Referencing {FAQ}

Monday, January 19, 2009

Retailers Are Getting Makeovers {including J.Crew}

"Thanks!" to Anon at 3:05 PM (in this post) who shared with us an interesting article (click here for the article in its entirety):

Retailers Overhaul Business As Consumers Pull Back
By Anne D'Innocenzio
January 19, 2008

NEW YORK – For years, retailers could afford to be sloppy about running their businesses because customers kept buying. No more. Stung by the worry that shoppers — who cut spending by the most dramatic amount in at least 39 years this holiday season — may not start spending again for a long time, stores are making drastic changes. They are cutting out marginal suppliers, hiring outside experts to keep inventory lean, holding special events for those who are still buying and making extraordinary efforts to gauge customer satisfaction.


The new discipline will be mostly good news for shoppers, who will find stores less cluttered and see an array of products at lower prices, from ordinary groceries to jeans from brands they could once only aspire to.

Of course, the downside is that consumers who want something out of the ordinary — an olive green prom dress, for example — may have to look harder. Stores are rooting out offbeat, unpopular colors and styles, which will mean fewer choices.


Sales clerks are also checking back with customers to see if they're satisfied with their purchases.


"We are in a sea change," said Millard "Mickey" Drexler, J.Crew's chairman and chief executive and former CEO and visionary of Gap Inc.


Pricing goods within reach of strapped consumers is also a big focus, given the way nervous consumers have stopped shopping. Same-store sales, or sales at stores opened at least a year, fell 2.3 percent in November and December together, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers. And the worsening sales slump in January has many worried about the industry's prospects over the next few months.


J.Crew is working with its factories to adjust its prices on certain key items like ballet flats, which now start at $98 rather than $118. It's also stocking fewer of its high-priced items like $1,300 leather trench coats. It's cutting inventory and slashing expenses.


The biggest unknown is when or if shoppers will ever resume spending the way they did when the housing market was booming, credit was easy and jobs were more plentiful. ...

...Weaning customers off discounts is a big challenge for the industry, as people have gotten used to them — particularly on luxury brands that hadn't been discounted before sales all but dried up. ...

I am all for J.Crew producing less of items like the Lucido Coat (Item 96559; $1,800.00). ;) But in all seriousness, it will be interesting to see if consumers can "reset" their shopping habits. This past holiday season, shoppers saw some amazing prices and still hesitated to purchase (which is understandable given the current economic uncertainty).

What is your take on the article? Do you agree or disagree with any of the points made?

69 comments:

  1. Great posting, thank you! I want JCrew to stay in business, so I'm glad they are thinking more creatively about strategies that adjust to the market, even when they will disappoint some of us some of the time. They've got to balance keeping their B&M stores in business, as well as on-line buyers; upscale designer-inclined JCrewers, as well as those who are also fans of GAP and others.

    My university students in my persuasion class this quarter are reading this week a great book, THE SCIENCE OF SHOPPING, by Paco Underhill--the first marketing professional to go into stores and observe [a lot] what makes us buy, linger, try on, buy more than one, leave without a purchase, feel satisfied, regret. [It's in paperback now, cheap.] This weekend I sent them all to the malls to see for themselves the signage, speed bumps, geography, store zones, interceptions, and more.

    Cheers to JCrew for entertaining changes, adjusting, and taking risks.

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  2. I think J. Crew will stay afloat

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  3. Professor: The class you teach sounds amazing! Is that in the school of business? Is it marketing or management?

    lleila: I want J.Crew to stay afloat too. :)

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  4. If it's not at least 50% off, I won't even consider buying it. I want Jcrew to stay in business and for the most part have been satisfied with their in-store and phone customer service. It's the website that really concerns me, although all of my orders have been arriving with the correct items, quantities, colors and sizes. I just don't like having website outages 1x a week.

    In other news - my local (downtown) BR and Ann Taylor are closing on Jan 27 :( Ironically the BR replaced the J. Crew. Now all that's worth visiting is the Macy's and the F21.

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  5. I hope JCrew stays in business. Overall, they have good quality items, and staples in my wardrobe (their swimwear is of great quality, as well as their shoes and bags).
    Also, I believe their customer service has improved tremendously. I now only shop through my personal shopper, he is wonderful. It really makes you feel special to shop through your own P.S., and, of course, that translates (at least in my case) into spending more money on JCrew merchandise. So, for me at least, their marketing strategies are working.
    OT, has anyone bought any Lugano leather piece? To the lucky owner, can you pls review? Thanks!

