...lost in Macys

...lost has landed in macys. Lost is featuring their resin works collection as a push for summer.

Lululemon's defective yoga pant

Lululemon has built their reputation on quality products but a recent product defect could cost the company millions.

 

Selling through 95% of their inventory at full retail price, Lululemon is at the top of the retail game.  Creating what CEO Christine Day calls "fanatical shoppers". But a recent manufacturer defect has created doubt in consumers minds about the quality they are paying for.

The black Luon yoga pant is being marked down in mass as to move through product swiftly so the focus can be placed on marketing new styles.  Lululemon recalled 17% of the Luon pant in response to customer complaints that the pant was too sheer.

Sources are reporting that this production miss hap and recall could cost Lululemon up to $67million dollars in sales, prompting Chief Production Officer; Sheree Waterson, to step down on April 15th 2013 from her position.  Waterson spent five years with the athletic company.

Lulu's stock shares took a considerable downturn after recalling the popular yoga pant.  Although the company is issuing refunds for the defective merchandise they are also restructuring internally and looking deeper into their testing standards to avoid issues in the future.


http://www.theprovince.com/news/Lululemon+through+pants+recall+Company+says+demonstrations+needed/8159786/story.html

http://www.businessinsider.com/lululemon-discounts-black-pants-2013-4

http://shine.yahoo.com/fashion/-lulu-lemon-says--women-do-not-have-to-bend-over-203021965.html

Sam Edelman launches Circus

Contemporary footwear company, Sam Edelman, has launched a price point conscious juniors line, Circus.

Circus is opening new channels of distribution for the company which currently sold through department stores such as Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, and other fine retailers. With price points ranging from $48-$68+ Circus is in line to compete with brands such as DV, Material Girl, Steve Madden, and other juniors targeted lines.

No POP or marketing has been produced for department store, Macy's, but the line is being placed in key front aisle positions with a soft launch across select stores.

Finish Line to open shops in Macy's

Finish Line Inc. is an american based athletic retailer, operating 600 store fronts they are the 2nd largest athletic reatiler in the United States. And new contract between Finish Line and Macy's could further the company's success.

In April of 2013 Macy's offically hands over their athletic footwear departments to Finish line, and although no changes can be seen on the sales floor just yet the sales plans are written to reflect the current change over.

In a bold move, Macy's has contracted Finish Line as thier exclusive athletic footwear partner for all Macy's department stores.  In store presentation will consist of branded shop-in-shop installations simialr to what Sunglass hut has done but on a larger scale.  188 shops in toal within the year and 472 in the nxt 18 month. On May 5th Finish line will gain oversight of all online athletic shoe sales on Macys.com.

Although the shop-in shop concept is not new, it is gaining momentum acorss department stores. Former JC Penny CEO, Ron Johnson, had planned to open 100 shop-in-shop installations across JCP with new CEO, Mike Ullman, possibly continuing forward with the stadegey. 

In additon to the brands Macy's already carries, Finish Line will be bringing in labels such as Brooks and Jordan - opening the Macy's consumer demogrphic up to a wider audience of athletes.  Macy's expects to see sales increases of 30% after the transition and Finish line projecting an estimated $1 million in growth.

09.03.2013 

In an update to this entry, Finish line shops officially started opening in Macy's doors nation wide this past Saturday over Labor Day weekend

Bar code coupons on smart phones

Along with many other retailers, Macy's has made it easier for you to get savings. You text the key word to a number and receive a message back. The message includes coupons on your mobile phone so you don't have to hassle with printing and carrying them to the store. Just show the barcode on your phone at the register to be scanned. I think this is a huge convenance that could build spending by having the coupon on your phone (which we always have with us) and not having to remember or dig out a coupon.
Macy's is very big on sending coupons to their credit card holders, this way you don't have to have a Macy's card, but still get the discount.

Converse goes formal

Converse goes formal trying to capture a piece of the prom market, which is a multimillion dollar market. The average person spends close to $1,100 on prom. With that being said journeys and converse have come up with a promo pushing a glittered chuck Taylor as the shoe of choice for prom . They even have an exclusive with silver glitter style being only available at journeys. The concept looks great and I think I would rather spend the $$ on shoes that my kids would wear again and be comfortable in then typical dress shoes.

Madden Girl does Toms style without giving back

Madden Girl; a division of Steve Madden, rolled out a new casual flats this spring

The fashion forward but priced to sell collection Madden Girl, a division of Steve Madden footwear, has created a new casual shoe silhouette that rivals that of Tom's and Bob's at a lower price point

Photo: Angela Johnson, Macy's Santa Ana

Madden Girl, unlike its predecessors, does not attempt to play the humanitarian card to sell their new casual flat. 

Tom's built their company on the standard of giving one pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair purchased, using environmentally sustainable or low impact materials, and creating special artist collections. Bob's built their sales plan around the same buy one give one strategy, but being they are a collection within the Sketchers portfolio only use this platform for the Bob's collection.  Madden Girl only has the style of their shoe, and the $40 price point to drive their sales.  Compare this to Toms at $54+ and Bob's at $34.95+

Photo: Angela Johnson, Macy's Santa Ana

Is it style or brand loyalty?

Not jumping on the name your shoe band wagon may have been a smart decision for Madden Girl.  Tom's first launched their brand as "Tom's, shoes for tomorrow" with "Tom's" being the abbreviation for the idea of having shoes on your feet in a new tomorrow.  Although this mantra has seen more down play as the brand has grown it defines the purpose of the name.  Which begs the question; what does "Bob's" stand for? 

Madden Girl is resting its bets on the style trend of this casual flat, creating labels so similar to Tom's that from afar or in most cases, above, they look like the real thing.

And the debate goes on:

As Madden Girl, Tom's, and Bob's, compete for market share the jury is still out on which brand will prevail.  Various blogs and news articles can be found on the web supporting one side or the other for Tom's or Bob's but the Madden Girl flat appears to be off the news media radar - check out what the customers are saying as we wait to see who wins.

Tom's vs Bob's - there is a difference
Sketchers rips off Toms shoes in the name of charity
Madden Girl

New to the Macy's Junior's Floor

     This Spring Macy's launched 3 new collaboration lines to liven up their junior's department.  The Teen Vogue Collection is a line featuring "trend-forward silhouettes," and bold colors and prints designed by the editors of the magazine.  The assortment of 15 pieces will be updated monthly, and the price points are high-schooler wallet friendly, ranging from $20-$60.

Source: FIDM Blog

     The Marilyn Collection is inspired by the 50's Hollywood bombshell icon Marilyn Monroe.  The line features retro-inspired silhouettes, flirty dresses, and prints that include classic polka dots and gingham.  The new line "reinvents Marilyn's flirty style with a modern twist."  Visuals in the department feature large portraits of the iconic actress with a look-a-like model wearing pieces from the line.

Courtesy of Macy's

Courtesy of Macy's

     Ked's has partnered with Macy's private label American Rag, and pop/country superstar Taylor Swift to create a limited edition clothing line exclusively available through Macy's.  Much like the Marilyn and Teen Vogue line the Ked's line will offer trend forward styles at an affordable price point.  In past years Ked's has collaborated with American Rag to create exclusive footwear styles, which proved to be a success and ushered in an expansion into sportswear.

Image from FabSugar

     All three brands launched across the country at 150 stores, and are grabbing spotlight locations within the junior's department on aisles and entryways.  These brand launches are part of a bigger plan for Macy's to re-capture the Millennial customer.  As of Fall of 2012 through the end of 2013 Macy's hopes to add a total of 13 new brands.  (Read more on the initiative here).

Stacy Paige Piper (Takats)