Hat Blog

The Fourth Annual Del Mar Pre-Race Day Betmar Hats Trunk Show

                             The Village Hat Shop & Betmar Hats

in anticipation of Opening Day at Del Mar 

presents

The Fourth Annual Pre-Race Day Trunk Show 

Saturday, July 12th

11am-2pm

at The Village Hat Shop in Seaport Village. 

 

Kimberli MacKay, Director of Design at Betmar, will be flying in from New York to help head up the event.  Customers will have the chance to meet with Kimberli, chat with her about her designs, the fashion industry in general or, most importantly, to have a hat selected "just for her". 

   

She will be bringing with her preview pieces from the 2009 Spring /Summer dress line.  Attendees will not only have the chance to sneak a peek of what designs are in store for next year, but will also have the chance to buy these hats, thus making their purchase "one-of-a-kind" until the line is formally released next spring. 

    

We will also have 50 of Betmar's custom high-quality hat boxes on hand, which are only available at trunk shows, to be given to the first 50 customers who buy a Betmar dress hat that weekend.

 

www.VillageHatShop.com

The Latest Ecommerce Marketing Strategy

I’m at 29,000 feet, flying back to San Diego after four days at an Internet retailing conference in Chicago.  5,000 attendees and 500 more speakers and exhibitors gathered for the purpose of figuring out how to sell us more stuff.  In past years, the major takeaways (biz talk for tangible things learned) may have been the way to use technology to probe our specific interests so that marketing messages could be pushed our way, or how to tap into our social interests to do the same, the importance of coupon deals and free shipping, etc.  Strategies like these were still discussed aplenty. 

But - this year - the big-idea; the 21st Century cutting edge theme in online marketing, hot off the presses is . . . .  Ready?  RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF YOUR CUSTOMER.  I am not making this up.  The biggest marketing gurus in the country, the keynote and featured speakers kept saying this over and over again (some as if it was a new idea).  Customers want authenticity, service, a good long-term relationship with a merchant.  Research, in fact, concludes that “price” is not as important as many may think. 

People are smart and not easily manipulated.  Customers know and do what they want.  Good marketing simply shines a light on one’s business as the right place for people to find what they’re looking for, and that means the entire shopping experience. 

We hope you’ve picked up the fact that VillageHatShop.comhas always been about these values.  If not, the $1,000+ per head admission to this trade show has certainly reminded me that we need to work unfailingly to demonstrate that our same mission of the past 29-years remains clear.

Thank you for your patronage,

Fred Belinsky
www.VillageHatShop.com

PS.  Check out the newest video – Rotary Downs “Djinni Stomp” – at our Hat Videos and Short Films page.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Movie Reviews

 

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Movie Reviews from a Hat-Centric Point of View

First of all – it wasn’t a premier; just a lowly screening.  Han Solo did not step out from behind the curtain.  Karen Allen was probably back on her farm in New England.  Spielberg was off planning his next serious project.  We were simply at an early viewing along with various other overweight fan boys, geeks and merchants of Indiana Jones various licenses.  Although the geeky skateboarding kid from Clueless who falls in love with Brittney Murphy was in attendance with his friends.  He seemed like a pleasant enough fellow.

So to be fair – right of the bat we were a bit disappointed.  We didn’t even get to view it at Mann’s Chinese Theatre as promised (and where I had never been).  It was at the multi-plex upstairs.  We were duped.  Mislead.  And aggravated.

When the movie finally started, our first partial glimpse of Indy in nearly 20 years came as a pleasant surprise – it was not actually our boy, but his hat.  And, I should add it looked damn good.  In fact the hat was a major character throughout the movie (and one of the best).  That can’t be a bad thing for the hat industry.

The movie on the other hand was sort of a disappointment.  It wasn’t a bad movie; in fact I’m giving it a B+ (just barely – like 87.5% with a cool teacher).  But compared to the first three (A+, 100% on Raiders, A-, 92% on Temple and solid A, 97% on Crusade), it just does not hold up.  Indy looked old – which is fine but they should have had much more fun with this fact.  Other than a couple brief mentions they seemed to ignore his advancing years as he beat the hell out of men half his age (sometimes three at a time).  Karen Allen looked like an aging athlete trying to get back in the game (think Larry Holmes circa 2004).  She seemed so pleased with herself that I kept thinking she was going to look at the camera, wink, and say, “Isn’t this just the greatest thing ever!  I’m acting!”  And as far as Shia LeBeouf goes, I have yet to be all that impressed with a single thing he’s ever done.  I don’t particularly dislike him mind you – he’s nowhere near my almost pathological hatred of Brendan Frasier (what has that jackass ever done that’s worth a damn and why is he famous and rich?)  He’s just blah.  And he continues his blah streak in this movie.  I mean, really – Shia LeBouf?  A tough guy with a switchblade?  Man, I am just not buying it.

