Ewe boots in Cosmopolitan magazine

With December's arctic weather set to continue throughout January we have the perfect boots to keep you snug and warm. These beautifully soft tall leather boots with wool lining from Ewe by Gumbies, as featured in the December issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine, are just the ticket. At Bobtails Trading Company we stock the long leather Ewe boots in the most popular chocolate colour. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor wear, they are made from hardwearing cow suede with a super soft wool lining to keep your feet nice and toasty and have and have a strong reinforced heel to keep your feet in place. If properly maintained with a water repellent spray, readily available from larger supermarkets or your local shoe shop, these cosy boots should see you from season to season.

Wombat Counterfeit Awareness

Wombat Leather: How to spot fake Wombat Classic sheepskin boots: "Our Wombat Classic boots are extremely soft and warm and have a practical, sturdy and hardwearing sole that provides good grip and support ..."

Winter Essentials

Here are a few of our favourite items to keep you warm and cosy in the cold, snowy weather...

Wombat Alice boots (now reduced to £19.99) are perfect for wintry weather.  They have a sturdy, durable sole which is good for gripping slippery paths and the faux fur lining makes them warm and snugly.

These trapper hats are bang on trend this winter and you can certainly tell why. They are so warm! The Screamer Vodka Bar Pilot Hat is lined with faux fur and has side flaps that can be worn down over the ears for extra warmth or buckled over the top out of the way. With this hat you'll stay nice and warm but look super cool!

Hand warmers are great to keep in your pockets while out for a walk or standing at the bus stop. These warmers from Grabber last over 24 hours!

Merry Christmas from Bobtails Trading Company

At Bobtails Trading Company we wish all of our customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

And what a great year it’s been. We have been to some fantastic shows this year. Hats off to the organisers for all the care and attention to detail they put into organising such exciting events. We can’t wait for the shows season to start again. As soon as the dates are confirmed, we’ll be sure to let you know on the Events page of our website.

What we love so much about going to game fairs, country shows and steam rallies is that we get to meet you, our customers in person. We love to see the satisfaction on our customers faces as they walk away with a pair of our sheepskin boots or one of our leather bush hats. And we love to see the customers that we met at the same event in previous years, still wearing their hats and boots and just as pleased with them as the day they bought them. Thank you for your continued support and kind words of encouragement. It gives us a real thrill to hear how much you love our products and our service. Because if it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be able to carry on!

Here’s to another healthy and successful year and hopefully we’ll be seeing you all again very soon!

SALE NOW ON!

Check out Bobtails Trading Company today for some fantastic deals like these Wombat Alice boots now only £19.99 + P&P.

Get yours before they all sell out!

Stay warm this Winter with hand and body warmers!

At Bobtails Trading Company we have found a fantastic new product to keep our customers warm and cosy this winter. The crazy arctic weather we've been having here in the UK recently has made everyday outdoor tasks such as walking the dog or waiting for the bus extremely uncomfortable.  But armed with these hand and body warmers you can stay nice and warm!

You simply snap the packet and an instant chemical reaction takes place releasing lovely heat! Hand warmers are standard equipment for skiers and snowboarders but are ideal for placing in your pocket no matter what you are doing.  Grabber hand warmers last for over 24 hours!

The heatese body warmers last for 12 hours but have the added advantage of being adhesive. You can stick them to your lower back or abdomenal area which also makes them great for relief from period pain, pulled muscles or even sore joints resulting from arthritis or poor circulation.

With a warmer you'll never suffer from the cold ever again!

Wombat Leather

Wombat Leather is a fantastic new label, specializing in Australian leather bush hats and sheepskin boots. The brand aims "to provide [its] customers with beautifully designed products made from the finest quality materials, but without the designer price tag. All Wombat Leather goods feature quality, Australian design and are sold exclusively in the UK." Wombat Leather Press Release, November 2010.

At Bobtails Trading Company we currently stock 3 different hats from the Wombat Leather bush hat range. These bush hats differ in style and leather – the Wombat Cowboy has a shaped brim and there are full-grain as well as split leathers - but all have a number of features in common. All Wombat Leather Australian bush hats are made from the finest grade cattle hide, are fully waterproof, will protect the wearer up to 50 UV. These practical yet stylish hats are tough enough to stand even the harshest weather conditions and are perfect for country lifestyles as well as travelling.



