School for Gifters 7: The Pill Jacket

Wow, it's the end of November already! Where does the time go? Today, November 30th, just happens to be the order deadline for guaranteed pre-Christmas delivery for certain AbbyShot products. You'll see that it's the deadline for many of our Custom-Fitted Garments, (just see the Custom Product Listing for those) and also for three of our Set-Size Garments (specifically the Deckard Trench, the Lobby Trench, and the Pill Jacket).

So what better time to send the "School for Gifters" on a field trip to Neo Tokyo! Today we'll look at how to give (or receive!) AbbyShot's leather jacket inspired by the classic anime Akira: The Pill Jacket.

1. Who should get this gift?

This is the ultimate gift for an anime fan or for someone who likes to wear clothing that stands out. Picture yourself walking down the street. You see someone coming towards you wearing a red leather jacket. "Looks pretty sweet," you think. They pass you by, you take a second look at the jacket and "BAM!", there's a blue-and-white pill on the back! If you have a friend who wants every anime fan in a 2-mile-radius to do a double-take, then this is the jacket for them!

2. How should I wrap the gift?

Try to track down any kind of anime-themed wrapping paper; that would just be the icing on the cake!

3. How should I give the gift?

We'd recommend riding up to your lucky recipient on a futuristic red motorcycle yelling "KANEDA!!!". Wait, that would be cool any time, gift or no gift ;)

This gift would be perfect to top off a marathon of your recipient's favourite anime films, and of course, you could certainly throw Akira in the mix!

4. What accessories go with the gift?

The Pill Jacket goes very well with any type of leather glove, especially one that's gauntlet-style. We recommend either the Gentry Gauntlets or the Granite Gauntlets for a style that will properly accentuate this epic jacket!

Remember, the Pill Jacket takes a few weeks to produce so place your order today, November 30th, if you want this awesome outerwear to arrive in time for Christmas!

We'll see you again tomorrow, folks, for another episode of "School for Gifters"!

School for Gifters 6: The Lobby Trench

With only one day left to pre-order a Lobby Trench in order to guarantee it in time for Christmas, we thought that the School for Gifters lesson #6 would be best spent on this awesomely powerful coat! Let's pick up the nearest phone and jump right in...

 1. Who should get this gift?
Anyone who believes in the power of "The One" needs to receive this gift. It only takes a few fearless people to change the world, as was revealed in The Matrix, whether you are a leader like Morpheus and Neo, or a comrade whose faith restores life, such as Trinity. The Lobby Trench allows the recipient to feel the power behind belief, behind justice, behind hope... It is for people who want to intensify those feelings that AbbyShot brought back the Lobby Trench this year.

2. How should I wrap the gift?
The best way to wrap the Lobby Trench is to suspend the box from wires above the tree (Christmas Wire-Fu!). Please just remember not to use live wires. ;)

School for Gifters 5: The Max Jacket!

Woot! Woot! It's Black Friday shopping! Be sure to check out ALL of our black products today and place your order if you want to receive the special 10% savings we have on for this one day. The best part about shopping online with AbbyShot: No crowds at the shopping mall!

In the meantime, we'll have a closer look at the black leather Max Jacket at The School for Gifters today!

1. Who should get this gift?

Anyone who is a classic Mad Max lover will also love this jacket. Not only does it make us feel empowered thinking about being a Road Warrior in a dystopian future, it actually makes us feel empowered in the here and now! Does your intended Max Jacket recipient stand for those less fortunate? Or are they taking part in a car show or post-apocalyptic event? Maybe they just enjoy cruising around in the muscle car or on the motorcycle of their dreams? If any of the above is true, then this is THE jacket for them! 

2. How should I wrap the gift?

"Wrapping it" inside a cool car would be awesome! However, those Pursuit Specials are a tad hard to come by. Instead, maybe wrap it in some neat distressed tissue paper so the power and durability of the jacket can be felt immediately.

3. How should I give the gift?

This gift is the kind you give when cruising around... whether it be on a bike or in a car, it's the sort of gift that needs to be always on the move! So take it with you as you travel to a special destination and surprise your intended recipient on the open road.

