Wednesday, February 20, 2013

J.Crew "Very Personal Shopper" App {available in select stores}


"Thanks!" to many of you, including Shopaholic (in this post), Phoebe, as well as Desert Flower, who shared the latest video/ news from J.Crew. The following article comes from Refinery29 (click here to read in its entirety):
This Is Personal: J.Crew Debuts An In-Store Styling App
By Lexi Nisita
February 14, 2013

The thing about J.Crew is...well, it's just great. Wearable basics meet fashion-forward statement pieces? What's not to love! There's just one catch. The catalogues are so immaculately styled, every bit so perfectly placed, that it's easy to wander off into dreamland — and then find yourself in the store wearing a totally hideous combination, wondering where you went wrong.

Well, those days are over. The beloved retail chain, and creative brainchild of Jenna Lyons, has just launched an in-store styling app called Very Personal Stylist. It's an extension of the brand's already well-known Personal Stylist program, but free of charge and available on handy, in-store iPhones at the Columbus Circle (NYC) and Santa Monica (CA) locations, with more to come throughout 2013. Designed by Gin Lane Media, in collaboration with Partners & Spade, the app is a carefully-designed, ultra HD adventure through 12 style stories — six for men, six for women, complete with plenty of tips and tricks along the way.

Get a taste of the new feature in the video above. It's fun, but there is one side effect: We're pretty sure there's a 100% guarantee that you'll stop in at your nearest J.Crew in the next few days. 
Like the article mentions, this is an extension of the very personal shopper stylist (VPS) service but not a replacement for it. It almost appears to be more of a "real-life" catalog, with the ability to schedule an appointment with a VPS, than a VPS app.

Even though I am not inclined to use it, that app looks pretty darn cool. I am curious how well the app is doing in the select locations...

While I am discussing features, it would be really awesome if J.Crew included the measurements of the garments on their website. (Or make that feature its own downloadable app!) Especially since they already have that information. Just a thought that I know most of us have been asking for... :)

What are your thoughts on the VPS app? Have you seen, or used it, at the NYC or CA store? What type of app should J.Crew make next?

27 comments:

  1. Sorry to be OT, but I haven't ordered in a month or so (small victory!), and just checked my shipping notices from this week. Does J Crew use SurePost for all their shipping now, or just when shipping for free (i.e., promo)? One package is already in my city, but not to be delivered for two more days because it is going from UPS to USPS to me. No biggie, since I'm not in a hurry for it, but I was surprised...

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    1. Wendy - J.Crew still uses UPS for the majority of their shipping, but does use SurePost at times. I don't think it has to do with the free shipping though. Many times it has to do with where you are located. Also, there is a chance that UPS will still deliver. I have had packages sent via SurePost (not from J.Crew) that ended up being delivered by UPS instead of the post office. Hopefully that will be the case for you this time, too. :)

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  3. Nice idea. Wouldn't mind downloading this on iPad to have before going to the store.

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  4. For some reason or another the ad reminds me of Apple ads. I'm curious to see it in person but I agree with Alexis that there are other things that are higher on JCAs most requested list (a wish list perhaps).

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  5. Agreed D*ska. I could get more use out of a wish list. J Crew should ask its customers what features they would like.

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  6. Whew. The app is on an iPad not iPhone as suggested by the article. The iPad screen size is more appropriate.
    OT - I was in my local store yesterday and saw a lot of new items. Some very pretty stripey cashmere sweaters and a cute dotted skirt which appears to be online.

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  7. I would prefer a review section and a "find it in store" feature on the website. There are several B&Ms in my area and it would save a lot of time if I can go to a store to try a particular item. I prefer styling myself so this app is not really helpful. I can see how this will help a store though in terms of selling more items.

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    1. I agree! Review section would help me minimize returns as well as disappointments. Most other big retailers do it so I don't know why jcrew is not getting on board.

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  8. Yes, they should do
    Wish list, online reviewe and find in store features. Don't really care about this application, especially since their colors are not accurate on the web. Lioks like they want to be on trend witj Ipad but how useful it to their clients?

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  9. OT - I have a free ship code for Factory. If you want it, email me at mrsnonia@aol.com.

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  10. I also have two free ship codes for Factory, one time use each, valid only through today, 2/20, until 11:59 p.m. EST.

    I'm going to post them here since I won't be checking email until later. Warning, one of the code resembles a four letter expletive,
    but it is legitimate:

    Factory Free Ship Code 1: FZFUVCCKT
    Factory Free Ship Code 2: FZFZSVZTJ

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  11. My #1 feature request: I'd also love a "find it in store" feature on the website!

    The add'l product descriptions & videos should already be provided to us via the website.

