Referencing {FAQ}

Monday, June 30, 2014

30-40% Off J.Crew Swim Styles & Extras {plus up to 50% off sale}

"Thanks!" to  many of you, who shared the following email & promotion from J.Crew.

J.Crew's website states they are offering 40% off select swim styles and beachy extras for women, men, and the kids, plus 30% off sale, and 50% off select final sale pieces, with promo code SPLASH.

I got an email (shown above) that states 30% off select summer styles at J.crew with code JULY.

Is this tiered marketing again at J.Crew? Are other JCAs seeing both codes or getting a different one altogether?

Will you be taking advantage of either promotion? If so, please share! :)

The Great (Weekly) Exchange {looking to sell}

This post (of weekly posts) is for individual members who want to swap/sell/share among yourselves. This post is where you can mention your items and outside listing/ auction site (like eBay and eCrater & the corresponding user ID).


Please note: this posting is not for resellers, retailers or businesses. If you are a reseller, retailer, or a business, your comment gets automatically deleted & you will get publicly called out on it. :( So instead of this, simply do not post in the Weekly Exchanges. Thanks in advance for your cooperation! :)


Please note that any transactions are independent of this blog. (Especially since you will be using an outside listing/ auction site like eBay or eCrater.) I have no dealings or interactions with any of the potential communication, listings, or transactions. :) Moreover, please limit comments about items to swap/sell/share to the "Great (Weekly) Exchange" posts. (Refer to "A Quick Note to J.Crew Aficionadas" post.)

Do you have any items you would like to swap/sell/share among yourselves through your outside listing/auction site?

Sidenote: What's up with JCAs writing "sub" or "subscribing" as their comment? It just means they are subscribing to all the comments (which are then automatically sent to their email) in that particular thread. This way they can stay aware of all the comments posted. :)

The Great (Weekly) Exchange {looking to find}

This post (of weekly posts) is for individual members who are looking for and interested in buying certain items. Please feel free to share a J.Crew store location and/or your outside listing/ auction site if it matches the requests made in this post.


Please note: this posting is not for resellers, retailers or businesses. If you are a reseller, retailer, or a business, your comment gets automatically deleted & you will get publicly called out on it. :( So instead of this, simply do not post in the Weekly Exchanges. Thanks in advance for your cooperation! :)


Also note that any transactions are independent of this blog. (Especially since you will be using an outside listing/ auction site like eBay or eCrater.) I have no dealings or interactions with any of the potential communication, listings, or transactions. :) Moreover, please limit comments about items to swap/sell/share/finding to the "Great (Weekly) Exchange" posts. (Refer to "A Quick Note to J.Crew Aficionadas" post.)

Is there an item (or items) that you are looking for and interested in purchasing?

Sought & Found: Did you visit J.Crew this {past} Weekend?

This is the weekly "sale watch" post, to help each other find sale items at our various local J.Crew stores. ;)

If you are stopped by a J.Crew store this past weekend to see what's available (if anything!) in the SALE, or to see some NEW ARRIVALS {sigh!} in person, maybe you might be willing to share that with us in this post. In particular, if you could share with us a few of the noteworthy items that are available, at what prices, and potential sizes the store is carrying (as well as the store location)- that would be fantastic!

Also, please let us know if your local store was/ is carrying an additional percent off sale. Thanks in advance!!! :)

Friday, June 27, 2014

Free Shipping (24 hours only), Plus 30% Off Ends Today at J.Crew!

"Thanks!" to  many of you, who shared the following email & promotion from J.Crew.

As you already know, today is the last day J.Crew is offering 30% off all sale styles using promo code HISUMMER. However, J.Crew is not letting it go without adding something special: they are offering free shipping on all orders placed today.

Keep in mind that most brick and mortar stores are offering 40-50% off sale, and have better prices/promotions than online. For example, the Linen Chevron Maxidress (item A4994) is on sale in stores for $99.99 (before any additional percent off) and its still full priced online.


Lastly, even though I did my fair share of shopping during this promotion... I can't help but wonder that J.Crew threw in free shipping today to help move merchandise, which is still busting at the seams in the sale section.

Will you be taking advantage of this promotion? Please share!

Life's a Beach: Extra 30% Off All Madewell Sale Styles

"Thanks!" to  many of you, who shared the following email & promotion from Madewell.

