Laura Ashley - like or don't like

[suefashion]

Do you know Laura Ashley?
What sorts of products or services you like?
What sorts of products or service you don't like?
Are they competitive? If not, how they can be improved?
Who is their direct competitor?

 

[vee]

my mother really liked laura ashley so i grew up with a lot of it...and yes i liked it. i remember as a little kid in the store always touching the bolts of fabric a lot and wanting the children's clothes. their house products were nice too. not entirely my taste now but a nice part of my fantasies when i was little.
i wouldn't say they are so competetive.
when i was i think 11 or so, they shut down all their stores except i think the ones in the uk? i haven't heard of them making a wider comeback.
i couldn't name an exact competitor, but i would think that you can find things of similar style if you looked around.

 

[suefashion]

Hi Vee

Thanks for your comments, I know Laura Ashley especially impressing by their floral prints. Recently, they close many of their stores and play more attention to their home furniture section instead of clothing section. Do you think it is worth to do so? Should they maintain the fashion clothing section as well? What they can do to reposition in UK and other countries?

 

[Melisande]

Hi Suefashion! Do you work for Laura Ashley? You don't need to answer, it just sounds like you have a serious interest in them.

Anyway, my honest opinion is that it was popular in the 80's, and it was actually stylish back then. There are still many boutiques in Japan, but they definitely cater to an older clientele. It looks to me like their style stopped evolving with the times, instead catering to a faithful set of aging clientele. Not that it's a bad thing at all ( I would buy a cardigan for my granny for example), but it makes it not so attractive for young people who enjoy evolving fashion. I think the quality in terms of the price is not so bad.

I don't know how they're doing financially or anything but I don't know iif a drastic change is what they want...I mean, they have a pretty steady following among older ladies so if they suddenly went trendy and young it may be bad. On the other hand, Lacoste comes to mind as a brand that still pleases its long-standing customers but successfully revamped and freshened up its image...

That said, I do really like some of the carpets and chandeliers and home furnishings. While I wouldn't furnish my entire home in Laura Ashley (my taste is more eclectic), I think one or two pieces could make a lovely addition.

 

[ad102616]

I too grew up with laura ashley in my home. My mother adores laura ashley, in fact, she is still trying to find a quilt to match some dusty blue laura ashley drapes she bought in the 80's. I often hear her make comments on how she wished she could have access to a laura ashley store in the states. I think the laura ashley appeal is in the "traditional" aspect to it...as a customer, you always know what you are going to get. I think perhaps revamping the company entirely would hinder the appeal of faithful customers. However, as a 24 year old woman, I think perhaps starting a younger, more modern line would be beneficial if you are looking to appeal a younger customer. I think it can be done...just look at Anthropologie, they have a home decor department that appeals to young people...the key is to know the right balance between modern and traditional...

 

[susie_bubble]

I'm actually really loving vintage Laura Ashley dresses - I think it's worth reviving Laura Ashley's clothing line. Just needs the right marketing/PR strategy. There are ways of retaining exisitng clientale and attracting a younger one as well - retail operations have to do it all the time. I'm one of those naff ppl who like naff floral prints to Laura Ashley appeals to me from that perspective! Don't think I'm in the majority though....even my mother thinks Laura Ashley is old fashioned and would not be seen dead buying their home stuff........ but I kind of like that chintzy feel. Perhaps it's not an age thing but just a question of taste???

 

[Melisande]

Susie you may be right, a question of taste more than age. I do have a vintage LA blouse that held up very well and which is quite timeless. However, I must say that the majority of LA customers in Japan are over 50 though. And the fact that their clothes are cut "wider" in this particular way, makes it more appealing to older women and less appealing to younger people.

Caro, Anthropologie was a good example to bring up! I can see LA bringing out a younger line successfully.