4. What accessories go with the gift?

Naturally the Max Badges are the primo number one accessories of choice, since they help to complete the screen-accurate look of the jacket. However, the outfit is not truly complete without the Max Gloves, as seen in the first Mad Max film! For the die-hard Mad Max fan, a complete package is the answer to feeling the total power behind the Main Force Patrol.

Do you want to see your intended change right in front of your eyes? Then just wait until all three of these articles are worn (after they've been opened in some as-of-yet-undisclosed location, of course). You will be the BEST Gifter of all time!

So, take advantage of our Black Friday shopping experience to prepare for this Christmas. After that, you can start saving for the down-payment on your Pursuit Special as a birthday gift! ;)

That's all for today, friends! We hope you have a wonderful weekend and we'll see you again on Monday with more great ideas at The School for Gifters!

School for Gifters 4: The Squall Jacket!

November 25th. One month away from the big day. Not to worry though, still a nice bit of time before Christmas arrives. To our American friends: Happy Thanksgiving! Are you looking forward to Black Friday shopping tomorrow? We shall say no more... ;)

It's the perfect time to go back to class for the School for Gifters! This time we look at the one and only Squall Jacket.

1. Who should get this gift?

Do you have a friend who's a student at a military academy (or wishes they were)? Are they quiet and a bit of a lone wolf? Do they carry around a big freakin' sword with a trigger on the end of it? Well, when they change out of their military uniform they will absolutely want to slip into this awesome leather jacket. The faux-fur collar evokes the "bomber jackets" worn by military pilots from days of yore, however, the collar is also removable for the ultimate in versatility. When fighting battles in desert climates, your lucky recipient will be thanking their lucky stars that the warm collar is removable. After they thank you, of course ;)

2. How should I wrap the gift?

Wrapping paper with flowers on it would be an obscure but fun reference for the recipient to figure out ("Squall... Garden... get it?"). Either that or chocobos. Everyone loves chocobos.

Oh, and don't wrap it TOO well or else there could be a high risk of a gunblade slicing the wrapping paper in half, and the jacket along with it!

3. How should I give the gift?

Invite the recipient over to play some video games. They'll be in the right mindset when they receive this jacket pulled straight FROM a game. Let's just say that your spot in the gift-giving Hall of Fame will be assured!

4. What accessories go with the gift?

Your recipient will be happy to learn that the Squall Jacket is versatile and goes with a myriad of accessories. The obvious one being: The Griever Pendant. Squall Leonhart never leaves home without it. AbbyShot includes a free pendant with every Squall Jacket purchase, however, their supply of pendants is getting low!

Another key part of the Squall look: Gloves!
The Associate Gloves were the ones used in the AbbyShot Squall Jacket photo shoot, however, many of AbbyShot's black gloves would do nicely. You can even mix up your Final Fantasy VIII inspired look: The new Maverick Gloves are said to look like something Zell Dincht would wear ;)

For the truly die-hard Squall Leonhart fan, there are even a few final accessories: Leather pants, leather boots, studded belts, a gunblade, and a scar!

That's all for today, and we'll see you again on Black Friday!
Keep your eyes open, friends...

The Wednesday Uplink - Back in Black

>RUN DIRECTORY PROTOCOL: INSI.DIR v2.x

>BACKDOOR OPEN

>INITIALIZING CONNECTION...

>USERNAME: eon

>PASSWORD: ********

>WELCOME

Another day, another scoop. AbbyShot had another Product Development meeting, but now they hold them behind closed doors, so it is more difficult to find out what they are up to.


The good news is that on Wednesdays they all go out to lunch and so that is when I am able to snoop around the rest of the shop. So, I managed to find out that the Unexpected Encounter package has shipped. I tried to get the tracking number, but the dang AbbyBot came in and so I only got this picture. I had hoped to at least get the tracking number in the picture. That is what happens when you shoot while on the fly.

 

 
It looks as if the AbbyShot Christmas Carol Contest got underway, so I hope you have begun making your entry. December 8th will soon be upon us. I'd love to have one of those gorgeous pleather coats. 

