Hellobee Boards

Retail is in a complete meltdown right now! I think it is fascinating. A few years ago I told my dad we were going back generations, with only a few stores in town that stock the basics, and everything else available via catalogue (aka Amazon). I think it is interesting to see large retailers that killed main street business now prey to their own business model. But I feel awful for the people who will lose their jobs. And it is scary because so much development is wrapped up in retail.

@Littlebit7: I read that J Crew is in serious trouble also...

I would like to know what are the replacement jobs for all these people in retail that are losing their jobs.

As much as I like the convenience of online shopping, for clothes I rather go in store.

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I think that's a huge social problem on the horizon! But immediately, I think that we really need CNAs and childcare providers.

@Mrs. Sketchbook: yep. they are in serious doo-doo. As are other companies you probably know and love unfortunately. Although IMO, JCrew lost its way a while back and never quite found it again. Whenever I need a sequined tank to tuck into my velvet bejeweled tuxedo blazer while wearing torn cargo pants, I'll know where to look.

@Littlebit7: bhaahahahha

The same company own Crazy 8, right? I wonder if they can file bankruptcy but still operate as normal?

@T.H.O.U.: I think one thing that is really killing retail is the attitude we take toward shopping. My MIL still goes "shopping" for like, fun on a Saturday. Whereas I may pay the same amount of money to go out to a meal, rent a kayak or go to a bar, etc. Some women might go play a round of golf, or take a class, etc. My discretionary funds go more toward true "fun" vs. shopping, which I see as a necessity and not as entertainment. I guess I can't speak for all women, but I think a generation ago women were not doing as much of this hobby stuff, not as sporty, etc. I also don't window shop. I basically do 2 shopping trips a year, for summer and winter stuff for myself and for the boys. And I usually know exactly what I need, and buy multiples of the same stuff, rather than browse around.

@Mrs. Sketchbook: eh, I don't know. Almost everyone I know LOVES to shop (me included) and buying kids' clothes is def a hobby for me. I think what's changing is style - the stuff at Gymboree just isn't very trendy anymore. It was cute back in the day, but to me, it's very stuck in the early 2000s and just doesn't compare to the newer styles released by instagram brands or even bigger brands like cat and jack.

I can count the items in my son's wardrobe that came from Gymboree. agree with @pinkcupcake: the clothes just aren't great.

@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.

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.
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.

The only other shopping we do, for the most part, is for major purchases like furniture or the occasional trip to Ikea.

@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.

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.

Not surprised by Gymboree, but did not know they owned J&J! J&J isn't really my style either, but I do have a giftcard I need to use.

@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 Target though and will be super sad if they ever shutter their doors.

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.

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).

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&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.

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.

Mom life. No time for Gymboree when you have to source coconut aminos for your dinner plan.

@Mrs. High Heels: I wonder if Target will regain if some of these other smaller brands shutter?

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....

@Anagram: wow, I feel like that says a lot about how child-centered our society is!

@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.

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.

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!

http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2016/01/29/store-closings-retail-deserts

I buy my son's uniform pants from there, guess I am stocking up on the next 3 sizes.