Home for the Holidays!

It’s been a busy fall for the S&B office and the pace doesn’t seem to be slowing down.  As we enter the bustling holiday season, we’re grateful to be a part of our customers’ gift giving traditions. We truly are amazed at how many stockings will be stuffed and trees will be lined with S&B gift boxes this year.  We know that it’s hard to find the perfect gift for our loved ones and we thank you all for choosing the gift of needlepoint.  However, the S&B packages aren’t the only things shipping all over the country these next few weeks.  While some of us are staying put in Washington D.C., many others will travel near and far to celebrate with family and friends.      

So where in the world will the S&B team spend the holidays?  Our office front man, fondly known as “Old Greg,” is headed to Michigan to see his friends and family. Our Southern belle, Kathleen, heads home to Jacksonville, Florida for some fun in the sun. Jaci will have the quintessential Christmas with a visit to New York City and will undoubtedly visit Rockefeller Center for some ice skating and to see the tree.  Peter is traveling the farthest to surprise his adorable twin nieces in London.  His only challenge is finding a gift box to jump out of that will fit his 6’3” frame!  Washington D.C. native, Andrew, will spend the holiday nearby enjoying his family tradition of watching Christmas Vacation on Christmas Eve before he heads south to Florida for a few rounds of golf before the New Year.             

No matter where you are this month, we wish you all a Happy Holiday and wonderful New Year!

We’re getting ready for the holidays! Here’s a glimpse into what our office looks like right now.

While at Bowdoin in 2003, Peter and Austin decorated their college house with 12,000 bulbs. 

The lights stayed up for the rest of the school year… 

Moose is ready for the Holidays!

We know its winter when the S&B men start rocking their Snowy Moose belts!

 

Santa is on his way!  It doesn’t get much cuter than these Santa Face cufflinks (Silver Plated $55).

 

Spotlight On: San Francisco

The San Francisco Giants are making headlines these days after winning the World Series, but the west coast metropolis they call home caters to more than the baseball fanatic.  Rivaling New York City culturally and in culinary options, San Francisco is home to neighborhoods full of great restaurants, shops, museums, and other sightseeing attractions.   So we asked the S&B office what their favorite spots in San Francisco are and here’s what we found…

Favorite Restaurants:  A16 (Italian) - An intimate spot with frequently changing menus and an extensive wine list.  Make sure you order the burrata, a delightful appetizer that S&B’s own Jaci and Chris have been talking about for the past year since they visited the eatery.  For the more eclectic eater, head over to Burma Super Star for a taste of Burmese fare.  It’s definitely worth the wait to experience the uniquely flavored foods at this casual spot. 

Favorite Sightseeing Tour: Alcatraz Island – Step onto “The Rock” and you’re launched into the world that was once home to some of the country’s most notorious criminals.  Reachable only by ferry, the claim still stands that no one has ever successful escaped the prison.  If visiting an old prison isn’t your thing, then enjoy the ferry ride from San Francisco to Sausalito and you can take in the sights of Alcatraz from afar.  

Don’t Miss: The Ferry Building – Eat your way through the Ferry Building at one of the many vendors and shops selling everything from fine cheeses to gluten-free baked goods to fresh oysters.  Three days a week there is also a Farmers’ Market.  For those who would rather take a seat, grab a drink and appetizers at the Vietnamese restaurant Slanted Door.  If you’re too full to walk back to your hotel, consider hoping onto a cable car and fulfill one of the quintessential San Francisco “things to do.”   

Where can you find Smathers & Branson product’s in San Francisco?  We’re bringing classic preppy accessories to San Francisco via several boutiques including The Hound, Toss, and Welcome Stranger.

Custom San Francisco “Golden Gate Bridge”
and “Cable Car” Key Fobs

S&B Employee Charlotte (Right) with her friend Jane at a San Francisco based trunk show in 2011

Peter and Michelle Carter celebrate their 2011 wedding at the Golden Gate Club in San Francisco
(Austin is there too on the left!)

Behind the Scenes: S&B Office

Step into our Bethesda, Maryland headquarters and you will likely be greeted by Austin Branson’s Goldendoodle or hear the sounds of Coldplay streaming across the office sound system.  A typical day in the S&B office is never typical.   Our casual setting is home to seventeen employees. The average age is 25 years old including many recent graduates who hail from Georgetown, Bowdoin, Colby, Michigan, and UVA to name a few.   You might find Tim, one of our in-house graphic designers, using his fashion forward sense to create hip designs for the likes of Club Monaco.  While Chris, Director of Wholesale, might be delighting the group with his freestyle rapping talents in between sales calls.  It’s not unusual to spot one of our interns dancing while packing boxes, finding a way to make even the most mundane tasks fun.  Co-founder Peter Carter is a known prankster often recruiting other employees to participate in his trickery around the office.  Despite our age, we strive to offer quality products that are timeless and to ensure that our customers are satisfied not only with their purchase, but also their experience.  Here’s a glimpse into the world behind the brand.

