Why We Hope You Support Us - Part 2

Continuing our deeper dive into why we hope you support us or some encouragement to do so!

Part 2 - Giving Back.

Here’s the awkward one. If you talk about this too much then it lacks humility. But if you don’t mention it at all then how will customers know where some of that money and effort goes?

Our first day of launch in 2017 saw us donate prizes to War of the Thistles thanks to Zee Yule for including us. The wonders of Facebook skate groups meant he knew what were up to. Roll on 6 years and we’ve donated tons of stuff including cash to all manner of skate events in Scotland including many fundraisers for skate parks.

We sponsor a few folk too. And are about to add someone else. More on that another day.

We big up other local businesses. Food, drink, craft, design, whatever. If you’re not a dick with us then I’ll assume you’re ok and am happy to share!

And without the support of you folks we wouldn’t be in the position to contribute to local charities like Mental Health Aberdeen and CFine. Worth pointing out again that we don’t expect you guys to front the contributions whilst we stand with an oversize cheque. We’ll also chip in cash and goods.

I’m also a fan of crowdfunding type things and happy to chip in. Might do one myself one day!

When we started we did a few skate nights at TX. This has laid dormant for a long time now but next month we’re going to organise something very informal.

Next up on why we hope you support us - Part 3 of 7 Gatekeeping.

#aberdeencity #organicclothing #tshirts #clothingbrand #aberdeenshire #organiccotton #design #organiccottonclothing #skatelife #skatewear #aberdeen #bonaccord #organic #Doric #scotland #skateboardingisfun #skateboard #scotlandskateboarding #skatefashion #nostalgia #tshirt #aberdeenscotland #tshirtdesign #doric

Why We Hope You Support Us - Part 1

The other month on Social Media we wanted to highlight some of the reasons you might want to shop with us.

Some of you will hopefully know these already but I wanted to go a bit deeper.

Starting with a Blog Post about Post. : )

We include postage cost in all our stuff - it keeps things simple for us and I hope for you too.

We also value the fact that you have spent money with us. And so I try to get your order out very quickly, sometimes the same day.

We aren’t waiting for more orders or only posting once or twice a week. It’s not hard and it’s kinda the whole point!

So that’s part 1 of this series of why we think you should shop with us. It’s not a very exciting one but it’s key.

And while I’m here. This parcel box on Carden Place is a god send. If you are the absolute tube who consistently jams it up with your over sized boxes then I really hope ye catch yer jacket pocket on a door handle soon.

Part 2 of 7 tomorrow - Giving Back.

Markets

Markets 

With the release of some details about the Christmas market stuff last week there seems to be a misconception in Aberdeen surrounding it. I’ve noticed this on shares of it and comments across every platform and post. Here’s some of my thoughts.

I’ve been selling at a version of them for about 6 years so just like old Pete Beale from Eastenders I know my onions!

First off there’s a difference (to me) between the “Christmas Market” and the “Christmas Village”. 

The Christmas Village is the one most recently found on Broad Street and operated by a contractor- usually Codonas. This consists of rides, hot food, hot drinks and booze to drink then and there. On occasion you’ll find a couple of stalls run by local sellers - candles, jewellery etc - although this is maybe going back a few years.

The Christmas Market can be traditionally found in the Quad at Marischall College. This has been run (in my experience) by Charlie House last year and will be this year but previous to that we’ve been at events run by Look Again (HAAN Market) and Codonas. 

Every year there is a call to locals to get signed up and sell yer stuff. This can range from arts and crafts to bottled food stuffs.

It’s a simple process and is good value for money - again, from my experience.

Running alongside this will be things like Curated Aberdeen - also run by Charlie House and again all proceeds from fees going to their charity. This one is indoors and can be found in the Bon Accord Centre. I’ll be at this one as for me it works best for setting up what I sell. And it’s indoors!

There will also no doubt be others that are independent of this - usually one at the Art Gallery and numerous pubs/organisations will have their own ones. I try my best to share what’s going on even when I’m not involved and will do again this year as and when.

So what’s the takeaway from this?

For the time we’ve been going (7 years) we’ve always been at some Christmas Markets run by various folks, the rates have always been reasonable, we’ve always done well at them, it’s easy to apply generally no matter who’s been organising and they’ve been fine to deal with! 

If ye make stuff then get involved. Add to the atmosphere and help create something,

If yer a local then please do visit these things.

