FOR IMMEDIATE DELETE

Canmore, AB, January 5th, 2009 — In a unique and (literally) universally responsible move, Ambler Apparel has launched 1% For The Planet (Mars). 1%FTP(M) is a bold environmental vision that encompasses not just our home planet, but also our closest neighbor in the solar system.

“As earthlings, our perspective has really improved since the days of NIMBY (Not In My Backyard),” said Scott Semple from Ambler. “We’ve commendably expanded our scope to include the entire planet. Now we need to be careful that the satisfaction of our success doesn’t lead full circle to NOMP — Not On My Planet. That’s why we started 1%FTP(M).”

“With space exploration on track to visit Mars in our lifetime,” said Christian Rawles, Ambler’s General Manager. “Focusing only on Earth would be irresponsible and geo-centric. One day we’re going to land on Mars. It’s simple solar system stewardship to get some recycle bins up there well in advance.”

You can learn more about Ambler’s 1% for the Planet (Mars) by visiting their blog at http://blog.amblermw.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE DELETE

Canmore, AB, December 29th, 2009 — Nestled in the beating heart of the majestic Canadian Rockies and fighting the good fight against similar cliches, Ambler has been making warm hats and overly-descriptive sentences for over 15 years. Noticing a growing trend in the Outdoor Industry for verbose press releases, Ambler decided to throw their hat in the ring. Again.

Yeah, das’ right. This press release is about a press release. It’s a bit circular but that’s okay, because we make hats, which are for your head, which is relatively circular.

Ambler noticed so many press releases being released lately (and every one of them filled with edge-of-your-seat content) that they were starting to feel left out and wanted to be a part of the action. Plus, talking about yourself in the third person has a long, proud tradition amongst self-promoters that handle their own PR.

If you like this press release then you’ll most likely like Ambler, and if you don’t like this press release you probably stopped reading by now… So you like it!

FOR IMMEDIATE DELETE

Canmore, AB, December 22nd, 2009 — Ambler Mountain Works Ltd., the Canadian company that pioneered hand-knit wool hats from the Himalayas, has launched a new blog entitled “Use Your Head” at blog.amblermw.com.

“I didn’t know that a blog was worthy of a press release,” said Scott Semple, Ambler’s General Manager. “But now I see how important it is. At Ambler, we also have a front door, phones and a fax machine.”

“Ambler is about fun, functional fashion,” said Christian Rawles, Ambler’s Sales Manager. “You can’t have fun or be functional without your head. So for people with heads, we want Use Your Head to become a great resource. Kind of like an instruction manual.”

Some of the blog posts thus far include:

• The Cost of Status Quo, thoughts on getting out of your comfort zone if you’re going to improve life.
• Wax On, Wax Off, which examines the importance of practice and execution.
• You Are What You Tweet, thoughts on new technologies and how important they are in getting to know people and brands.
• Pulsating Ever Faster, thoughts on change and how important it is to embrace it.
• A Fine Balance, thoughts on work-life scheduling.

The Use Your Head blog is updated whenever Ambler feels like it. But because they think head-using is very, very important, it gets updated, you know, a lot. Er… at least it should.

About Ambler Mountain Works

Launched in 1994, Ambler was the first company in the world to develop pill-box-style hats made out of fleece. That trend raged for about five years, then thankfully, it died.

Ambler then pioneered wool hats from the Himalayas, hand-knit by workers being paid equitable wages and working in clean safe conditions. That was followed with the first O-Wool hats in the world. Both the Himalayan and O-Wool products were quickly copied by Ambler’s biggest competitor.

Now, Ambler has expanded it’s line to include a kids’ line, urban caps and merino wool. Also, all of the sentences in these three paragraphs are true. And quite witty.

Most importantly, we have fun. We hope you enjoyed this press release. For more info on using your head, please visit our blog. For more information on press releases, visit For Immediate Delete.

The tech world’s current trend of anti-planning blog posts is approaching cliche status. It makes me throw up a little bit.

In a comment follow-up to his blog entry, Matt Linderman posted: “It’s not that all planning is always bad. It’s just we give it disproportionate value compared to what it’s actually worth. And often, we use it as an excuse because it’s easier to talk about stuff and write stuff down than it is to actually build something.

This is absolutely true. Many people value planning more than it’s worth. But it doesn’t follow that therefore plans are worthless.

Fixating on a plan as a guaranteed solution is a mistake. But assuming that there are human beings over the age of 12 who think a plan is a minute-by-minute blueprint of the future is ludicrous.

Like it or not, 37signals plans just like everybody else. Once upon a time, someone at 37signals decided, “We’re going to build a simple project management tool.” That’s not very detailed, but like it or not, it’s a plan. It redirected the status quo and changed the future. That’s what plans do.

How many world-class athletes do you know that have never used a periodized training schedule and diet plan? How many world-class musicians do you know who didn’t cut their teeth on twinkle-twinkle and then follow a typical progression from there to mastery?

Whether you call them plans, intentions, direction or progression is irrelevant. Looking at where you are today, imagining where you want to be — and then deciding on the first step in between — is a plan.

I have a bad habit. I tweak. Constantly.