Peter (Lloyd) and Austin (Harry), Halloween 2011

Annual Office outing at a Washington Nationals Game

Moose, Austin Branson’s Goldendoodle and official S&B mascot

  To stay connected with Smathers & Branson, visit us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Behind The Scenes At The S&B Photo Shoot

Earlier this summer the Smathers & Branson® team spent the weekend in Spring Island, South Carolina for a photo shoot. We were lucky to work with three great models and a talented photographer (and long time friend) Dennis Kwan. It was an exciting time for us as we covered scenes of golfing, boating, drinking, hunting, and more. The venue was perfect and we want to thank everyone at Spring Island who made this shoot possible!

We wanted to give the followers of our blog a sneak peak at some behind the scenes shots of the photo shoot. While you will see the finished product in emails and catalogues to come, this is the first place to get a sneak peek of all the work that went into the shoot. We will be using even more photos on a brand new Smathers & Branson® website set to launch very soon! Keep checking in with us this fall for some very exciting changes!

Check out our facebook page for even more photos from the S&B Photo Shoot

The Dog Days of Summer

When we first started Smathers & Branson® in the spring of 2004 we spent a lot of time trying to pinpoint exactly who our customer would be. Now, seven years later, we are still impressed by the geography and different interests of our customers. With themes that resonate with sailors, sportsmen and drinkers we hope to appeal to all things a man loves. Not surprisingly, our needlepoint products that include man’s best friend have been some of the most popular!

The first domesticated dogs were gray wolves as long as 15,000 years ago. Beloved for working, hunting and companionship, these loyal animals quickly become fixtures in everyday life. Domesticated by all members of the socioeconomic ladder, a dog’s duty ranged from exertion on the farm to being pampered by royalty. No matter the breed, a dogs’ unwavering loyalty has earned the pet the title “Man’s Best Friend.”

At Smathers & Branson®, we are fortunate to have a dog in our office everyday! Moose (pictured above) is a Golden Doodle that belongs to co-founder Austin Branson and has been “working” at Smathers & Branson® since June 2009. A friendly and playful dog, Moose has helped inspire new designs and is always a welcome distraction during a stressful moment in the office. Although we do not have a golden doodle key fob (yet), we are happy to offer key fobs for over a dozen different breeds! Don’t see your breed? Post a comment and let us know what dogs we should be including moving forward!

www.smathersandbranson.com

Spring Golf In The Northeast

Golf is one of the only sports that allows an athlete to express his own sense of style while competing. Unlike baseball, football, or basketball where the athletes all wear identical uniforms, golf, especially in recent years, encourages an athlete to merge his personality and playing style with what he wears on the course. The influx of young talent on the PGA Tour coupled with the cross over appeal of golf for companies like Puma, J.Lindberg, Burberry, Peter Millar, Nike, and Adidas has made the business of Golf Style a big deal. For more on the sartorial standards on the PGA Tour, visit our friends at The Khaki Crusader (www.khakicrusader.com); but for our blog we will focus on where the weekend warriors and vacationers will be playing this summer.

One of the most exciting parts of spring in the northeast is dusting off the clubs and hitting the course for the first time of the season. Even if your swing feels like you are opening collapsible lawn furniture, the first swings of the year are often the most highly anticipated. Unlike courses in the south and out west that stay open year round, courses in the northeast shut down from early November to late March, making the open season that much sweeter. To many, summertime golf in the northeast is enough to justify living through the brutally cold winter months.

This summer, should you be lucky enough to play a few rounds in popular northeastern golf destinations like the Hamptons, Nantucket, or Martha’s Vineyard, take a second to look inside the pro-shop. While debating whether or not you should buy the new “White Driver” check out our needlepoint belts and accessories which now don the logo of clubs from Shinnecock and Winged Foot to Sankaty Head and Baltusrol. A Smathers and Branson belt is a great way to standout in any foursome and a logoed flask may be just the thing to get you off the bogey train!

Pictured above are two proud recipients of needlepoint belts after a tournament at The Quarry at La Quinta this past April. If you have any inquiries about your home course making needlepoint belts and accessories please email us at info@smathersandbranson.com.