well as a graphical cart comparing Luxury, Commodity, and Boutique. That conversation is still going on in the comments to a degree. I thought I would also say that when I initially heard Tara’s description of Boutique it reminded me of this post about ‘slow’ marketing. [...] [...] The original conversation started with this post laying out the rough idea of Boutique, which Tara followed up with a more solidified idea as well as a graphical cart comparing Luxury, Commodity, and Boutique. That conversation is still going on in the comments to a degree. I thought I would also say that when I initially heard Tara’s description of Boutique it reminded me of this post about ‘slow’ marketing. [...]

]]> By: miss rogue http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/comment-page-1/#comment-617 miss rogue Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:59:29 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/24/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/#comment-617 Oh my...I guess I didn't read their website correctly? I didn't read through all of the subsequent pages...to realize that they are actually a LUXURY brand, not a boutique brand. Thanks for pointing this out! Oh my…I guess I didn’t read their website correctly? I didn’t read through all of the subsequent pages…to realize that they are actually a LUXURY brand, not a boutique brand.

Thanks for pointing this out!

]]> By: jen lemen » Blog Archive » the teeny-tiniest of Link Love this Sunday http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/comment-page-1/#comment-612 jen lemen » Blog Archive » the teeny-tiniest of Link Love this Sunday Mon, 29 Jan 2007 14:25:19 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/24/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/#comment-612 [...] Someday I will meet Tara Hunt and we will discuss this and this. But not before drinking these. I see this happening here. The only problem is what I will wear. [...] [...] Someday I will meet Tara Hunt and we will discuss this and this. But not before drinking these. I see this happening here. The only problem is what I will wear. [...]

]]> By: Frank Hecker http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/comment-page-1/#comment-605 Frank Hecker Mon, 29 Jan 2007 10:39:00 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/24/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/#comment-605 To add to the comment by Prophetess about Noka chocolates: Noka is an interesting example to cite in the context of "boutique". As the article you linked to notes, Noka essentially takes qood-quality mass-produced chocolate, adds fancy packaging and a "story", and sells it for an outrageous markup, far beyond those typically associated with high-quality chocolates. In the terms discussed in your subsequent post "What Boutique Is: Part I", it is not a boutique product but rather a luxury product: "quality varies", "high/over-priced", "bought for prestige", "about status". To me Noka illustrates the dark side of products that have a "story": that a story can be appealing and powerful ("former accountants find their passion in creating the world's finest chocolates") and at the same time essentially a lie. Noka Chocolates is to the true boutique experience as the Potemkin village was to true community. While we're speaking of chocolate and boutique products vs. commodities, it's also worth noting that commodity products can in fact be quite appealing and worth seeking out. For example, the Lindt & Sprungli Excellence 85% bar (i.e., 85% cocoa) is sold in lots of ordinary grocery stores (including one near my house) and has no real "story" to speak of, but the chocolate enthusiast web site seventypercent.com rates it as the best of all the 85% bars. (I've tried it myself, and it's quite good if you like extreme dark chocolate.) To add to the comment by Prophetess about Noka chocolates: Noka is an interesting example to cite in the context of “boutique”. As the article you linked to notes, Noka essentially takes qood-quality mass-produced chocolate, adds fancy packaging and a “story”, and sells it for an outrageous markup, far beyond those typically associated with high-quality chocolates. In the terms discussed in your subsequent post “What Boutique Is: Part I”, it is not a boutique product but rather a luxury product: “quality varies”, “high/over-priced”, “bought for prestige”, “about status”.

To me Noka illustrates the dark side of products that have a “story”: that a story can be appealing and powerful (“former accountants find their passion in creating the world’s finest chocolates”) and at the same time essentially a lie. Noka Chocolates is to the true boutique experience as the Potemkin village was to true community.

While we’re speaking of chocolate and boutique products vs. commodities, it’s also worth noting that commodity products can in fact be quite appealing and worth seeking out. For example, the Lindt & Sprungli Excellence 85% bar (i.e., 85% cocoa) is sold in lots of ordinary grocery stores (including one near my house) and has no real “story” to speak of, but the chocolate enthusiast web site seventypercent.com rates it as the best of all the 85% bars. (I’ve tried it myself, and it’s quite good if you like extreme dark chocolate.)

]]> By: Nathan http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/comment-page-1/#comment-603 Nathan Mon, 29 Jan 2007 04:03:26 +0000 http://www.horsepigcow.com/2007/01/24/moleskine-notebooks-and-other-wonders-of-the-boutique-era/#comment-603 @bigsanford: Thanks for the push back! :) True enough about the caution that should be excercised with trends, fads (iPod at this point), and enduring style. And I am sure they are still big in CA (that being their origination) although I find it ironic that I wasn't made aware of them until I came to the east coast, and I am a beach frequenter (having lived 5 minutes from the beach when I lived in CA a few months ago). At any rate, I would venture the questions based on what you said. With the longevity of Rainbows, is there a lifetime to boutique? What would make Rainbows become boutique? Different colors? Names imprinted? Adding a specialized or specially crafted shell into the strap? Likewise, what makes it not boutique? Popularity? Keep in mind, I am raising these questions as a means to further/flesh out all of our understand of boutique. @bigsanford: Thanks for the push back! :)

True enough about the caution that should be excercised with trends, fads (iPod at this point), and enduring style.

And I am sure they are still big in CA (that being their origination) although I find it ironic that I wasn’t made aware of them until I came to the east coast, and I am a beach frequenter (having lived 5 minutes from the beach when I lived in CA a few months ago).

At any rate, I would venture the questions based on what you said. With the longevity of Rainbows, is there a lifetime to boutique? What would make Rainbows become boutique? Different colors? Names imprinted? Adding a specialized or specially crafted shell into the strap? Likewise, what makes it not boutique? Popularity?

Keep in mind, I am raising these questions as a means to further/flesh out all of our understand of boutique.

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