Oi Polloi

It is a well accepted part of business that a dissatisfied customer will tell far more people about their dissatisfaction with a company than those who have received good service. In an effort to redress this balance I feel compelled to shout out to the world how wonderful the Manchester based store Oi Polloi are. I bought a lovely jacket via their website last week which arrived the next morning, packaged well with a hand written note of thanks and a cool badge. These might be little touches but they count; wow factors do exceed the customer's expectations and I will want to go back to them. Large retailers just can't connect with their customer like this. Its refreshing that store like this are out there, clearly thinking abut their customer, what their customer wants and providing it in not only a prompt fashion but with wit and flair, as evidenced by their website. Hands down the best men’s clothing store in the UK right now.

Running out of the past

Surrounded by my sons' toys, many of which have been whizzing and beeping fresh from their cardboards constraints for only a few days I wonder which of them they will look fondly back on. I would plump for the marble run which has been the hit of Christmas for all of us. On the games front, Ellefun is a hoot but over all too quickly. The above books are all fantastic reflections on classic toys, Tim Walsh's being the benchmark of the lot. The other three are more whimsical, with TV Cream Toys and Boys' Toys having a British bias. Just Can't Get Enough is from the American perspective reminiscent of the Ben is Dead's Retro Hell.

Gold

"Somebody told me that only 12,000 people saw The Wire when it was first broadcast in the UK but every single one of them wrote an article for the Guardian about it."

Man Bag

With the demise of the plastic bag on the horizon the number of cloth totes and jutes continues to grow. More progressive independent shops have already spotted this marketing opportunity and in many market towns the posh grocery shop will have gained market dominance. Whilst the demand may not be great yet, there will surely be a demand for totes aimed towards various men's markets. This BAPE bag is my chosen shopper. Its a nice tough nylon and reversible should you wish the more subdued black on the outside (it's all about the camo for me though). It was a most generous gift from my good friend Sol - cheers Sol!

The Egg Cup

I'm looking forward to giving this to my eldest son this Christmas. Its a simple but great trick and easy for youngsters to learn. I still remember when my mother gave a version to me for Christmas; I guess it is a family tradition of sorts.