Madewell is offering an additional 30% off sale prices using promo code MAKEWAVES. This offer expires June 29, 2014. The fine print includes:

*Offer valid on purchases of sale items in stores and at madewell.com from June 27, 2014, 12:01am ET through June 29, 2014, 11:59pm ET. Offer not valid on phone orders. Offer cannot be applied to previous purchases or the purchase of gift cards and cannot be redeemed for cash or used in combination with any other offer. Discount on in-store purchases will be taken at the register. To redeem online, enter code MAKEWAVES in the promo code box at checkout. Limit one promotional code per order. Terms of offer are subject to change.
This is a pretty nice promotion. Plus, brick and mortar stores are offering the same deal!

Will you be taking advantage of this promotion? Please share!

Seek & Find: Will you visit J.Crew this Weekend?

This is the weekly "sale watch" post, to help each other find sale items at our various local J.Crew stores. ;)

If you are stopping by a J.Crew store this weekend to see what's available (if anything!) in the SALE, or to see some NEW ARRIVALS {sigh!} in person, maybe you might be willing to share that with us in this post. In particular, if you could share with us a few of the noteworthy items that are available, at what prices, and potential sizes the store is carrying (as well as the store location)- that would be fantastic!

Also, please let us know if your local store is carrying an additional percent off sale. Thanks in advance!!! :)

P.S. I noticed that many of you have already been reporting sale items (and in which stores) in other posts which by the way "thank you!" :) I really appreciate how helpful we are for each other!

Thursday, June 26, 2014

The Types of Customers that Shop at J.Crew {which one are you?}

The following article from the Complex is a couple of years old, but still worth a read (click here to check it out in its entirety):
The 10 Types of People That Shop at J.Crew
By Jian DeLeon
October 10, 2012

J. Crew has come a long way, evolving from its '80s catalog roots to a fashionable powerhouse of neo-American style. Under the direction of CEO Mickey Drexler and Creative Director Jenna Lyons, the brand broke away from its shopping mall associations and become a go-to destination for fashion editors, bloggers, and just about everyone else. Hell, we even shot a video documenting how the store's merchandise and menswear (thanks to designer Frank Muytjens) makes it easy for any guy to walk in a chump, and come out looking pretty decent.

Garnering fans from recovering streetwear addicts to stalwart supporters of high fashion, the brand's fanbase is as diverse as their offerings. So, with our tongues planted firmly in our cheeks, we decided to pay homage to the folks that have helped shape what the brand is today. These are The 10 Types of People That Shop at J. Crew.
(1) Annoying Hipster Couples
You know them when you see them walk in the door, all smiles. They probably met at the fitting room, or maybe it was the produce aisle at Whole Foods, or maybe at some independent bookstore or artisan coffee shop. Either way, they are so annoying. You almost want to slap the thick-framed glasses off their faces, they seem like the type of people whose wedding photos will include them riding a fixed gear bicycle-built-for-two with a wooden "JUST MARRIED" sign quirkily hanging off the back. Where do you get all this money that you can buy Comme des Garcons sweaters in every color?! What kind of fantasy land do these people live in?!
(2) Progressive Yuppies
What, do you expect this start-up founder/graphic designer/advertising creative to shop at BROOKS BROTHERS? Dressing up doesn't have to mean looking lame, and J. Crew gets that. Here, they are free to experiment by throwing a chambray shirt underneath a suit and pairing it with an artfully unkempt camouflage tie from The Hill-Side as well as a beat-up pair of Vans Authentics. After all, they are the adults now. They make the rules. You would walk into this guy's office and find like, every copy of Fantastic Man and a Saturdays magazine open on his desk.
(3) #Menswear n00bs
This guy just discovered tumblr and is amazed by every single street style shot he sees. He then did his research on clothing forums and was super turned-off at the price points for many of brands that get buzz. Really? Made in the USA stuff costs that much? Holy crap... an Italian blazer is like three months' worth of rent?! Uh... there's gotta be a better way. Then, this dude discovers J.Crew. Oh man, chambray shirts? Selvedge jeans? Aldens and Japanese magazines all in one place?! And like that, so disappears his next few paychecks.
(4) Kids That Dress Better Than You
When you were six, you did not have this much swag. Seriously, he was already rocking selvedge denim right after he learned to walk. That Barbour jacket it took you three months to save up for? He just got it for not wetting the bed for a week. Even his desert boot and Nike game is fresher than yours! And the truth is, even if you have the man-sized versions of the stuff in his closet, he'll still look better in it because miniaturized anything becomes that much more adorable.
(5) Girlfriends
By day, she works as an accountant for a company that manufactures safety scissors. She goes home to her schlub of a boyfriend, who'd rather spend his nights in front of the television than reading first-edition copies of Steinbeck. But oh, when she goes online, she too disappears in her own world, and it is wonderful. Here, there are no numbers to crunch, only color blocked sweaters, sequined ballet flats, and ruffled tops that let really let her get her shine on. Why can't she live inside this wonderful bubble of style forever? Why does she always have to return to her humdrum life after she buys everything in her cart? And her man, he doesn't understand. But she will make him. He will shimmy into the pair of 484 jeans she just bought for him, and pair them with a secret-wash plaid shirt, shawl collar cardigan, three scarves, and vibram-soled boots. No, he still probably won't chop wood for a fire or eat only what he kills. But he might look like it. And for her... that is close enough.
(6) Recovering Hypebeasts
So you finally sold your precious collection of Jordans on eBay for just enough scrilla to move out of your parents' basement. They couldn't be prouder! Even better, you got enough profit to go buy yourself some real big boy clothes and not run around in the same BAPE hoodie and A.P.C. New Standards you always wear. Thing is, instead of the Ludlow suit you meant to buy for that job interview at McDonald's... you walked out with a New Balance collab, a Nike collab, a pair of Aldens, and barely had enough for a chambray shirt. Whoops.