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  6. Sorry OT, but might be of interest to JCAs. Dept stores are settling a class action lawsuit by giving away cosmetics tomorrow (1/20).

    http://blogs.wsj.com/runway/2009/01/16/free-cosmetics-at-saks-macys-and-dillards-et-al/

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  7. I also hope JCrew stays around as well as Crewcuts. Crewcuts is a staple for my daughter. I worry about it because there are few new items online and, my sister told me her new JCrew/Crewcuts store (opened before Christmas in Lake Forest IL) has already stopped carrying Crewcuts. Maybe if Crewcuts carried less $300 items and more basics.

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  8. Alexis--regarding the "shopping as persuasion" class/assignment, it's cross-listed in marketing and in interpersonal persuasion! Grab the book, you'll loe it. Students (male and female) say it completely changes their relationship with shopping and purchasing. Winks.

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  9. If clothing lines are going to produce less, I'd like to see them have better quality control, especially on tagged sizes. In particular, last summer J Crew had several men's styles of shorts that were not size tagged correctly. If you are in a store that is generally not a problem, just try another size. But if you are shopping on-line it can be a pain with returns.

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  10. If the stores are carrying less merchandise, that will probably keep me away, since I wait for something to go on sale before I'll even look at it. I'm a dyed-in-the-wool sale shopper, and with the economy in its present state, there's no way I'm dropping much extra cash on things I don't absolutely need or love.

    As other JCAs have asserted, I'll wait until the weather warms up and the spring line is discounted to make a purchase. Of course, a 30%-off code could change everything... ;)

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  11. I believe that the discounts that we saw during the holiday season will only linger until the retailer resets their inventory. (We may have already seen the best discounts!) Once they buy less, they will discount less. The prices may start out lower, but they probably won't drop as much as they did this Christmas! I will definitely be buying alot less. I have more than enough JCrew. I will be pickier and re-use items that I already own...

    JenG.

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  12. The only thing that will get me to open my wallet, is a BIG fat discount code! NO full price for me. It will be a LONG time before I buy at retail!

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  13. I don't think the current incentives are all that great at J.Crew, especially considering that the market atmosphere is one where retailers need to persuade shoppers to buy...it doesn't seem as if J.Crew is concerned about doing that at all. There were much better bargains *pre-upgrade*, IMHO, and Final Sale just REALLY needs to FINALLY end for good!

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  14. if they stop discounting things though, people arent going to keep coming into jcrew! college students, and teachers love those discounts!

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  15. I think they are dumping a lot of spring inventory at this "sample sale" so they can keep their prices higher throughout the rest of the country. How many people even know about this sale, or can get to NY? I live in NY and it's still a RPA to get into the city, not to mention the expense of gas, tolls, parking- this can be at least $75.00 for me.
    This strategy will keep everyone else used to higher prices- they store/web prices, even store to store vary widely. This is more of the same.
    By the way, I went to the outlet the other day- it was empty- they have no "real" jcrew stuff- it's all made for the outlet- It was all spring merchandise. Kind of the "OldNavy" of JCrew- don't like it- I liked it when the markdowns used to go to the outlets- instead of this "sample sale"

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  16. OT - Sorry - Has anyone ordered the triple-strand treasure necklace? I have ordered it twice and it has been defective both times. I actually have never had a J Crew jewelry quality issue before, and wear A LOT of their stuff, so wondered if this necklace had been a problem for anyone else. I will certainly return it and did not pay full price, but am frustrated because I REALLY like it.

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  17. As a consumer, I will be looking for good quality items at a reasonable price point. I think that my recession buying is going to shift in terms of purchasing items that are more classic and can be worn for an indefinite period of time. I don't want to buy something that screams "fall 2008" if I'm not going to have the budget to be frequently upgrading my wardrobe in keeping with the latest trends. I think that is good news for J Crew and other retailers who can create items that are wearable among different seasons and multiple years. But the "it" bag/ sweater/ dress of the season -- forget it.

    I also think that people buy clothes to feel happy, especially when times are tough (I'll have to confirm that theory by reading Science of Shopping though -- it sounds great and might even be a fun pick for my book club. Thanks Professor!) So I want to see pretty colors, yummy fabrics, something that sparkles or makes me feel good, etc. if I'm going to break out my credit card. Today I went to Banana Republic and the colors were so bleak, I thought for a second that I was in the men's side of the store! It looked like they just gave up on the consumer and there was nothing that just said "buy me" in the store.

