Comments on: That Which We Call a Rose http://thepeoplebrand.com/blog/2006/01/06/that-which-we-call-a-rose/ Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:59:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: JSamp http://thepeoplebrand.com/blog/2006/01/06/that-which-we-call-a-rose/#comment-714 JSamp Thu, 26 Jan 2006 21:12:54 +0000 http://thepeoplebrand.com/blog/?p=127#comment-714 Also a Store Planner, I agree with many of the above, the store experience is very important. However..... the experience is not only the store design, it is CUSTOMER SERVICE, and PRODUCT QUALITY. Also the company has to know who there target customer base is. So many companies toy with who they want as a customer. ( Yes we want everyone as a customer) That is not a reality, not even for Walmart. How can you market, and design store experience without knowing who you are targeting? How can a store maximize the dollars per foot if there is poor customer service and poor product quality? It all works together for a Sucessful Retail Environment. Also a Store Planner, I agree with many of the above, the store experience is very important. However….. the experience is not only the store design, it is CUSTOMER SERVICE, and PRODUCT QUALITY. Also the company has to know who there target customer base is. So many companies toy with who they want as a customer. ( Yes we want everyone as a customer) That is not a reality, not even for Walmart.
How can you market, and design store experience without knowing who you are targeting? How can a store maximize the dollars per foot if there is poor customer service and poor product quality? It all works together for a Sucessful Retail Environment.

]]> By: Alex Soto http://thepeoplebrand.com/blog/2006/01/06/that-which-we-call-a-rose/#comment-628 Alex Soto Wed, 11 Jan 2006 21:10:27 +0000 http://thepeoplebrand.com/blog/?p=127#comment-628 As a store designer, I understand the need to overhaul the design that the Gap currently has. I believe that the customer experience is crucial in bringing in customers especially now that intenet sales has risen. The Gap has tried many different gimmicks like includung internet stations in thier stores, but was a complete failure because no one felt te need to use it in the store. It was mostly used for a rest area. I hope this new customer experience is something innovative enough to cause a draw. But at the end of the day, it is the product variety, quality,fit and style that will bring the customers in. As a store designer, I understand the need to overhaul the design that the Gap currently has. I believe that the customer experience is crucial in bringing in customers especially now that intenet sales has risen.
The Gap has tried many different gimmicks like includung internet stations in thier stores, but was a complete failure because no one felt te need to use it in the store. It was mostly used for a rest area. I hope this new customer experience is something innovative enough to cause a draw.
But at the end of the day, it is the product variety, quality,fit and style that will bring the customers in.

]]> By: Olivier Blanchard http://thepeoplebrand.com/blog/2006/01/06/that-which-we-call-a-rose/#comment-623 Olivier Blanchard Wed, 11 Jan 2006 03:52:11 +0000 http://thepeoplebrand.com/blog/?p=127#comment-623 The gap is way too busy selling its "brand" to actually focus on the clothes. "Look at us! We're GAP! Yay!" Gap's core competency used to be clothes. Now, it's selling GAP. Bleh. I actually like GAP store being minimalist and bright. That's not the problem. (As long as I feel special buying their stuff, it doesn't matter of the decor is North-African souk, Soho boutique, or 5th Avenue penthouse.) The problem is that the clothes are no longer relevant. They're bland, and the selection is too limited. (Besides, I can get a great pair of identical khakis from Old Navy at a third of the price.) If GAP starts giving me a reason to drop some greenbacks in their stores again, I will... as will the rest of their once enviable client base. The gap is way too busy selling its “brand” to actually focus on the clothes. “Look at us! We’re GAP! Yay!”

Gap’s core competency used to be clothes. Now, it’s selling GAP. Bleh.

I actually like GAP store being minimalist and bright. That’s not the problem. (As long as I feel special buying their stuff, it doesn’t matter of the decor is North-African souk, Soho boutique, or 5th Avenue penthouse.) The problem is that the clothes are no longer relevant. They’re bland, and the selection is too limited. (Besides, I can get a great pair of identical khakis from Old Navy at a third of the price.)

If GAP starts giving me a reason to drop some greenbacks in their stores again, I will… as will the rest of their once enviable client base.