(7) First Ladies
The first family's penchant for the brand goes beyond Sasha and Malia's coat game. Michelle Obama has been a longtime fan of the brand, appearing in a 2009 Vogue editorial decked out in the company's gear. Even recently, Michelle Obama was spotted rocking J. Crew's suede pumps at the Democratic National Convention. Michelle Obama is pretty much doing for J. Crew what Kanye West did for Givenchy. Anything she rocks sells out... or gets marked up on eBay.
(8) Guys With Beards
Behold the mountain man. No, he has not actually been to a mountain, but he can certainly tell you what the Google Street View of Pikes Peak looks like. And maybe he has never held an axe in his hands, nor has he ever successfully stoked a bonfire, but his Pinterest is full of both. For this idyllic urban lumberjack, life is an adventure, and getting from Bushwick to Flatiron is more than enough of a hike for him. He would totally buy all of his stuff from heritage companies like Baldwin Denim, Gitman Brothers, and Filson, but unfortunately his bank account is not as huge as his love for America. Thankfully, J. Crew is the type of place he can pick up a solid pair of jeans, hardy flannel shirt, and fresh pair of Red Wing boots in one fell swoop, while still being able to pay rent... and get groomed at Freeman's Sporting Club.

(9) People That Only Go There For The Sales
It's no surprise that J. Crew gear isn't exactly priced to move. Many of the brand's fans are actually vultures, except instead of carrion, it's a coupon they're holding out for. When the clothes first drop, they take stock, eyeing the stuff they really want, but waiting months before they actually pounce—when they can hopefully nab it at like 25% off.
(10) Broke Menswear Bloggers
When J. Crew began to overhaul its menswear, Ralph Lauren vet Frank Muytjens culled inspiration from reliable menswear basics, cult Japanese brands, and plenty of great designers. The first people to notice? Menswear bloggers. Ironically enough, despite touting the importance of American-made goods and how "guys should buy less, but buy better," more often than not the brands they championed were far, far out of their price range. Early on, they figured out that while they couldn't afford a bunch of unstructured Italian sportcoats at full retail, J. Crew certainly provided more affordable options. The official timepiece of #menswear? The J. Crew Timex Military watch—with a custom colored nylon strap, of course! Years later, plenty of average guys' taste levels are finally catching up... and these menswear bloggers are still paying off the debts on their J. Crew credit cards.
 This list is hilarious and spot on for many descriptions. LOVES IT!

What type do you think you fall under? Do you think there is a J.Crew customer type that is missing from the list? If so, please share! :)

JCA "Help Style Me!" Weekly Post

This is the weekly "Help Style Me!" post, where we can share items we are having trouble putting outfits together with. Elaine (in this post) says it best, "You know, that thing you bought because you love it and you keep pulling it out and then putting it away without wearing it?"

Please share your J.Crew item (either that you own or are thinking about getting) that you would love help creating an outfit with.

Also, please help out by offering your styling advice. Feel free to include links to your blog (where you incorporated that piece) or to Polyvore (where you showcased an outfit with that piece). Thanks in advance! :)

"Looking to LOVE" with J.Crew

This is the weekly "Looking to LOVE with J.Crew" post, a place to share our favorite experiences with J.Crew.

If you have recently experienced a positive situation with J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including stellar experiences with purchases & orders, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Flash Sale at J.Crew {40% off sale for card members}

"Thanks!" to  many of you, who shared the following email & promotion from J.Crew.