    (I ended up at BR because I called JC and they told me that spring merchandise wouldn't be fully stocked until the weekend -- I'm jealous of those of you whose stores already have it.)

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  18. Anyone think they might send out a code this week-to help move out winter/final sale items?

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  19. ^ Anony @ 6.48:
    How theoretically intuitive are you!
    Actually, your theory is completely validated by the new brain science research. A second FAVORITE book you'll love (it's small but with a smack), is Dr. Daniel Nettle's HAPPINESS: THE SCIENCE BEHIND YOUR SMILE. He explains why material things hit us in powerful places in our brains--then, even when our best dreams come true--they fade. He explains why and it all has a satisfying ending. We get why we (and others) are that way.

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  20. It's too bad that so many companies are under going tough times; yet it's the times like these that make companies leaner, meaner and often better.

    With fewer dollars to be spent retailers will do their best to draw in shoppers. The result should be stronger designed clothing of better quality at good prices.

    The book the professor mentioned sounds great; I just ordered it on line. Seems I buy less and less in person, except for groceries.

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  21. I'm surprised items didn't get marked down even more this past season. Even today, the stuff in the sale section is too overpriced for me...and there's nothing that great. I remember in the past J. Crew's after x-mas sale being spectacular with lots of good deals. Not to mention the B & Ms i've been in lately are EMPTY.

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  22. Professor - thanks for letting us know about The Science of Shopping ... I am going to pick it up, as I personally find that topic fascinating!

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  23. I've heard a lot of buzz about that--the notion that retailers are stepping it up in order to retain the customers they still have, etc. Some of you entertained the possibility of j.crew going under--i sure as heck hope not! all i know is, the j.crew i work at is still pulling in decent numbers at the end of the day. i'm crossing my fingers! :)

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  24. I honestly think there have been some pretty good deals in FS, especially with the 20% discount. I bought a coat that ws originally $350, marked down to $99, $79 with the 20% code. To me, that is more than decent, although the $350 original price may have been out of line to start.

    I agree that people have reset something if they think that they would only buy the $350 coat if they could get it for $50, shipped. That is a tall order and retailers cannot continually provide those types of deals unless quality is poor. Or, in the case of J.Crew, maybe if they go back to catalogue only.

    There is a lot of overhead for J.Crew: retail store, rent, utilities, furnishings, equipment, staff, distribution, website, call center, models, photo shoots, creative staff, designers, stylists, purchasing, inventory, warehouse, shipping, the list goes on and on and on. I am not saying they can afford to charge an arm and a leg, but really, they do have to make some profit out of it all or they won't stay in business.

    I think it is time for people to buy less and by that I mean buy fewer quality pieces instead of a bunch of cheap junk. As Anon 6:48 said, not the "it" item of the season, but classic pieces that are wearable for years. Trouble is, you don't get that gratification nearly as often if you only buy one or two things a month.

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  25. ^^ "Science of Shopping" book buyers:

    You will LOVE this book. Gender differences (unexpected ones), the effect of touchables, the role of end caps, lone-shoppers versus tribe-shoppers, enablers, conversion rates, use of the transition zone into a store, the psychological effect of power displays, triggering buyer's regret (should I get more?), tamping down buyer's remorse (what was I thinking?). More.

    Great accessible voice in his writing style--just a guy who started noticing things, then built a fortune telling B&M's how to rearrange their stores and retrain sales staff. Yes, a book club would love this one.

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  26. Professor--I am buying the book now online as we speak. :) i gobble this stuff up--should have had a more relevant major in college/grad school. thanks for the recommendation!

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  27. It all depends on how picky you are about the colors you are buying for your closet. If you are just looking to restock basics it is a personal call if you would rather spend $9.99 and get last year's chino shorts versus this year's new colors for $49.50. Neither purchase is better or worse, they are just different.

    The same thing goes for some of the cardigans. If you are in LOVE with a certain color, then it might be worth it to spend $88 for the "newest" version. At the same time, if you are just looking to replace a basic in your wardrobe, then you may be happy with the clearanced, yet similar, cardigans for $19.99 - $29.99.

