JUDO! I am sure that your wife does not need glasses!!!!! BLACK! NEVER!

You may not smell the merino top Paul but..........

£12? A bargain, I will have one, do they sell it in Blue? Or are they getting rid of the Black rubbish first  I must admit that this morning I had no Paramo on, just a Helly and then, wait for it, A very light waterproof from Lidl and a pair of running tights from ....Lidl! I bought the tights last week, wore them on a 17 miler in the Black Mountains, they were superb, better than my Ron Hills, no pockets though, and so i had to put my hands down inside them! Very embarrassing!! I am a 32 - 34 inch waist, the Lidle size said 42!!! they fitted fine.

Judo only a recent thing for me, so  could help my sons with their judo.  I spent most of my adult life doing karate and then aikido.  I do find I am enjoying it though, especially the competitions as so few people seem to know how to fight as opposed to know how to do judo.  That actually sounds more violent than I mean it, but hopefully you can understand what I mean.

As for the Adidas tops, they only had black (TK Maxx, Croydon).  I cleaned them out of the two in large (after a lot of indecision as to whether I was a large or extra large - I'm about a 43-44" chest).  All that was left was a couple of 2XL, M and one S (I think).  I've not seen them in any other TK Maxx store, but with that sort of reduction, I doubt they will stay there long.  The large fits fine, despite me being right on the border between L and XL according to the box.

Now I have to find a rugby shirt (in black) before Sunday, so I can play in a fathers and coaches game at my son's rugby club.

One day, I'll grow up.  But not this day.

Oh, by the way, I think the fashion police are after you.  Not only for colour choice, but Lidl running tights?  I shudder to think.  Unless, of course, you are a fit, 25 year old blonde woman......   Then I just tremble as I think about it....

you are a fit, 25 year old blonde woman......   Then I just tremble as I think about it....

I wish! No, an ancient old guy living on his memories, but then, better to be a has been than a never was.

You say that you are still working, then get of the firms PC and earn me some pension!

Have a great day

That sounds very sad.  You'll have me crying.

As to pensions, think yourself lucky you've got one.  I strongly suspect I will have to work until at least 70 or longer the way everyone wants to dip into pensions the last few years.

Back to topic.  And some good news on the Paramo front for London based people (the best news this side of Mayor Leavingsoon actually being locked up for his corruption).  Couldn't resist a political joke today.  Please don't hold it against me.

Now, where was I.  Paramo.  Talking to the nice people in the Covent Garden store, actually it was someone from Paramo visiting, they said that Paramo understands that Covent Garden is a brand publicity store as much as a selling store.  They understand that people might go in to try stuff on and later buy it from somewhere else.  They are happy with this, so long as people buy Paramo from somewhere.  Looks like that could be good news for those of us who want to try stuff on, but refuse to pay top prices for it.  Also means the shop is likely to remain there.

I know Parky for one will be happy with that (as they definitely know him in the store), though he probably already knows the news.

Kev,

Was that for a black Velez Adventure?  Or a genuine special order?  If the former, they have a few in stock at Covent Garden.  Same with the black Cascada trousers.

I should be giving my VA a good test on Dartmoor for a few days early next month.  Given the weather we've had recently I think it will be the VA rather than a softshell with Paclite emergency waterproof.  Not sure about which trousers yet - softshell/paclite or Cascada.  I think that trousers will have to wait until detailed weather forecast is available.  The problem is that we will be out for three days, so I need to keep pack weight as low as possible.  Get your clothing wrong on a wild camping solo trip and you either go faster/slower or modify the route.  With a group that's not often an option (especially when you're leading the group).

Paul,

 'twas  the Black VA of which we speak. I imagined a simple shop-to-shop transfer but that seems to have gone out the window.

I can neither confirm nor deny the presence of Black Cascadas in my gear cupboard. That information is classified.

<waves to Beloved>

If it doesn't hurry up, we may find ourselves having the "Is Paramo too hot for summer" arguement. Again. 

Kev,

Give Rob Cook a call at Paramo.  He might be able to get something from their stock to your local store.  That's what he did for me.  You may be able to get him to do a direct order to you too.  I was very impressed dealing with him, so I'm sure he will help if he can.

I know what you mean about the trousers, I had a hard time justifying them too.  Not that you bought them...