J.Crew is offering an additional 40% off sale styles (for those using J.Crew's credit card) with promotional code CARDMEMBER. This offer expires tonight, midnight EST.

For everyone else, J.Crew is offering an additional 30% off select Sale styles and 50% off select Final Sale styles with promo code HISUMMER.

It is worth noting that most brick & mortar stores are offering an additional 50% off sale styles- with or without using the J.Crew credit card.

Will you be taking advantage of this promotion? If so, please share!

J.Crew x New Balance Collaboration

There is a really great read over at the Complex about J.Crew's collaboration with New Balance (click here to read in its entirety):
What the J.Crew x New Balance 998 Sell Out Means for Sneaker Culture
By Matt Welty
June 18, 2014

Before I started working at Complex, I was a part-time sales associate at a J.Crew store in central New Jersey. I hated my job. The discount was nice, but the women and men who would only shop the sale section would wreak havoc on my patience.

From my experience, people shop at J.Crew for one of four things:
1. They got a new job or have to attend a function and don't want to look like a schlub.
2. Their girlfriend dragged them there to dress them like the men they fantasize about dating.
3. They want to get into the ye old Americana trend.
4. They want items that are an extra 40-percent off.

And the majority of the aforementioned people are all a little bit of number four on that list.


When New Balance released its second true collaboration with J.Crew, the "Independence Day" 998, online this morning, I expected them to sit around for a bit. Not because the sneakers weren't great, but J.Crew shoppers tend to lack a sense of urgency. And on top of everything, this release was priced at $175, $15 more expensive than the other exclusive 998s available at J.Crew.

But to my surprise, the sneakers were virtually sold out. And this was at 7 a.m. as I viewed the brand's e-commerce site from the comfort of my bed. This seemed impossible. It's not like sneakerheads are designing online bots to instantly pillage J.Crew's digital stock.

The sneaker had previously released at select J.Crew locations this past weekend, and the brand, which overshadows independent sneaker stores in size, made its collaboration feel like something small and special. A national brand had captured the excitement and feel of a boutique working on a silhouette and theme that meant something to their respective story.

Maybe J.Crew had put together the holy trinity of sneaker collaborations: The "Independence Day" 998 was tied to the 4th of July, it was Made in USA, and it came in a colorway that appeals to nearly everyone.

Or it could be something completely different. J.Crew has worked with New Balance on expressly made products since 2011, but this year has signaled the first time that the two have put their heads together and formulated cohesive collaborations—giving them nicknames, a calculated release strategy, and all. (The first was the "Inferno" 998 that released earlier this year.) The previous sneakers hadn't sold out right away. The sat on shelves and were available for multiple seasons.

But, there was something different about the "Independence Day." The "Inferno" felt like a flash in the pan, and it caught me by surprise. I wasn't sure if J.Crew and New Balance would continue working on real collaborations. But when the "Independence Day" press release hit my inbox, I immediately knew that J.Crew wasn't just stocking suede New Balances that complemented its selection of oxford shirts, slim-cut chinos, and unstructured blazers. The retailer had made the sneakers the sole focus of the email. They were really trying to sell a product that wouldn't be available anywhere else.

The "Independence Day" 998 was made in Skowhegan, Maine. It also tied back to both New Balance's heritage in the U.S., and what we would expect from late-'80s and early-'90s runners. But this sneaker wasn't a desperate cry to bring back sneakers of yesteryear—much like how J.Crew's "traditional" clothing doesn't feel trapped in the pages of Take Ivy.

The sneaker collaboration had legitimately crossed over to mall brands—not that Converse and Undefeated hadn't tried before. It felt like our niche sneaker culture—that thrived on overseas sneaker boutiques and websites that would need translation—had made its way to mainstream fashion.

But J.Crew wasn't just slanging these New Balance sneakers to guys looking for chambray shirts they picked up with an extra 30-percent off coupon. It had now targeted sneakerheads directly. The sneakers had been posted on almost every sneaker blog. And if anyone needed evidence that limited sneaker releases had crossed over to the national conscious, this release was it.

J.Crew put its sights on roping in its #menswear crowd which had a newfound interest in sneakers. It also attracted the average sneaker consumer who might not even pay attention to how their pants fit. And if J.Crew can make sneaker collaborations a surefire win, there's a bigger opportunity for retailers, if done the right way, to get in on the fun.

