Back when Oiselle was wee, and it was just me and That Sarah Mac dreaming of our product on a bigger stage, the blogger-as-reviewer trend was hot. "They're the influencers that tell people what to buy" we heard and said. For the most part, that seemed like sound thinking. After all, as buyers of things, we want to know what the aficionados are buying. What's new, next, and best?! And so we joined in, and sent Oiselle samples off to influential bloggers for reviews. Some got traction. Some didn't. But at the same time, I had this lingering worry and dislike of the format. I mean, if we're giving the person free stuff, then how are they unbiased? When I asked this, most brand marketers were like "duh, that's the point." But I never liked it. As a designer and product person, I wanted honest feedback. I wanted to know how they really felt. (Not to say I'm yearning for a negative review. But still. No one likes to feel like they're being told what they want to hear). No yes men. No yes women!
As Oiselle grew, we found we no longer had to go looking for reviewers. We had a steady stream of bloggers contacting us. The pitch tends to go something like this: "My name is so and so and I have such and such number of followers and my website gets this many monthly visitors and so can you please send me some free gear?" After a while, it was like, um, okay... We did it for a while, then I think others started to have that nagging feeling too: why would I believe your review of a product you got for free?
So we started talking to blogger friends about more "truth in reviewing." One of my favorite all time review blogs was from Sarah Once Upon a Lime from 2012. The original Roga Shorts...all straight scoop.
Fast forward to 2016. I believe in bloggers. I believe in our product. And I believe in honest blogger review of product. Ideally, bloggers are buying Oiselle and letting their audience know what they think. But if we give product away for free, I want that to be known. Call it a Straight Scoop Review!
With the launch of Spring 16, we're happy to announce that we've gifted some product to teammates who we think do a great job on social. A non-exclusive short list, of course.
STRAIGHT SCOOP REVIEWS
KIMBERLEY TESHIMA
Review: Hi Line Bra
CECILIA JONES
Review: “A Special Oiselle Wednesday"
JULIA HANLON
Review: Izumo Long Sleeve
Review: New Verrazano Shimmel
KRISTEN GARZONE
Review: Voltage Long Sleeve
REBEKAH LEONI
Review: Izumo Long Sleeve
COURTNEY DREDDEN
Review: New Gifted Verrazano Bra, Holepunch Lux Sweatshirt
MARY WINCHESTER
Review: "Straight Scoop - Oiselle Spring 16"
For each review we've asked these birds to be transparent that they received the styles from us. We will update links here as new reviews come through!
Thank you team. Your love, and your occasional kick in the pants, keeps us going!