]]> By: DUST!N http://thepeoplebrand.com/blog/2006/01/06/that-which-we-call-a-rose/#comment-621 DUST!N Mon, 09 Jan 2006 15:22:24 +0000 http://thepeoplebrand.com/blog/?p=127#comment-621 Office & Irene, I agree with everything you've said. Irene, you threw in some details my opinion was lacking. Great stuff! I'm no fashion expert. I still feel like I'm splurging when I buy Levi 550 jeans. Haven't been able to convince myself that I can pull off wearing <a href="http://www.luckybrandjeans.com/" rel="nofollow">Lucky Brand Jeans</a>. I would like to say one thing though: The changes the Gap has announced aren't bad ideas. They just overlook a very important one... what they sell. The customer experience has to be about enhancing something more than just a 'decent' product. Otherwise, they should stop selling products altogether and just charge admission to the customer experience. Office & Irene, I agree with everything you’ve said. Irene, you threw in some details my opinion was lacking. Great stuff! I’m no fashion expert. I still feel like I’m splurging when I buy Levi 550 jeans. Haven’t been able to convince myself that I can pull off wearing Lucky Brand Jeans.

I would like to say one thing though:

The changes the Gap has announced aren’t bad ideas. They just overlook a very important one… what they sell. The customer experience has to be about enhancing something more than just a ‘decent’ product. Otherwise, they should stop selling products altogether and just charge admission to the customer experience.

]]> By: Irene Done http://thepeoplebrand.com/blog/2006/01/06/that-which-we-call-a-rose/#comment-620 Irene Done Mon, 09 Jan 2006 14:01:10 +0000 http://thepeoplebrand.com/blog/?p=127#comment-620 Isn't it funny -- Gap is in the fashion world, which we all want to believe is so image-driven, but they're failing because they focus on their own image and not on what "American style" means, and how that meaning/look/spirit can change. First, Gap spent their energy signing so many random-seeming celebrities to be in their spots; with that fizzling, they now chase the "store experience" and their "Gap Lounge" idea. Neither of these pursuits have been tied effectively to "American Style." (In fact, isn't Joss Stone British?) If they had truly focused on style and fashion, could they have foreseen the trends that are now killing them -- cheap, fun clothes at Target (no Lounge!) and high-dollar, must-have items like True Religion jeans (no TV campaign!)? I also wonder if they need a design perspective that is more exact than "American style" which is what everyone from Lauren to Hilfiger to Sears can lay claim to. Isn’t it funny — Gap is in the fashion world, which we all want to believe is so image-driven, but they’re failing because they focus on their own image and not on what “American style” means, and how that meaning/look/spirit can change. First, Gap spent their energy signing so many random-seeming celebrities to be in their spots; with that fizzling, they now chase the “store experience” and their “Gap Lounge” idea. Neither of these pursuits have been tied effectively to “American Style.” (In fact, isn’t Joss Stone British?) If they had truly focused on style and fashion, could they have foreseen the trends that are now killing them — cheap, fun clothes at Target (no Lounge!) and high-dollar, must-have items like True Religion jeans (no TV campaign!)? I also wonder if they need a design perspective that is more exact than “American style” which is what everyone from Lauren to Hilfiger to Sears can lay claim to.

]]> By: Chief Show Officer http://thepeoplebrand.com/blog/2006/01/06/that-which-we-call-a-rose/#comment-617 Chief Show Officer Sat, 07 Jan 2006 18:49:47 +0000 http://thepeoplebrand.com/blog/?p=127#comment-617 Per Gap's website "Gap is about fresh, casual American style" and that is their core competency. It's not about the color of the floors or store lighting. It's about the clothes! Gap needs to not worry (as much) about what their store looks like and devote their resources to finding, developing and capitalizing on market trends. I realize that this "trend" task is by no means easy but that is what made Gap successful and they'll only remain successful by focusing on their core product. Once again...It's about the clothes! Regards, Chief Show Officer ShowOffCards.com Per Gap’s website “Gap is about fresh, casual American style” and that is their core competency.

It’s not about the color of the floors or store lighting. It’s about the clothes! Gap needs to not worry (as much) about what their store looks like and devote their resources to finding, developing and capitalizing on market trends.

I realize that this “trend” task is by no means easy but that is what made Gap successful and they’ll only remain successful by focusing on their core product. Once again…It’s about the clothes!

Regards,
Chief Show Officer
ShowOffCards.com

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