 

[suefashion]

Melisande, I am not working for Laura Ashley but I am doing a research on Laura Ashley. Find that the floral print from Laura Ashley is still admiring. I am studying whether Laura Ashley still have rooms in the market and how they can reposition in terms of management, marketing and products, etc. For their apparel items; it seems to be out of fashion. For the same floral print, when it put into different style or different fabrication, the outlook will be totally different. Just thinking of more revolutions points to refresh the brand of Laura Ashley.

 

[PrinceOfCats]

If they jazzed up the floral print, it would make a good lining fabrice in Liberty type style.

 

[Melisande]

Yeah, the floral print is actually quite nice, I would say they can still use the same prints and just change the cut and designs of the clothes to update the look.

Cacharel also comes to mind as a similar case.

 

[sullen_femme]

ew, no

 

[ShuggaStiletto]

growing up in a preppy sort of household lots of quilts/interior accessories I had as a really little girl were Laura Ashley! I haven't worn any L.A. clothes for yearrrs though!!

 

[suefashion]

It seems that Laura Ashely should not given up their floral print. What other brands and styles of clothing such as Cacharel or topshop or D&G makes the print more competitve? What price ranges they should offer, high, middle or low-end products?

Any bad experiences/ comments from Laura Ashley in terms of products, quality, shop displays, decorations, location or service level?

Welcome any discussions!!!

 

[Melisande]

It seems that Laura Ashely should not given up their floral print. What other brands and styles of clothing such as Cacharel or topshop or D&G makes the print more competitve? What price ranges they should offer, high, middle or low-end products?

Any bad experiences/ comments from Laura Ashley in terms of products, quality, shop displays, decorations, location or service level?

Welcome any discussions!!!

No, the print, the prices, the general concept are good. The service is really pleasant, at least in Japan. They should just pay more attention to appealing to a younger group in terms of the styles of the clothing offered and the image projected when marketed, maybe the shop display too, can acquire a more playful, eclectic edge. There's no one answer, it's all in the details and execution...

 

[eternitygoddess]

I love Laura Ashley. They use to have a store at the mall here until it closed down 2-3 years ago. I always thought it was a very elegant, very classic store.

 

[tuomas]

I love Laura Ashley. They use to have a store at the mall here until it closed down 2-3 years ago. I always thought it was a very elegant, very classic store.

Laura Ashley's as far as you can get from my taste, but I can understand why someone can find the vintage apparel attractive. Old Laura Ashley frocks are quite similar in spirit to the 70s prairie dresses by Ralph Lauren, which aren't really my cup of tea either. Nowadays LA just seems like an extremely dusty label and the store here in Helsinki is only popular with the older suburban ladies. In general all that lace and cutesy patterns are way too romantic for a Scandinavian taste, which is quite paired down and modern. I guess they could take a few clues from Mulberry, if they were planning in revamping the brand.

 

[helena]

i think Laura Asley's home ware doesn't compare at all on terms of quality to the clothing...ie. its much better. The home range is great quality and its very stylish in a classic way. It works very well when used alongside, say, Habitat to give t a little bit of a contemporary feel. I think the home range is one of the best in the market.

However I think the clothes are sadly lacking. The quality isn't great and the styles are old fashioned and frumpy. Jigsaw is in the same place in the market and Jigsaw does it better. The suits for women are sooooo badly cut and made from cheap crap fabrics. I agree with Susie that the classic prints are graet....but I don't see them anymore. LA could do so much more with womenswear with a bit of vision. I remember my Mum having some dresses in the 80's which, if yu were to dig out the old patterns and revamp them could be amazing - leg o' mutton sleeves, big bows, volume - all the things that are all other the most directional catwalks at the moment. You could do a classics collection of quality staple pieces and a younger more hip line....all it needs is a little bit of vision and enthusiasm about the future.

 

[Deleted member 76519]

I had Laura Ashley wallapaper when i was little

 

[helena]

I had Laura Ashley wallapaper when i was little

so what do you think of it now missjones?

 

[Deleted member 76519]

so what do you think of it now missjones?

Don't know, there is no laura ashley store in my area..