"Thanks!" to many of you, including JustVisiting (in this post) who let us know that the J.Crew Aficionada blog header got shown in the CNBC's "J.Crew and the Man who Dressed America" special airing tonight.I am still watching the program, but was so excited to see that the blog got shown! They included several other J.Crew centric blogs too (congrats ladies!).
They even highlighted a few customer concerns from fellow JCAs in the blog's ""Looking to VENT" with J.Crew" posts. Even better, Mickey addressed them saying he was aware of our concerns (holes in the tees and the pills on the cashmere) and is working on them.
...I am off to watch the rest!
Exciting! We only get Hulu Plus, but my sis is recording it for me. I can't wait to see it!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear more. Is Mickey really listening?
ReplyDeleteNo, he's not. At least not until sales start to drop and then we'll see a new campaign: "We've rededicated ourselves to quality!"
DeleteITA Raina, they have been talking about their wonderful quality for a few years now, while IRL we have witnessed the steady decline. Given the reported issues that MSNBC could easily find with a quick search, he had to address it and he gave the same old party line, they are "aware of the concerns and working on them". I guess that takes care of it then.
DeleteAlso found it quite incredulous when in response to a question about increased price points he suggested that customers could still choose from socks, knits and accessories. Really?
DeleteInteresting enough I've long since sworn off purchasing items from the knits and tees section.
Pathos, Did you see your blogger name, and I think MilliJcrew's name too, when they went through JCA and highlighted a comment?
ReplyDeleteHi!! First off, Congrats Alexis... you deserve so much for the advertisement you give Crew.
DeleteI about fell out of my bed when I saw my comment :) Really wasn't satisfied with the answer but can't say that has driven me away from my love for Crew.
Congrats Milljcrew & Pathos for being featured! Your comments are definitely something J.Crew's quality control team needs to hear (and more importantly, they need to address them). :)
DeleteAlexis, congrats! That is fantastic news and I can't wait to watch this!
ReplyDeleteJust finished watching it. I still feel like I don't know anymore about JCrew than when I turned it on. It just seemed like an hour long advertisement. I did want to buy the ram bracelet I've been eyeing after watching the show.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!! that mention is awesome
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the blog being acknowledged! Just finished viewing it. Loved it. It gave me a different perspective on my shopping experience, I honestly keep the "style guides" as a personal reference to my fashion choices. Never realized the possibility of them enhancing my shopping experience should I keep them on hand during my store visits. Can't count the number of times I've walked into a store and had to give a dissertation to an employee on an item I'm trying to locate. I also loved that they visited the 5th Ave. store which has become my favorite location since it's opening.
ReplyDeleteThe episode was good...enjoyed watching it! Seeing all the fall clothes makes me not want to buy for spring/summer anymore and just save up for fall season..the clothes are to die for...
ReplyDeleteWow! That's awesome, Alexis! So excited for you and other bloggers who got a mention. I don't have CNBC in my cable package, really hoping someone will post this on Youtube, or NBC may run this as a special later?
ReplyDeleteWow this is so exciting. Congratulations Alexis!
ReplyDeleteOh I wish I could watch this, congrats on the recognition Alexis.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the mention, Alexis! I didn't get the chance to watch yet, but hopefully will soon...sounds like it was very interesting. :)
ReplyDeleteI must have missed the JCA mention while I was trying to find the channel (realized too late that CNBC is different from NBC).
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed watching it, especially the segments shot in the NYC stores. I thought it was funny that he compared the cafe capris in fresco floral to caviar among hot-dogs but at the same time ditched the top because nothing tells the customer why it is so expensive. By the way the top is $69 in stores (before discount), they had many yesterday at the Rockfeller Center store.
Alexis, adding my congrats on the CNBC mention! It is so exciting and I am so happy that this wonderful blog was acknowledged!