Oh, and the best news of all is that it's Black Friday in the US this week. I saw something on one of the marketing screens about a key. The key is black. Not sure just what that means, but it is sure to cause a commotion. I'd read any marketing posts carefully if I was you.  

Yours,
Eon

School for Gifters 3: The G-I-G Shrug

Wow!  Four and a half weeks until Christmas!  I bet many of you are still trying to figure out what to buy for whom...and there are many others of you who haven't even thought that far ahead yet. So, in order to help you get your mindset there, here is the third installment in the School for Gifters series. Take tips from us and your present will be the one under the tree that is saved for the last because the intended one always saves the best for last! 

In this episode we put The G-I-G Shrug through the School for Gifters!

1. Who should get this gift?

Gift for Mary McGlynn (voice actress)

If you know of a powerful woman with a commanding demeanour, who loves to feel sexy and in control, then this is the present for her!  Or, perhaps you know of someone who would very much like to feel that way instead of a shy wallflower...then look no further!  This shrug, inspired by Major Motoko Kusanagi from the original anime show Ghost in the Shell, transports its wearer to a different time and place.  Any Puppet Master would be proud to be seen with you on his arm going about the town wearing this G-I-G.

One fan (pictured above) might just be unmatched though: He gave this shrug to Mary McGlynn, the voice actress for Motoko Kusanagi herself!

2. How should I wrap the gift?

Well, I guess it depends on what is being wrapped and by whom.  If the intended is the recipient of the shrug, then wrapping it in a poster-book would be ideal. If the intended is the "friend" of the recipient, then having the recipient wear a white bodysuit with the shrug over it would be a nice motivator as well. ;-)

GIG Shrug for Motoko Kusanagi Cosplay

3. How should I give the gift?

Well, to keep the differentiation from above going, if you are giving the G-I-G Shrug to someone, then I would suggest a violin case, similar to those that housed machine guns.  If you are the "friend" of the recipient, then I will leave that to your own imagination!  If you are old enough, just remember which scene was cut in the American version and I'll let you take it from there.

4. What accessories go with the gift?
 The best accessories are those that are skin tight and that accentuate the sexiness of this gift.  The Maverick Gloves add a little bit of POW! to the outfit as well. Yes indeed, whether you wear this G-I-G or simply admire it on a loved one, sensuality abounds.  It is for THIS reason alone that everyone will be happy with this present, and you will rise to being the number one pupil in the School for Gifters!  

That's it for this session!  Thursday will see us back with our fourth installment, so stay tuned for our next lesson, and happy shopping!

School for Gifters 2: The Foxhound Coat!

Another week begins, and it brings us one week closer to Christmas! So are your gift-giving skills fine-tuned yet? We began a series last week that boils it all down to 4 important questions. Keep these in mind and you'll be on your way to being a "gifter" (a truly awesome gift-giver) in no time.

In this episode we put The Foxhound Coat through the School for Gifters!

1. Who should get this gift?

The Foxhound Coat is not a trench coat for the faint of heart. The wearer must have the spirit of a soldier and must be ready for battle at all times. It also doesn't hurt if you have one of the following characteristics: (a) a penchant for world domination, (b) a twin brother you really don't get along with, or (c) the funny feeling that you weren't born but cloned.

2. How should I wrap the gift?

Two words: Cardboard Box.
Wrapping paper with a desert-camouflage pattern would also be an ideal addition.
A bow... would probably be frowned upon.

3. How should I give the gift?

To reiterate answer number 2 above: The Foxhound Coat goes in the large cardboard box. The cardboard box goes in a very conspicuous location. Trust us, the recipient WILL investigate (probably very carefully).

4. What accessories go with the gift?

The Foxhound Coat goes well with a variety of accessories, including but not limited to: an eye patch, aviator sunglasses, or AbbyShot's new vented fingerless gloves. Hey, they're called Ocelot Gloves for a reason, folks! ;)

That's all for this episode. We'll be back very soon with another "School for Gifters"!
Oh, and... Long Live Outer Heaven!

Want to Join the AbbyShot Team?

Are you organized, meticulous with details, love to run a showroom, and want to make clients worldwide feel happy and special by shipping them cool clothing?