Despite all that criticism, I was entertained for most of the two hours of the movie.  Any chance I get to see Indiana Jones/Han Solo/Rick Deckard on the big screen speaking in Mayan, brushing off cobwebs in some 4000 year old grave, cocking that beautiful hat and teaching some punk kid a thing or two, I still walk smiling.  Even if the story has some absurd holes and ridiculous twists towards the end, Harrison Ford has the ability make it all worthwhile, as anyone who came of age in the 70’s will attest to. 

My verdict is – go see it.  Just don’t expect too much and you won’t be disappointed.

Bruce Zales – Designer of Jaxon Hats
www.VillageHatShop.com
www.JaxonHats.com

 

I would say the film is an 8.5, definitely a lot of action and an interesting story line.  I would rate it as the number 4 movie in the series. 

A lot of references to the hat, at least 3 majors ones that I remember.  The hat is almost a character in itself!  One interesting tidbit, Indiana Jones does wear a different color fedora in a few scenes in the movie.  A grey felt fedora with a black hat band; this hat is soon lost and never recovered. 

I caught a few references to the past storylines, I'm sure there were more that I didn't catch.

Cate Blanchett was great as the new villain - thirsty for power; and Shia LeBeouf played the rebellious youth, his energy was a great part of the entire cast ensemble.

As for Harrison Ford, he was great!  He still has that charm that guides us through all of his adventures throughout the world. 

The story touches upon the mortality of its main character, we learn that heroes can't live forever but their legends live on. 

All in all, I think the 4th installment stays true to the series, fun and exciting; I would definitely see it again!

Susan Lee – Designer of sur la tete Hats
www.VillageHatShop.com

 

I went to the screening of the new Indiana Jones movie last night! The picture will certainly be the blockbuster of the summer. It was fun, exciting and action pack. Harrison Ford played the classic Indiana Jones we all remember and loved. He still has it!

 

Best of all, the movie really focused in on the hat! Several close-ups and laughs drew attention to his hat. Truly solidifying the Indy trademark.

 

The movie ended with the hat blowing in from a gust of wind. It lands at the feet of the kid (Shia LaBeouf). He picks it up and is JUST about to put it on. You are thinking the hat is passing on to Indy's predecessor. BUT... Indy swiftly grabs it, puts it on, and strolls out of the building.

 

Classic ending that left you with a smile and relief Indiana Jones will live on!

 

Gear up for big "IJ" hat sales next week. The movie has sold it!

 

 

Lisa Deluca Zimmerman – Hat Seller of Official Indiana Jones Hats

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Coming Next Week

After a two decade hiatus, Indy is back. If you’re a HAT BLOG reader, you know that this is big news for the hat industry (see past postings either here at the HAT BLOG or at EZINEARTICLES.COM or VILLAGEHATSHOP.COM). Because we are authorized dealers selling the officially licensed Indiana Jones Hats, we have been invited to the world premiere of the movie this Tuesday in Los Angeles (yes, Harrison Ford will be there - we’ll say hello to him for you). Return to the HAT BLOG on Wednesday May 21st, to read the first movie reviews for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull as we will post them on that day.

Hold on to your hats Indy fans, for the fun is about to begin again!

Fred Belinsky
www.VillageHatShop.com

Hats Are Healthy

[New data for 2008 in brackets and bold type below]

American history buffs know the sad but true story of William Henry Harrison’s short tenure as President.
Mr. Harrison chose not to wear a hat to his inauguration; he caught pneumonia and died within the month. Twenty or so years ago – sometime during the Reagan administration – I created a hangtag for our stores that read “Hats Are Healthy”. By it, I meant not against the cold but rather against the harmful effects of the sun. I quoted two agencies (click image). I was ambivalent about these tags because on the one hand, I wanted to call people’s attention to the need to put on sunscreen and wear hats (and other protective clothing), but on the other, I felt guilty profiting from fear. Furthermore, our hat business had been successful because our stores were fun and although the “hats are healthy” message was valid, I didn’t want to overemphasize it. (An atmosphere of a serious clinic was an unproven model for a successful hat shop.) In any case, I figured that in short order most people would get the message anyway and be wearing hats, along with sunscreen, and therefore, calling attention to headwear as protective clothing would soon be as unnecessary as calling attention to the merits of sunscreen.