We have an insatiable hunger for products with stories and that are limited. J.Crew exploited this, and I'm not mad at all. There isn't much difference between a J.Crew collaboration and one from the list of boutiques that we continually champion. It just feels that way right now.
I thought this article did a great job explaining how J.Crew "got it right" when it came to a single pair of New Balance sneakers. Not only did they get the sneaker detail right, they were able to market the limited number of sneakers to the right customer base. A customer base that was excited to pay $15 more than similar shoes on J.Crew's own website!

So why the fuss, Alexis? It's no secret that J.Crew is currently struggling with too much inventory and not enough sales. I believe J.Crew has the ability to turn things around by learning the lessons of the successful launch of a single pair of  J.Crew x New Balance sneakers. I know, I know, easier said than done. But still, it's worth a double take for them.

Lastly, I love the break down of J.Crew shoppers! I am certainly guilty of all four... HA! For tomorrow, I will post the article that breaks down the 10 types of J.Crew shoppers. ;)

What are your thoughts on the article? Disagree or agree with J.Crew's marketing techniques to go after a niche market? Do you think J.Crew can recreate the "magic" on a wider scale?

"Looking to VENT" with J.Crew

This is the weekly "Looking to VENT with J.Crew" post, a place to share our not-so-stellar experiences with J.Crew.

If you have recently experienced a frustrating situation with J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including poor experiences with purchases & orders, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

Weekly Share: Other JCrew-like Retailers

This is the weekly "Other JCrew-like Retailers" post (similar to the "Off On A Tangent" posts), where we can share our finds from other retailers that have offerings similar to J.Crew (like Anthropologie, LE Canvas, Gap, BR, Talbots, Ann Taylor, and the like.)

If you have recently encountered items that are similar to J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including experiences with certain merchandise pieces, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

J.Crew Reviews {straight from the JCAs!}

This is the weekly "J.Crew Reviews {straight from the JCAs}" post, to help each other share our reviews.

So if you have recently purchased, or stopped by a J.Crew store to try on an item (or two) from J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Also, this request is not just limited to clothes. Please feel free to discuss bags, shoes, jewelry, accessories, etc.

In particular, if you could mention a few of the noteworthy details like fit, size, fabric, and the like— that would be fantastic! Thanks in advance! :)

Monday, June 23, 2014

The Great (Weekly) Exchange {looking to sell}

This post (of weekly posts) is for individual members who want to swap/sell/share among yourselves. This post is where you can mention your items and outside listing/ auction site (like eBay and eCrater & the corresponding user ID).


Please note: this posting is not for resellers, retailers or businesses. If you are a reseller, retailer, or a business, your comment gets automatically deleted & you will get publicly called out on it. :( So instead of this, simply do not post in the Weekly Exchanges. Thanks in advance for your cooperation! :)


Please note that any transactions are independent of this blog. (Especially since you will be using an outside listing/ auction site like eBay or eCrater.) I have no dealings or interactions with any of the potential communication, listings, or transactions. :) Moreover, please limit comments about items to swap/sell/share to the "Great (Weekly) Exchange" posts. (Refer to "A Quick Note to J.Crew Aficionadas" post.)

Do you have any items you would like to swap/sell/share among yourselves through your outside listing/auction site?

Sidenote: What's up with JCAs writing "sub" or "subscribing" as their comment? It just means they are subscribing to all the comments (which are then automatically sent to their email) in that particular thread. This way they can stay aware of all the comments posted. :)

The Great (Weekly) Exchange {looking to find}

This post (of weekly posts) is for individual members who are looking for and interested in buying certain items. Please feel free to share a J.Crew store location and/or your outside listing/ auction site if it matches the requests made in this post.


Please note: this posting is not for resellers, retailers or businesses. If you are a reseller, retailer, or a business, your comment gets automatically deleted & you will get publicly called out on it. :( So instead of this, simply do not post in the Weekly Exchanges. Thanks in advance for your cooperation! :)


Also note that any transactions are independent of this blog. (Especially since you will be using an outside listing/ auction site like eBay or eCrater.) I have no dealings or interactions with any of the potential communication, listings, or transactions. :) Moreover, please limit comments about items to swap/sell/share/finding to the "Great (Weekly) Exchange" posts. (Refer to "A Quick Note to J.Crew Aficionadas" post.)

Is there an item (or items) that you are looking for and interested in purchasing?

Sought & Found: Did you visit J.Crew this {past} Weekend?