Would you love to work for a company that’s winning awards and going places?


Are you always positive, seeing the bright side, taking advantage of solutions and being creative?

Would you like to help us grow our business?
Yeah... we thought so...

AbbyShot is looking for a Shipper/Shop Keeper to join our innovative team!

Send your resume today to: excitingopportunity[at]abbyshot.com with Shipper/Shopkeeper in the subject line.

Please note that applicants must live in the Mount Pearl / St. John's area of Newfoundland and Labrador and the deadline is 5pm NL time on Thursday November 25th. We look forward to hearing from you!

School for Gifters 1: The Deckard Trench!

Giving a gift is an art form.

The true gift-giving connoisseur (we dub thee "gifter") always chooses a gift carefully. No more running into the nearest store buying the first thing you see on Christmas Eve! To be a true gifter, you must analyze the recipient carefully to determine whether the gift will be a success. Contrary to popular belief, this even includes gifts for yourself.

Beyond the espionage required to determine if the recipient already HAS the intended gift (tricky, unless it is the aforementioned gift to yourself) there are 4 main questions every gifter must answer. Of course, your friends at AbbyShot are here to help! From now until late December, we will be putting all of our AbbyShot products through the 4 questions to help you think like a gifter!

We begin with: The Deckard Trench.

1. Who should get this gift?

The Deckard Trench belongs on someone born in the wrong century (so to speak). We may not be living in a Blade Runner style futuristic world with flying cars and robots that look like (and think they are) people. But this person thinks we should be. Extra bonus points if this person dreams regularly about unicorns and sometimes gets confused about whether they really are human after all.

2. How should I wrap the gift?

The coolest idea would be to create a film noir looking "newspaper from the future" to wrap the coat in. The date should be any day in or after the year 2019 and, it almost goes with out saying, LOTS of stories about flying cars. See their face light up when they think they've been transported into a future noir film, then light up even MORE when they open the gift to see a Deckard Trench just for them! The scientific term for this is the "double-whammy".

3. How should I give the gift?

Get the lucky recipient to follow a trail of origami unicorns. Just an idea. Be sure, however, to keep an eye on them in case they get freaked out and try to run away.

4. What accessories go with the gift?

With any good gift, being able to accessorize is key. The accessories to go with the Deckard Trench are many - a futuristic looking suit with shirt and tie (or stick with the film noir style, both work well) and of course it doesn't hurt to have a big freakin' blaster.

We'll see you next week with another episode of "School for Gifters"! Feel free to comment with your own gift-giving tips and have a great weekend!

AbbyShot Christmas Carol Contest

Starting today and continuing until Wednesday, December 8th, we will be launching our very first AbbyShot Christmas Carol Contest.  The winner of the contest will have a choice of winning either a pleather Jenova or an Enigma and will be announced in our newsletter on Thursday, December 9th.

Now, all good contests have some rules, and ours is no exception.  Your AbbyShot Christmas Carol must contain the following:

1. At least two verses and a refrain.
2. A minimum of 6 AbbyShot products must be mentioned within the song.
3. You will be "graded" on cadence, etc...so make sure it's smoooooooth......(ie sounds good)
4. The more creative you are, the better your chances are of winning....

• If you set your carol to the tune of an already existing Christmas carol, then please let us know which one it is
• If you make your own music up, then send us a file so we can hear it
• Maybe you have some pictures that go with it.....so send us a slideshow or use moviemaker or some such program and send us the complete version all put together
• Create an old, antique-looking document or something that was unburied or......
• Make a video.....
• Create an art installation.....
• Heck the sky is the limit!  Just use your imagination!  The more creative, the more its impact, the better! 

You have 19 days and a great chance to own your very own Jenova or Enigma coat!

The only other catch is that we are able to use your entry for publicity...to show the world how very special and creative AbbyShot fans are!!

 So, help us celebrate!!  Enter as often as you like!!  Remember, the closing date is Wednesday, December 8th!

Lobby Trench Custom is Back, PLUS New YouTube Video!

It's a great day to be living in The Matrix. Who needs the "Real World" when you can now own a Lobby Trench from AbbyShot that's custom-tailored to your every measurement?