The Discount for clothing is a bit of a minefield, some do go to a retailer and try the goods before buying on the internet, but then again they don't always get the back up that you can get from a local shop. I went into my local Paramo shop where the clothing was 20% higher than on their web site, when I queried this, they said "no problem, you can have the same discount as on our web site" I did, and I will go back, they also sent my old Cascada back to be re-proofed and cleaned, with no postage cost to me.

A great shop    www.thegorgeoutdoors.co.uk/

Exactly the point I was making to them.  The good news is that they had already considered it and approved of it.  I was worried that they may not have seen it as they were selling everything at list price without any discounts.  Wot no discount????

Did you know that the store manager can, theoretically at least, sell you any of their kit at any discount?  Another interesting discussion I had there.  Certainly worth telling them you're going elsewhere as it is 10% or whatever cheaper.  There should be no reason they don't match it.  Especially if you've a web print to prove it.  After all, a purchase at that minute has got to be better than hoping you do purchase from someone later.  And I'm sure we all prefer to buy from where we try kit.

Not that Paramo will be very happy with us talking about discounts.....

Hi Paul, it is not difficult to get discount, IF YOU ASK often a BMC, Ramblers and other cards will get you at least 10%

Now as for Paramo discount............. They were not happy when I said it was cheaper to buy from a shop than direct!

There are a whole bunch of reasons that the Henrietta St shop works for us, it was never viewed or set up as just a shop.

Yes we do understand that some shops will offer discounts from the RRP. It would be mad (and Illegal) of us to try to fix those prices or put unfair pressure on other stores to sell at full price. However as a manufacturer then it is a sensible thing to be selling at RRP or you are simply saying that you don't believe in your RRPs and pro actively undercutting the people you supply. We charge what we do because we believe that’s what its worth and have to make a certain margin to make it stack up and be sustainable (especially for the folk in Miquelina). You won’t see anyone here in expensive clothes or cars etc that’s from our MD down.  

Also from a central London point the simple overheads are much higher that any other cities I have looked at (especially Covent Garden) but we believe it’s important we keep making this work.

The vast majority of sales made are at full price. As far as I’m aware we’ve not had anything come back based on price in the 6 months we have been open. Some people are very price focused some are not. A lot of brands are putting prices up big time as we speak.

Instead of the discount thing we came up with (and will continue with) the Páramo Points scheme. This allocates points to every regular price sale of Páramo product bought in store. You also get told of any events that we are doing in advance. At the last event the PP folk were given double points and also access to any special offers or discontinued stock (at better prices) before the open event on the Saturday.The points will soon be redeemable against special stock items and for some may be worth more than a simple discount, but then that depends on how you shop.

All the staff have some discretion, however any discounts on Páramo kit have to be justified to us and are very closely managed (for all the reasons above and more). We do offer both BMC and RA discount if you can show a valid card. The BMC because of the Rock On side and the Ramblers Assn as they have always supported us and to be fair everyone else does. We also have had special closed shop evenings for other organisations – perhaps one for you guys? Where the team from here get up to the shop and yes there are ££ benefits if its appropriate and justified.

Some other answers from way back in this thread.

Here we go!

Can you dye Páramo - the answer straight from Nick is that he would in no way recomment it. Anything that has been proofed is always likely to have some proofing left behind. The dye is unlikly to take to this area - unless you want some kind of funky DPM of course?

The Velez Smock - my understaning is that it was one of Gregs designs but Julie G had some input regarding the styling however that was some time ago. The finished garment involved loads of people to get it to market including Briony D who did all the PR and catalogues etc who is very sadly not with us anymore and much missed.

Aspira Smock upper/Inner pocket. It was for security. Having two pockets with openings at both ends may mean that you have no pocket to easily put something in and have to worry if both sides were done up securely (pre mobiles and GPS) as teh majority are right handed then thats why this side.

thanks skippy. i think it was you now i think about it. i still go in there to rant about things and have a chat to the staff - the dutch? guy in there is very good as was the f&t guy (is he still there?)

i'm very, very pleased that the decision is the shop as showroom and also a shop as i've bought a few more paramo bits as a result and great for the "what's this like then" moments.

when the insect repellant is in i'll be paying another visit........