I sat down this weekend with a Sapporo to do my routine analytics over the site and Substack and was pleased. We’re ticking up in readership and discovery both here and the main site. I thought of opening everything up, laying it all out, and seeing which pieces you read and which ones resonated. Substack is a unique place and what keeps people engaged is profoundly interesting.
The Rolex Explorer work is near bottom of the pile.
I was greatly surprised, to see that my Rolex Explorer work is not in the front row here. It does better on the main site, but still, not of note.
Of everything I have covered in the last few years, the most obvious luxury signalled item is the one you (and everyone else) were least interested in. Meanwhile a quirky luxury quartz watch, a review of a 007 reality show very few people watched, and some walk and talk videos discussing Bond 26 are at the top of the heap.
I did not expect this and strangely, I am overjoyed.
The Weird and Wonderful
I know my demo, you can have most things so a step away from the hype and generic and a step in the specifics is what we’re after. Shout outs to the eccentric corners of the Bond lifestyle that I’m most interested in. Indulgences into what almost seems like pure madness to create a business based on… this particlar hue of weird and the wonderful.
Books are a Go
Spy novels. Specifically the Bond continuation novels, are what I know it best and love most. I’m writing one of my own and it’s been a continuous win for everyone
That will continually run alongside watches for a while here. Charlie Higson’s King Zero lands soon. We will cover it here in full.
But the split across the other Pillars…I think you’ll be able to help.
Your views
A request. Tell me what resonates from the below
Bourbon and scotch. Regulars will know my passion on this: literary Bond drank a great deal more bourbon than martinis. I can review and discuss real drinks, stocking a bar worthy of 007 and less on the tv stuff…So in essence, drink reviews. Deep dives into obscure bottles.
Tell me which brands you want looked at. The rugged luxury tie ins, etc.
The morning routine. Bond is comically exact about breakfast, and the eggs are the easy part. Depending on the author at least. Now with everything around them…that’s the fun stuff.
What I am drinking, why. Chemex. Mastering the La Pavoni … Bialetti Moka. Coffee and morning routine. I can delve deeply into this as routine is something we covered in the earliest days
Watches + The Gear. The 60’s spy craze and the coolest elements of this lifestyle are aided by the gear and the gadgets. Watches as tools. For the truly rugged tool focused, they may even be disposables. Certainly to be rotated. I’ve been contemplating writing about them in this way instead. Getting a hold of as many of the film famous, and pop-culture adjacent examples as possible and covering them. But more than watches
I have a long-term review of the Curry & Paxton Ronnie in progress. The more famous pairs, the Sean is the Connery Thunderball frame, and the Yvan is the one that sat on Michael Caine’s face through The Ipcress File and The Italian Job.
The wardrobe. People have covered old literary Bond in his sea island cotton to death. Now, N.Peal, the other side of Sunspel…there’s something there. I have the full commander bond outfit from NTTD and I daily a Barbour Beacon (Skyfall) – This is an option.
My Ask
“I had always set out to do something a bit more, Carl Pei with this brand. To eschew my millennial “too cool for school” sensibilities and be more open. To give more BTS views of what’s going on creatively. It’s not my natural reflex, but it’s best for internal AND external growth. And it serves the community”
So my ask is : one pillar, and a bottle or a brand you want covered. Reply to this or leave it in the comments, whichever is easiest.
Thanks in advance for your participation!
You’re helping to form something very cool.
Cheers,
Brendon