I’m not a Journalist and have never trained as such. You only have to look at my grammar to see that.
That doesn’t stop me practicing journalism once in a while. As a blogger I feel I get to have fun experimenting with all forms of story making, reporting, documenting.
I’m pretty sure first personal contact for me with Scottevest was back on the 23rd of June 2008.
I received an email from Scott that read..
“Hi Christian,
I have been watching your videos. We should chat soon. My Skype name is Scottevest. Let’s connect.”
The email was cc’d to Adele McAlear so I’m thinking I had posted a video of my first Scottevest purchase on Seesmic video and Adele must have forwarded it to Scott.
Thanks Adele.
So for the last four years and one month I have been following Scott, Scottevest and the products they produce. We have chatted mostly via email. Once in a blue moon we will skype and very occationally Scott will send me a videomail from a ski-lift or with some other random backdrop. When I’ve been particularly inspired to do so, I’ve recorded a video reviewing his kit.
I have never been paid to do so. I make my money from talking at events, teaching workshops and documenting for those needing multimedia content. Yes I have received kit from a number of places, to use and test and usually it’s not expected back. I have also been critical of what I like and what I would love to see modified. Often these suggestions, especially in the case of Scottevest, are not only taken on board, they are acted upon.
A blogger who takes a kickback in exchange for writing reviews will no doubt lose credibility and although I may only request tech or items I have been lusting after, I’m sure to give my honest opinion if the item does not live up to my expectations.
Recently I’ve been thinking about this more and more and today feels a little like I’m stepping toward the deep end. Today I plan to work more regularly with Scottevest. It’s not the first time he has offered. It’s just the first time I have felt comfortable enough to accept the challenge.
I’m sure some reading this are thinking “What’s the big deal? You love and wear his stuff already. Why not help the guy out?”
I guess i just want to be more careful than normal. Throwing out random reviews once in a while is one thing. Becoming connected to a recognised brand is something else.
These tentative steps into a new affiliation with Scott come after I have chatted with a few close friends and gauged their thoughts around potential future projects.
I have worked with some unusual partnerships in the past and I am working with some interesting companies today. The Open University for one.
My first iPhone was from Toby Moores. I have had adventures made possible by people Like Jeff Pulver, my travel sponsored by the innovative and unlikly. Take for example the partnership with Will King of ‘King of Shaves’. Especially weird as I have a beard most of the time.
Since February this year VodafoneUK have been sponsoring my international Data. This has been the first time I have not paid my own Vodafone bill for around 12 years. What do they want in return? ..To assess how much data a blogger might use in a year.
XpressCoffee, Dinastia Vivanco, Magnum Photos, Baavet, Guinness. My affiliations have been as varied as my interests and intune with my passions. (Although I have just noticed a huge whisky shaped gap for some reason.)
In the attached recorded skype chat below, me and Scott talk about possible projects. Some based on travel. Please feel free to offer some input. You might be aware of a charity that would hugely benefit from multi-pocketed ‘technology enabled clothing’. Perhaps I can deliver it to them. You may have suggestions of tie-ins with what you do. I have a few ideas but am also open to more.
If you have seen any Scottevest stuff I’ve reviewed in the past but as yet have not pressed the buy it now button, Scott also talks about offering some gear out to bloggers for review. Drop a comment below if you feel you would like to be considered for this and please say why. You don’t have to sell your soul.
As far as soul’s go. I think I’m doing OK with mine so far. Besides, I’d hope you would tell me if it looked like I was doing more than just renting it out.
Note: Since making this video Scott’s personal twitter account has changed to @ScottevestCEO
Update (Nov 2012):
So far so good. I have been testing gear and making videos. I also got to experience a high level deal happening when Scott asked me to accompany him to a meeting at Harrods in London.
As a result the luggage floor of Harrods now has both the Fleece 7.0 (in the video below) and the Trench coat on display and people in the UK finally get the chance to try before they buy. More info linked here.
Now this certainly sounds like something I’d like to participate in! Since I dropped out of mainstream I have lived in Rohan trousers & whilst I find them ok, they don’t quite fit the bill. Recently I’ve been checking out the Scottevest site again, drawn by the vest & pants (reminds me of school PE lessons!) I’ve never got enough pockets! I am lucky enough to have picked up a Scottevest fleece which I love, but the cost of import has always put me off buying. Recently there are a few other companies sprung up doing similar items – I’m in process of comparing & would gladly relish comparing with Scottevest products, and sharing my experience 🙂
Thanks for the comment Nic. I will be sure the guys see this too. I found the early incarnations of the Scottevest trousers were quite heavy. Great for winter but sweaty in the summer. I know they have had a redesign and have reordered. The Travel pants i had were in beige and got a bit oily when i sat on a fishing boat. As you do. 🙂
Good stuff. And pleased to see the transparency. (which sounds odd now I just read that back 😉 )
I’ve been looking at ScotteVest stuff for a veeeery long time, since seeing them online many many years ago, but I’ve never seen anything ‘in the flesh’ so to speak, over here in the UK countryside.
Being a complete gadget freak, I do tend to carry a lot of kit around with me if I can, usually in a shoulder bag, which often isn’t appropriate for the types of places I can often find myself – eg: big crowds, festivals, etc.
I used to talk a lot to friends and colleagues about them back in the day and often thought about the concept of wiring things together through linings. Also the possibility of wireless or wired “PANs”.
I must say, having just had a look around the site again, that they’ve added avast amount of products since I last looked. Wow. Things have come a long way.