That's right, due to popular demand the Lobby Trench Custom has just been relaunched on AbbyShot.com! It's the ultimate Matrix style coat, now customized. But wait, there's even more good news!

So... do you want to see how this bad boy looks on video? We took a few "behind the scenes" shots during the Lobby Trench photo shoot (in lovely downtown St. John's, Newfoundland) to give you an idea of how the coat flows. Be sure to wait for the last shot of the coat dramatically flowing in the breeze!



Will you be the next Chosen One?
Visit the Lobby Trench Custom page to make it happen!

Please note: If you place your order by November 30th, AbbyShot will be able to deliver to you in time for Christmas.

Time to plug in...
- The AbbyShot Team

The Wednesday Uplink - A-prize-ing The Situation...

>RUN DIRECTORY PROTOCOL: INSI.DIR v2.x

>BACKDOOR OPEN

>INITIALIZING CONNECTION...

>USERNAME: eon

>PASSWORD: ********

>WELCOME

Sometimes I just type myself into a corner. So to speak.

Remember earlier this month when I was eavesdropping on an AbbyShot Product Development meeting on a Wednesday? And I teased and said that holding such a meeting on "my day" was "asking for trouble"?

Well, AbbyShot quickly caught on. Product Development meetings seem to be scheduled on Thursdays from now until the end of time.

However: All is not lost. I heard some other rumblings that you may find interesting. 

There was some very excited talk about "caroling" (of the Christmas variety), with a very nice prize involved. Contest-lovers should keep an eye out.

There was also some talk about an "unexpected encounter" for an AbbyShot customer. I believe there's a special delivery being prepared for him/her already. So keep an eye on your mailboxes, I suppose!

Cryptic hints I know. I'm doing what I can, I assure you, and will continue to do so. Sometimes I may type myself into a corner, but there's no doubt I will type myself right back out again...

Best regards from cyberspace,

Eon

Hilarious YouTube Review of the Kingdom Hoodie!

This. Is. Priceless.

The goggles, the half-mask, the subtitles, the sheer, unadulterated joy... all gold. There's really nothing we can add here to make this video any funnier or any better.



All we can say is: Thank you Veggo3! 
  - From the whole team at AbbyShot.

Customer E-mails: November 2010 Halloween Edition!

We love November here at AbbyShot, and not just because Christmas is coming soon! It's the month where we get to see how you styled it up for Halloween in your AbbyShot garments. These two customers are here to show us all how it's done!

First we have a new owner of the Tenth Doctor's Coat who looks he's ready to star in his own episode of Doctor Who!

Hi AbbyShot, 

The coat was perfect! I've never had a piece of clothing ordered online fit me so well--your measurements really helped. I'm going to wear it every time I can, it's such a pleasure to have on. And so well made!

As an aside, I really appreciate that you encourage customer reviews of your products. They really helped me decide your clothes would be worth the money. Great stuff, great service, great customer relations. I want to buy more things from you just for the experience! Keep it up! 

Thanks again for shipping it for Saturday delivery, you saved my Halloween costume this year. 
Cheers, 
Thomas - USA 

Not a problem Thomas, we do what we can for our customers! Thanks for the kind words and the fun photos!

Speaking of fun, it looks like our next customer had a blast in his new Silent Bob Coat this Halloween!

Hi AbbyShot,

I couldn't be more pleased with my new Silent Boat coat! It's been going over very well at the parties I've been attending, and we were even nominated for the costume contest at the Halloween Bash at the Haunted Central Terminal in Buffalo New York. Close, but no cigar. Maybe next year!

Thanks again!
Chris - USA

Snoogans! Or rather: Thanks to you too!
Both Chris and Thomas have raised the bar for Halloween photos this year. Be sure to follow in their footsteps and send us your coolest photos in your AbbyShot gear.

Keep those awesome pics and emails coming!
All the best,
The AbbyShot Team

The Wednesday Uplink - What's in a Date?

>RUN DIRECTORY PROTOCOL: INSI.DIR v2.x

>BACKDOOR OPEN

>INITIALIZING CONNECTION...

