Operational

If you do it, acknowledge it: a tenet we hold resolutely in mind.

‘On a level plain, simple mounds look like hills; and the insipid flatness of our present bourgeoisie is to be measured by the altitude of its great intellects.’ Karl Marx 

Improve upon, relieve or offset a situation or state of being that is unsatisfactory or negative. Further, in linguistic context, ‘amelioration’ refers to a semantic change that shifts the meaning of a word or expression from pejorative to positive.

Light-hearted, deep-thinking, habitually curious.

Sadly, we must use a bank, even if it’s virtual. Happily, we’ve landed with HSBC and Revolut.

These happen quarterly, with mood lighting. They hold us to account for all from which we deviate. 

The product itself is brand emissary; quality conveys more than logos and platitudes. 

A spirit of trust, respect and affinity shared by people in group settings and collective endeavours. Non-transactional; near-antithetical to networking.  

No act of production returns more than it absorbs. Our work is to move as lightly, efficiently and respectfully as possible.   

Handling differences with grace and a modicum of humour.  

Welcoming fresh perspectives without losing our own.  

Considered in everything we do; the reason we exist.

Ought to be embedded in our thinking, not an added extra. Good design reduces and resolves existing problems rather than introducing hindrances. 

The carefully chosen pathways through which To My Ships products become available to you.  

Acronym, meaning: Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation – which denotes a metric used for evaluating a company’s operating performance.

Near-effortless purchasing, with efficient delivery to your doorstep.

The title (from ‘skepsis’: ‘investigation’) for the Sceptical philosophers of ancient Greece. It denoted those who withheld assessments of what they investigated, favouring enquiry over theory.  

Taken seriously, created by professionals of many years' standing.

Steering the ship with a steady hand and an attentive eye.

Knowing where we come from, and using the past to inform the way forward.

Taken seriously, with much time, care and research devoted to checking provenance, quality and processes.

An expensive peace of mind.

Behaving well and building trust.

Understanding the impact of our products from start to finish.

The behind-the-scenes ballet that keeps things moving.

Effected with restraint, because product on skin is the strongest way to communicate what we do and why we care.

Details essential to skilful product formulation.

A symbolic, often sacred narrative, intended to make sense of the human condition. Jung held myth to be a means of connecting individuals and societies to a collective unconscious; Dr Martin Shaw describes myth-making as ‘the correct response to uncertainty’.  

Warm, sharp and efficient; where creativity meets productivity.

They really matter very much.

Plural of ‘peripatos’; shaded avenues and colonnades such as those in ancient Greece that were walked by the students of Aristotle’s Lyceum – hence his Peripatetic School of philosophy (literally, ‘thinking while walking’).  

The Greek tradition of cordiality and openness towards others; an eagerness to extend hospitality to strangers. For a famed mythic example, see Book V111, lines 616-724 of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, in which Zeus and Hermes (in disguise, the better to scrutinise their subjects) are deeply moved by the gracious benevolence of mortals Baucis and Philemon.

Keeping plans on track with a smile and a well-delineated path.

Investing and being prepared to fail through early prototyping is the best way to refine our offer and resolve potential problems.

Ensuring the bar is set high – almost out of reach.

A path to doing better, ventured with judicious attention to detail.

Creating space to communicate our intentions.

Keeping pieces of the past to help inform the future.

Anticipating challenges, with a view to opportunities.

An enticing taste of what's to come.

An extreme, ostensibly irrational fear of one’s relatives. From the Greek syn: ‘together’; genesis: ‘generation’; and phobos: ‘anxious flight’ in early interpretations, including those of Homer. (Now, phobos denotes panic or terror.)

The result of much self-reflection around product usage and provision of responsible refills, ensuring every demand is considered.

The quality of holding fast in the face of obstacles. In Homeric literature, Penelope, Queen of Ithaca, is a salient example – shrewdly and determinedly fending off impassioned suitors for 20 years while awaiting her husband Odysseus’ return from the Trojan War. (Whether he was worthy of her efforts and fidelity, though, is debatable.) 

Safe, steady growth for a secure future.

Comprehensive, taking no shortcuts; products must be safe, effective, and properly validated.

Aka: working with reliable partners in order to get
our products to you.

Continuous learning for continuous improvement.

Handling the requirements of HM Revenue & Customs with grace and precision.

Chrysopogon zizanioides. A large, tussocky perennial grass, native to Asia and cultivated widely in tropical and subtropical regions (although regarded as invasive in some countries). The root’s constituent oil exudes a rich, earthy, woody fragrance, and is valued for its efficacy in perfumery, skin care, hair care, medicine and aromatherapy.