I actually agree with the author in that I want J.Crew to succeed too. I hope it stays around for a long time as it is still my favorite retailer! :)J.Crew and Me: A Hopeful Plan to Invigorate the Economy
By Pamela Tom
August 30, 2010
Three years ago, I discovered J.Crew. You know, the somewhat preppy clothing store that eludes a sense of fashionable elegance all the same? I was looking for a place that offered my style: classic with a fresh flare. I had outgrown the predictable offerings of Banana Republic and the once-fresh, but now too conservative picks at Ann Taylor. J. Crew was perfect: all American fare with a little spice.
First of all, let's clear up the mystery. According to Yahoo! Answers, the "J" in J. Crew means something: "According to a J.Crew sales rep," The man who started the company liked to row, so he chose 'crew' and a letter that looked good in front of it."
It didn't matter what letter the company chose ... "crew" translates to active, healthy - success. And their clothes do a good job of living up to the name.
My first purchase was a pair of jeans. I needed a good fit but more importantly, I was looking for fabric. Not just any ol' denim would do ... it had to be the right shade of blue, faded but not distressed, cool enough to wear on days off but nice enough to feel "dressed." And please - soft and wearable. My old standby, Levi's 501's, looked like I was stuck in the past.
My "hip slung" jeans were the answer. (I'm wearing them right now!) As J.Crew would have me, I was hooked. Soon I was buying shirts, skirts, sweaters, and dresses. Thanks to J.Crew, I embraced cashmere. Lambs wool blends became a thing of the past. I own crew necks, V-necks, and cardigans in every color imaginable - from basic black and navy to emerald green and orange. I even delved into accessories: belts, jewelry and (sigh) ... shoes!
For years now, shoppers could attempt to satisfy their fix (and pocketbooks) by checking out the J. Crew outlet store, always found in a "Premium Mall Outlet." There one can find classic J.Crew styles and the upcoming season's trends at a sizable discount. The company's rewards program encouraged our appetites.
In today's Wall Street Journal, however, it was announced that J.Crew outlet apparel will be available online in September. A first, and telling sign of the times. Americans are keeping a tight grip on their wallets these days and the economy will not rebound without increased consumer spending.
I'm one of those consumers. In my attempt to spend more wisely these days and do what I think is best, I am also one of the millions of Americans who is stalling an economic recovery. Economists are proposing numerous ways to kick start spending but debilitating unemployment puts the brakes on any frills. Most of us don't "need" new clothes. We simply want them. We like treating ourselves to something we deem as "special." Funny how a label signifies, "I made it." Of course, it didn't hurt sales when we saw that Michelle Obama often wears clothing from J.Crew.
J.Crew is chic yet accessible. You can buy it off the rack. While some high end designers and clothing manufacturers have reduced their prices to weather the storm, others fear such a move will compromise their image. J. Crew's foray into cheaper online bargains is clearly a necessary move. CEO Mickey Drexler (former GAP superman) is no dummy. It's no longer just about branding, it's about revenue.
I hope J.Crew succeeds, not because I'm a faithful fan, but because the US needs a multitude of stimulus ideas and implementation. So it's just one company trying to stay out of the red. Even though I made a pledge not to buy any more clothes (my closet, even with slim hangers, is at its max), I'll be one of the first to check out the new online outlet.
I applaud any effort to jump start our economy, to get housing prices back to normal, to reduce foreclosures, and to get Americans back to work. Only when all of those things occur will I be able to strut my stuff with true confidence.
What are your thoughts on the article? Did you agree or disagree with any of the points made? Please share your take! :)
I'm surprised that the HuffPo paid someone to write such a lightweight piece. There's no new information in it! So the author likes to shop at J. Crew - so what? Everyone on this site does too - and I read more insightful writing in the comments here every day!
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Mia. It was discussed in full in this post.
ReplyDeleteMia, ITA. Disappointing article. We wouldn't be posting/cheering/criticizing if we didn't want J.Crew to succeed.
ReplyDelete"It's no longer just about branding, it's about revenue."
ReplyDelete^This is just incredibly dumb. It always was and it always will be about money, honey.
"I hope J.Crew succeeds, not because I'm a faithful fan, but because the US needs a multitude of stimulus ideas and implementation. So it's just one company trying to stay out of the red. Even though I made a pledge not to buy any more clothes (my closet, even with slim hangers, is at its max), I'll be one of the first to check out the new online outlet."
^So you hope they succeed, but you've pledged not to be a reason why, because you won't be buying anything?
"I applaud any effort to jump start our economy, to get housing prices back to normal, to reduce foreclosures, and to get Americans back to work."
^To quote Homer Simpson: D'oh!
Doh is right, LaBelle. Old news. The more I read of JC - not only their emails, but puff pieces, "financial news," and their own SEC filings which can be accessed from the web site -- the more I get the feeling that management is desperately flailing its corporate arms to stay afloat. If they want to continue to exist in a perilous economic environment, the first perception they need to address is the impression they give of having no confidence in their own product and operations, of in fact not caring. The rest of this rant is also old news.
ReplyDeleteMIA-I totally agree!
ReplyDeleteITA with all you ladies. The article didn't give me any new information and JCAs here could have written the article better.
ReplyDeleteHere's this J.Crew: FINAL SALE on 1st/2nd markdowns mean you have no confidence in your merchandise and want to load them to the customer who is utterly confused about sizing (and don't get me started on the declining quality!).
Agreed..someone needs to get a new writer. This is flimsy and I am actually kind of embarrassed for her. Sheesh.
ReplyDeleteWow. That read like a HS newsletter...on second thought, like an elementary school news letter. One commentator picked out misuse of "eludes". Amateurish. ITA Gigi: JCA's discussion was SO much better.
ReplyDelete