This is the weekly "sale watch" post, to help each other find sale items at our various local J.Crew stores. ;)

If you are stopped by a J.Crew store this past weekend to see what's available (if anything!) in the SALE, or to see some NEW ARRIVALS {sigh!} in person, maybe you might be willing to share that with us in this post. In particular, if you could share with us a few of the noteworthy items that are available, at what prices, and potential sizes the store is carrying (as well as the store location)- that would be fantastic!

Also, please let us know if your local store was/ is carrying an additional percent off sale. Thanks in advance!!! :)

Friday, June 20, 2014

Seek & Find: Will you visit J.Crew this Weekend?

This is the weekly "sale watch" post, to help each other find sale items at our various local J.Crew stores. ;)

If you are stopping by a J.Crew store this weekend to see what's available (if anything!) in the SALE, or to see some NEW ARRIVALS {sigh!} in person, maybe you might be willing to share that with us in this post. In particular, if you could share with us a few of the noteworthy items that are available, at what prices, and potential sizes the store is carrying (as well as the store location)- that would be fantastic!

Also, please let us know if your local store is carrying an additional percent off sale. Thanks in advance!!! :)

P.S. I noticed that many of you have already been reporting sale items (and in which stores) in other posts which by the way "thank you!" :) I really appreciate how helpful we are for each other!

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Upcoming J.Crew Warehouse Sale {Lynchburg, VA}

A big "thanks!" to Raquel, who let us know that J.Crew will be hosting another Warehouse Sale this weekend! Lots of merchandise for men, women, and the kids!

The dates for this event are as follows:

Saturday, June 21st (from 8AM to 8PM)
Sunday, June 22nd (from 10AM to 6PM)

The location for this shopping event is:

J.Crew Millrace Clearance Store
25 Millrace Drive
Lynchburg, VA 24502
(434) 316-6324

If you know any more details of this event (like pricing) and/or planning to attend, please let us know!

Congrats to all those in the area!!! :)

JCA "Help Style Me!" Weekly Post

This is the weekly "Help Style Me!" post, where we can share items we are having trouble putting outfits together with. Elaine (in this post) says it best, "You know, that thing you bought because you love it and you keep pulling it out and then putting it away without wearing it?"

Please share your J.Crew item (either that you own or are thinking about getting) that you would love help creating an outfit with.

Also, please help out by offering your styling advice. Feel free to include links to your blog (where you incorporated that piece) or to Polyvore (where you showcased an outfit with that piece). Thanks in advance! :)

"Looking to LOVE" with J.Crew

This is the weekly "Looking to LOVE with J.Crew" post, a place to share our favorite experiences with J.Crew.

If you have recently experienced a positive situation with J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including stellar experiences with purchases & orders, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

J.Crew Factory Exclusive Early Access: Shop new arrivals before everyone else


"Thanks!" to many of you, who shared the following news/email from J.Crew Factory with us.


J.Crew Factory is offering a sneak peek at the latest arrivals with prices up to 40% off! They are also throwing in free shipping (no min!). Both these offers are just for today! So check your email to see if you got the invite and code. Keep in mind though, there might be a better offer tomorrow... you know how it goes. ;)






J.Crew Factory is still duplicating regular J.Crew's offerings and prints- in particular, the Barbados print is back! It's too bad that I am not crazy about the quality at Factory, because there are lots of cute things from this latest roll-out.

Have you received this email? Will you be taking advantage of this promotion? Any items you are interested in? If so, please share!

J.Crew Updates Website with New Arrivals!

"Thanks!" to many of you, who let us know that J.Crew had an update to its website (click here to view online).

There are some new arrivals for men (click here) & women (click here). {wahoo!} It looks like Crewcuts (click here) has been updated, and the J.Crew Collection (click here).


The JUNE catalog (click here to view) is still up. The latest July catalog (which is ultra thin) is not yet. As mentioned by several JCAs, J.Crew posted several images of the newest catalog over at Pinterest (click here to view).


J.Crew is still offering customers 30% off Sale and 50% off select Final Sale items with promo code HISUMMER. This offer expires June 27, 2014. It is worth mentioning that a lot of new items made it to sale. YEY!


My top pick? I am loving the Jeweled Sweatshirt in Stripe. I don't need yet another sweatshirt, let alone another with jewels. However, I will make an exception for this little number. ;)


My second pick... I am also crushing on the Bead Droplet Statement Necklace. The necklace is perfectly fresh for Summer!

What items are you most excited about and why? Which items are you surprised (or not surprised) to see? Which items did you hope would be included? Were you expecting a bigger roll-out? Also, did you receive the latest catalog? :)

"Looking to VENT" with J.Crew

This is the weekly "Looking to VENT with J.Crew" post, a place to share our not-so-stellar experiences with J.Crew.

