Conditions in the retail sector.
Discussion
Mrs 13M's birthday is imminent and she has always worried that people would buy her gifts in the sales. Rightly so; I usually do. However normally that's fine, because there is always a good choice of formerly full-price items from which to choose.
Not this year.
What I have found is that many retailers' sales have all but finished and much of what is for sale is what I'd call "sale imports", i.e. products that were never really for sale full price. They are cheap items shipped in for the sale.
The new season stock seems to be arriving, but 10-20% more expensive than I'd expect it to be. So, no bargains to be had.
Has anyone else noticed similar?
Many retailers have changed their buying ways... purchasing/manufacturing just enough product to fill shelves, then reordering/continue manufacturing product lines that sell well. Just a few years ago in clothing retail I work in you'd have calculated guesses as to how well an item would sell, and order based on this educated guess. This would see you with under and over stock issues. Working closer with production makes more sense, but sales are very different.
ihadlegs said:
Many retailers have changed their buying ways... purchasing/manufacturing just enough product to fill shelves, then reordering/continue manufacturing product lines that sell well. Just a few years ago in clothing retail I work in you'd have calculated guesses as to how well an item would sell, and order based on this educated guess. This would see you with under and over stock issues. Working closer with production makes more sense, but sales are very different.
I was chatting with a chap I know who has worked in retail for years. He would have it that retailers are cutting prices deeper, more quickly and ending sales sooner. Which seems to be what I am seeing.13m said:
Blown2CV said:
13m said:
Blown2CV said:
13m you're not being terribly specific. What shop.
He works for Flannels.Blown2CV said:
13m said:
Blown2CV said:
13m said:
Blown2CV said:
13m you're not being terribly specific. What shop.
He works for Flannels.13m said:
Mrs 13M's birthday is imminent and she has always worried that people would buy her gifts in the sales. Rightly so; I usually do. However normally that's fine, because there is always a good choice of formerly full-price items from which to choose.
Not this year.
What I have found is that many retailers' sales have all but finished and much of what is for sale is what I'd call "sale imports", i.e. products that were never really for sale full price. They are cheap items shipped in for the sale.
The new season stock seems to be arriving, but 10-20% more expensive than I'd expect it to be. So, no bargains to be had.
Has anyone else noticed similar?
In many sectors of retail, the 'original price' has been artificially set by selling it in a specific store / stores for a certain amount of time - my knowledge of this is hazy now, but Dixons did it all the time when I worked for them - I recall it was 30 days in the last 6 months. They also had batches of product with very slight specification changes and unique model numbers so you couldn't cross reference to price match.Not this year.
What I have found is that many retailers' sales have all but finished and much of what is for sale is what I'd call "sale imports", i.e. products that were never really for sale full price. They are cheap items shipped in for the sale.
The new season stock seems to be arriving, but 10-20% more expensive than I'd expect it to be. So, no bargains to be had.
Has anyone else noticed similar?
As for the price of new season stock, that's to be expected as it's in line with the devaluation of sterling since the Brexit vote.
13m said:
Loads of them are at it, and have been for donkey's years. Reiss is one that springs to mind.
Bentalls in Kingston dedicates a large area on the lowest floor to this exercise every year.They begin clearing/moving the regular stock late on the 23rd Dec, and spend the 24th filling the open space with cheap tat imported for the sale.
I have seen many examples over the years.
That said, many of the shops along Jermyn Street do not behave in such ways. Maybe the Mrs. would take greater pleasure seeing you wearing a new tie and pocket square from Turnbull & Asser than have some poor quality goods foisted upon her for form's sake?
Trabi's example of model numbers varying slightly for what appears to be an identical product is very common. I hate to say it, but John Lewis (a long time favourite retailer) appears frequently to be guilty of this in my experience when it comes to electrical goods.
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff