https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:04:50 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy/page/2#post-2738231 Sun, 21 May 2017 16:03:24 +0000 MamaCate 2738231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am just seeing this now...sounds like I am in the minority here but I like Gymboree for my 5 y.o. DD's basic clothes. Not the ridiculous $50 dresses, but solid jersey dresses and leggings/bike shorts, which is her uniform of choice the last year or two. I feel like they are cute patterns, good quality, and not so "little kid" as some of what we find at carters. We also have several swimsuits that I have liked from there.</p> <p>The retail prices are expensive but with coupons, gymbucks, and sale shopping I feel like we have gotten good deals. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy/page/2#post-2738187 Sun, 21 May 2017 13:17:58 +0000 Boogs 2738187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Shoot I have 2 gift cards my kids were gifted from Gymboree so I better use them soon! And I didn't know they are the same as JJ, we love them for special pieces. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy/page/2#post-2737133 Wed, 17 May 2017 14:15:12 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2737133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've actually had a lot of cute things from Gymboree. It's a bit much when you look in from outside but we've had good luck with finding cute things (black pants for 1 yo boy, cotton summer dresses for a toddler girl, etc) among the more crazy things that only kids can get away with, and cute occasion stuff from j&amp;J. Actually we've recently bought some casual girls stuff From j&amp;J that was cute but overpriced for everyday. I mean they aren't my favorite but kind of a bummer there will be less options! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy/page/2#post-2736998 Wed, 17 May 2017 10:38:12 +0000 travelingnanny 2736998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This thread reminds me of this picture I saw the other day. </p> [attach=3740/17/oq3sro.337x600.image.png] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy/page/2#post-2736831 Tue, 16 May 2017 21:30:36 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2736831@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: lol! Every time we get gift cards as a gift my husband and I look at each other and silently agree how hard it will be for us to remember to use them. I once "lost" a $100 home improvement gift card in my house because I put it in what I told myself and him out loud was a safe place. I found it again 6 months later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy/page/2#post-2736813 Tue, 16 May 2017 20:03:17 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2736813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: I know!! That would be the dream!<br /> For now, I'll settle for the UPS and USPS just a short drive from me, but it is still a pain to repack and return. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy/page/2#post-2736794 Tue, 16 May 2017 18:04:28 +0000 FannyMae 2736794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The just opened up in Australia a few months ago, I wonder if it is owned by the same company? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy/page/2#post-2736712 Tue, 16 May 2017 15:10:10 +0000 snowjewelz 2736712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: that is why I actually got into LuLaRoe... All online, and almost like having a personal shopper haha! It doesn't account for my whole wardrobe, and it's also not cheap and only has a fixed amount of styles so I will never just buy clothes from there, but it sure is handy! I lay in bed shopping while nursing DD2 to sleep :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy/page/2#post-2736707 Tue, 16 May 2017 15:03:21 +0000 sunny 2736707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: I wish I could combine the conveniences of online shopping with in person shopping. I'd love to have multiple sizes of what I want brought to me and anything I don't like whisked away. Hopefully with a small carbon footprint. One can dream. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy/page/2#post-2736698 Tue, 16 May 2017 14:50:04 +0000 catlady 2736698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: You sound like my DH. We probably spend way too much on groceries because he does them and doesn't like to think about sales or coupons. But it's fine since we can afford it. I'm the crazy one trying to get the absolute cheapest price for everything all the time. He tells me it's not worth my time (and it's probably not) but it's like a game to me. I got $80 worth of kids clothes from the gap for $10 recently and was so excited and DH was so unimpressed. Lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy#post-2736695 Tue, 16 May 2017 14:48:08 +0000 ElbieKay 2736695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Goose: One of our favorite local restaurants has an annual gift card sale. I think it's usually like 20% off for gift cards. We always buy a ton of gift cards because we know we will spend money there anyway throughout the year. So why not get 20% off?</p> <p>The last two times we've gone there, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision and we weren't at home. So we didn't have a gift card with us and just paid the bill.</p> <p>So you can imagine what a disaster I am with a coupon that I didn't even pay for! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy#post-2736691 Tue, 16 May 2017 14:45:14 +0000 looch 2736691@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I buy my son's uniform pants from there, guess I am stocking up on the next 3 sizes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy#post-2736690 Tue, 16 May 2017 14:44:21 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2736690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: Those shows like extreme couponing??!! I just don't know how people do that. Occasionally I have a coupon and then I forget I have it or leave it at home pinned on a board...</p> <p>My husband has suggested the comparison shopping and coupons and I have been out with my sister who brings flyers and price matches, but I just don't have that much dedication and I like just going to my usual store and buying what I want/need and hoping for a sale sometimes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy#post-2736689 Tue, 16 May 2017 14:43:41 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 2736689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know this thread is not really about the so-called retail meltdown, but this is interesting. We could have retail deserts the same way we have food deserts!