A vibrant city needs these markets - doesn’t matter who organises them. There isn’t just an onus on the public to come and visit/spend money. Organisers need to be on the ball and make sure they do their best to encourage folk to take part - which they do in my opinion.! But there’a also a responsibility on the makers of Aberdeen to take part and make the effort. It's good to see multiple events take place but at times I think it can dilute what could be a bigger, more diverse and accessible affair. Maybe that would help avoid the confusion between what the Christmas Market is and who benefits.

And for now that’s my tuppenceworth on this.!

See ye at the Christmas Market in December. : )

Podcasts and Stuff

This month saw us release our latest collaboration, this one with Glasgow Podcast Board to Death and design by Jonny Paterson.

Podcasts have been important to me for a very long time. I enjoy the company and the variety.

Over the years i’ve been lucky enough to be asked on to a number of podcasts and even hosted whilst one was on a break (thanks again Ica!). I’m also due to be involved with another podcast very soon - more on that later! Dream come true stuff for me. And so when Jonathon of BTD podcast asked about doing something I was more than happy to get involved.!

Board to Death has covered many a subject and is well marshalled by Jonathon with a structure that keeps it on track - the world doesn’t need more 4 hour long rambling podcasts ! Addition, gatekeeping, mental health - all subjects that make for good listening and hopefully good learning.

It’s not easy keeping something creative going. The return on your investment of time and money isn’t always tangible. Not everyone will like it - some will go out of their way to let you know. But mostly people will be supportive and it’ll provide something positive to someone including yourself. It’s certainly done that for me with Doric Skateboards. So massive well done to all those out there doing their thing - and especially to Jonathan for trusting me with this. Stoked.

I’ll be making an appearance on Board to Death this Summer where hopefully I won’t make a tit of myself. I tend to talk and talk nervously when I get going in most situations which can lead to me saying silly things and lots of self deprecating stuff.! Canna help it.

If you want to help keep their podcast going you could purchase one of the hoodys or tees in the collection - it’ll go a long way!

Linked here.

Thanks for reading and thanks for the support.

Doric Short Documentary by Katy's Studio

Since starting in 2017 we’ve done a few videos about how and why we do what we do. We’ve also been the subject of it for a couple of different groups of students which i’ve always been happy to do!

So when Katy of Katy’s Studio approached us to be the subject for her Masters degree we were only too pleased to help out. Always fun for us too.!

We’ve worked with Katy on a few things so were very happy to do this! We shot a lot of footage - I can talk for ever on some things!

Thanks for trusting us to be part of this.

Anyway - have a watch and let us know what you think. We think it gives a little insight into what we are about.

Sometimes its hard to get across in text form so we hope this does the trick.

#aberdeen #brand #brandawareness #marketing #video #videography

Mental Health Fundraiser - September 22

As we approach winter and the uncertainty surrounding fuel bills I wanted to try to raise some funds for Mental Health Aberdeen.

Link to Fundraiser HERE.

Poor mental health can be triggered by many things - stress over money can certainly be one. MHA provide an invaluable service for people who are struggling. We hope to raise some money to go towards this. Keeping someone on the other end of a phone or a counsellor on hand is going to be so important as we seem to enter such an uncertain winter. 

Each donation will be entered into a draw. We have a few prizes up for grabs including:

• One off test print Deck of the Hello Radical Deck - also include a HR Zine.

• John Walter Deck signed and numbered. Ltd Edition.

• Stallan Deck - no longer in print or available! 

• And a donation from local artist David Shade - Paper Planes spray painted deck - a one off.! 

• We also have 4 of our badges to give away too via an anonymous donor. 👍

So that’s 8 prizes to be won. No matter what size the donation. 

Some of these decks were actually owned by John Welsh who many locals will know sadly passed away. His entire collection was kindly donated to Transition Extreme where I bought them back from.  I hope they can now raise a little more money!

If you can donate any amount it will be appreciated - it all adds up. Even if you can’t it would be a huge boost if you could share this appeal. 👍

We’ll run this until the end of September and draw prizes after that. Stay tuned to our socials for that! 

Thanks kindly

Gary

Rough Times Ahead?

I don’t think it’s just me that feels like the world is in constant turmoil. Brexit, Trump, COVID, Cost of Living Crisis, NHS underfunded - it’s an endless depressing list of things that have chipped away at our lives. Perhaps ignorance really is bliss. At least it was before 24hr TV and Social Media to keep you up to date with the daily dose of misery. Hourly dose. Minute by minute sometimes.

