Friday, 25 February, 2011

AbbyShot Customer at the Doctor Who Experience!

AbbyShot customers can be found all over the world doing exciting things, and normally AbbyShot is happy to hear about it... this time however, we're happy with a side of insanely jealous! Customer and Twitter friend James (@jamibu) recently visited the Doctor Who Experience in London and teased us with tantalizing bits of info through our Twitter account.

Not only did James visit the "Experience", he also wore his trusty AbbyShot Tenth Doctor's Coat! He went above the call of duty this week (probably after noticing how jealous we were) and shared with us some fantastic photos in a Picasa Album. And by some fantastic photos we mean... over 100 photos! Of course we had trouble picking out our favourites but here goes... Allons-y!

01-Doctor-Who-Experience-Sign
James approaches the Doctor Who fan's motherland!
(We're also glad that no one ran off with that sign!)
So what wonders await inside?

Wednesday, 23 February, 2011

The Wednesday Uplink: Fans Led Out of the Dark...

>RUN DIRECTORY PROTOCOL: INSI.DIR v2.x
>BACKDOOR OPEN
>INITIALIZING CONNECTION...
>USERNAME: eon
>PASSWORD: *********
>WELCOME

I knew it, and many of you did too: AbbyShot gave the official announcement about the Dante Coat last week. Immediately angels sang, devils cried, and all was right with the world... but wait! Those official Dante Coat photos are in black and white... it turns out that my investigative skills are still needed for this mission.

I haven't been able to dig up any (eagerly anticipated) photos of the AbbyShot Dante Coat in red... yet. However, all is not lost. I did manage to intercept a close-up of the back of the black 100% leather version they're finalizing. Trust me, you need to see this:

Impressive, wouldn't you say? I really can't decide between black and red versions now...

Let me know your thoughts on this coat (in red or black) - here in the Blog comments, on Twitter, or on the AbbyShot Facebook Page. And remember to spread the word about this Dante Coat pre-order because there's another new product in it for you - Dante shooting gloves. Needless to say, I want those gloves. Scratch that... I need them.

Finally, bravo to all of you who predicted the release of AbbyShot's Dante Coat. Exceptionally well done, and to each of you: Your stylish rank is SSS. Now to paraphrase the man himself: "Adios, kids!"

Yours,
Eon

Tuesday, 22 February, 2011

Customer Experience Survey: AbbyShot Needs Your Help!

Your experience with AbbyShot is a top priority for us, and you can help us make things even better! We launched a Customer Experience Survey in last week's Newsletter and we would love it if you could give us your feedback. Not to worry, it's a super-quick survey (it should take only 3 to 5 minutes) and you can take it whether you're an AbbyShot veteran or a customer-in-the-making ;)

Thanks so much in advance for your help:

Monday, 21 February, 2011

Twitter Frenzy: Mythbuster Models Doctor Who Coat!

Our Twitter account went absolutely mad over the weekend and we just KNEW it had to be something big. It was beyond our wildest dreams: One of our heroes, Mythbusters' own robot-master Grant Imahara, Tweeted about his new Tenth Doctor's Coat and even took a photo in full Doctor Who mode! Click on the (spectacular) Tweet below to see his photo... and his Tenth Doctor hair-do!

Showin' off my awesome @AbbyShot coat. #DoctorWho #gally http://twitpic.com/41qfmy

This Tweet absolutely took off over the weekend, with over 150 retweets (and still going!). Grant was even nice enough to Tweet us a mini-review of his coat, he is true a class act.

RT @GrantImahara: @AbbyShot Thanks guys for a real quality product. Worth every penny. Hope you come out with more licensed gear!

The metric ton of Tweets also led to some fantastic commentary from fans, here are just a few of our favourite quotes:

@siliconchef:
Time travel... plausible?

@TheHellHermit:
Spoiler: the 13th & final Doctor!


@ButMadNNW:
Geekdorable. 


@shinybabyb:
@grantimahara @AbbyShot awesomesauce! on an awesomesteak! #muttersjealously :)

@RickMantell:
#Mythbusters + Doctor Who = Hell yeah!

@jgriffee:
I admit it: my geeky little heart went pitter-patter.

@roane
Is the world ready for an Asian-American Dr. Who? HOT.