I suspect that my type-A fascination with improvement is frustrating to my family and co-workers, perhaps nauseating, curious at best. I feel it too. Sometimes I feel like I can’t escape my OCD-esque brain.

But I am intrigued by making straight lines straighter. Even a laser beam has a margin of error. Continuous improvement is the gravity that attracts me to the activities and tools that I love: business, climbing and technology.

Which is why I am always surprised when I meet someone who does not want to change, does not want to improve. Typically, I am shocked into silence.

And it’s especially confusing when that same person craves change in the outside world, but doesn’t want to commit any of their own resources to the cause.

Then again, why would they? That would be uncomfortable.

Craving change, improvement or a better life, but not being willing to get outside of your comfort zone is the equivalent of wanting to be a millionaire, but not wanting to work. Or wanting to be fit, but not wanting to exercise. Or wanting to be a Formula One racer, but being fixated on using a Model T.

It just ain’t gonna happen.

The cost of change is temporary discomfort. The cost of status quo is not being successful, not being fit, not being fast. Worse yet, when viewed relative to the modern world that moves so blissfully fast, status quo puts you in a declining state. Forever.

Isn’t a little discomfort today (maybe even every day) worth all of the rewards that improvement will bring?

Hello Everyone,

My name is Scott Semple. I’m the owner and General Manager of Ambler Mountain Works.

Back in November, we initiated a voluntary recall of two of our products, the Poseidon and the Erwin. Less than 1,000 units each were affected, but even so, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.

As the CPSC press release states, Ambler is voluntarily recalling the Erwin and Poseidon beanies due to insecurely attached parts. If either the eyeballs on the Erwin or the octopus legs on the Poseidon are insecurely attached — or if you are unsure — please remove them or return the product to us.

For more information, please contact Ambler at returns@amblermw.com. Thank you for reviewing this information, and sorry for the inconvenience.

Regards,
Scott Semple

I have recently returned to Ambler after a year away working in a completely unrelated field. This last year has been one of my best for many reasons; primarily because it was the year of my first child’s birth. Besides that mind-expanding and life-altering event, I have had the chance to learn some great new things about myself and about business.

The biggest lesson learned is actually something I was introduced to in 1984 at the age of 6 by a guy you probably know, Mr. Miyagi. The Karate Kid had an impact on my young life at the time and this year I was reminded of the importance of Mr. Miyagi’s cornerstone lesson; ‘wax on, wax off’.

Before Mr. Miyagi’s karate protégé, Daniel, could actually get a chance to block a kick or throw a punch he had to perform what seemed to be endless chores for Mr. Miyagi around the house. Painting the fence, sanding the deck and waxing the cars in Daniel’s mind were a waste of time and energy and were getting him nowhere closer to his goal of kicking ass.

I found myself doing the chores of daily life and grumbling about how it wasn’t leading me in the right direction and how I can’t believe that this is what I’m doing with myself. But that’s when I heard Mr. Miyagi’s voice and it made me realize that if I don’t master the actions and intentions of my daily, routine tasks then I will never kick ass at anything. Waxing on and waxing off perfectly with both hands taught Daniel the exact actions he needed to block a kick when it matters most.

Perfect execution of the not-so-important tasks is what teaches us the characteristics of perfect execution in general. So that has literally brought me back to Ambler, a place where people really enjoy doing things right. I have started sanding the deck and painting some of the fence and I know that it is leading me as an individual and Ambler as a company to becoming masters at what we do.

In a few weeks we’ll be welcoming Christian Rawles to our team. Christian will be our Sales Manager, joining Dave Bartholomew in designing and implementing our new sales strategy.

We want to have the strongest sales force and the best customer service in the business. Christian and Dave are ideally suited to make that happen.

We received over 200 applications for this position and many were very, very strong candidates, making the selection process luxuriously challenging.  We considered many and interviewed several, and we found just the right fit with Christian.

Why Christian?

Christian has worked with us before. For two years, he did an incredible job of reorganizing and running our production and logistics. Christian is incredibly reliable and a multi-talented learning machine. We’re very happy to have him back, especially in such a key position.

Christian understands Ambler, our style, our aspirations, our product, and our customers. He will expand our capabilities without changing our flavour.

So everyone please welcome Christian Rawles (back) to the team!

For the past month or so, I’ve been investigating a potential new business, one that would be entirely web-based. (Years ago two paths diverged in a wood, and I chose to live in my car and climb full-time rather than learning HTML…)

The details are irrelevant to Ambler, but what I’ve learned about the Internet in the past few weeks is hugely relevant if Ambler wants to thrive in the future: People entrenched in the web world (even those that have never met each other) can know a whole lot more about each other than the rest of us do. And one day the rest of the world is (hopefully) going to catch up. Continue reading →

For the past month, I have had the pleasure of working with Dave Bartholomew.

Our work with Dave is still in its infancy, but it is already showing positive returns. Dave has a wealth of knowledge and experience, and it’s a fabulous opportunity for us here at Ambler.

Having Dave onboard also gives me a great opportunity to be a student again. Despite what the tone of my personal blog may suggest, I have very few answers and I enjoy being a beginner whenever possible. The person with the greatest opportunity and potential for growth is the guy or gal in the class with the least knowledge and skill.

Shockingly, not everyone sees it this way. Continue reading →