If you have recently experienced a frustrating situation with J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including poor experiences with purchases & orders, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

Weekly Share: Other JCrew-like Retailers

This is the weekly "Other JCrew-like Retailers" post (similar to the "Off On A Tangent" posts), where we can share our finds from other retailers that have offerings similar to J.Crew (like Anthropologie, LE Canvas, Gap, BR, Talbots, Ann Taylor, and the like.)

If you have recently encountered items that are similar to J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including experiences with certain merchandise pieces, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Another Flash Sale at J.Crew Factory {35% off *select* styles & free shipping!}

"Thanks!" to  many of you, who shared the following email & promotion from J.Crew.

J.Crew Factory is offering 35% off *select styles* and free shipping with promotional code BEACH. This offer expires tonight, midnight EST.

UPDATE: "Thanks!" again to many of you who let us know that the additional percent off is only available to select Summer styles.

Will you be taking advantage of this promotion? If so, please share!

J.Crew Struggles {Mickey Drexler Definitely Does Not!}

"Thanks!" to Stapelia N. who shared the following article from the Bloomberg (click here to read in its entirety & to watch a video).
CEO Drexler Amasses $350 Million as J.Crew Struggles
By Lindsey Rupp, Carol Hymowitz and David Carey
June 13, 2014

Mickey Drexler has amassed more than $350 million from the leveraged buyout of J.Crew Group Inc. even as he struggles to revive sales and restore the apparel chain’s fashion cachet. Three years after taking the retailer private with private-equity firms TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners LP, J.Crew’s chief executive officer is battling slowing sales as shoppers decamp to more affordable, trendier rivals. The challenges reduce the likelihood of an initial public offering this year and make J.Crew less appealing to a potential strategic buyer such as Japan’s Fast Retailing Co.

“Mickey has done very well for himself,” said Eric Beder, the managing director of equity research at Brean Capital LLC. “But J.Crew has to reinvent itself given the prevalence of fast fashion and a customer who isn’t paying up that much for basics, which is a large part of the brand.

Drexler invested $11 million of his own money when he was named CEO in 2003. In the 2011 buyout, his stake was worth about $301 million -- he pocketed $202 million of that and rolled the rest into an 8 percent stake, according to company filings. He also got $55 million in dividends as part of the $681.5 million J. Crew has paid the owners since going private.

In all, Drexler, 69, has accrued about $380 million since becoming CEO, including options awards, salary and bonus, according to company filings and a Bloomberg News analysis. He and his private-equity partners have recouped over half their $1.23 billion investment.

Possible Sale
In February, two people with knowledge of the matter said J.Crew was in talks about a possible sale to Fast Retailing, which owns Uniqlo. Last month, Drexler said there were no immediate plans for an IPO or sale. The bonds J.Crew sold last year to finance the dividend are indicating diminished odds that the retailer will explore a stock sale anytime soon.

...Initially, Drexler was just what J.Crew needed. After the former Gap Inc. CEO joined in 2003, the chain quickly morphed into the go-to place for younger shoppers looking for stylish T-shirts and making investment purchases of cashmere sweaters; career women couldn’t seem to get enough of the pencil skirts and oversized blazers.


When First Lady Michelle Obama wore a J.Crew cardigan while gabbing on Jay Leno’s couch in 2008 and the first daughters donned Crewcuts, the children’s line, for President Barack Obama’s inauguration, J.Crew reaped fashion status comparable to superstars such as Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan.

Key Rationale

But by the time Drexler took the New York-based company private, it was starting to flag. A key rationale for the $3 billion buyout was giving Drexler an opportunity to work his magic again without Wall Street watching his every move.

It hasn’t happened. Though store mannequins are skillfully designed to prod shoppers into buying outfits for day and evening, there’s a sameness to the fashions, said Shaz Kahng, who advises private-equity and hedge-fund firms about retail and luxury goods. As prices have crept up, younger shoppers, once a mainstay, have fled to Uniqlo, H&M and Zara, she said.

Elleree Erdos, a 24-year-old associate at Craig F. Starr Gallery in New York, no longer gets her basics at J.Crew, as she did in college. “Their basics are a little pricey,” she said. “And their statement pieces are just so branded that if I got a dress at J.Crew five of my friends would say, ‘So-and-so has that dress,’ and that’s not what I want in clothes.”

