J. Peterman's last ride: Shoddy Goods 113
0It’s likely no surprise that I absolutely love brands that put stories and narrative around their pitches. Along with J Peterman, I used to love getting the old Banana Republic catalogs, back when they kept up their pastiche of faux-yellowed pages, sketches from their ‘explorations’ and visual sketches of their clothes in use in jungle adventures. Do you have any fond memories of catalogs or brands that you loved paging through because it didn’t really feel like ‘shopping’?
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Herter’s. IYKYK.
@werehatrack Copy written, of course, by George Leonard Herter.
Damn, I just found a J. Peterman shirt I ordered wore for a while, then it got put in a box in the early 90’s. I get a lot of complements when I wear it and am asked “Where did you get it?”.
Also have a couple of shirts from the Territory Ahead, also a Peterman brand, sank with the ship…
American Science and Surplus. Much like J Peterman, it had illustrations rather than photos, and funny copy that convinced you to order 50 military surplus canteen bags (no canteens), or a bag of tiny motors used for cell phone vibrate alerts. Likewise, they no longer run their online store or mail order side, but two employee-owned brick and mortar stores persist. Long Live Jarvis.
@cainsley Oh, hell, yes!
The factory that used to print a large percentage of all the catalogs ever made is now the factory for the new Slate truck. That’s my trivia for today.
Ooh, how about the Dak catalog? Anybody remember that one? I actually bought quite a lot of stuff from them in the 90’s.
@ETFrisco We got a bunch of stuff from them. Had this for years until our last move:
@aetris Yeah, Dak’s catalogs were so fun to read! Basically, the copywriter there said that HE had the best job, because he got to try out all the neat products they were offering! I bought a bunch of X-10 products, (gone now) and one of their 2 pound bread makers which is still collecting dust on my kitchen counter!
@ETFrisco You beat me too it. I remember getting it in College and actually it was a lot like a paper “Meh” - full of bizarre items with writeups to convince you that they were incredible. I still remember the early ink jet printer I got as well as a double tape deck (they were a “thing”) I convinced my roommate to buy.
Private equity strikes again
Not a mail-order catalog, but the circular from Building 19 (a Massachusetts-based discount/warehouse store) was always a highlight for me. Brilliant write-ups paired with illustrations by cartoonist Mat Brown. The store is long gone, but the advertising lives on in a coffee table book.
Ugh, this is the worst news I’ve heard in a while! Probably since the news that Amazon bought woot!
I actually have some stuff from J. Peterman, my fondest one is my “Baseball Glove Leather Wallet” that I bought in 2008 to replace an old CHAPS branded wallet that literally fell apart. The J. Peterman wallet is still rockin’, a bit worn…well, Peterman would call it “Just broken in!” but it’s still together with only one stray frayed thread
That was the thing, though. That wallet is just like everything from J. Peterman. It wasn’t necessarily cheap but it was outstanding quality! I even had a new attaché bag in my cart to get as a gift for my step-daughter as she starts her own professional journey into the world and I was heart-broken that the site was down and now I can’t get it at all.
Next thing you’re going to tell me is Slashdot is hanging up the aggregator business.
BTW, I have a Dyson canister vacuum that I bought on woot! for a fraction of it’s retail price. That’s still working and I use it regularly.
TIL that J. Peterman was based on a real catalogue and person. Wow