Wombat Original Full Grain



Wombat Cowboy Full Grain



Wombat Outback Soft Split



We also currently stock two different styles of boots. The Wombat Classic boots are made from luxury twin-faced sheepskin for comfort and warmth and have a practical, durable sole. They also have a reinforced heel to prevent the collapse, regularly seen in lower quality styles. The Wombat Alice microfiber boots, also with a hardwearing sole and reinforced heel, are made from soft suede and have a silky feel faux fur lining.



Wombat Classic Sheepskin Boots



Wombat Alice Microfiber Boots



Building on the success of the Wombat Leather boots, we will soon be stocking a new style, the Wombat Matilda. These are long luxury sheepskin boots in two classic colours: chocolate and chestnut. These will be arriving any day now and for pre-orders we are offering a fantastic 10% disount.



Wombat Matilda Sheepskin Boots



To take advantage of this offer and to view the full range of Wombat Leather products, please visit Bobtails Trading Company today.

Caring for your Wombat sheepskin boots

With the correct care and attention your Wombat boots should last you years. At Bobtails Trading Company we recommend treating your boots before you wear them out with a water and stain repellent spray. These sprays are readily available from larger supermarkets, department stores or your local shoe shop and will prevent any dirt or oil from soaking into the sheepskin, keeping it on the surface thus making your boots much easier to clean.

Treat your Wombat boots in 3 simple steps …

1.   Spray the surface of your boots as evenly as possible with the water and stain repellent until they appear wet but not soaked.

2.   Leave your boots to dry naturally for at least 24 hours, keeping them out of direct sunlight and away from extreme heat.

3.   When dry, gently brush your boots in one direction only with a soft bristle brush to restore the even texture of the sheepskin.

Unfortunately, treating your boots will not protect your boots from all stains but it will make stains easier to remove. If your Wombat boots do become stained, you should under no circumstances put them in the washing machine. Stains must always be removed by hand in clean, cold water. There are cleansers and conditioners on the market specifically designed for sheepskin but these are not always readily available. You may have to order them from a specialist shoe shop or website. However, the good news is that normal shampoo is a great alternative. Because it is designed to be kind to even sensitive human skin and people take great deal of care over their hair, shampoo is much gentler than other soaps or cleaning products and therefore, will not cause any damage to your boots.

How to clean your Wombat boots…

1.   Dampen your boots.

2.   Squeeze out a small amount of sheepskin cleanser and conditioner (or shampoo) onto a clean, damp sponge. It is not a good idea to put the cleanser directly onto the boot in case too much squirts out. This could make any stains even worse.

3.   Using a gentle circular motion, scrub the stained areas.

4.   Rinse your boots.

5.   Allow them to dry naturally for 24 hours, keeping them out of direct sunlight or extreme heat. You may wish to stuff them with a cloth or towel to help them keep their shape.

6.   Once dry, brush lightly.

At Bobtails Trading Company we also recommend that you keep your Wombat boots in the accompanying canvas bag when not wearing them.

Wombat competition is now closed!



Thank you to everyone who entered our competition in association with Wombat Leather to win a pair of Wombat Classic sheepskin boots. We are currently processing all the entries and the lucky winner will be drawn and notified over the next few days.

Wombat Classic

For more sheepskin boots please visit Bobtails Trading Company.

Pre-order your Wombat Matilda boots for a 10% discount!

Pre-order price  £88.20 (usually £98!)

We are pleased to announce that we are now taking pre-orders at Bobtails Trading Company for Wombat Matilda boots arriving mid-December. Order yours now to take advantage of this fantastic offer!

Wombat Matilda in Chestnut

Wombat Matilda in Chocolate

Christmas at Stotfold Mill 2010

What a lovely event! It was small but perfectly formed. The organisers did an absolutely superb job. There was a warm and friendly atmosphere and the creativity and attention to detail in the decorations were exceptional, especially in Santa's Enchanted Forest. If ever you are in the area I would definitely recommend visiting the mill. It is a fascinating building, one of the few working water mills left in the country and a testament to good restoration. Please visit the Stotfold Mill website for further details.

http://www.stotfoldmill.com/



Stotfold Water Mill



Polar Bears at Santa's Enchanted Forest

Santa's Cabin

Bobtails' hats and boots




What's a wombat?