>USERNAME: eon

>PASSWORD: ********

>WELCOME

Can't type for long today, friends. That AbbyBot "Keyword Barrier" from last week has nearly driven me around the bend. Everything I type turns to gibberish if it has ANYTHING to do with future AbbyShot products. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it.

 

Let's try this for now:

Next year is 2011.

These digits are VERY significant.

 

What do you think? 

- Eon

Griever Pendants Almost Gone!

Chain not included

For the past few years we have offered The Squall Jacket with a complementary Griever Pendant. This is a limited time offer that is becoming more limited by the day.

Our stock of Griever Pendants is running low, so don't miss out on your chance to get one before they are all gone. Who knows when OR if this offer will be available again.

Squall Leonhart is never seen without his Griever Pendant... and as we all know, every detail counts!

Place your order now and receive your Squall Jacket in time for Christmas!

And the "Name That Glove" Winners Are...

The AbbyShot staff have voted and winners have emerged. In mid-October we put it out there on the Blog for fans to name our new gloves, with each winner getting their own free pair! The suggestions poured in, adding up to over 75 names in total for the AbbyShot Team to choose from. And trust us, this was no easy task! Every single name suggestion we received was excellent and many tie-breaker votes had to happen!

How we voted: Suggested names were sorted randomly and compiled under each glove design, with email addresses and names removed to keep each entry anonymous. AbbyShot team members each voted in a secret ballot for their top 2 names for each design, and the most frequent names voted for in the ballots were deemed the winners.

Like we said, every suggestion was amazing! Thanks so much to everyone who entered the contest. And now the moment you've been waiting for: The winning names are..

The Wednesday Uplink - Eavesdropped

>RUN DIRECTORY PROTOCOL: INSI.DIR v2.0x

>BACKDOOR OPEN

>INITIALIZING CONNECTION...

>USERNAME: eon

>PASSWORD: ********

>WELCOME

Today was an important Wednesday at AbbyShot HQ as the entire staff gathered for a Product Development Meeting. Honestly, discussing new product development on a WEDNESDAY? I.e. Eonsday, a.k.a. MY day? They were, of course, asking for trouble.

So my camera may have been dampened in the now infamous "vat of apples" incident (seriously, don't ask) but my spirits were not. Visuals are out of the question for the time being, so audio is in. I placed a bug (the listening device, as opposed to the insect) inside the AbbyShot Production Room. The meeting began promptly at 11am this morning and I promptly began listening to a goldmine of info...

Schedules, spec packs, technical sketches, I heard it all. Unfortunately the bug shorted out halfway through the meeting (my luck is questionable as always) but I heard ALL about three product launches planned for the first half of 2011! And, in typical AbbyShot fashion, all three designs are glorious.

Want to know the first one on their list? Of course you do. Well, it's based on unicorn from the nose dimension.

Umm... what? I did not just type those words.

Let me try again: It's goldfish from east speculation.

Oh lord, I know what's going on. The AbbyBot is blocking certain keywords and has, quite disrespectfully, turned my Blog Post into a game of Mad Libs.

This is going to take a bit more thought on my part. My hints will need to be carefully thought-out to get through this keyword barrier. I shall figure it out, and of course I'll be in touch next week.

Onwards and upwards, friends!

- Eon

Day of the Dead Sci-Fi and Fantasy Awards!

Greetings readers and Happy Day of the Dead! As fans of our Gothic Clothing will know, AbbyShot is never one to shy away from the darker side of life. So the Mexican Day of the Dead holiday is a celebration that intrigues us (and not just because we're big fans of the classic game Grim Fandango).

November 2nd in Mexico is the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos), where family and friends gather not to mourn but to celebrate their deceased loved ones. AbbyShot has decided to take a similar approach: We're going to celebrate our Top 5 favourite characters from sci-fi and fantasy who have died (usually in heroic fashion!).

Due to the nature of the subject matter, we're going to have to rate this post as spoiler-ific! We'll put the name of the film / anime / TV show first, then the character's name. These are all well-known characters so we doubt anyone will be spoiled but still - the spoiler warning is there!

Of course, let us know in the Blog Comments if there are any characters we missed!

Now on with the list...