HBO Hit

Creative director Jenna Lyons, a style icon who appeared on the hit HBO show “Girls” and is a walking advertisement for J.Crew, is under pressure to recapture her fashion mojo. She may be counting on the fall collection, which includes slim-fitted coats in an array of hues and wide cropped pants.

The company reported a first-quarter net loss of $30.1 million, compared with income of $29.3 million a year earlier. Revenue rose 4.9 percent to $592 million as gross margin slipped to 38.7 percent from 44.7 percent. J.Crew incurred a one-time refinancing loss of $36 million in the quarter.

Citigroup Inc. credit analyst Jenna Giannelli projects earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $294 million for the current fiscal year, down 21 percent from last year. If operating results continue to decline, the company said this month that it may write down the value of the business.

Boosted Debt
While J.Crew funded the first dividend with cash on hand, it boosted debt by half a billion dollars to $2.05 billion to pay the second one. Cash generation has shrunk, with free cash flow after interest falling to about $40 million in the 12 months ended May 3. The company had $128 million of working capital at the end of the first quarter and a $250 million credit line.

Like many U.S. apparel chains, J.Crew is looking abroad for growth. The company operates three stores in London, two in Hong Kong that opened in May, and 12 in Canada. In an interview in Hong Kong last month, Drexler said he’s targeting capital cities, including Paris, where the chain plans to open one or two locations by the end of 2015.

The ambition is to go slow and do it well with great integrity, and not do it quickly and lose the quality control,” he said. “When we see the right location, we will take a shop. We’re not looking everywhere and anywhere.”

Beder said Drexler is smart to do the international push while the company is private because of the ramp-up costs. Capital spending has surged 35 percent since fiscal 2011. Still, because J.Crew is a “uniquely driven American product, we’ll have to wait and see if it resonates with Europeans and Asians,” Beder said.

New Markets
In a statement today, a J.Crew representative said: “We are very pleased with the performance of our initial stores in both the U.K. and Hong Kong which are exceeding expectations and rivaling some of our best stores here in the U.S. We’re also excited to explore new markets in both Europe and Asia to open additional stores where we find great locations.”

On a recent Saturday afternoon, J.Crew’s store on London’s fashionable Regent Street was a quiet oasis after the crowded street; none of the checkouts was permanently staffed.

David Anthony, a 46-year-old display manager at a chain of coffee shops, was among the handful of customers browsing the store. He found a cardigan he liked but wasn’t prepared to drop 248 pounds ($420). “Why should I pay that kind of money if I can get something not dissimilar at Zara or H&M?” he said.
This article and the article discussed in last week's "J.Crew's Got an Inventory Problem {no, really?}" post, showcase a store that is struggling to stay on top of their game. J.Crew is still doing well compared to other retailers- as the industry is struggling in general.

My unsolicited advice for J.Crew, to turn things around, has not changed:
  1. Offer kill prices for sale items that are a year old. Seeing those items in the sale section, with the same high price point season after season, impacts how customers see the rest of the sale section. (For example, many of us don't bother checking the sale section because we are tired of seeing the same things.)
  2. J.Crew needs to offer "classic with a twist" offerings again. For example, more perfect shirts with Liberty for London prints. ...And Summer maxi dresses that are fitted, as oppose to shapeless sacks. ...And bring back custom-prints like the one on the Veruschka Dress.
  3. Hire a really good stylist. Treat the catalog, er style guide, like the store mannequins and make customers want to buy the whole outfit.
Trust when I say that I still buy my fair share at J.Crew because they still offer pieces I love. (Right now, it is the only store I buy clothes et al from.) My suggestions just come from a place where I want to see J.Crew back on top. :)

Other tidbits:
  1. I thought it was interesting the article & the video associated with the article stated younger shoppers (those in their 20s) are turning away from J.Crew.
  2. I am super excited about the Fall Collection. Slim fitting coats? Array of hues? I am in!
  3. Dayum! Mickey got a great return on investment turning $11 million into $300 million in less than 10 years. If only I could get such a return on my savings... ;)
What are your thoughts on the article ? Do you think J.Crew will continue to perform well under Mickey Drexler? Any points caught your interest? :)

J.Crew Reviews {straight from the JCAs!}

This is the weekly "J.Crew Reviews {straight from the JCAs}" post, to help each other share our reviews.

So if you have recently purchased, or stopped by a J.Crew store to try on an item (or two) from J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Also, this request is not just limited to clothes. Please feel free to discuss bags, shoes, jewelry, accessories, etc.

In particular, if you could mention a few of the noteworthy details like fit, size, fabric, and the like— that would be fantastic! Thanks in advance! :)