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear about the news report. I did not watch it but will read all the updates posted here! (I have a book to get through for book club-no TV for me:)
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Alexis! I watched it and was excited to see the JCA blog mentioned, you deserve the recognition for this amazing blog! I recognized the vents they posted and was glad they were acknowledged though I don't know if it changes anything. I enjoyed watching it - and realized how many items I know the name of, was a little alarming. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone and "CONGRATS!!!" all around. :)
ReplyDeleteI love that this blog was mentioned. So awesome! I just wish I could watch the show... we don't have cable. Might have to sneak to someone else's house to watch on Sunday!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to watching this, even if it is one big J. Crew commercial. I forgot about it last night, but set the TiVo to record it late tonight when it airs again.
ReplyDeleteHow awesome, Alexis! I'm hoping the show will be added to Hulu soon. I noticed last night that "CNBC Originals" is available on Hulu, but the J.Crew special hasn't been added yet. Sometimes it takes a while. I'll be on the lookout and will share if/when it does :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the mention. It was interesting to learn more about Jcrew. It makes me want to visit NYC to go to the 5th Ave store.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Alexis! And congrats to the other JCA bloggers out there too. I think perhaps everyone will see an increase in their blog traffic thanks to this special.
ReplyDeleteCall me sappy, but I was a little touched hearing about Mickey's background and the story of his "hard-scrabble" life. I've worked for a few bosses who have a very similar management style and while they weren't always easy to work with, I always learned a great deal. It was fun seeing all the clothes and hearing the corporate thoughts. My DH was actually wistful that we couldn't make it to NY to the men's Liquor Store. He's drinking the crewlade, folks!
congrats, Alexis! there were a few new embellishments on the Mickey legend, but I guess we'll have to wait for the un-authorized life story to untangle that. Delighted to learn that someone, somewhere, is taking note!
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd come here and find you'd made a comment about seeing the "pun robot" in the flesh-LOL:)
Deletecongrats alexis,
ReplyDeleteyou should be proud about the blog mention!
i wish i could have seen it.
congrats alexis,
ReplyDeleteyou should be proud of the blog mention!
i wish i could have seen it.
I thought it was great that they showed the comments on JCA and then cut to Mickey making a sour face as the reporter asked him about the holes and the pilling -- good work, JCAs!
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Ema about the in-store segments... those were pretty illuminating. I actually felt a little trepidation for the employees looking all nervous around Mickey!
I like the lady who said she was the "pun robot." Is she the copywriter from space?
ReplyDeleteI was thinking/ wondering the SAME thing!!!
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DeleteAgain, everyone thanks for the nice words and "congratulations!" to every single member of this amazing community.
ReplyDeleteI thought the special was really interesting to watch, and even though I knew about 90% of the info the presented there were still some nuggets of info I found fascinating.
I found Mickey's personal background and triumph to the top inspirational. I am also completely jealous of the 7 (or something around that number) homes he has.
I was surprised to hear Mickey say that J.Crew compares themselves to some pretty big name stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Bergdorf Goodman, etc. in seriousness. Maybe in some geographical markets (like NYC with their specialty shops), but I am not convinced this is true across the board.
I loved seeing the mill in Italy and learning more about the Thomas Mason line. I thought the piece around the catalog was great too! We JCAs have long kept our catalogs organized in magazine cases as a style reference. :)
Great job on being included in the special! Do you have any idea if the totes with the color on the sides at the very beginning as well as Jenna's green polka dot sweater part of the Fall line?
DeleteThanks!
Congrats Alexis! You work hard to maintain this community and it's exciting it got mentioned on a nationally broadcast program!
ReplyDeleteI don't think they're listening about quality, they just want to appear as if they are. They have no incentive to do anything right now because profits are high (thanks to reduced labor and materials cost...)
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ReplyDeleteCongratulations Alexis – the editors managed to highlight your blog and its influence while maintaining your anonymity.
ReplyDeleteThe special was fun to watch. I enjoyed seeing Mickey put on the spot concerning, holes, broken buttons and pilling – particularly when he had to help the reporter with the correct pronunciation of “pilling.” It was a nice counterpoint to his assertion that J Crew offers “designer quality to the masses.” I also liked the WWD editor’s description of J Crew’s challenges pre-Mickey: quality, fit, delivery and a differing aesthetic between the stores and the catalog. IMO Mickey has resolved the merchandising issue – but is slipping on the other 3.
