Retailers are getting tired of hearing it. Today’s consumers are less interested in buying clothes than investing in the stock market, taking vacations or otherwise pampering themselves.
So savvy shopkeepers such as Marshall Field & Co. and Henri Bendel are trying to attract customers into their stores by playing on those interests.
Field’s is going after men, with a Sept. 9 cocktail reception billed as a “Walk on Wall Street” that combines a preview of men’s fall fashions with investment advice from A.C. Moore, the chief investment strategist from Principal Financial Securities, a money management firm.
It’s the first of three fashion/financial seminars, all to be held on the second floor of Field’s flagship State Street store through October.
Bendel’s shop at 900 N. Michigan Ave. has devised its own version of interest-based retailing targeted at women.
As part of its launch of the Henri Bendel Spa Collection of clothing and home products, Bendel’s is offering a spa seminar series on Wednesday evenings from Sept. 3-17.
Topics will include “Lifestyles to Keep You Fit and Trim,” presented by Dr. Linda Palumbo, an internist affiliated with Northwestern Hospital; and “Herbal Rejuvenation: Bringing the Spa Experience Home,” presented by the founder of a holistic spa in East Hampton, NY.
If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.
The roofing side of Sears: Sears, Roebuck and Co. is moving ahead with plans to market its Home Services division as a national brand.
Last week, Sears launched a print and television ad campaign in four test markets promoting its package of services, which range from appliance repair to roofing to kitchen remodeling.
The ads use the theme, “Sears Home Central,” which is reminiscent of its successful strategy of creating a “Brand Central” store-within-a-store for appliances and computers.
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Sears already has run national ads for its appliance repair offerings. The ads, which promote the “Service Side of Sears,” continue the permutations of its ground-breaking “Softer Side” campaign launched in 1994.
After five months of print and TV ads, Sear has seen its business increase at rates close to 30 percent, said Jane Thompson, president of Sears Home Services.
The new ads touting Sears Home Central will run in Boston, Seattle, Kansas City, Mo., and most major Florida cities.
Portrait of a teenager: Your child isn’t exactly a fashion plate? Don’t worry. Here’s what Woodfield Mall says the typical school teen is wearing this year: a long-sleeved, crew-necked T-shirt, several sizes too large; baggy, wide-legged jeans accented by a braided hemp necklace and a bright-green backpack.
If it gets cold, toss in a “pleather,” a fake leather jacket made of vinyl. Somewhere on the outfit will be a Levi’s or Tommy Hilfiger logo. Just because it looks like they are wearing somebody else’s clothes doesn’t mean kids aren’t fashion conscious.
On the move: Skip Hawkins will join Ultimo Enterprises Ltd. as vice president of menswear. Hawkins previously was in charge of menswear at InterPacific Hawaii Retail Group.
In his new position, Hawkins will be in charge of Ultimo’s Giorgio Armani Chicago and Jil Sander menswear in Chicago and San Francisco.
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