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From Left: Wheelman & Co. Crewneck – $58, Frost River Flight Bag – $125 – $170, ratio Dennison Plaid – $98
Small Business Saturday was originally launched in 2010 by a tiny financial outfit called… American Express.
No really. And hats off to Amex for coming up with that idea. There’s a few layers of genius there.
S.B.S. has really taken off in the last few years. It’s even become a battle cry for those who think it’s more than a little tacky to stand in line outside of Target while the turkey is still warm. And once again, this magical invention of the internet (thanks Al! Okay, not really) has expanded the reach of those who otherwise would be limited by their geography. Live in Peoria but want something cool from Poughkeepsie? The web can probably make it happen.
Sure that sucks a little bit of the rah-rah local-ness out of today, but it’s still something. Now, suggestions:
- Get Squared – A tiny outfit making $5 pocket squares that’ll help make your outfit look better.
- Fifth&Brannan – BARRON!! The line the Effortless Gent is involved in. Pricey, but a great splurge if you can swing it.
- form•function•form – Newish to the scene. Making lots of noise.
- Wood & Faulk – Portland outfit not afraid to show you how to make their stuff.
- Frost River – Bags and such from Minnesota.
- Duluth Pack – Also, bags and such from MN (how’s that go if they run into each other in Duluth?)
- Blue Claw – More bags! And more such. Very well made.
- Wheelmen & Co – Made in the USA wallets, bags, sweatshirts… & leather beer koozies?
- Ratio – Shirt maker from the Gods. Made in the USA as well.
Your turn guys. Are you on board with Small Business Saturday? Who are you supporting, where are they located, and what do they do? Got a favorite item from them that’s worth mentioning? Leave it all in the comments.
Love my ratio shirt – and that pocket square business is kind of genius
Yep, I’m supporting Ratio too. Ordered my first shirt about a week ago (windowpane pattern you brought my attention to as a top 10 must have shirt, Joe… thanks!), and I’d love to buy some of Barron’s stuff, but his stock is out a lot! I’ll get there though.
does every small business qualifyor do they have to opt in with amex first?
Not to be rude but I’m genuinely curious if is there anything special about Fifth&Brannan outside of it being run by the Effortless gent guy? Are the items made in USA? Their site is vague when it says the garments are made close to home. Is the quality that good?
Why not buy stuff from Ratio instead?
also would the knottery be a small business?
I don’t particularly like’s Barron’s elitist attitude on his own “Effortless Gent” page. Very nazi-like approach to style, and general snobbery that would fit in very well at styleforum. I personally will not support Fifth&Brannan.
Unless these companies have a brick and mortar location, and you happen to be in their town, the credit won’t apply. Regardless, it doesn’t hurt to support small businesses making quality products, even without a credit.
I was excited to grab some pocket squares, but the stitching looks awful.
I had to google what you were talking about. For those who are equally in the dark: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/Shop-Small/ Honestly, I don’t think a $25 credit is necessary. Nice, but… not necessary considering the theme of the day.
Wow. Wasn’t expecting a “I will NOT shop here” comment on a day that’s supposed to be all about supporting others.
I, personally don’t get that from Barron’s writing. He does has some strong opinions from time to time, but more often than not those opinions are said tongue in cheek.
5th & Brannan is all designed by Barron’s fiancee Katie. Pretty sure they both handle the operations of it. It’s about as small and high quality of an operation as it gets. Unless something drastic has changed, and I can’t imagine that it would have, they make all their stuff in the states under extremely strict quality standards.
That said, you cannot go wrong with Ratio. At least in my experience with them. Those guys are nails.
The knottery – ties & pocket squares at a good price
Pocket square clothing – ties & pocket squares
Hugh & Crye – great fitting shirts
Hickorees – love the hill-side stuff
Whoops, I didn’t even notice that the $25 credit wasn’t mentioned in the post. When I see SBS and Amex, that’s what immediately comes to mind. In regards to the Frost River flight bag, I see they have a size called “carry-on,” but do you know if the medium bag would still work as a carry-on? I’m a habitual overpacker.
I’ve gotten a few ties from Jack Franklin (wearjack.com), and they’re running a decent BOGO sale this weekend. They have wide, medium, and skinny ties for $17 each with the sale. Quality is comparable to The Tie Bar (maybe slightly under), but they have some interesting designs worth checking out.
Um. I’m fairly certain you’ve read his blog completely incorrectly. His entire mantra seems to be wanting to see every guy able to up their game a bit. That is the opposite of elitist.
I’m specifically speaking about the comments he makes in the comments section of his posts. This is an opinion section, and I personally think Barron is an ass. That’s all.
I own several shirts from Ratio, the architect’s wallet from FFF, a bag from Wheelman, and many products from Etsy, etc. so I’m certainly behind supporting local small businesses, I just think Barron is an ass. That’s all. I Read through the comments sections on some of his posts, and perhaps you’ll see why I’ve developed this opinion. You’re still good in my book Joe 🙂
One more note: the tie sizes are 3.75″, 3.25″, and 6 cm. I prefer the 3.25 option, and I may well pull the trigger on these two:
http://www.wearjack.com/product/purple-check-on-grey-slim-cut
http://www.wearjack.com/product/the-connery-slim-cut
A lot of these (and other companies regularly featured here), are places that I patronize on a fairly regular basis throughout the year. When it comes to Christmas shopping, I try to shop brick and mortar shops around town.