Love to try out the Revolution Plus or the Expedition if that was ever possible. Looks absolutely perfect. Good looking jackets too.
More than happy to test out and provide some honest feedback and ‘action shots’ etc 😉
Good luck!
One of the first places I ever heard mention of Scottevest stuff was in your twitter stream. I find it amazing you ‘Old Father Internet’ don’t have any Scottevest gear. I will certainly put your name forward as you have great video editing skills. Perhaps i can hand deliver a jacket and we could do a video together? I think we could script something weird/funny/freaky/interesting.
A trip down to Bristol is long overdue from you 😉
I think the Ultimate Hoodie I bought from Scottevest was as a result of a video, or it might have been an AudioBoo that you did. I’ve never regretted it and often think of trying more of their kit, particularly now that hoodie is getting a little old. I’d be very happy to trial a new piece of kit, and blog about it.
In terms of you working more with Scott, I think it’s a great idea. Putting the product to one side for a moment, the company ethos (at least as far as I can tell) is fantastic, and I think that counts for a lot. When I’m looking to change jobs, it’s always a consideration; “could I work for…”, I have to be able to say yes on the basis of ethics, reason for being etc. when I look at Scottevest I see no reason to say no.
Go for it, I’m pretty sure you’ll have a great time working with Scott, that’s for sure 😉
Hi Alan. Cheers. If you want to review something let me know what you plan and what you are interested in and I’m sure it will be noted. A tip for your notebook too. In about a month I hope to get my hands on a prototype of the new hoodie. Although i don’t know what it will be called. Maybe the ‘Ultimate+’ or the ‘Uber-Ultimate’.
Perhaps Scottevest need to have a naming competition. 🙂
I’ll email you my idea. News on the hoodie sounds awesome, perhaps it could be the awesome hoodie 😉
I love watching your videos so I’m looking forward to see what this collaboration brings. Sounds very exciting. Like you say you don’t have to sell your soul for the freebees. You just have to be honest and up front about. That’s something I try to do when I get gear in. I must admit to finding reviewing stuff great. Its fun. So If you need some help then let me know.
I’ll keep my eyes peeled for the 1st instalment 🙂
Hi, I’ll ease into it. I really need some new gear to test. If you want to jump into an icy lake in some scottevest undies I’m sure the guys will send some out. Would make for great footage. 😉
Or how about running around some Scottish hills in scottevest undies chased by a massive cloud of west coast midges before jumping in said loch. It’d be up for that….. not sure the interwebs are though lol. Be good fun though 🙂
I’ve always meant to check how much it would cost to ship to Australia… Id love to own one of the jackets…
They often do money off international shipping. Do you think many people in Australia would take to Scottevest gear? Do you blog?
Very exciting, looking forward to hearing about the new challenges. How about a modern take on the 90s TV show Wanted – with a 2012 social tech, orwellian twist? ( http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Wanted ).
Great to here Scott is now developing his distribution channels in the UK. I have an Expedition Jacket and Travel Boxers as a result of your posts.
Hi Tim. Love it. I have been thinking about a modern version of a ‘CB fox hunt’. You have people sent off to hide, but they have to tweet their location every so often while trying to get away. 🙂
We are looking forward to engaging in some adventures with you! Also–we have loved the feedback we have received since we began distributing in the UK. There are a lot of great things coming up with our products, our relationships and reach, and we are so excited for all of it! Thanks for your camaraderie!
I’ve always been caught by the VAT on your shipments to the UK, any chance of being able to sort this at purchase – my last delivery by UPS was delayed by five days waiting for a VAT payment.
I’ve seen you mention Scottevest numerous times and never thought it was advertorial or influenced in any way. On the contrary, I think you always speak frankly (and amusingly) about products … I recall (and have occasional nightmares about) a certain video of trousers with extended shots of your crotch!!
I’ve considered pressing the buy button myself a couple of times but never quite done it. I know a friend and colleague of mine (@ryanopaz) who also has some Scottevest stuff so am feeling left out, but not sure if the jackets will be for me (I’m looking for a regular outdoor, waterproof jacket that is smart enough to wear to smart events, goes with a certain Stetson hat, but will withstand the rigours of London public transport).
Always happy to test stuff of course if there’s something for wine bloggers and general twitterers … and while we are at it, I wonder what sort of jacket would be most ‘wine blogger friendly”? I think Ryan and I will put this to the test 🙂
Review some Scottevest gear? Oh go on then. No seriously, I’d love to. I’d like to compare its suitability for use when I’m out birding or wardening on nature reserves, with its suitability as business-wear. I’d like to compare how well it copes with long-distance travel on public transport, and my shorter cycling commutes (l like you, I ride a Brompton). And I’d love to see whether I could suggest improvements or contribute ideas for new features.
The fact of the matter is that on more than one occasion I’ve seen you actually using/wearing a product from Scottevest in person… the hat and the jacket spring to mind.
I actually purchased their hoodie and jacket a few years ago – and they’re still going strong… they’re exceptionally good products.
If you were schilling crap or worse still offering front page views on a product without doing anything other than Style = 5 , Cost = 3 then I’d be irked.
It still stands that sharing what you love is the best way of proceeding, regardless of how these objects came into your possession in the first place.
Great post Christian.
I would love to try out this kit for two reasons.
1. I am a a mix between photographer and blogger and carry varied kit.
2. I’ve not yet found a comfortable fitting solution, for the ‘larger’ blogger!
Let me know if you need anything- would be interested to learn about the UK distribution channels.
Lee