Anna Wintour’s description of the pre-Mickey J Crew as “a poor man’s Ralph Lauren” was also apt. While J Crew has made great strides in color and styling, there are still a surprising number of items that are disturbingly similar in fabric or style to brands at higher price points. The J Crew / Kate Spade “Fanfare” prints are but one example.
Criticisms aside, J Crew has a lot to offer – and Mickey is a great merchant. They just need to clean up the operations and act on customer inputs.
Well said, Muffy!
DeleteI turned the show on last night just as they mentioned your blog. Congratulations! Apparently J Crew is listening to the JCA community that you have brought together through your blog. I'm glad that Mickey said that he is addressing the cashmere quality and pilling issues that we have been talking about for years.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Alexis! I'm happy with the end product, even though my JCA story wasn't selected for the piece I still enjoyed speaking to the producer and contributing to the whole process! I can't thank you enough for facilitating that and being the catalyst of this crazy thing we call JCA. I almost feel like family because I remember being there from the beginning and to see where the blog has come to this point, I thank you for you continued commitment and beautiful spirit!
ReplyDeleteLyssa
www.theminniemaven.com
congrats, Alexis!!!! Thanks SO very much for all of your hard work!
ReplyDeleteI was struck by two things in the story.
ReplyDeleteFirst, Mickey spoke of taking on mall owners about their atmosphere and customer experience. It is astonishing to me that J Crew has chosen a 100% mall strategy in Boston/Cambridge even though competing retailers have chosen iconic and beautiful spaces on Newbury Street (Banana Republic and Ralph Lauren) and Harvard Square (Anthro). The Galleria Mall is dreadful and that JC is right across from a yucky hot pretzel stand and adjacent to a sad-sack Sears. Why on earth is JC there? It's not the mall owner's fault that JC signed a lease in a down market location.
Second, I found it interesting that Mickey described the sale rack as a place to find all their design mistakes. If that is true, then why do they mark down so much merchandise within days of being introduced? That's a lot of mistakes!
Just sayin...
I was surprised to hear him say that the sale rack was a place for 'mistakes.' I don't feel that way at all. Sometimes the store has to make room for newer merchandise. Granted, I shop sales exclusively at J. Crew because many times the starting price point is too high for my budget. I hardly think that my sale wardrobe from J. Crew is a collection of mistakes.
DeleteThere was so much eye candy on this special. I'm glad I recorded it, I wish I could just put it on in slow motion. It always happens, I see a jacket I wish I'd bought.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny that Mickey dissed that September 2010 catalog, I think that was one of the most beautiful ones. Granted, I didn't buy any of those short skirts, but the look of the catalog was gorgeous.
Elizabeth, I agree, I really loved the Sept 2010 catalog and my interest in their current catalogs has been lacking.
ReplyDeleteI am coming late to this discussion, but just wanted to say congratulations, Alexis!! It's great to hear that JCA is recognized as being influential. I missed seeing the special last night but I'm setting the PVR for the Sunday re-run!
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed the piece. Was also interesting that he mentioned faltering last season with being perhaps too fashion/trendy. I wonder if perhaps that is why Marissa Webb left? Perhaps she was blamed for some of that?
ReplyDeleteIf anyone is curious on her wherabouts - I found her on pinterest - http://pinterest.com/marissawebb/ and on facebook - https://www.facebook.com/marissawebbnyc seems like she's starting something on her own...curious to see what comes of it!
Thanks for sharing--I've long been wondering what came of her!
DeleteMarissa seems to have recently started a twitter account, as well: @Marissa_Webb_
Deletefor anyone who missed the episode, i posted it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82uqChYwlY4&feature=youtu.be
ReplyDeleteDara: Thank you for posting the CNBC special on YouTube! I didn't get to watch it when it first aired, so I appreciate you sharing the link so I can finally see it when I get some spare time. :)
DeleteYou're very welcome - glad I could be of help! I really, really enjoyed the special, so much so that I felt compelled to post it so all my fellow JCAs who missed it could tune in as well :)
DeleteCongrats! So exciting. I loved this show. It made me have a new respect for Mickey.
ReplyDelete