While looking at the stats of this blog, I saw in the sources a blog. It's always interesting to know how come people finally found you on the web, because, honestly, this is such a mess ... :-)
So I decided to go have a look at this blog. Here it is : the Woolard Speak.
And I saw that Andrew Woolard mentionned MY BLOG (yes, my blog :-))), as an example of consumer blog.
Two consumer-generated blogs that showcase brand culture so wonderfully they should make companies drool:
Patagoniacs
Moleskinerie (previously mentioned)
Firstly, thank you to Andrew to mention the patagoniacs blog. In someway it is always nice to get a recognition :-)). Looking at his small resume, I understand that we have some common points, regarding Running for example.
Secondly, let me make a little focus about the story of this blog.
in 2003, a friend of mine told me about the blogs and the fantastic power of the blogs. At this time I had a blog I used mainly to publish pictures and small stories about my trip in Tahiti and other surf trips. That was much easier to tell people, look there, instead of sending 1 mail to many. But at this time, I was not convinced by the impact of blogs on people, brands, markets, politics.
Then after a trip in Central Asia, I decided to open a "real" blog. And as I had contacts with Patagonia, and as I am a Patagoniac (I'll explain why later), I openned this blog. The aim was between the marketing experience, the personal experience, learning about blog and how it can be helpful to people, brands, etc etc.
At the begining, the Patagoniac blog was about the brand, the actions, the products, and all the questions related to Patagonia (ecology, sports, ...). I was not very active, at this time (see the first posts in French). First steps, first experience about blogs. Of course at this time I told Patagonia about this blog. I never intended to squat any domain, or brand. No that was just an experience.
Then, after some days, some posts, I wrote this post about Blogs, introspection .. and I changed a little bit the editorial lines of the blog (wow, that looks serious ... :-))) But that was not to be more efficient, that was a personal need. I was booby trapped by the blogs :-))
That's in few lines the story, the evolution of this blog. Now, some posts are personal, hidden messages to the happy few, some posts are still speaking about what I like or love (surfing, running, environment). I would say that, now this is a "normal" blog, the mirror of a part of my life, with up and downs, with good posts and bad posts. Normal life, but that does not mean not interesting life :-))
About the fact that I am a Patagoniac, some explanations. I discovered the brand while I was spending time in the Alps, skiing, snowboarding. And I looked at the products. They were really good (expensive yes, but good ;-)). I bought some. At this time I knew nothing about the hidden part of Patagonia (environment, 1% for the planet ...). I received some catalogs, and I was interested by the brand, the texts, the engagement. Moreover, the brand is involved in the sports I practise (Surf, ski, snowboarding, trail running, climbing ...) Few brands cover all these segments in fact, with the ability to stick to the same image, the same guidelines.
So I became a Patagoniac, because I really embraced the brand, its values, the engagement ...
(Picture scriptum : early morning the sun was shining in Moscow, then the clouds appear, and it's again a sunless day, so this picture will bring colors to this post and this day).
Yes, netvibes uses, read this post. 
