Comments on: social object: “sweaty betty”

By: Ciarán

Ciarán — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:12:02 +0000

Even though I’m not a) female, or b) a gym fan, I still like this brand. Despite the connotations of the name, it just works.
On a more important note, which branch is this? If it’s the one I’m thinking of I’m wondering if the watering hole you mean is 2 Floors?

By: Duarte

Duarte — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:04:37 +0000

We have a favourite watering hole in Toronto called Sweaty Betty’s (http://www.sweatybettysbar.com/index.htm) with the right attitude:
“And how many more times…?
Don’t ask us to mix you a frilly drink.
Just order at the bar, there’s no table service.
Damn tourists.”
I’ll take you next time you’re in town.

By: M

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:49:30 +0000

Coincidentally I came here after reading about momofuku ko, the NYC restaurant with only 12 seats where people go nuts trying to get an online reservation. It also has buzz.
But in the case of the restaurant, and it sounds like this store as well, the store/item in question has a high level of core quality.
If you have the quality, you can do the social object. But I think a lot of people these days are trying to bypass the long, hard road to creating high quality, in favor of just doing some cool new marketing trick.
You gotta have the quality first, and that is the part that takes years of sweat (which is why most people don’t want to do it). After that you can probably throw practically any social object, or none at all.
If Sweaty Betty’s workout clothes were bad, it would fail despite the name. If they’re really good, you could put any crazy thing in there (Velvet Frog workout clothes! The store with that gives you a velvet frog with every purchase!) and get the buzz.
Hugh proves the point. The man making social objects has cool cartoons to support it (skill developed over years).

By: ALE-Xpressed

ALE-Xpressed — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:55:54 +0000

Hey,
Can you tell where exaclty is this located ?
Sounds quite interesting
Thanks,
Ale
http://blog.ale.com.pk

By: Kunal

Kunal — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:21:18 +0000

Dunno about the nipples, but the “a” and “d” of adidas on the poster “surround” the boobs for sure
Very straight-forward brand name to use which easily conveys the product range. Awesome!

By: momo

momo — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:31:11 +0000

Keith Handy wrote:
“Am I the only one who glanced at this really quickly and thought her nipples were visible?”
No, you’re not. And I am sure that’s not accidental.
I’m sure it’s “subliminable”. ;O)

By: M

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:11:04 +0000

I know that shop. I always walk past it. There's another one that I really like in Soho: http://theworldofm.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/ye-olde-sweet-shoppe/

By: Dave Kinsella

Dave Kinsella — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:04:56 +0000

I told my wife about this and she pointed out that there’s a branch in the town where we live, somehow it never registered with me.

By: John Ashton

John Ashton — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:50:23 +0000

You probably already know this, but there used to be a chip shop near Leeds University called sweaty betty’s … in the seventies I remember it. Mind you, there was probably one in every town.

By: Keith Handy

Keith Handy — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:13:05 +0000

Am I the only one who glanced at this really quickly and thought her nipples were visible?

By: Tina Mammoser

Tina Mammoser — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:36:12 +0000

Well, I’m a sweaty betty customer and fan. In fact, when I found them (by chance) I went and raved to several fellow cyclists. I went in because it looked fun instead of hardcore, I left with a bag because it WORKS. The clothes actually fit normal women (the skinny ones too), are made well, and hold up to real activity. You say it’s high end, but I consider it more fit for purpose. It wasn’t more expensive than any of my other cycling gear brands.
And there you go. I’m commenting on a blog about it. The social object is working. (and it reminds me that I need more of their socks)

By: bob

bob — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:15:42 +0000

don’t sweat the petty stuff.…
don’t pet the sweaty stuff.

By: John Stavely

John Stavely — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:42:10 +0000

There is a beer called "Sweaty Betty", too. http://www.boulderbeer.com/NewsApril05.htm#Betty

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:36:36 +0000

it’s fun definitely, a social object certainly. But the connotations that come with the name, for me, over ride anything to do with the brand, i.e. fat horrible dinner ladies from secondary school, scooping terrible food onto plastic plates. As apposed to young ladies in well fitting gym wear. seems like they’re doing alright for themselves though.
oh and then there’s the classic macc lads song to contend with, of course.

By: David McDonald

David McDonald — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:20:56 +0000

‘Easy to relay, even after a couple of drinks’ — Love That!