Maybe I should start with the sheer fascination I have always had with office products. Growing up I loved the time of the year when we went shopping for schools supplies, the fresh pads of paper, the modern styled pens, everything new and ready for my mind to create.

When I was a junior in high school I spent a semester abroad in England. And here is the thing about going to school in England, I got to buy school supplies in England, and well, simply put… they ROCK! Maybe its the original A4 paper size, or the way that their pens seem so refined. But every single thing about the school supply shopping experience, totally outweighed my arriving at school each day looking like I had just stepped out of the shower drenched from my walk there. I coveted them and when I returned to the States I made sure to bring a bit of a stockpile with me. Ever since then I have scanned small stationary shops here and there with hopes of finding some of those long lost treasures.

So you can imagine my THRILL when I was reading through The Week; we must pause for a moment, as it must be said, this magazine is HANDS DOWN the best weekly out there, all the info you need from the news around the world, from wait for it… the week. I digress, so I am reading through the week and I see toward the back where they suggest up and coming services a company called Moo.com.

full size business cards displayed in their awesome case

Moo is the BRILLIANT printing house that started in where else, England and recently brought their proper printing style to the States.

But its not only their BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE printing quality (they print on 16 point paper and all images are beautifully coated and every person that gets one raves about them), its also their amazing customer service that keeps me coming back for more and referring them any chance I get. Moo is the Zappos brand of printing. From a brand perspective they know how to keep their customers happy and referring. Check out an example of their consistent follow-up emails from Little Moo, the tireless print robot:

“Hello
I’m Little MOO – the bit of software that will be managing your order
with us. It will shortly be sent to Big MOO, our print machine who will
print it for you in the next few days. I’ll let you know when it’s done
and on its way to you.”

And what if there is an issue with your order? Have no fear because Little Moo is here! After ordering a batch of mini cards and receiving confirmation that they were about to be shipped, I got this email:

“Hello Little MOO here again – the bit of software that manages your order with us. We spotted a problem with your order, and because we want to it to be perfect, we’re sending it back to Big MOO to get printed again. We’ll put it at the front of the line, but there will be slight delay before you receive it. Sorry about that.”

But they still send along the box they felt was incorrect so you still get all the ones that may be even a bit imperfect, as seen here:

mini cards for photography business

Moo has the option for uploading up to 100 different images on to the back of either their mini business cards or their full size business cards. I ordered these for my photography business and people love collecting them! AND they come in these awesome boxes that you can totally keep them in for display with “mine” and “yours” tabs to make sure you can keep your favs.

mini cards for client that wanted cloud variety, uploaded via flickr

During a time when companies are cutting back on their marketing and customer service efforts, Moo consistently goes above and beyond. With more and more brands disappointing rather than inspiring, Moo is a brand I am happy to support for everything from their quality of printing, to their customer service, to their effective tireless print robot.

Go Little Moo!

all images jordan benshea photography

It was the summer of 1992, and my family needed paddle jackets for our upcoming annual white water rafting trip. Growing up in Santa Barbara, California, outdoor gear is second nature, and the Ventura-based Patagonia is a staple for good quality. Through a friend of a friend we got a hit on a Patagonia sale and we were able to score paddle jackets for all four of us, one small catch, they were all purple. This meant not only did my mom and me get purple, but my brother and dad also were outfitted in the lively color. That river trip was the best of them all, with a trademark photo of us standing on the river bed looking like a group of grapes. Those paddle jackets, they rocked that trip, and they still to this day do their job. That’s the thing about Patagonia, whether you are climbing Mount Everest, or grocery shopping at the Farmers market, their products stand up to the test.

Often teased by some as “Pata-Gucci” for its high price tag, the product costs include a guarantee for life. Whether your dog bites out the zipper of your El Cap Jacket, or your Capilene leggings get a hole in the knee, they will fix them all, for free or replace them, for the life of the product, guaranteed. This didn’t use to be a rarity. Back in the day when Levis started making their famous jeans for the goldminer, they guaranteed their quality. Now you can buy them for $29 bucks at Sears, and you are lucky if you are able to take them back when button that falls out. And don’t get me wrong, Levis are some of the best jeans out there and a great brand in their own right.

But times have changed, and rarely do companies stand behind their products, but Patagonia stands out for their commitment to quality. They also test each and every one of their products. From their belts to snowboarding jackets, you can be assured that they have taken that product through the ringer to ensure it meets their high standards. In a world where there is less and less guarantee, Patagonia is one of my favorite brands not only for its lifetime guarantee, but also for it’s innovative and effective products. Patagonia creates product that rock.

All images Patagonia