Huge thanks to Grant and all of our new Twitter followers, you made our weekend an exciting one!

Looking to save the world in your own Tenth Doctor's Coat? Check out our site to add your name to the Waiting List! Allons-y! :)

Friday, 18 February, 2011

New Release: The Dante Coat Pre-Order Begins!

There's a buzz at AbbyShot this week and it can only be for one reason: A brand new product has been announced!

This one's for all the demon-hunters out there keeping the streets safe, and it's available for pre-order on our Group Buy Page now:  



This one has been hotly requested by video game fans so of course AbbyShot's Design Team was as careful as ever to create a coat that is very true to the original character while also being a durable coat that can handle years of day-to-day wear. It's another high-quality long coat that we're excited to add to our Anime and Gaming repertoire (in great company with the Enigma and Jenova Trenches)!

There are a lot of great features to talk about but before we start you may be wondering: Why the black-and-white photos, AbbyShot? It's not JUST for the atmosphere ;) Our coat above was done in different colour pleather (as we hammered out the design details) so we'll have final photos to follow soon. The colours of the final coat will be as pictured on the right.

Now on with those features (so much to talk about)...

Thursday, 17 February, 2011

Customer E-mails: February 2011 Edition

We're well into the second month of 2011 and the email Inbox is as busy as ever! As always, we love the fact that AbbyShot creations are traveling the world and are finding new homes with you fine folks! Your pictures bring the good vibes to the whole AbbyShot team every month. So let's jump right in, here's the latest awesome customer shot:


Wow, it's Squall Leonhart himself! Wait, no, we're told it's actually Steven Butt from the great state of Georgia, USA. He's pictured here in his full Squall costume (featuring of course the 100% leather AbbyShot Squall Jacket) and we must say that he looks the part - sweet gunblade and all! Thanks for the great photo, Steven!

Next up is recent customer Tuomas and he hails from even further north of us here in Newfoundland, Canada: Tuomas comes from Finland! We're very clear on the geography because Tuomas sent us his photo through the Map Your 'Shot page (with the simple but effective comment: :-), love it).

Tuomas doesn't have to worry about those north winds; as you can see he's decked out in his new Kingdom Hoodie. The quality fleece and the deep hood are perfect for those winter days while the thumbholes in the sleeves help tuck your hands in and away from the cold air. The removable beaded necklace and AbbyShot logo pull-tab are the accent pieces that complete the look. If you don't have your own Kingdom Hoodie yet - this is the season to own one!

Speaking of winter weather, we have a final email to share with you this month from a customer who loves his new Men's Stealth Gloves, an original AbbyShot glove design that melds leather and neoprene together into a magical combination:

I love winter, because I get to dress up in cool coats and gloves, and these gloves are definitely cool. Whenever it snows, I have the perfect excuse to show off my stylish gloves.

I was scraping the ice off my car, and my hands were kept nice and warm, but they fit well enough so that I can adjust the dials inside the car too!

I'll be sad when winter changes into spring, because then I won't get to wear these gloves.


- Grant C, USA

Well said, Grant! Winter isn't all that bad, especially since AbbyShot has so many great glove designs to choose from ;)

Thanks to Steven, Tuomas, and Grant for the fantastic emails and we hope to see your email or photo here next month! You can send your photos through the Map Your 'Shot page or through our "info[at]abbyshot.com" email address.

Stay cool friends,
The AbbyShot Team

Wednesday, 16 February, 2011

The Wednesday Uplink - Tomorrow, Tomorrow...

>RUN DIRECTORY PROTOCOL: INSI.DIR v2.x
>BACKDOOR OPEN
>INITIALIZING CONNECTION...
>USERNAME: eon
>PASSWORD: ********
> WELCOME

There's an energy in the air at AbbyShot headquarters. It's the kind of energy that's present when AbbyShot is ready to announce a new product. Honestly, I can feel it in my bones!

And I'm not one to jump wildly to conclusions (am I?), so certainly heed my words when I say that tomorrow will be a big day (you can trust me on this).

I think it even ties in with the black-and-white photos I've been uploading over the past few weeks. Many of you had some excellent theories based on those photos, so THIS may be of interest - a splash of colour: 


Curiouser and curiouser. Does this fit in with your theories, dear friends? As we begin the long wait until tomorrow (!), let me know what you think here in the Blog comments, on Twitter, or on the Facebook Page!

