Nice people thread part 3- Nice as pie

fc123

vivatifosi wrote: »

Hey fc, good to see you online again! Didn't get a chance to say how happy I am for you and how things are moving forward.

Out of interest, what are your thoughts on the demise of Jane Norman? They always struck me as a store that had more people in than most.

JN is a strange one as it had been going for years. I can't really write online about some rumours that went about a decade ago (it always made massive profits all of the time whatever the weather ) but it was a 'bought product' led business so buyers went out and bought in from manufacturers ranges and plonked a JN label into it.
My view is it had no flair, no spark, no originality and the shop fits were dire. I am surprised it lasted this long considering the standard of stores it was competing against.....somewhere like River Island for example.

My DD is a good benchmark of teen fashion shopping and she, and all her mates buy masses online...hanging out at malls is no longer 'the thing to do'. One of the biggest high st supplier/manufacturers in the UK now has a massive online presence selling direct.
OK, the site only turns over £10 million pa so far but it is growing massively.........so, the domination of clothing sales by High St chains could be narrowing slowly but they still control 98% of prime shopping areas.
I find Boden very inspiring as a business model or Brora. Almost invisible on the High St but very popular.

michaels

Thanks FC - sometimes I find this thread so much more informative than the rest of the internet put together (aside - is anyone else finding the BBC website extremely dumbed down at the moment in terms of their editorials and in depth reports).

I saw Fat Face start when they had one store in Val D'Isere (I obviously wasted too much time snowboarding and not enough on the next big retail thing) but I sort of assumed that chains like that did the explosive growth when they sold out to someone corporate (Phillip Green type) who then pushed the brand whilst pretending it was still all ethical and independent (sort of like Ben and Jerrys and Unilever) so it is good to hear that independent designers can keep in business - albeit with constant reinvention of themselves.

You didn't mention whether you would have time to do some child sizes - I thought the one shoulder with neon bits ones would be great...


Generali should have taken my advice and closed the trade for a profit - could have doubled his money - instead his man had match points but eventually went down in 5 very tight sets.

fc123 wrote: »

It depends on the sector as there are so many 'strata's' (or is that strati?) so to speak.
Most brands set up by individuals (rather than 'fake' ones set up by big corps) take years to get any credibility. Same as in music.

PasturesNew

fc123 wrote: »

I will def pass that one on to DD. QR Codes. Could you PM a link to your article (I'll click on some ads at the same time ) or can I find it easily with a google of QR codes?

NEVER click on my ads - on the articles most of the ads aren't mine anyway.

QR Codes - a square "image" that people with smartphones can scan in - and it takes them to a website, or plays a video, or gives them your contact details. So you could set up every item in your shop for people to be able to scan the QR Code, which takes them straight to your website and sets a bookmark, or something. Or maybe shows them a video of it at a fashion show. Or enables them to join your mailing list by taking them straight to the form. All manner of possibilities.

I have no way of testing if this even works, but if you have a smartphone and scan this, it might take you to aforementioned article. http://i52.tinypic.com/9h2u0j.png

silvercar

You didn't mention whether you would have time to do some child sizes - I thought the one shoulder with neon bits ones would be great...

I thought FC's styles were a bit too edge for young kids.

michaels

Always wondered what those were called - I find it annoying when something (especially if it is phone related) doesn't have one.

I am quite in to barcode reader app which scans the barcode when you are shopping and does a google shops and or standard google search so you can compare prices and read reviews.

PasturesNew wrote: »

NEVER click on my ads - on the articles most of the ads aren't mine anyway.

QR Codes - a square "image" that people with smartphones can scan in - and it takes them to a website, or plays a video, or gives them your contact details. So you could set up every item in your shop for people to be able to scan the QR Code, which takes them straight to your website and sets a bookmark, or something. Or maybe shows them a video of it at a fashion show. Or enables them to join your mailing list by taking them straight to the form. All manner of possibilities.

michaels

I thought a couple were OK (if I am looking at the right ones) assuming the length was ok and they wore plenty of sunscreen - only for special occasions tho and in general I think my DDs do look better in long floaty cotton dresses.

silvercar wrote: »

I thought FC's styles were a bit too edge for young kids.

PasturesNew

michaels wrote: »

I thought a couple were OK (if I am looking at the right ones) assuming the length was ok and they wore plenty of sunscreen - only for special occasions tho and in general I think my DDs do look better in long floaty cotton dresses.

Yeah, but kids'd end up stuffing it in the school bag, then changing in the loos right before classes.

There was an article about parents being responsible for the sexualisation of children this week.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2008009/Sexualisation-children-blamed-parents-want-bond-them.html

Generali

PasturesNew wrote: »

Generali went quiet.... I'm guessing he's not the proud owner of £42,000.

Well I fell asleep at 2-0/3-3 and he went on to lose 3-2. Oh well, you don't expect 1000-1 shots to come in too often.

I could have probably doubled my money if I'd traded to take profits but where's the fun in that! I gamble because it's fun: mugs and pros gamble to make money and I don't think I'm either.

Doozergirl

Thunder and Lightning here, thank goodness!

PasturesNew

Next door have an open plan kitchen/conservatory .... with a polycarbonate/plastic roof and bright spotlights in the ceiling. It's like bl00dy Blackpool illuminations in my bedroom.... they've just got in so are sitting in that room.