My "Nut" of the Month

As you know from an earlier blog, Garth and I spent two days at OR in Salt Lake City speaking with great outdoor brands and checking out what’s new for 2010. As expected, we are excited about the cool, new stuff from our favorite brands and we found some great new brands as well. As a matter of fact, you will see some new items in time for Father’s Day.

Saturday we hit the slopes and have had three days of unbelievable skiing, thanks to the generous snow gods. Over eighty inches of snow in 6 days to be exact. Check out the picture of the car pulling out of the Solitude parking lot for a little perspective of the snow fall. I decided to throw in the landscape shot as well. Usually my scenic shots aren’t so great, but I really like this one taken from the “High T” at Alta.

As we skied, naturally we checked out what folks were wearing. There has been no shortage of Arc’teryx, Cloudveil and Patagonia. It is great to know that Black Squirrel’s picks are also on some of the best slopes in the US.

The single most popular piece of gear at OR (and also spotted at the resorts) was the Patagonia Down Sweater. Just for grins, we started counting the “Down Sweater spottings,” but quickly lost track. When meeting with our Patagonia rep, we learned that the Down Sweater was one of their top sellers and they have been sold out since October. Fortunately for you, I have a few left in inventory. If you want to get in on the action, and are reading this blog, call, email or come see me and I will give you my “snow” discount.

See you soon!

The Winner Is...

It’s Nut of the Month time again. For January, without a doubt, I pick the new KIDS pieces from Ibex. Just before Christmas we were able to test drive these. They are so practical, comfy and cute. Hayne, my 11 year old son, wore his Ibex Hoodie or Ibex Shak every day of our vacation. The Hoodie was his go to “casual shirt” and the Shak was his “sweater” – which he wore over a collared shirt for “dress up.” Even back from vacation, he has continued to wear these pieces – I catch him in his Hoodie at home watching TV and both pieces have made it to the hockey rink. 

Ibex Kids is well worth the investment. The Hoodie retails for $72 and the Shak for $95. I can feel you raising your eyebrows, and questioning, “Why would I pay so much, an Under Armour long sleeve only costs $39.95.?” I still say my Ibex is a better value – it looks better, it fits better, it lasts longer (in my experience), it is made from a sustainable fabric, and you can wear it every day for a week (trust me on this one).

BSQO Hunts for More Nuts – REPLY TO WIN!

I originally planned to pick the best of the best “blog/email feedback,” but having received over 35 responses, which truthfully were all very good and extremely helpful, made that strategy tough. So I ended up putting all responders in a hat and drew a winner.

The winner is Carol Flanagan of Larchmont, NY. Here is what Carol had to say, “My husband loves his Cloudveil jacket and wore it all through our trip to Paris and everyday since. It is so warm and light. He loves it! He is also a big fan of your store and has been spreading the word here in Larchmont. More of the same would be terrific! Everyone loved all the things we purchased there.”

Congratulations to Carol and thanks again to everyone who posted a comment, or sent me an email with your feedback.

Happy New Year!

In 10 days, Garth and I head to the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City. This will be our 4th year attending what, in the industry, is known as “OR” and we are just as excited as ever. It is heaven for anyone who loves the latest in outdoor gear, fashion and gadgets. It is always a very busy trip for us (although we seem to manage to sneak in a few days of skiing), but we come home inspired by and enthusiastic about the cool products we see, the great people we meet and the new trends we spot.

A couple of years ago, I remember noticing that almost every in-the-know guy or gal was sporting their “shiny” insulated coats (made from down or primaloft) and I quickly discovered how essential these pieces are. Lightweight, warm and compressible enough to stuff anywhere, I now never leave home without one. Some of you have trusted us and purchased some personal sheen; my bet is that others will soon follow.

Here is what I need from you – some quick feedback. What do you want to see more or less of from Black Squirrel? Are there any brands or items you think BSQO should be checking out? Post a quick comment on this blog and you will be ELEGIBLE to win a Patagonia Down Sweater. BSQO will select randomly from all those who post comments to the blog or send e-mails directly to me at anne@bsqo.com. Please enter “BSQO January Feedback” in the subject line if you’re sending an e-mail. The Patagonia prize will be awarded next Tuesday, Jan 19 – so respond quickly!

My last blog posting kicked off the Holiday season and it is now 2010; so, yes I am very delinquent in sharing news with you. December is filled with parties, shopping and cheer, and all that fun can be very demanding. I prioritized my shop, family and friends – so my blog got lost in the frenzy. Nevertheless, after a very relaxing and exciting Christmas and New Year vacation I am back to work, but also reminiscing about the season.

I have received numerous emails from new customers and thought sharing a few of their thoughts about their personal Black Squirrel experiences would be meaningful.

“My family and I so enjoyed shopping at your store! I anticipated that your store would be too expensive for us and that we would end up buying just a token hat or a scarf. Such a pleasant surprise!! We are so pleased with the purchases we made in your shop and will definitely be returning. The merchandise in your store was just perfect for us!” - Pelham, NY resident

“I wanted to let you know that EVERYTHING I bought was a huge success but mostly the mountain khaki cords I bought for my husband. He wore them almost everyday over this vacation (we went to Colorado).” - Washington, DC resident

Lastly, I hope these pictures of my New Year’s Day fun will inspire you to get outside and enjoy winter. Stay stylish, dry & warm