You've heard of the brand...

                    ...you've seen the sign...

...but do you know what a wombat actually is?



Wombats are small animals found in South Eastern Australia and Tasmania. They are quite similar in appearance to their close relative the koala bear. Like the koala bear, they are shy but playful and are marsupials. This means that they carry their young in a pouch on their belly but because they burrow, their pouches are different to those of other marsupials such as koalas and kangaroos. The pouches face backwards so that the young are not hit by flying earth when digging. Wombats are not able to climb trees.

There are 3 species of Wombat: the Common Wombat (has a bald nose), the Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat and the Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat. Wombats are an endangered species. The Northern Hairy-nosed Wombats are even close to extinction and are very rare.

Wombats can grow to between 70 and 120cm in length and up to 35cm in height. They can weigh between 15 and 35 kg. Wombats are characterised by large heads with rodent-like teeth for burrowing, stocky, muscular bodies and short but powerful legs. Their fur varies in colour from light brown, through grey to black.

Wombats prefer to live in mountains by the coast or by rivers and feed on grass, roots and fungi. They may stray a long way from their burrows while looking for food. Wombats are usually nocturnal but have sometimes been known to sunbathe!

Bobtails' Bush Hat Guide

So you fancy buying yourself a traditional Aussie bush hat. Good onya! We make some ace gear down under.  But watch out, not all the leather hats you see about in the UK are dinky-di. Bodgy imitations will cost you big bikkies and cark it soon as you step out in that weather of yours. You’ll find none of that bull dust here at Bobtails Trading Company. We stock only the highest quality leather bush hats.

At Bobtails Trading Company we have a range of styles and colours so you are bound to find the right one to suit your lifestyle and personality.  All of our bush hats are foldable and come with their own canvas bag, are water repellent and will protect you up to 50 UV but there are several differences in style and finish. Let me talk you through your options.

The Brand

We stock leather hats by Barmah and Wombat Leather. The difference between Barmah and Wombat is the price; Barmah hats normally retail at around £45, whereas Wombat hats retail at £30-£35. It is worth bearing in mind that this difference in price is due to the relative prestige of the companies, rather than the quality of the leather or the workmanship. Barmah has a long-established reputation as the manufacturer of Australia’s original bush hats, whereas Wombat, the challenger-brand was only founded relatively recently.

How important to you are prestige brands? And how much are you willing to spend?

The Leather

All bush hats at Bobtails Trading Company come in one of three kinds of leather: full grain, soft split or suede. Full grain leather has not been altered beyond hair removal. As the leather remains relatively close to its natural state, it is the toughest and most durable kind of leather. What’s more the colours, textures and markings may differ slightly giving a particularly rugged look.

At the tannery leather is often split into layers and then treated with oils. Split leather comes from those layers which are closest to the flesh and thus has a more uniform colour and texture as well as a soft and pliable finish. As it is thinner it is less durable than full-grain hide. Suede is from created from split leather by abrading the surface of the leather with an emery wheel. Due to its texture it is much more susceptible to stains from water damage than either full grain or split leather.

So what kind of wear are you expecting to get out of your bush hat? Will you be wearing it in heavy rain? Do you prefer a more rugged or refined look?

The Style

 

Apart from the Wombat Cowboy which has a shaped brim, all bush hats are a standard classic shape. The Barmah Cooler, however, has mesh sides which allow air, but not water, to pass through, keeping your head cool in warmer climes.

Will you wear your hat all year round or just in summer? Do you travel abroad?

The size …

All leather hats sold at Bobtails Trading Company are made to standard sizes. To find out what size you need, measure your head carefully with a tape measure and compare with the sizes below.

Small – 55 cm

Medium – 56-57 cm

Large – 58-59 cm

X-Large – 60-61 cm

If once you have purchased your hat, it feels a little tight, do not worry. Simply pull over your knee to stretch and the leather will give over time.

