Any questions for a hat seller and specialist in Akubras?

[DMc]

I'd like to see Akubra offer more choices of different colors in all their fedoras. I just got done looking at the fedora page:

http://hatsdirect.com/cgi-bin/products.cgi?group=Fedora+Hats

and there just aren't many options for colors. I wish each were available, for instance, in light gray (the color of moonstone) with a black ribbon, but few if any are except for the Fed IV.

Have a look at our own website or retail Catalogue (link in previous thread) for complete style / colour / size ranges offered. Retailers choose from that range, and do not necessarily show all options, or may show custom options not broadly available.

 

[CRH]

Who takes care of quality issues, the dealer or Akubra directly?

I have a new willow green Squatter* that showed rust colored mottling after application of tap water for creasing.

*What a kick ass hat :cool2:

 

[Akubra]

Thank you very much for the catalog!!

 

[DMc]

Who takes care of quality issues, the dealer or Akubra directly?

I have a new willow green Squatter* that showed rust colored mottling after application of tap water for creasing.

*What a kick ass hat :cool2:

Product quality at Akubra is assessed - and rectified if necessary - throughout the production, finishing, and packing processes, resulting in absolutely minimal quality issues from that point onwards. Nonetheless, the first point of customer contact with any queries is with your retailer.

And why on earth do you put an Akubra under running water? Refer to http://www.akubra.com.au/hatcare.html, and just use steam from a kettle for all re-shaping.

 

[DMc]

Interesting point. Is Akubra (the factory) actually making batches of a Fed IV model, or is it something like, oh, say, a standard Campdraft that's merely had the brim trimmed a bit too much, along with a different ribbon after the fact?

I know there's a minimum order required for a special color request but that's not quite the same as a pre-modded open-crown hat.

If they, AKUBRA factory, really do run "specially modded" hats for certain dealers, what are their requirements (or price breaks) for orders outside of their long-standing traditional styles? This, of course, means something basic like finishing with a different ribbon on something like the Bushman, Squatter, Campdraft, Adventurer (the open-crowned basically).

Akubra, I agree. I'm not too interested in their pre-formed models, but I love some of their traditional town/country hats; and yes, they are fantastic outdoor hats to be worn confidently and without self-consciousness. For what they cost, they're a hat you don't have to worry much about either. Just a benefit that they hold up so well. I really like that they're priced for people who want a good hat to "WEAR".

The Akubra Federation range is produced using the Akubra Heritage Quality of materials and manufacture, and represents a significant increase in the quality of components, raw materials, and labour over our Imperial and Superfine ranges.

 

[gtdean48]

I'll have a chat with the powers to be about a Heritage style Campdraft.

PLEASE do & keep us posted. Put me down for at least 2 if you need numbers for market justification or talk with Hats Direct. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[gtdean48]

And why on earth do you put an Akubra under running water?

Good question. One of the main reasons I use distilled water in my sprayer & kettle is because of what chemicals are added & exist in municipally provided tap water. Well water also has lots of minerals as well.

 

[Rule17]

First podcast posted

Thanks again for all the questions. The first podcast recorded in Strand Hatters went up this evening on the Open Crown blog (also in iTunes). It features Rosie Boylan and Robert Carroll (Strand Hatters) finding the perfect hat for a new hatwearer. The idea is to illustrate the many considerations in choosing the right hat.

DMc, I'd love to go to the fountainhead to do a couple of podcasts with Akubra directly. I'm sure it's an interview loungers would be interested in hearing.

Any suggestions for the best person to contact?

 

[daizawaguy]

Nice contribution to the world of hats :eusa_clap

 

[Blackthorn]

OK, checked the Akubra website...

Have a look at our own website or retail Catalogue (link in previous thread) for complete style / colour / size ranges offered. Retailers choose from that range, and do not necessarily show all options, or may show custom options not broadly available.

OK, I followed your link and I see that great hats like the Fedora or the Bogart are still not available in Moonstone or Tawny fawn. Why not? You'd sell more if you offered a wider selection of colors, and it can't be that difficult to do. Felt of any color should be just as easy to work with in one model as another, so why the limitations?

 

[DMc]

Thanks again for all the questions. The first podcast recorded in Strand Hatters went up this evening on the Open Crown blog (also in iTunes). It features Rosie Boylan and Robert Carroll (Strand Hatters) finding the perfect hat for a new hatwearer. The idea is to illustrate the many considerations in choosing the right hat.

DMc, I'd love to go to the fountainhead to do a couple of podcasts with Akubra directly. I'm sure it's an interview loungers would be interested in hearing.

Any suggestions for the best person to contact?

Hi Steven, just finished listening to your podcast with Rosie Boylan and Robert Carroll of Strand Hatters. It's great to see and hear the art of selecting a hat style to suit the person, their stature, and their personality - from these experts.