Two decades have passed since that hangtag. I go out and about in life as we know it and the fact of the matter is that most people are still not getting the message – not wearing hats. And I live in San Diego – where there’s lots of sun. So here’s the current [2007] data: The National Cancer Institute estimates that in 2007 there will be more than 1,000,000 new cases of skin (non-melanoma) cancer in the United States and less than 2,000 deaths. NCI also estimates 59,940 new cases of melanoma (a form of skin cancer that begins in melanocytyes – the cells that make the pigment melanin) in 2007. Of those, NCI estimates 8,110 deaths. [For 2008, estimates are up: 62,480 people will be diagnosed with melanoma with 8,420 deaths. For details by gender/race/ethnicity, see NCI's SEER Cancer Statistics web site.] When asked about the effectiveness of sunscreens in preventing cancer, Dr. Kenneth Kraemer, a dermatologist researching skin cancer for NCI’s Center for Cancer Research replied, “Sun protection is more than sunscreens. Sun protection includes avoiding the sun, using clothing to protect yourself, getting shade under a tree if you are going outside, and wearing hats”.

As we enter spring 2007, I’ve decided it may be important to amplify the alarm. VillageHatShop.com has assembled 80 hats with a minimum brim length of 2 ¼ inches on our GREAT HATS FOR THE GREAT OUTDOORS page. These are all full-size hats – no ballcaps - that cover both one’s ears and the back of the neck.

With our next posting, the message will be back to fun, fashion, and, less scary, function.

Best wishes,

Fred Belinsky
www.VillageHatShop.com

Indiana Jones and the Fedora

New Movie coming May 22nd - Wear Your Indiana Jones Fedora to the Movie Theater!

The hat industry is buzzing, giddy in fact: “It’s coming. It’s coming.” No, it’s not the Russians or the Martians. It’s the new Indiana Jones movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. These Indiana Jones movies – the first one was released in 1981 - have meant more to the hat business in the last half-century than any other event on the planet. [The only thing that comes close is the relatively new realization that hats serve an enormous benefit in protecting people from the harmful effects of the sun. Imagine, the direct relevance of hats to one’s health has had less impact on this industry than a series of movies!] Indy’s hat is a modern-day icon. Its current influence on the hat buying public is nothing short of phenomenal. The current popularity of fedoras can be traced to the first Indiana Jones movie when Indy, played by Harrison Ford, wears a safari style fedora, where the medium-to-large brim is turned down in the front and the back. The hat has become emblematic of the man. After that, all fedora styles took off. Today’s fashionistas like their fedoras with stingy (short) brims - very much on the other side of the fedora brim length continuum from Indy. Whether they know it or not, these young hipsters are the direct fashion descendents from Indiana Jones' Hat.

The newest installment is scheduled for release in May 2008. Harrison Ford was recently quoted, "I'm delighted to be back in business with my old friends. I don't know if the pants still fit but I know the hat will."

Fred Belinsky
www.VillageHatShop.com
www.Berets.com
www.JaxonHats.com

Customers Review Hats at VillageHatShop.com

A few months age VillageHatshop.com introduced Product Reviews at their site. Hats at the site have received hundreds of reviews and as a result of the feedback VHS says it will continue to improve their offerings.

Some highlights among the most highly reviewed hats will follow [5 stars is tops]:

For Men:

1. The Jaxon Crushable C-crown Fedora and Jaxon Crushable Pinch-front Fedora have received 32 reviews and 16 reviews respectively. C-crown averages 4.69 stars and Pinch-front averages 5.0 stars (all reviews are 5-star!) These two hats are very similar. Price is $28.95.
2. Wool Greek Fisherman’s Cap has 26 reviews averaging 4.88 stars. $19.95, made in Greece.
3. Indiana Jones Fur Felt has 24 reviews averaging 4.88 stars. $105. (New Indy movie is coming this spring.)
4. Golden Gate Panther has 9 reviews averaging 4.89 stars. $72, made in the USA.
5. Bailey’s packable/crushable hats all receive great reviews. Made in the USA.

For Women:

1. The Betmar Enchanted Cloche has 4 reviews (3 are 5-star and one is 4-star). $52. Many of the Betmar hats have been reviewed.
2. The Plaza Suite Bryant Park has 3 reviews, all 5-star. $125.
3. All the Canadian made sur la tete cotton berets – 10.5-inch Beret, 11.5-inch Beret and the Pointelle Beret – have good reviews. $12.95, $13.95, and $24.95 respectively.
4. The Lanakai by Scala is available in a large selection of colors and is very highly reviewed.
5. Ivy Caps and Eight-quarter Caps are very popular with women right now. The reviews have mostly been great.

For Either Men or Women:

1. Virtually every Beret has been reviewed and people like them all. The big winner is The Jaxon Basque Beret with 11 reviews - all 5-star! We import this beret directly from Basque Country, in the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain. $48.
2. The Kangol 504 Cap has 15 reviews averaging 4.87 stars. $33.60.
3. The Maroon Fez with a Black Tassel has 6 reviews, all 5-star. We offer many different fez/tassel color combinations in this same quality all-wool Fez. $16.95.
4. The French Pith Helmet and the Indian Pith Helmet have of 4 reviews each - 5 are 5-star and 3 are 4-star. $28.95.
5. The USA made Deerstalker (Sherlock Holmes) Hat has 7 reviews averaging 4.43 stars. $25.95.