Please check out Bobtails Trading Company or visit us at one of our upcoming events to view the full range of bush hats by Barmah and Wombat Leather. The choice of which one to go for should now be a lot easier!

New Wombat boots coming soon!

Keep your eyes peeled for the new Wombat Matilda boots arriving mid-December! Available in chestnut and chocolate, these luxury sheepskin boots feature all the great qualities of the Wombat classic boots but are long for extra warmth. Pre-orders will be taken at Bobtails Trading Company very soon.



Wombat Matilda Boots in Chestnut



Wombat Matilda in Chocolate

Just 2 weeks left to enter!

Just a quick reminder that there are now only 2 weeks left to enter our fantastic competition in association with Wombat Leather. The closing date is Monday 6th December 2010. Go to wombatleather.com/competition and enter your details to be in with a chance of winning a gorgeous pair of Wombat Classic Australian sheepskin boots.

Christmas Gift Ideas from Bobtails Trading Company

With Christmas just around the corner I’m sure many of you have already thought of a few gift ideas for your friends and family. But if you haven’t, or you find yourself stuck for inspiration, here are some great gift ideas for all the family.

Why not splash out on a pair of Wombat Classic boots? These boots are brand new to Bobtails Trading Company and are a fantastic gift for women of all ages. Australian sheepskin boots have become a wardrobe staple for many women and these Wombat Classic boots are no exception. Their simple and classy design makes them a timeless classic and the hard-wearing sole and heel reinforcement ensure that these boots will last for years. Made from soft and luxurious twin-faced sheepskin, Wombat Classic boots are perfect staying warm and comfortable throughout the winter months.

For the special man in your life, how about a leather Vodka Bar Pilot hat from Screamer? Screamer leather bomber hats are a spin-off style of those worn by aviators back in the day and now a hat of choice for skiers and snowboarders. These Screamer hats feature a fastback dome style top, extra long fur lined ear flaps, and wide fur lined front brim for extra warmth.

If you are looking for the perfect gift for a foodie, look no further! Our SAVU smoker bags make a fantastic Christmas present. SAVU smoker bags are a simple and mess-free way to cook delicious low-fat and low-calorie meals in minutes. The SAVU Smoker bag is an aluminium foil bag, lined with wood chips hardwood syrup and natural sugars, and can be used for all types of meat and fish. You can even cook your vegetables in the same bag, allowing for a complete meal in a bag. All you need to do is fill the smoker bag with your chosen meat, fish or vegetables and then place it in the oven, under the grill or on the barbeque. SAVU smoker bags come in two delicious flavours: alder and hickory. The Hickory SAVU smoker bags have a stronger flavour and so after many years of use, we have found that they work best with meats such as beef and pork. We have found the more delicately favoured alder smoker bags are better suited to fish. All of our SAVU smoker bags come complete with full cooking instructions and some delicious recipe ideas for you to try.

For the health and fitness conscious, we offer EFX wristbands and bracelets. EFX wristbands and bracelets effectively tune the body, immediately unleashing its full potential for function and performance. EFX’s embedded holographic technology is comprised of algorithms and frequencies that are highly compatible with the body’s bio-electric field on a cellular level. Similar to acupuncture and acupressure, EFX wristbands and bracelets are strategically placed to influence specific energy centres or promote energy flow. Results include instantly increased balance and strength, enhanced flexibility and motion, improved focus and alertness, relief from stress and tension and relief from jet lag and motion sickness.

These replica Australian road signs from The Great Australian Road Sign Company make fantastic stocking filler for teenage boys or students. With warnings such as ‘UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION’ and ‘ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK’, they are great for hanging on bedroom doors. What’s more with each purchase of a road sign you assist in the preservation of Australia's native animals and vegetation as a portion of the proceeds is donated to worthy recipients around Australia. These recipients may be working in the areas of native habitat re-establishment and preservation, animal hospitalisation after accidents, reintroduction of native animals to the environment and any activity that enhances the natural environment for the betterment of our planet.

For your children, we recommend this beautifully soft mummy kangaroo hand puppet with two joey finger puppets in her pouch. This lovely puppet from The Puppet Company is a great educational toy and will be sure to spark your child’s imagination.

Be sure to check out our website for our full range of products. Good luck and happy shopping!