    Maybe the app. will be helpful in busy stores, as it is at the very, very busy Apple stores.

    Aside from the VPS app., why didn't they steam out the fold lines from the shirt the 'customer' is wearing in the video? This, along with the errors in emails (like today's factory email states part of the promo is good thru *January* 20, 2013) gives an impression of sloppiness, or like they just don't care whether or not the job gets done right.

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    1. The wrinkly shirt caught my eye too, but I guess that would be representative of a "real" customer trying on a shirt then looking for outfit ideas on the app.

      Agree with others. We need a Wishlist, Customer Reviews and more realistic colour representations online first, before this app.

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    2. Hey CC, No, I wasn't talking about a wrinkly shirt. I'd understand wrinkles. I'm talking about the actual straight crease lines in the garment, a result of folding and packaging for shipment. See what I mean? Perfect fold lines. They run horizontal and vertical on the shirt. So, I'd think they would have removed them for the video. Maybe I'm overly detail oriented? Having said that, I hope there aren't any typo's in my comment! ;P

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  12. Yes, measurements are greatly needed. I get tired of calling all the time or trying to get the chat feature to work to ask about measurements. Wanted to order my daughter a skirt and no length was given so I had to ask. Crazy IMO!

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    1. I actually noticed that they have started to add measurements to new items. The Micro Tweed jacket description includes the jacket length (22").

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  13. OT, Garance Dore did a JCrew Elements of Style post that absolutely nails the essence of J Crew's style. Must see it!

    http://www.garancedore.fr/en/2013/02/19/j-crew-elements-of-style/#

    Makes me want to save for A/W 2013, esp the gorgeous black coat (look#6) and oxblood clutch (look#3) that I didn't notice on all the other Fashion Week photos of JCrew.

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  14. While it looks interesting, I have to agree with others that have said there are more important features that should have been offered before/instead of this. Things like a wishlist, reviews, find it in store feature, etc. I think they would all be much more useful than this app is.

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  15. Sorry off topic but I just got back from b&m store. Wanted to just do a return but of course I saw some new arrivals That i hadnt seen online and had to try. Anyway, the tan black textured cotton polka dot dress comes in a skirt, they had two new eyelet tops--one with a Peter pan collar, one without that came in an eggplant color. They have reincarnated the Peter pan collar sweatshirt in a short sleeve version. The tresco print in a skirt. They were moving bunch of clothes into sale and still at 30% off so I think it's worth stopping in this week.

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    1. Ohhh, a tresco print skirt??!! What style was it? I adore this print!

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    2. It is a mini skirt. Not super short, though! I posted a review of it earlier on my blog if you wanna see photos. It's adorable.

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  16. I NEED this skirt!!!!! Soooo cute! I am glad it is not too mini. So funny because I called the VPS line and after 10 minutes of looking for this skirt, after I had to explain what Tresco floral was, she told me it did not exist!

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    1. Yes! It's adorable! It was sitting at the front display table at my store. It definitely exists!! And you can match ur baby/toddler since Nordstrom kids also carries a tresco skirt for baby. Other new items that I saw: scout chinos, liberty print June's meadow in a peasant type blouse, also in shorts, cafe Capri in pinwheel eyelet in a mint and navy color, also in a navy pencil skirt ( rynetta has the other color in her blog), boy shirt in crystals/beads, other new shorts in anchor and their standard 3" solid colors, silk/cotton stripe pullover in pink and green neon, and some new sweaters but I didn't really look closely at the sweaters. Tried on some short sleeve dresses- but no rush to get now- will wait for Warmer weather.

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    2. I saw the tresco floral kids skirts at Nordstrom, they are adorable!! Too bad the sizing only goes up to a girls size 12 or I would order it for myself!! Thanks for the great scouting report :)

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  17. I don't see any utility in this app. I got to the store to look at the actual merchandise, not watch videos of it. If I need help finding something to go with a skirt, for example, I'll ask a salesperson for suggestions. I certainly won't go play with an app. I am not sure why they think people will use this. I went into an Ethan Allen store a while back and they had down-sized. When I asked to see something in particular, they didn't have it, but took me to a giant TV screen to see pictures of it. I could do that at home on my computer, I went to the store to see the actual merchandise. I just don't understand why they think we want to go to the store to play with electronic gadgets. Sorry, cranky... but I agree they should have put the energy into some customer-friendly features that we all seem to want: reviews, measurements, wish list.

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  18. YES PLEASE FOR:
    user reviews
    find it in store
    measurements
    wishlist
    more informative views of product
    (not necessarily in that order)
    meh, not so much:
    iPad showing some of the merch

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