    I, for one, am happy that both options are available. I have been buying heavily discounted stuff and am happier with my closet than when I bought my first Diane Von Furstenburg wrap dress from Neiman Marcus. It's good to know that my closet is full of quality merchadise that will last me for several years but that cost me the same as the disposable Forever 21stuff. (Before anyone slams me, that is not a cut on Forever 21, just a comment on J. Crew quality. Forever 21 certainly has it's place in the market and I have no issue with that.)

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  28. Professor:"Why We Buy" is a great book....for those interested in similar questions like "why would I pay 10¢ for a Lindt Chocolate Truffles when I could have that Hershey's kiss for free?" check out "Made to Stick" by Chip Heath or "Predictably Irrational" by Dan Ariely. Both excellent (and fairly easy) reads.

    Personally (please BR fans don't shoot me for saying this) I see Banana Republic going under before anyone else. The quality of the clothing and the hideous designs they've been unveiling for about the last year just scream "we're going under." And they've been having so many sales lately with deep DEEP discounts. It's a wonder they're making any profit at all. Every time I go into the store, yes, there are lots of customers, but there is also a TON of sale merchandise. All of it ugly. I still buy their shoes occasionally and their handbags are still nice, but if I see one more blouse with puffed sleeves or a sweater dress with a lattice collar...ICK! It's like they took the Project Runway winners and said "what's the most hideous thing you can come up with, that we can call 'trendy' and still make a buck?"

    Yeah, harsh I know. But considering ALL my dollars just a year or so ago were going to Banana Republic, which has since turned into NO dollars....seriously, it's been hard to find anything there lately that wasn't so trendy that it trended itself out.

    Anyway, I hate the J.Crew Final Sale as much as everyone else, but they must have struck upon some formula that's working for them, or else they'd stop doing it. I'm also kind of looking forward to seeing smaller inventory, so there won't be so many Chiffon Rose Tees walking around and I can at least pretend to be unique. :)

    I hope J.Crew is around for years to come.

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  29. I just ordered the Science of Shopping and the Science Behind Your Smile- I can't wait to read! Thanks Professor!

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  30. I'll add my two cents: I think J.Crew has made a severe error over the past year in increasing prices far beyond justification. Similar style jackets that a year ago cost $198 full price are now $268 or more. Sweaters that used to cost $110 are now $160. Their quality simply does not justify it. I believe we've discussed in great detail on this blog just how poor a quality J.Crew's cashmere is. Their dream sweaters pill something mad, too.

    I used to look to J.Crew for unique, chic items at reasonable prices. They're failing me now. And when I need staples like cotton tees and tissue t-necks, I just go to Target.

    I disagree BR will go under - I see far more people buying at BR stores than at J.Crew. I think J.Crew is going to suffer tremendously for this January, when they've had very little new to offer and not much reason to shop sale due to still-high sale prices and the no returns/no exchanges policy.

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  31. I should have known Aficionadas would be fascinated with shopping psychology. You've all made me smile. Besides, several years of assigning this as an "extra" book to buy for my courses for skeptical "whatever" students makes me confident that you'll all become savy shopping scientists (and self-examiners). And you'll insist several friends buy it as well--or give it as relevant shopper-to-shopper gifts.

    Now, UPS just delivered the last of my incredible deals in FS. Yes, as some have mentioned, what I love is getting the highest quality. I am a textile geek and love the best materials that I cannot normally afford. JCrew collection items surround me, multiple reductions: including the amazing beaded belt, the cashmere florette jacket in deep purple, an amazing pair of indigo florette flats, the blue feather-crystal ribbon belt, a second Astrid berry jacket, and a cloudlike soft pile of cashmere cardigans. Sigh. Put a fork in me, I'm done.

    [And, to balance the universe and redeem my karma, I've piled two bags of DKNY and the last of my Ralph Lauren for Goodwill tomorrow.]

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  32. Routinely delivering quality goods to Goodwill is behavior classified as over-consumption not karma.

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  33. I have gotten some really good deals w/ all of these sales and have been pretty happy w/ them...

    I do hate to see how empty my local B&M is - therefore I tend to rely on the website for shopping, and am really not buying until there's a 30% discount at this point.

    However, I agree w/ the comments on the pricing - I esp. hate to see the cashmere priced so high when it pills so badly. I refuse to buy cashmere from them and it makes me sad b/c it's so pretty when it's new!

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  34. ^ What a kind thing to say to someone. [I live more simply, in smaller space, with fewer things, than anyone you know.]

