the blue-eyed barbarian

journal of authenticity

The blue-eyed barbarian spreads the best practices of modern marketing and design for independent businesses. I travel the world to meet great entrepreneurs, collect their stories and try to make sence of what helped them succeed.

Hi! Denys here, aka the blue-eyed barbarian.

I explore independent businesses around the world to find out their stories, best practices, wisdom.

In my journal I share stories that have changed my work life and my approach to business.

 
Journal of authenticity
Story #5. A menswear brand that keeps Berlin culture, A.D.Deertz
Berlin
Story #5. A menswear brand that keeps Berlin culture, A.D.Deertz
Berlin

A.D.Deertz is a menswear independent brand from Berlin that can teach us a lot about freedom, ethics and community. Being a 15-year old business it has seen a lot and has tried a lot. The blue-eyed barbarian asked a designer and founder Wibke Deertz to share her path as entrepreneur

Berlin
Story #4. Revival of the iconic leather business from Copenhagen, Dahlman1807
Copenhagen
Story #4. Revival of the iconic leather business from Copenhagen, Dahlman1807
Copenhagen

Dahlman has been making high-quality leather goods in the heart of Copenhagen even since it was founded by Master Saddle Maker Wilhelm Ludvig Dahlman in 1807. We traveled to Copenhagen to speak to Jeppe Dencker about the revival of the heritage brand.

Copenhagen
Story #3. From selling vintage sunglasses in Lisbon to the largest Portuguese eyewear brand: FORA
Lisbon
Story #3. From selling vintage sunglasses in Lisbon to the largest Portuguese eyewear brand: FORA
Lisbon

Miguel Barral created one of the most interesting sunglasses brands in Portugal. His classic models manufactured the old-fashioned way attract trendy clients not only in Portugal but in Berlin and Paris too.

Lisbon
Story #2. Ten years of Cinnober bookshop in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Story #2. Ten years of Cinnober bookshop in Copenhagen
Copenhagen

Ten years ago Ulla Welinder started Cinnober, a stationery and books shop in Copenhagen. Books are meticulously selected amongst international visually inspiring editions. Calm vibes are obvious immediately as you take your stairs down to the shop. We explored how Welinder built this sanctuary, how she finds time for excellent mailings and where the business is moving next.

Copenhagen
Story #1. A contemporary jewelry brand from Turin, MUTA
Turin
Story #1. A contemporary jewelry brand from Turin, MUTA
Turin

The new wave of Italian businesses is up. They are well-connected globally while being a part of a vibrant local life. Turinese Muta is a great incarnation of that.

Turin

What’s on

A quest of documenting what authentic businesses do. The collection of real-life events gives new ideas and motivation. Experiment with something new!

 

About

The blue-eyed barbarian spreads the best practices of modern marketing and design for independent businesses.

I travel the world to meet great entrepreneurs, collect their stories, make sense of what helped them succeed and share everything freely.

Editorials

Sometimes I answer the most important questions of entrepreneurs writing educational articles. I call them editorials and here’s a couple of those:

feed
How to optimize and automate marketing before expanding
How to optimize and automate marketing before expanding

If a business wants to grow retaining authenticity we suggest automating as much as possible. In this piece, we briefly explore modern marketing optimization practices and tools to prepare a business for authentic growth.

How an interior designer can get published in media
How an interior designer can get published in media

One of the most effective PR and marketing tools for interior design business is getting consistently published in press. When you have just got started making professional photos the media wouldn’t knock on your doors. You have to do some first steps to start relationships. This article will lead you through the process.

Types of collaborations for modern businesses
Types of collaborations for modern businesses

Lighting manufacturer Anglepoise that makes iconic lamps collaborated with a designer Paul Smith on a special-colored collection. It is only one type of creative collaborations. In this article I examine many styles available to authentic businesses.

Tortus Copenhagen got massive Instagram following using making-of videos.
Tortus Copenhagen got massive Instagram following using making-of videos.

Eric Landon from Copenhagen pottery design studio has amassed a huge following online supposedly due to his beautiful videos of the making process and wonderful shapes that he gets in the result.

How conceptual eyewear brands approach websites and Instagram
How conceptual eyewear brands approach websites and Instagram

Authentic eyewear brands aim to distance apart from others and communicate their unique style. This makes their digital visual special among mass-market brands. Also they usually are constrained by financial reasons and therefore create for innovative and effective solutions. Here’s a brief case study of some European eyewear brands.

Authentic business guide

A collection of featured businesses from around the world. I went to 13 cities so far to visit every authentic business I could find, thanks to the recommendations by Monocle and Cereal magazines, as well as great local people. The list isn’t full and final, but I regularly revisit and update it.

Google Maps List

Open the list and press follow. You can access it from your Google Maps application (Menu - Your places - Saved)

 
Journal of authenticity
The blue-eyed barbarian manifesto
The blue-eyed barbarian manifesto

"We value the people who stand behind every product, their feeling and a sense of life. It's the acceptance of a special part of their soul, that we are really getting from their work. And we can intuitively feel if a person puts his soul to his work."

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