And so we find ourselves on the precipice of another recession.

I’ve always said that what I do with Doric Skateboards doesn’t really matter. Seems daft to say that because obviously it doesn’t matter. I’m also always keen to say I do take the business very seriously but I don’t take myself very seriously. Even in good times what we do isn’t important. I know this but that doesn’t mean I don’t take it seriously.

Even taking into account my communist tendencies I realise that in life we want and need variety. We also need things to look forward to, the occasional treat - I know I do. Records are my vice - if I can get a record every month or so I am very happy and lucky (90’s era hip hip and grunge if anyone is interested!).

If I was to take a step back and put a sensible head on I would sell off everything in stock at a healthy discount and sell all my screen printing equipment and walk away with a couple of quid in my pocket. Maybe go on holiday or most likely keep it aside as this recession takes bite. But what else would I do with my time? My energy? My thoughts? Not too sure.

So it won’t really matter what external forces there are in the world, our country or our city - i’m going to always be going with Doric. We’ll keep our pricing as is and for as long as that works - I think the balance is right. £25 for a posted tee is comparable with other brands, £15 for a kids tee posted is a great deal.

We’ve got about 6 designs locked and loaded for clothing and plans to commit more time and effort to screen printing our own decks in small batches rather than the digitally printed stuff like Cull the Gulls, Jaws etc. Too much of a financial commitment at the moment and just not as satisfying to do - despite my love for those designs! : ) So we’ve got plenty to come this year and beyond and I hope they bring some happiness to folk.

Later this month we are going to do a wee fundraiser for Mental Health Aberdeen. We’ll have 3 or 4 decks up as prizes - a rare Stallan, a rare John Walters and the Test Print Hello Radical with an additional wee illustration on it by the artist themselves. More on this later but it would grand to raise a few quid for an essential service up here. And as this recession hits and the cost of living crisis bites our Mental Health services will be stretched thin - lets hope we can help with that.

Thanks for reading and for supporting. Take care. Gary.

Pantones a Cake Right?

Pantones a cake right? This could be as much to do with art/design or running a business or skateboarding.

Our old man was a Painter and Decorator. He was meticulous with it. All about the preparation. Anyone can clart paint on a wall - its the boring stuff like sanding, filling and taping up that separates the pro from the amateur. And of course the time it takes.

When I used to visit folk (nae so keen on that now) and they proudly proclaim they did all the painting themselves to save money and because "painting is easy"in my mind I’m looking around and sometimes thinking “yup, looks like it - love that you painted your light switches and sockets too".

I never mean it in a shitty way - I naturally found myself being defensive about something that my dad worked hard at. And now I suspect the shoe is on the other foot...

I never went to art school. Don't know my Impressionists from my Surrealists or anything else really.

And so I suppose when I bang on and on about screen printing and "designing" then people are entitled to perhaps question the validity of my opinion and work. The provenance.

“Never been to art school Gary?”

"Nope"

“Yeah, - looks/sounds like it pal.”

And who could blame them?

Until recently I thought the Pantone colour chart was a way of grading that awful Italian cake that folk pretend to like…

Side note: the closure of John Lewis in Aberdeen was sad but the upside will be less of us have to throw that Italian cake stuff in the bin every year or pretend to enjoy it.

Anyway. What I'm getting at imposter syndrome. That is:

"Internal experience of believing that you are not as competent as others perceive you to be"

Although to be honest maybe I'm over egging how competent I think other people think I am! Or I'm overthinking everything. But I'm not sure I trust anyone that doesn't have some imposter syndrome. A little bit of doubt is good for you.

But it’s all about making an effort in my opinion.

Whether your painting yer cornices or screen printing a design onto a skateboard - we're only here for a very short time so do what you think makes you happy. Don't wait for permission and don't look for approval. Forget the rules. My preferred method is screen printing - I see people approach it in very different ways to me but get great results. So who am I to question that.

As I say - doubt is good. We live in a world where too many people seem to be suffering the Dunning-Kruger effect - fyi - no, that's not the actress from Inglorious Basterds or a ref to any 80's horror movie.....

We're really only here for a very short time so why waste it worrying about the rules?

#imposter #impostersyndrome #art #design #skateboards #clothing #aberdeen #dunningkruger