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  35. Professor: Thanks for the tip! I just bought the book using my amazon GC from xmas. Can't wait to read it!

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  36. It makes me so nervous to see how empty the B&M stores around me are right now...please bring in the new items!
    This spring I am hoping for more patterns and prints, I am seriously done buying solid colors.

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  37. I think J.Crew needs to have Final Sale because it's apparent from reading this blog that many people make a lot of returns. The cost of returns is more than just refunding the purchase price, although it sounds as though sometimes more than the actual purchase price is refunded to some, unfortunately.

    It would be a huge PITA to have a bunch of winter merchandise coming back well into March as it would be difficult to move it out when everyone is planning their spring wardrobe. Understandable that returns are sometimes necessary and I don't have a solution for the need to ensure you get the right size, fit, color, etc. when ordering online.

    I would not want to be a retailer in these uncertain times with fickle, demanding customers. Kudos to those retailers who do find success because it will obviously be well-earned in one form or another.

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  38. I agree with Anon @ 9:02. And enough with the syrupy platitudes and blah, blah, blah. Methinks the psych is not confined to the classroom.

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  39. ^^ Anonymous Ones:
    I'm so sorry you were put off and offended by my blogs--it wasn't intended. Relax, I got the message, I'm gone. Life's too short for personal attacks.

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  40. I agree regarding BR. I was devoted to BR. Bought from them every season but now they are going in a direction that I just can't follow. The quality, the design... terrible. I can't quite figure out what direction they are going in with their designs. This season is so dreary. Even the website makes me depressed to look at.

    Back to JCrew.. I have gotten used to the sales and the reductions. It will be hard for me to go back to full price unless its an item I really want and one that is good quality and timeless. Thankfully JCrew produces clothing that can pass from year to year. As long as they stick to their classic yet unique approach they will have my business.

    I want to see good quality at a good price.

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  41. I'll add my vote about the wrong direction that BR is heading. Seems everything I try on has some little detail that doesn't work. The short sleeves end in the wrong place, the neckline isn't right, the color is a bit off, it doesn't fall right, etc. The only BR item that seems to work for me season after season are their dress shirts and not every style in that either. I do have some really nice BR dress shirts though, and all bought on end-of-season sales. Have to say that J.Crew has some nice dress shirts as well, but I find more of the classic fit and patterns at BR.

    I agree with Anon 10:37, the classic but unique approach is what draws me to J.Crew. No other line draws as many compliments for me. Ever.

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  42. Wow -- I don't know who all the Anonymous contributors are but I am getting tired of some of them driving regular contributors away by their nasty comments. They may not realize it but there are plenty of us lurkers out here who just like to read the latest blab from our fellow JC fans and we really appreciate the comments of some JCA regulars. I found Professor's comments particularly interesting and very well written! Lighten up out there and quit taking everything so personally!

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  43. Professor, thank you for the book recommendations - they sound like fun reads and I too look forward to reading them. Please don't let anon. comments cramp your style! There are many of us here who love to read your comments ; )

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  44. Another lurker here, only I can't say I disagree with some of the anonymous comments. Some people seem a bit too perfect and really over the top, but whatever.

    All part of the blogosphere I guess.

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  45. I agree personal attacks are uncalled for, but I also think the person attacked should just take it for what it is: anonymous pettiness. To leave this blog permanently over an anonymous attack is equivalent to cutting off one's nose to spite one's face. Aren't you getting more enjoyment out of this blog than anguish? If so, ignore what one or two petty people write and relish the good stuff.

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  46. BR is very hit or miss with me these days. Sometimes I find the cutest jeans there, sometimes, they fit horribly. They used to be my favorite store about 5 years ago, but I don't seem to find as much there these days. JCrew seems to always have something I want. Although I have been disappointed this past year with the sizes all over the place. I hope they fix that in 2009 and get more consistent.

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  47. http://www.jcrew.com/failover/index_down.html ugh

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  48. First Timer - I hear ya. I kept expecting to read, "Come now, my children..." LOL

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  49. Yes Shopper555 - ITA that JCrew needs to get consistency back in their sizing. I used to be an 8 on top and 4 on the bottom and this year it was hit and miss and seemed to be vanity sizing gone wild at times. It really made me leery of FS.

    Some consistency in the website, as in having it up when we want to shop, would be great as well. Fix that darn thing once and for all.

