Brand Love
Posted under Material things I love
I accidentally ‘fell’ in to the Crumpler store in London this week and was forced, against my will, to buy stuff. Don’t you just hate it when that happens? You’re skipping along the pavement thinking happy thoughts when BAMMM, a vortex engulfs you and twirls you in to a store where elves and pixies relieve you of your cash in return for bags full of things you never knew you needed. It happens to me all the time, I’m blighted like that.
Later, I caught MrSpud eying up my new Hard Suit Special Edition laptop case with naked lust and longing for it, although presumably not in turquoise? Then I saw him attempting to shoehorn his gigantic Dell lapbreakertop in to the hallowed temple of loveliness which is now contaminated with Windows poo as a result…cry, cry, cry. Meanwhile my MacBook was sniggering in the corner, presumably feeling like Cinderella watching the Ugly Sisters trying to cram their trotters in to her dainty glass slipper.
‘How much was that?’ he asked, quickly qualified by ‘Oh, I’m not being funny or anything – I’m just interested’. So I thew him my best Paddington Hard Stare and told him, without bothering to half the price or any other such witchery which is my usual tactic when put on the spot like that. Anyway, I went to work this week for a change and thus I am entitled to blow every penny that those naughty little elves and pixies can snaffle from me. It’s only fair and proper that MrSpud should work to pay the bills, put food on the table, clothes on our back etc while I work to buy the pretties for myself. Also, I’m warming to my theme here, we are in the midst of a major world recession and the only way out of it is to keep spending. That’s a fact…the only way to drag the economy out of the doldrums is to spend our way out of it…only by buying stuff do we create the need to make the stuff which creates jobs. So, in fact, I’m just doing my duty [shrugs shoulders nonchalantly, hands open with palms up in manner of 'Trust me; I'm a spendaholic']
All of which is an aside as what really got me thinking, beyond my attempts to save the world economy all by my own (as Bertie would say), is my huge admiration and love for all things Crumpler. I am completely in love with of all their products and would ideally like to own one of everything in all the sizes and all the colours. Not because I am obsessed with the products (although they are fabulous) but because I am obsessed with the Crumpler brand and have the utmost respect for the quiet way they have built a cult following, by consistently developing products that ‘do the job’, look stunning and don’t cost the earth. Add the icing, which is a uniquely quirky approach to marketing and copywriting, and it’s a winner….Crumpler has consistently set itself apart from the field, differentiated itself in a very crowded market and I, for one, am a total sucker for it. Because when those elves and pixies entice me in to the Crumpler store, or online, I feel like I’m in Crumpler World and am part of the Crumpler family…and that some of that Crumpler quirkyness might rub off on me and I can be one of the gang. And when I buy something, it feels like a little bit of ‘cool’ just fell in to my shopping basket.
And here’s the thing…I know the Crumpler ‘world’ and ‘family’ are just pure whimsey on my part, that I’ve spun off there on the back of some very well thought out marketing plan. And yet I can’t help myself. I know I’m being ‘sold to’ and that I’m ‘selling out’ by falling for it time and again, and yet I keep going back for more! Am I alone? Or are there brands that have sucked you in like this? Tell me!
My other big brand love is Moo and, when I’m not in Crumpler World I like to vacation in Moo Land. I could wibble on but actually I’m currently not on speakers with Moo who charged me £9.00 to deliver a pack of 60 postcards and 3 books of stickers. I’ve long been irritated by their vast postage charge, and the complete lack of incentive to bulk order; if you order more, you pay more postage, end of story. I think they are the only company I buy from regularly that sting me like this. I bought 5 Moo card frames as Christmas presents last year at £25.00 each. The postage FOR EACH was £5.00. So I spent £125.00 on frames and £25.00 on postage. Sorry Moo, but that’s just all wrong. Your products are fabulous, the branding is outstanding, Moo Land rocks…but you’ve got to get the postage charges sorted out. Thanks very much.
Ah yes, we have also been sucked in to the love of Crumpler. Mr RBH is an IT geek and has long raved about Crumpler being the only bags to carry his IT ‘stuff’ in. We now also have a camera bag from them and I was eyeing up a few other things when I last perused the website. I think I should avoid the store as well, although maybe I shouldn’t, you know, for the good of the economy…….