I'll be in touch about a possible podcast with Akubra, maybe up at the Kempsey factory.

 

[DMc]

OK, I followed your link and I see that great hats like the Fedora or the Bogart are still not available in Moonstone or Tawny fawn. Why not? You'd sell more if you offered a wider selection of colors, and it can't be that difficult to do. Felt of any color should be just as easy to work with in one model as another, so why the limitations?

The wealth of product styling & sales knowledge within Akubra and its wholesale agents, distributors, and stockists ensures that we are offering a very broad diversity of popular hat styles and colours to Akubra wearers world-wide. We are also listening to, and appreciate suggestions from individuals and forums (fora?) - so at the end of the day, with enough discussion, such requests may progress to production.

At a technical level there are little or no colour limitations of Akubra hats - it can simply be a case of achieving minimum dye-batch sales quantities per style / colour (as has been done with Campdraft glen grey) to warrant introduction of a new (if exclusive) colour.

 

[Woodfluter]

Think I'm the one who got the ball rolling with request for a Heritage felt Campdraft, but I'll reiterate that there's quite a few here, including those who don't chime in on this thread, that would really jump on it! I would.

DMc, really glad to see you here and answering questions in such an authoritative way. Thanks for your participation.

In response to Blackthorn's queries, I think there's a different model for custom makers and large-scale manufacturers like Akubra. The former can incorporate requests for certain colors etc. quite easily and at little or no inconvenience, but the latter require a significant market or job lot to justify the expense.

On a different forum, I've seen situations where pre-orders have been taken for some custom-made item or some unique finish or color. If the pre-orders reached a certain level, the manufacturer would go ahead and make it. I wonder if Akubra would be open to such a concept.

About DMc's comments re Heritage felt: I have to second this, from an unbiased quarter. Not just aesthetic issues, this really seems much more stable and better all around. I think their markup for this is more than reasonable. At this point, I'm pretty much only interested in Heritage felt as far as Akubras go.

All the best to you all,
- Bill

 

[DMc]

While Akubra is certainly a volume hat manufacturer, the manual nature of hat-making, the batch system of production (tied to minimum dyeing quantities required), and our "bunny to brow" capabilities do allow a fair degree of flexibility.
As has been done in the past, I'd suggest that you (as a group of purchasers) approach a prominent Akubra stockist with your focused wishes. Given the credibility of this forum, the stockist may see the broader potential for a new style or a new colour, and then be able to approach Akubra for a quick decision.

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

I'd love to see a Bogart in moonstone with a black band.

 

[Blackthorn]

I'd love to see a Bogart in moonstone with a black band.

A lot of folks would, I'm thinking. Look how popular the Fed IV is, in moonstone.

 

[FurFeltFedora]

I'd put a strong vote in for a Moonstone Campdraft, there are a lot of people out there who love the Campdraft and love Moonstone, the two together would be great. I mean, I'm willing to wait 3 months for a Mid-Brown Campdraft, I'd wait the same for a Moonstone.

 

[Blackthorn]

In case you might still be checking this thread...

...is it possible to get a Stylemaster without the bound edge? I think the crown shape and size, and the shape of the brim are just about perfect for what I'm looking for, but that bound edge really ruins it for me. Can it be ordered plain?

 

[Ordinary Guy]

I know that several of us had emailed and asked for a Moonstone CD.

The last responses I saw or received said they would take it under consideration ..

So I decided to see if anything was going on since last spring and emailed them about it.

Here is my reply, I received this on Sep 3, 2009

Hi Harry,

no plans for the Campdraft in Moonstone yet.

We have the Stylemaster in Moonstone.

Hope this has helped.


Best regards,
Deb Leake
sales@hatsdirect.com

The Hattery
2/197 Katoomba Street,
Katoomba, 2780
Australia

Phone: 02 4782 5003
Int:+ 61 2 4782 5003
Fax: 02 4782 6265

 

[Blackthorn]

I know that several of us had emailed and asked for a Moonstone CD.

The last responses I saw or received said they would take it under consideration ..

So I decided to see if anything was going on since last spring and emailed them about it.

Here is my reply, I received this on Sep 3, 2009

Hi Harry,

no plans for the Campdraft in Moonstone yet.

We have the Stylemaster in Moonstone.

Hope this has helped.


Best regards,
Deb Leake
sales@hatsdirect.com

The Hattery
2/197 Katoomba Street,
Katoomba, 2780
Australia

Phone: 02 4782 5003
Int:+ 61 2 4782 5003
Fax: 02 4782 6265

Thanks for the update, OG. It's a shame for them to miss so many opportunities to sell hats. I'll probably order another Stetson Temple to get something close to the shape I'm looking for...but the Akubra would have been perfect. And I'd probably have ordered an Akubra Bogart by now if they offered a good sampling of colors.

Maybe Akubra just has too much business to worry about anything new.