Yours,
Eon

Monday, 14 February, 2011

Valentine's Top 5: Coolest Film & TV "Couples"

It's Valentine's Day so AbbyShot would like to pay tribute to our favourite "couples" from film and TV. Don't worry, we're not going to get too sappy on you - these are the coolest couples and you'll see that this makes for a list with a few surprises...

A quick note for Valentine's Day: Don't forget that today is the last chance to take advantage of the Martha Jones Companion Jacket free shipping promo! It's a sweetheart deal, so don't miss out ;)

1. Neo and Trinity
(The Matrix, 1999)


We start off with arguably the most butt-kicking couple on the list: Neo and Trinity! These two iconic sci-fi characters from The Matrix series are known for wall-climbing (using only their feet), high-flying acrobatics, lobby shoot-outs, and a massive war against the machines. Yet somehow they still had time for a little romance - chalk that up to excellent multitasking.

2. Mal and Inara
(Serenity, 2005)


Another favourite couple for sci-fi fans (wait, are they or aren't they a couple?) is Captain Malcolm Reynolds and Companion Inara Serra. In the TV series Firefly, Inara is an integral part of the crew of Mal Reynolds' ship, but at the beginning of the follow-up film Serenity Inara has gone her own way (much to Mal's not-so-carefully-hidden chagrin). Whenever they're together they bicker, argue, and fight... but it doesn't take a genius like River to tell there's a whole heap of romantic tension there! Everyone knows a couple like this ;)

3. Deckard and Rachel
(Blade Runner, 1982)


This could be considered an unlikely sci-fi couple: an android who is very human and an android-hunter who may or may not be human. Rick Deckard of the classic film Blade Runner is a cop in 2019 Los Angeles tasked with hunting down escaped replicants - androids who look just like humans. In the course of an investigation Deckard meets Rachel, a replicant who believes she is human, and through a complex series of events (including hints that Deckard may be a replicant himself) they end up together. Let's just hope they figure out a way around the whole 'replicants have a four-year lifespan' issue...

4. The Doctor and the TARDIS
(Doctor Who, 1963-Present)


Companions may come and go, but there's nothing like a Time Lord's relationship with his TARDIS! The Doctor's nearest and dearest time machine / space ship has been with him since Doctor Who began in 1963. As fans know very well, the TARDIS is no ordinary ship. It has saved the Doctor's life on many occasions and it has been hinted that it has a 'mind of its own'. As relationships go, this is the Doctor's longest-running and it's still going strong (daily adventures certainly help to keep things fresh ;)

5. Jay and Silent Bob
(Kevin Smith's Askewniverse, 1994-2006?)


The final couple on our list are also inseparable: It's everyone's favourite pair of "hetero life-mates" Jay and Silent Bob. Introduced in Kevin's Smith's cult-classic Clerks back in 1994, these two slackers are the very definition of bromance. They're always together, they've got each other's backs... and let's hope they're not reading this as they would be none too pleased to be in a Valentine's Day post on "couples" ;)

So which of our Top 5 is your favourite film or TV "couple"? Is there a great pairing we've missed out on? As always, give us your feedback here in the Blog comments, on Twitter or on our Facebook Page!

Watch out for Cupid's arrows,
The AbbyShot Team

Wednesday, 9 February, 2011

The Wednesday Uplink: Line Them Up.

>RUN DIRECTORY PROTOCOL: INSI.DIR v2.x
>BACKDOOR OPEN
>INITIALIZING CONNECTION...
>USERNAME: eon
>PASSWORD: ********
> WELCOME


Managed to get another shot, but not quite sure what it is this time. It was a random shot as I walked by the room. I then had to crop the heck out of it to get rid of the background, and so now I am down to this. To be honest, I'm not even sure if it is facing the right direction.


If you have any ideas at all about what this is or where it might be, I would love to have your input.  Perhaps you could post them to the AbbyShot Facebook Page or our Twitter account or even here. I am endeavouring to get some better intel for next week. Until then, play safe!