Ooh that is super sexy gawjus! I neeeeeeeeed one too, even though I don’t have a laptop to put it in…!
PS what happened to our gravatars? sniffle…
Oh i do despise (yet secretly love) when a vortex sucks me into a store equipped with elves and fairies to help me shop!
Oooooh luvverly – fab lines and colours. I’m a Crumpler whore too – I’d probably better stay away from the store. I have several camera bags and a pouch already. That reminds me, I must stick one of them on ebay…
Glad to hear it’s not just me supporting the economy – I’ve been on a right shopping spree lately. It’s quite right that the men go out and earn the money for all the boring stuff. Our money is just pocket money isn’t it?
Since I just carried all of my new camera gear back home from the US in an oh so lovely Crumpler camera bag, while holding my iPhone and MBP by their matching (white and green) Crumpler cases, I can’t help but agree.
Agree with what?
Crumpler, of course.
And elves taking my money. Damned bastards are always doing that when I’m not paying attention.
Brilliant! I bought a pair of Ed Hardy tennis shoes last year and was showing them off to hubby when I got them home. He asked how much they were, I told him, “$70 and I think I’m going to buy another pair too!” course, he has no idea what anything costs because he never shops, but he cringed at $70 for a pair of tennis shoes. what a naive boy he is.
I’m not familiar Crumpler but I wanna go look. However, you’ve made me very afraid! ;) xoxo
When you were talking about the price I thought it was going to be twice as much! Pennies! Bargainous! (Does it come in purple…?)
Oh Spud! I adore your sense of humor! Elves and Fairies indeed! Shame on you, blaming those poor innocent creatures! I’m am not going to visit Crumpler’s website..really I’m not, just not going to help the economy in this way! Ha! Mwaah to you!
I know that feeling of being a heroine working hard against the world’s economic crisis when I go to one of our non-local TKmax’s. Most of the times find those little important and beautiful things which I didn’t know I missed very much.
whereas to MOO: you are perfectly right, all us bloggeresses should write a petition concerning their shipping fees.
Well I have to say that the most singularly important question here in this whole crumplymoo debate is…. What did you buy ME !!… Cos I’m sure I deserve something… No really.. I DO..
god i love you wifey. although as a couple we would struggle…we need our men to subsidise our habits.
Um, did you post those fairies to me? Because I am sure they lifted my wallet and charged all sorts of crazy stuff to my credit cards like laptops and plane tickets to bora bora…
Sigh, yes where are the gravatars? Why have some people got them but not the photo they loaded (is that google friends connected?) Why does my blog keep crashing? Why can’t I centre a photo at the top of a post anymore? Why can’t I find and keep a bloody WordPress designer? Seriously, the butterflies are hateful to me now and I want my OWN template. Cry.
Wibbles off to Crumpler World in an effort to restore inner peace and save the economy…
Resistance is futile. Really, it is. I’m a copywriter so I know all about marketing strategy and cleverly crafted whimsical copy – but even I get sucked in on a shockingly regular basis to wonderful magical places like Crumpler world and Moo land and Philosophy planet and White Stuff village and Boden bay and the Apple Universe and I could go on…but basically I’m a marketing whore and I’m proud of it! Go Spud go – we have a duty to flex our spending muscles and save the world!
I’m feeling totally left out because I’ve never even HEARD of Crumpler! I will tho, darn it! I will go and let the pixies suck every cent out of hubby’s wallet!
I do have brands that suck me in. Anne Klein shoes are fab and comfy too. DKNY nethergarmets are a must, and NYDJ are my fave pants (especially cuz they *give* a little when I’ve indulged in too much vino). Damn pixies. I love them.
Apple. Nuff said!
That line about having to save the world’s economy by spending has been my main excuse in the last few months–I can see right away that we will get along famously :))
Oh goodness, I’m so sucked in by Apple and I hate myself for it. That bloody iphone has snared me I tell you. Since it broke I’ve been devastated and am thinking I might just have to pay the extortionate fees to get it fixed rather than wait two months for a new one. Oh, and innocent smoothies as well. They suck me in and I can’t look at their website because I want to go work for them so much.
Gah, and breathe! I think you’re doing the right thing though Spud in your quest to save the world economy. You’re helping us all!