</p> <p><a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2016/01/29/store-closings-retail-deserts" rel="nofollow">http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2016/01/29/store-closings-retail-deserts</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy#post-2736687 Tue, 16 May 2017 14:42:31 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2736687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Ah yes, I'm not into the too loud and too funky kids clothing. I like the stuff that tends to look sort of more old fashioned or subdued/softer colours. 95% of children's place stuff stresses me out! But I did buy some nice plain black lined splash pants on sale there this year that I love and I like their plain leggings for my skinny toddler. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy#post-2736685 Tue, 16 May 2017 14:41:03 +0000 ElbieKay 2736685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sketchbook: Yes, this is my attitude too. And we don't have such a tight budget. If anything I would rather splurge on pricier groceries if it means I am less likely to resort to takeout. It's healthier and cheaper to cook, even if it's the more expensive version of cooking. We have two demanding corporate jobs and a child, so I have to be realistic about how much I'm willing to kill myself to save a buck.</p> <p>Lately I have been struggling more with splurges for my son though. He is three, and it's so much fun to buy him books. He really likes music, and he was randomly pantomiming as though he was playing a flute/recorder the other day, so I just bought him a recorder on Amazon because it was $10 and I want to encourage his interest in music. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy#post-2736677 Tue, 16 May 2017 14:31:59 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 2736677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: I feel like I save by having less, and making smarter core purchase, instead of on bargains. I know what I wear and I buy that. Whereas my MIL will just buy some random sweater that is some cray pattern and be like "look this was on clearance!" and I'm like...clearance isn't nearly as cheap as just not buying it? I'm the same way at the grocery store. With two kids with me I can't price compare, so instead I just know which of the fruits is the cheapest, which cuts of meat tend to be cheaper, what we can afford to eat for breakfast (oatmeal doesn't have to be on sale to be cheap) which off brand cracker we like, and I just buy those over and over again and don't even look at the more expensive stuff for "deals." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy#post-2736676 Tue, 16 May 2017 14:29:18 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 2736676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: wow, I feel like that says a lot about how child-centered our society is! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy#post-2736675 Tue, 16 May 2017 14:29:16 +0000 ElbieKay 2736675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Oh so there is a Target nearby? Haha I had no idea! Is it in JC?</p> <p>I can't stand comparison shopping for low price items. I find it exhausting. I just want to get in, get my groceries, and get out. My husband cares much more about that stuff. He thinks it's hilarious that I hate coupons. But I do. I hate them. Who the hell has the time to deal with managing coupons? Just make the price the price please, and stop hassling me about it. The odds of me remembering that I have a coupon for something are almost zero because there is too much other crap rattling around my brain.</p> <p>If we had a tighter budget I would obviously be more focused on this stuff. I'm sure we could save more money, but we do save a decent amount each year already. I have to oversee a ton of details at work, and then we have a 3yo. I just don't bother to prioritize much beyond that unless I absolutely have to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy#post-2736672 Tue, 16 May 2017 14:27:33 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 2736672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: I wonder if Target will regain if some of these other smaller brands shutter?</p> <p>I don't have a Target, but 25 minutes away is a county with 100,000 folks. In one shopping center they have Target, Kohl's, TJMaxx, and Belk (southern department store). And of course that doesn't count the Walmart, and the sporting good store that probably has more clothes than Target, etc. etc. For a county of 100,000! And there's a bigger city with a mall, etc., only about 20 minutes from there via interstate. Just seems like there is a retail/development bubble there waiting to burst.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy#post-2736666 Tue, 16 May 2017 14:15:22 +0000 Anagram 2736666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>OH, and oddly--this article and the spending report from 2016 (article is from 2014, but report is from 2016) says spending on children's clothes is way up and growing. So it makes me think this is just a company management issue--Gymboree and J&amp;J do a lot of online sales (I'm in some FB online resale group for J&amp;J and Gymboree, along with Zara and H&amp;M, and people obsess over these clothes and items get sold out). J&amp;J released a Mommy and Me line last week and it was all sold out in 24 hours, and I didn't think it was anything special.</p> <p><a href="https://fashionbi.com/insights/marketing-analysis/children-s-wear-sector-is-where-the-money-is" rel="nofollow">https://fashionbi.com/insights/marketing-analysis/children-s-wear-sector-is-where-the-money-is</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy#post-2736662 Tue, 16 May 2017 14:13:23 +0000 Anagram 2736662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>well, I love to shop. I just don't have the time and as much free budget to do it these days, because I have 2 young kids. But Janie and Jack, yes please. Gymboree is good for sales. Crazy 8 is amazing for sales! I recently bought some clothes for a refugee family and got 5 shirts and 2 pants for only $50 at Crazy8, and they were really nice. The pants were even flannel lined (they were for boys).