Yours,
Eon

Tuesday, 8 February, 2011

Video: The Feeling of Wearing an AbbyShot Coat...

It's nearly impossible to describe. The first time you put on your own AbbyShot coat, it changes you. There's an energy and an excitement that just takes over. You become a hero / a rogue / a supervillain / a Time Lord... some even say that they feel like a kid again! There's a reason we call it "Clothing That's Cooler Than Real Life".

Sometimes a video can tell the story better than words. This is customer Lee Vader from the UK (a.k.a. The Doctor), who made some YouTube videos while having a blast in his Tenth Doctor's Coat...



Of course, you can't properly test out a Doctor Who coat without a bit of running!



Thanks so much Lee for giving us a window into the excitement you feel when you wear your AbbyShot coat. So, dear readers... which AbbyShot product is the one for you?

Friday, 4 February, 2011

Picture Yourself in AbbyShot Gloves...

It's always great to see AbbyShot products in a whole new light. Canadian journalist Burke Campbell wrote a glowing review of our unique leather gloves on his blog, entitled "GLOVES THAT SPEAK".

Along with the glowing review came some dark and atmospheric shots! They really show the broad appeal and adaptability of the AbbyShot leather glove designs. Here is one of Burke's shots of the fingerless Ocelot Gloves, (available for only $19.00)...


Burke says it best:
"I recently received two pairs of supple leather gloves from AbbyShot, one of the most unique companies I've ever come across. If you're a bit daring, with a flair for the dramatic, AbbyShot designs and makes movie-inspired clothing that you can wear everyday. [...]

Slipping the gloves on, I found myself in a "Mad Max" kind of mood. I suddenly felt inspired to do a few "atmospheric shots". What do you think?"

Here is another one of Burke's fantastic shots, this time of the Gentry Gauntlets (only $39.00), our leather gloves featuring a full-length cuff:


Burke was kind enough to provide a full photo spread of his leather gloves (ten photos in total!) and you can see all the photos on his blog.

Now we're wondering if you, our creative customers, are feeling inspired? Do you have a pair of AbbyShot leather gloves? We'd love to see your take on them too! Email us with your photos at "info[at]abbyshot.com".

Keep your hands warm this weekend,
The AbbyShot Team

Wednesday, 2 February, 2011

The Wednesday Uplink: Grading the Secret Missions

>RUN DIRECTORY PROTOCOL: INSI.DIR v2.x
>BACKDOOR OPEN
>INITIALIZING CONNECTION...
>USERNAME: eon
>PASSWORD: ********
> WELCOME


Access Denied. Everything is secured here so tightly I feel like I'm inside an episode of 'Mission: Impossible'. I can only assume that my leaking two photos (in a row) over the last few weeks has them scared. There are now four different upcoming items I have put in front of you... well five if you include gloves. 

I heard through the grapevine that I am to receive a top grade of "S" for sleuthing. It reminded me that the first time I was graded was in 2005, with another grade being given in 2007. All my missions received the grade of "S", of course.

I digress. So photos once again seem to have been thwarted this week, but that is okay... for now. You seem to have enjoyed the last post and your responses were most amusing on the AbbyShot Facebook Page last week. Some of you were not too far off the mark, but I can assure you I haven't seen any signs of swinging tassels as accessories for any sort of coat. 

Perhaps this week you can let me know what the four products are which you think AbbyShot has developed? I look forward to viewing your responses here on the Blog, on Twitter and on Facebook, as always.

Yours,
Eon

Tuesday, 1 February, 2011

Only 2 Weeks Left in the Martha Jones Valentine's Special!

Here's a friendly reminder, AbbyShot fans: there are only TWO weeks left until Valentine's Day, which means a very special promotion will be ending before long.

The Martha Jones Companion Jacket (from Doctor Who of course!) is being offered with free shipping until Valentine's Day (February 14th) and it doesn't matter if you're as close as eastern Canada or as far off as Australia. The shipping cost is on us!

If you want to impress the companion in your life (whether she's a sci-fi fan or not), give her the jacket that will net her "tons of compliments" (see the "Reviews" tab on the Martha Jones Companion Jacket page for the full quote!).

This beautifully-fitted design is available in a range of ladies' sizes (from S to XXL), so be sure to get the best Valentine's gift ever on the: