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).
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.
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!
*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!
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!
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 BloggersThis list is hilarious and spot on for many descriptions. LOVES IT!
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 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?"
This is the weekly "Looking to LOVE with J.Crew" post, a place to share our favorite experiences with J.Crew.
What the J.Crew x New Balance 998 Sell Out Means for Sneaker CultureI 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!
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.
This is the weekly "Looking to VENT with J.Crew" post, a place to share our not-so-stellar experiences with J.Crew.
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.)
This is the weekly "J.Crew Reviews {straight from the JCAs}" post, to help each other share our reviews.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).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.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!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!
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?"This is the weekly "Looking to LOVE with J.Crew" post, a place to share our favorite experiences 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.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.)
CEO Drexler Amasses $350 Million as J.Crew StrugglesThis 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.
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 is the weekly "J.Crew Reviews {straight from the JCAs}" post, to help each other share our reviews.