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  50. professor: i just ordered the book and can't wait to read it! i love books like this and was trying to find a new read :). i love all of your comments so please don't stop posting!

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  51. and if you ordered the book from a library, you'd have more to spend on sweaters! (the karma of Goodwilling is debatable -- what a nice surprise for the bargain hunter)

    libraries rock. Most of the collections of public and college libraries are networked, so you can almost always get a book. And public universities generally let the public in to read or borrow.

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  52. Thanks for the book suggestions, Professor! I studied a lot of sociology and social psychology in college and loved anything helping explain why people shop the way they do. For you parents out there, one thing that stuck in my mind is how toy manufacturers and stores manipulate parents and the market around Christmas. They heavily advertise popular items in the months before Christmas, ensuring that kids will see the commercials and extract promises that X toy will arrive as a Christmas present. Then they make sure toy stores are completely short of the item come Christmastime, so parents are out of luck and buy a substitute toy (or multiple toys out of guilt). But neither kids nor parents are thrilled, and parents end up going back to buy the initially promised toy after they flood toy stores in January. Great for toy sellers, killer on parents' wallets. Very helpful to know if you're a shopper of toys for kids and don't like being manipulated!

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  53. It would be nice to return to good quality at reasonable prices and something unique and flattering for sure. It is annoying to try and guess if you need to buy at full price before it sells out or if you can wait and get it for a huge discount. With all the economic issues now, trying to predict the stock and what will be popular is next to impossible. I can't often go to the B&M and buying something online and not wearing it with the intention of waiting to see if it's reduced and then returning it and buying it back cheaper is way too much work for an article of clothing. I'd like to get off the ride and just have a normal shopping experience again.

    And yes, yes, YES!! Fix the website already. Sheesh!

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  54. Also, I'm not sure how people arrive at the conclusion that one donation to Goodwill is part of a routine pattern of behavior. Seems like an assumption with no factual support.

    Professor, I hope your karma is redeemed, and what great finds for those Goodwill shoppers.

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  55. Ditto what Rats on Parade had to say about Banana- I used to LOVE the store and purchased a ton there, but I cannot remember the last time I wanted to buy anything there. I do like their men's dress pants and buy them for my husband when they go on sale, but recently noticed that the quality of the ones purchased 2-3 years ago were much better. J Crew is my ' go to' store for any occasion and every member of my family. I love Crewcuts and have gotten amazing deals on some super cute clothes! I just picked up on FS winter coats for both my son and daughter. They are much cuter than the Hanna Andersson coats they have this season and were less expensive!! I predict that Banana will be in for some serious problems soon.... it is just not cute anymore:( Not surprised about Ann Taylor- that has been a train-wreck for years-yikes!
    twiga

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  56. J.crew stock has lost 4/5th of its value since spring. They're not faring this recession well at all.

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  57. DON'T GO PROFESSOR!!! We truly enjoy your perspective...

    JenG.

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  58. I thought this article was very interesting, so thank you to Alexis and Anon @ 305pm for sharing it. :)

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  59. BR: So agree with the posters who find BR this season dreary and depressing. I was just in a B&M this Friday and your descriptions hit the nail on the head. Anon 10:37 - they do seem to be directionless these last couple of years - something I didn't realize until you pointed it out.

    Professor: I don't think "schadenfreude" is the malaise some of these negative posters suffer from. But, only a truly miserable person could be so eager to post some of the spiteful comments we all see on this blog from time to time (e.g., the ridiculous attacks on FFM for favoring turtlenecks, disguised as "constructive criticism," and the ceaseless nastiness regarding Leigh from JCrewAholics). Schadenfreude or not, do not let their misery cling to you. That is exactly what they want and feed off of. If you stop posting, we'll be drowning in a sea of these nasty posters' abject misery. Ignore them and let them drown in the solitude of their own negativity. PLEASE KEEP POSTING.

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  60. PS. To go to the book that Professor referenced, I googled it and also found this article from Malcolm Gladwell. It looks like a good intro / explanation to the book itself. :)

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  61. Professor, I've put Science of Shopping in my Holds list from my local library. Thank you for the recommendation. I look forward to reading it. I can just imagine standing in my local Jcrew, with excerpts popping into my head.

    I just went to Banana Republic today to try on some of their pieces on sale for 30% to cardmembers. I rounded the store and took 3 armloads of dresses/blouses into the dressing room, and came out with only 4 pieces, one of which sports some iffy cap sleeves on my untoned arms. Just as Anon at 10:46pm said, one detail would ruin the piece - odd drape, funky folds, confused sleeves, strange shoulders, sloppy silhouettes...bah :( I hope neither go out of business or close shop locally.