By far, the Jaxon line is the brand with the most reviews. People seem are nuts for these hats.

Importantly, you no longer need to take VillageHatShop.com’s word alone with regard their products. These customer reviews add a lot of information.

Jaxon Hats and Pet Adoption, Spaying, and Neutering

Jaxon, of Jaxon Hats and JaxonHats.com, is a dog. He belongs to Bruce Zales, Jaxon Hats designer who said this when asked about it in a 2005 HAT BLOG interview: “We were trying to come up with a name and a logo. I was walking the dog - my dog - Jaxon. I was trying to come up with an idea that would represent the line as well as it could possibly be represented. The dog was doing something funny; he had a really goofy grin on his face. He had that stupid dog smile and made my heart sing with joy. I thought what is better to represent the line than Jaxon – true, loyal, good, faithful, and representing all of the goodness of mankind and life.” Those who know the brand know that the logo is Jaxon mirrored in profile like a lion in an old British crest. We like dogs. Bangoo, sur la tête designer Susan Lee’s pug comes to work every day. She is part of our gang here at VillageHatShop.com headquarters. Furthermore, Susan and Bangoo are active in Pug Rescue in San Diego where they take in foster pugs awaiting adoption. Until permanent homes are found, these orphaned pugs come to our HQ with their foster master and sibling, Susan and Bangoo. Pet adoption, spaying, and neutering have become important causes for us at VillageHatShop.com.

If you are affiliated with an organization that is involved with animal rescue, spaying, or neutering, we’d like to donate 200 Jaxon ball caps as small incentives for you to give away to people who participate in your efforts and programs. The cap depicts the Jaxon crest. Simply email us at either susan@villagehatshop.com or fred@villagehatshop.com and let us know who you are and where to send the caps.

All the pets that we humans are responsible for bringing into the world deserve a good home. Thanks for your good efforts toward this end.

Fred Belinsky
www.VillageHatShop.com

Village Hat Shop Manager Makes Day Two at the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event

Hat shop management may not be the best breeding ground for championship level poker, but so far it’s working for Zachary Belinsky. The on-again, off-again manager at The Village Hat Shop in Old Sacramento, California won a $10,000 seat at the most prestigious poker event in the world by qualifying in a Las Vegas satellite event. He made it through the grueling sixteen hours of Day One and is now one of the 1,800 or so players left from a field of 6,358. The top prize is $8,250,000 and the top 621 finishers will be paid a minimum of $20,320. As an undergraduate at UC Berkeley, Belinsky applied his math background by teaching a two-credit class in blackjack, but upon graduation in 2001 made the switch to the hotter action at the poker tables. VillageHatShop.com is proud to be his sponsor – check out his visor. If Belinsky wins the 8.25 million dollars, The Village Hat Shop doubts whether he'll be back in the manager’s seat. "We'll miss him. He's been a good manager - a good hatter - but we just hope he remembers his roots if he wins big bucks," reports VHS top brass in San Diego.

Obama & JFK; Neckties & Hats

As a hatter, I find the brouhaha over Barack Obama’s aversion to neckties very reminiscent of a prior day (I am holding back from using the now cliché “déjà vu all over again”). The neckwear industry is certainly holding their collective breath (and likely putting their bucks behind Hillary). John F. Kennedy’s objection to wearing hats is legendary in our industry. As the story goes, JFK killed the hat business. And here’s where the comparison to Mr. Obama and his necktielessness becomes noteworthy, because the fact of the matter is that the trend toward hatlessness had been building since the turn of the 19th to the 20th century. Neil Steinberg’s very good book, Hatless Jack: The President, the Fedora, and the History of an American Style debunks the JFK hat murder myth [I suggest the book to anyone interested in the details]. Suffice to say, Kennedy’s preference for going bareheaded was part of a trend that had been building for decades. He did not start the trend – as he is commonly accused - but he did accelerate it.

There surely is a trend towards abandoning neckties. Few men willingly put on a tie these days. According
to Wikipedia, “While still common as late as 1966, over the years 1967 to 1969, the necktie began falling completely out of fashion nearly everywhere, except where required. After a brief fashion resurgence in the 1980s, the 1990s saw the appearance of Internet-based (or dot-com) companies, where most workers did not feel the need for formal dress when facing clients, since the business's public image and appearance was websites rather than face-to-face meetings. There also was a sentiment of independence (general liberalism) and a new way of doing things.”

Media pundits are fond of making comparisons between JFK and Obama. Well, here is another. If Barack Obama makes it to the White House, history may very likely blame Mr. O for neckwear going out of fashion. Like Kennedy and hats, it won’t be true. But, he certainly may give the current disinclination for wearing
neckties a big boost. Now, if he’d just put on a hat.

Fred Belinsky
www.VillageHatShop.com