Because it has been open for a week the shop was super busy with people going for a look. The downstairs seemed full with expensive cosmetics and overpriced handbags. The crowds were deep so I didn't get to check any prices, but we looked online and saw the the Valentino bags go for between $1000-4000 (US), so not in my budget price range. The middle floor was still the fashion floor, with a variety of high end designers and upstairs had mens fashions, the cafe and the home range.
We looked forward to seeing the home section, but were terribly disappointed as it had a couple of bed linen ranges and some home wares like electric blankets, toasters and mixers. All things that are one off buys, but no design products or artwork which we like to look at.
I do think that the company has misunderstood the NZ market. For we on the whole are a society that cares little about fancy labels and high prices. We like flat shoes and puffer jackets, and think that $50 is pricey for a t-shirt, so think that you might have trouble moving your $300 shirts. The youngsters that love the labels may come to browse, but would be more likely to buy online. The people with rich wallets, are more likely to be on planes buying their fancy clothes and outfits in Sydney, London, Paris and New York.
I do wish you well though - I hope that people not only browse but buy from your store, for you have lots of lovely locals working for you, and your bring some variety and quality to our retail environment. Unfortunately this middle aged lady is unlikely to spend a lot of time shopping with you, as times are tough in our household and I have a bit of a budget to stick to.
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Well Poppy!x It's no secret...I~LOVE~TO~SHOP! :).
ReplyDeleteI do love these over the top..over the price..shops!
Why? Because l like a bit of fun when shopping, nothing
rude..but, l do like talking to staff/management, where
there going wrong! It's all light hearted, and fun, but,
l do get my point over, and, sometimes a little discount
comes my way! :).
And..Poppy!x you don't need a handbag...You've got Mums..! :).
Oh! Forgot to say yesterday, l watch the final episode of New
Zealand, Tuesday night, l did phone my daughter, as l found out
the three episodes are available on DVD for £4:99 UK money..!
So she's ordered a copy for me..! All l'll say is...Poppy!x You
live in a lovely country...I was very impressed with the three
programs! Very!
One of the loveliest things was about half hour on the Kakapo..
the critically endangered parrot...and the people trying to save
it...Poor little thing...!
Sad when the retailer doesn't understand the local customers. That just offering the same stuff and the same way they do in Sydney is going to work. Oh well, it is nice to go in and look at stuff. Mum was in a handbag shop last week, Italian leather, she said the store smelled good! Plus pricey glass ware, $60 USD for a single wine stem, $330 USD for a vase.
ReplyDeleteNot in mum's budget either. She is a casual dressing purrson, can find what she wants to wear for not a lot of $, she is good with shopping sales and year end clearance stuff.
New Zealand sounds a bit like Canada in this regard, and the situation resembles Target's fiasco here. We used to have Zellers, which I think was Canadian. It sold reasonable products at low prices. It was replaced with Target, an American chain. It brought in more expensive products, but its problem was that it didn't bring in what was promised. Its shelves were half empty, products advertised weren't sold, prices were high. Target has since retreated back to the U.S., after losing $300,000,000 or so in the attempted invasion. Unlike David Jones, Target could have had a market but they seemed to think Canada, a country of 35,000,000 people and cities as big as Chicago, was full of hicks who would take what was offered and not complain. Their half-hearted approach reaped half-hearted rewards.
ReplyDeleteWell, at least your mum checked out the new place, Poppy. I think a lot of people will do the same - and have the same opinion afterward.
It sounds like this type of store would do well in Los Angeles, where my human and I live, rather than NZ! Funny enough, my human doesn't like those high end designer names either (she is a rarity among her pals). She prefers the unique and comfortable, and generally buys online or at boutiques.
ReplyDeleteMy jaw hit the floor at the prices of the handbags! Nothing like that would fly in our little city. There are a few higher end clothing shops downtown, but if someone with money here (and there's plenty of money around, just not in my circle) wanted to buy high end, they'd go to Toronto or Montreal. Even Ottawa would offer more.
ReplyDeleteAs for John's comments about Target: I was SO disappointed! Their online merchandise was nothing like what they offered here, with the exception of a few items. And I believe their Canadian CEO got paid out more than all the Canadian staff were owed (country-wide) in wages, when Target pulled up stakes. They could have made a go of it, IMO, but yes, they certainly did misjudge those of us north of the border. In any case, they had the last laugh, making a bundle and probably leaving the clerks unpaid (I don't know, I'm just being cynical).
Yup. I don't shop David jones. To expensive for my budget and I'm not into lables either. Just give me good quality at a reasonable price.
ReplyDelete