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  62. Professor: Thank you so much for the book suggestion. Also, please stay. I really enjoy your perspective!

    Also, could we hold off on personal attacks? It is completely unnecessary. One of the reasons this blog is so great to be a part of is because the members are nice and willing to help each other out- let's keep that up. :) And think of it this way, the person you attack today, might be the same person who *could* have helped you find your coveted item tomorrow. ;)

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  63. I agree with the comments about BR, I used to shop a ton there 5 years ago and then they changed. The styles are colors were dull and I have only purchased 1 item there in the last 3 years.

    Professor: I enjoy reading your comments.

    J Crew probably will close some stores like everybody else. I am amazed from all the comments about the dreaded FS that people still purchase from it i.e. the frenzy from last weekend? FS must be profitable for J Crew or else they would not have it.

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  64. Personal attacks are certainly unwelcome but we need to ensure we don't forbid dissenting opinions. The comments were not nice but there is a lot worse going on in blogs everywhere so take it for what it is worth. I can't imagine a learned professional being scared off by those comments. I've had some negativity directed my way on this blog and I just shrug and carry on. Fact of life that not everyone will like you, not matter how wonderful others find you. The anonymity of the internet allows people to say things they would never say in person. Rudeness abounds and this blog is one of the most civil I've seen and I've seen many.

    I have read The Science of Shopping and didn't take away much from it personally. I felt it was more of an explanation of why retailers did things a certain way, or not. It doesn't explain why I suddenly have to have a certain thing that I see on a friend or co-worker, it is all about the retail world and the updated version, also the online shopping world. So if you are taken in by fancy displays or a particular model, etc. then by all means, read the book. If you already shop quality fabric, design and construction based on your real needs whether it be for style or function and are more of a practical shopper then you already know all the tricks whether you're conscious of it or not.

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  65. A little OT: I'm coming out of lurking on this topic to ask if anyone else reading was a Harold's shopper? (If you're not familiar, it was a small boutique chain - I think 25 or so stores - from Oklahoma that's gone bankrupt) I am really going to miss them - probably 75% of my wardrobe including shoes was from there! I always thought their pieces coordinated well with JCrew, too. Pretty sad!

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  66. This was a very interesting article. I don't think jcrew has to worry about going out of business (I hope!). If they do show signs of faltering, then it would be wise to reign in the jewelry + handbag lines, in addition to the collection pieces.

    Stores tending toward more homogeneous/fewer styles will just further compel me to buy less and make my own clothes, which is a good thing for my wallet!

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  67. When someone posts a negative comment, I notice others rallying around the victim. That's nice. At the same time, some people who post are ignored. For example, I've seen postings with questions -- and no one provides answers. Not so nice.

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  68. Professor, I just put a hold on the revised edition at the library, can't wait for a good read! I enjoyed a similar experience in an art history class as an undergrad, when we went to the local mall and approached the storefronts, displays, etc. with critical eyes. What image is the store attempting to convey, what type of shoppers are they trying to lure. The homey gingham sign of Bath and Body Works, overflowing tin pails of lotions all giving the impression of natural abundance for all to buy. What does J. Crew say? The typeface is simple and classic clean. Maybe it is smarter, and in better standing with that clean aesthetic, to better edit how many items are in the B&Ms. Less cluttered, easier to navigate (especially with a stroller!) and quicker to find the pieces you want. However, JC isn't and will never be a boutique, so it isn't as likely that this type of paring down will fly with consumers. We're too used to novelty and multiple choice.

    Thanks for the thought provoking post, Alexis!

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  69. I have to agree with everyone's comments about Banana Republic. Over the past couple of seasons or so, BR's taken some great shapes and ruined them with little gathers all over the place. Not great. As for Ann Taylor, they need to broaded their color schemes. That's one thing J. Crew does well: offer pieces in many different colors from reds to greens, blues, browns, etc.

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Dear J.Crew Aficionadas & Aficionados: Please feel free (and encouraged) to share your thoughts and opinions. :) However, please note that this is still a personal blog. So comments that are considered inappropriate (e.g. obscene, racist, homophobic, personal attacks, rude, and just plain mean) will be removed.

And now back to J.Crew! :)