Personally, I like to support local B&M businesses for at least part of my holiday shopping. Their prices may be a lot higher than online retailers, but these are also the businesses that employ my friends and neighbors and help make my town a nice place to live. Plus I’ve always thought walking around, looking in windows, and seeing and touching different things is a better way to generate gift ideas than browsing online.
Not sure it’s the stitching; I think the photography and the way the squares are folded make them look less straight. I’d still take a chance on a couple of them.
Don’t throw personal insults around Jack. Thanks.
I recently purchased a shirt from Ratio and it is my favorite looking and fitting shirt in my closet. I received my Frost River Flight Bag today and its great. I cant wait to use it!
These companies are great American companies selling quality products.
I recently purchased a shirt from Ratio and it is my favorite looking and fitting shirt in my closet. I received my Frost River Flight Bag today and its great. I cant wait to use it!
These companies are great American companies selling quality products.
Sorry Joe, I didn’t mean it in such a pejorative manner.. more of an observation really.
I support my local men’s clothier very frequently. Alltons is one of my favorite places to go for a new shirt or just to look at clothes!
I think the Tie Bar qualifies as a small company. I recently placed my first order with them and was quite impressed with the silk knit ties that I purchased. I sent one back for an exchange (not their fault, color was just a little darker than I wanted) so I’ll see how that goes but so far they seem like a good company to deal with.
I have three of them and they are a little sloppy to be perfectly honest, especially around the corners. They’re $5 a piece though, so I’d say the price matches the quality.
the frost river bag is AWESOME!
http://dappered.com/2012/04/win-it-graduate-your-style-by-the-effortless-gent/
So throw Barron, a person, on the pile of things some get fired up over that leave others like myself scratching our heads as to why that’s the case. To me, that’s all hyperbole. Not how I’d phrase it myself, but I can see why some would roll their eyes at it. I don’t see it as insulting since I read it as Barron saying it a bit tongue in cheek.
This was a post about small business Saturday. It descended into an interwebz comments debate over a guy’s character. Does that not seem sorta ridiculous to anyone else?
HOWARD YOUNT
Conversational posts on the internet are often like a game of word association. You say Fifth and Brannon, and I’m going to tell you how I feel about them. While I don’t think it was anyone’s intent to turn this thread into an assault on Barron, the defensive position taken by Dappered’s mods moved things in that direction. Unfortunately, with the internet being what it is, people will express opinions different from your own.
Several of Dappered’s loyal readers feel that Barron has an attitude problem. Since his business is being promoted in this thread, I took it upon myself to share my thoughts, as others have done in previous posts on this site. Would it have been better to use the message boards, and potentially develop a sticky thread outlining examples of Barron’s backhanded elitist comments?
Certainly the intent of virtually any post has a somewhat subjective nature to it. Your interpretation of Barron’s musings is going to be different than the next guy’s. The point is that more than one person has taken offense to his writing. There isn’t much sense in disagreeing here. You don’t see it, while others do.
All this said, I fully support local business. You chose to interpret what I said in my initial post as not wanting to help people on a day that is supposed to be reserved for helping local business. It’s hard to imagine a more detached self-serving exaggeration of the point I was trying to make. I will not support Barron based on principle, though I will continue to support local business near my home, and many of those advertised by Dappered, assuming the proprietor doesn’t treat potential customers with such arrogance and assumption.
If you have a problem with Barron’s writing you should take it up with him, on his site, not here. For someone so concerned with how a person comes off from their writing perhaps you should take a look at your own. You’re the person who is being quite rude here. The topic of discussion is small businesses, not the etiquette of bloggers. Save that discussion for an appropriate time and place because right now it’s simply obnoxious and derisive, which ironically seemed to be your complaint.
I’m a fan of Bamboo Bike Studio. Bamboo bikes, individually designed to fit you, then built by you. If you like working with your hands this is a great winter project. I built my first one this spring and love it.
http://www.bamboobikestudio.useful-arts.com/
I quite like this feature! Can we expect to see a regular Small Business segment?
And how do you know he hasn’t? Maybe you should shut the hell up and keep your assumptions to yourself while the grown ups talk?
My first response to you Jack, was an attempt to get things back on track. Which I’m attempting to do once again. Move on please. Thanks.
Let’s move on please. Thanks.
use the code “gobble” for 25% off thru Monday at knottery
Does Saddleback count as a small business?
I wound up with a bottle of Basil Hayden’s for a net of $7 at my local package store.
Have to express my support for H&C. I live in the great DC area and have been buying shirts exclusively from the site. I’m sure I’ll never find a shirt that fits so well unless it’s tailored for my body. They also come in a reusable handy bag.
I was looking into the frost river bag. Having never seen one in person, what are they like? Decent size?
hola