</p> <p>I do more shopping online than in stores, just because I have more time to do it and shopping with kids is a nightmare. Also, I live in the same town as Elbiekay, and I go to Target weekly--sometimes more than 1x a week. Haha. But that's because I'm a hardcore comparison shopper and I have a running list of best prices for the weekly/monthly items we always need, and I always compare Amazon S&amp;S to Target cartwheel+redcard deals, use circulars, compare to my local Shoprite, etc. I basically chase down the cheapest price for the products I buy again and again, and the location of the cheapest price changes weekly depending on sales/specials. I expend quite a bit of weekly energy "shopping", it's just that it's typically grocery/household items/baby items related and not so much clothing/adult items for myself like it was pre-kids.</p> <p>But yes...I joke with my husband that the reason I was so much more attractive pre-kids is because I spent all my money on myself--clothes, shopping, fitness classes, gym memberships, teeth whitening. You name it. Now I don't do any of that stuff. But I do spend way too much time researching things like cheapest places to buy organic free range eggs, and grass fed organic beef (Aldi, btw), and other things like that.</p> <p>Mom life. No time for Gymboree when you have to source coconut aminos for your dinner plan. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy#post-2736660 Tue, 16 May 2017 14:11:40 +0000 catlady 2736660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not that surprising to me either. I do shop at Gymboree occasionally, but only when the sales are extremely good. I don't generally like their cutesy style so I tend to just buy basics there. I have had good luck with dresses for my girl though so we will miss those. </p> <p>I do love shopping, especially for clothes and even more especially for kids clothes, but it's become sort of clear that many big retailers are going to be closing doors soon. I'm a bargain hunter at heart but the endless sales are getting annoying even for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy#post-2736659 Tue, 16 May 2017 14:11:26 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2736659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not surprised by Gymboree, but did not know they owned J&amp;J! J&amp;J isn't really my style either, but I do have a giftcard I need to use.</p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: @Mrs. Sketchbook: But even Target is struggling. They recently decided to remodel/reconfigure their stores in an attempt to boost consumer interest. I :heart: Target though and will be super sad if they ever shutter their doors.</p> <p>Consumer behavior has definitely changed. Online shopping is just so much more convenient. I don't have to dig through piles of clothes and sift through sale items. The internet make it so easy to read reviews, price compare, and browse for exactly what I need. I shop online for Target all the time too because you get free shipping with the Target REDcard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy#post-2736656 Tue, 16 May 2017 14:08:11 +0000 winniebee 2736656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Goose: I like some of their stuff from when my DS1 was a toddler (so, maybe like 3 years ago?) I just find that lately their stuff is more loud than I like. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy#post-2736653 Tue, 16 May 2017 13:58:25 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 2736653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: @pinkcupcake: I also will cop to loving a good Target stroll, especially since I don't live close to one so it feels like a treat. But the crazy thing is that I can basically find what I need at Target and don't feel the need to shop around or price compare, etc. I feel like even if it is 50 cents more expensive at Target vs. clearance at the mall, I would rather spend it at Target than spend 15 minutes driving to the mall, looking in multiple stores, etc. But in truth, I just put in a big Target order that will probably be our main order for the year and I did it all online. Wasn't worth it to drive 25 minutes. And I actually felt a little bad when I put in the order! Like a traitor lol. </p> <p>I also wonder how much resale/consign/ebay/FB swap/thredup/rent the runway is hurting the bottom line of stores. The only new stuff I bought for my kids this year was t-shirts, since used ones usually look messed up. Shoes I bought new since my younger LO has to have high tops for his low muscle tone. I bought shorts, swim stuff used. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy#post-2736650 Tue, 16 May 2017 13:53:59 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2736650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm the odd mama out. I love gymboree. I never shop there, but my mum buys clothing for all he grandkids there and my sister gets her kids clothes that have been handed down to me. I find them super pricey, but I really like the clothes I'm given from there.</p> <p>I hate shopping in general except for the grocery store. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy#post-2736649 Tue, 16 May 2017 13:53:29 +0000 ElbieKay 2736649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: I think that maybe I've been in a Target once or twice, ever? I live in a walk-able, urban location and am not even sure where the closest Target is.</p> <p>I fulfill almost all of my household's needs via Amazon Prime. We do one grocery shop each weekend (because my husband is too cheap to pay for Fresh Direct), and every other weekend we do that shopping at Costco. I probably go clothes shopping for myself once or twice per year out of necessity. Maybe more if there is some sort of special event.<br /> Until recently, I bought most of my son's clothes at the Baby Gap in my town because we can walk there and pop in and out quickly. But now he is outgrowing their largest size so I will need a new solution for that.</p> <p>The only other shopping we do, for the most part, is for major purchases like furniture or the occasional trip to Ikea. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy#post-2736640 Tue, 16 May 2017 13:32:54 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2736640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: Love your post! Just curious, how do you feel about things like Target? I dont like the mall but love a good stroll around Target. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gymboree-is-prepping-for-bankruptcy#post-2736637 Tue, 16 May 2017 13:32:30 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2736637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can count the items in my son's wardrobe that came from Gymboree. agree with @pinkcupcake: the clothes just aren't great. </p>