Monkiwrensh
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menswear vs womenswear retailing....
I'm interested in peoples thoughts and opinions as I start my final year university research project around menswear retailing.
I find menswear retailing quite interesting especially with respect to its contrast with the womenswear retail environment. In highstreet and department stores where menswear and womenswear are found under one roof, I think the difference between the retailing strategies are very intriguing.
Of course obvious differences such as the visual merchandising and the marketing of garments in stores are always going to be tailered specifically for the gender and demographic of the different customers, but I would be interested to hear any of the more subtle details people have found between mens and womenswear retail floors through their experiences.
Ive often found, especially at the lower end and middle market high street that menswear sections will always be as you walk into store. Men in general do not "like" to shop and it is often therefore more strategic to place the menswear collections immediately at front of store so as not to deter men from having to walk uncomfortably through womenwear or accessories etc. to find something they may be after.
I also often find menswear retailing on the high street to be generally more uncreative and more sort of spoon feeding to the male customer. In other words, garments and key pieces are often displayed uncomplicatedly, with little fuss.
Obviously things start to get blurred as you move up the market, high end menswear retailing is obviously going to be more about the luxury environment and the more "discerning" male, however Im also interested in places such as American Apparel who seem to blur mens and womenswear retailing on the high street. Personally I see AA as challenging the preconceived idea that menswear and womenswear need to be totally disconnected and somewhat encourage men to browse or purchase items which might be considered womenswear through a quite androgynous approach.
So anyway if any guys, or girls, have any comments or any thoughts on menswear vs womenswear, Id be interested in hearing them. Thoughts on retailers who get menswear right and those who do not. Also, tactics and strategies you've seen employed on menswear floors in an attempt to make the average, uncomfortable male shopper, feel more relaxed in a retail environment....
I'm interested in peoples thoughts and opinions as I start my final year university research project around menswear retailing.
I find menswear retailing quite interesting especially with respect to its contrast with the womenswear retail environment. In highstreet and department stores where menswear and womenswear are found under one roof, I think the difference between the retailing strategies are very intriguing.
Of course obvious differences such as the visual merchandising and the marketing of garments in stores are always going to be tailered specifically for the gender and demographic of the different customers, but I would be interested to hear any of the more subtle details people have found between mens and womenswear retail floors through their experiences.
Ive often found, especially at the lower end and middle market high street that menswear sections will always be as you walk into store. Men in general do not "like" to shop and it is often therefore more strategic to place the menswear collections immediately at front of store so as not to deter men from having to walk uncomfortably through womenwear or accessories etc. to find something they may be after.
I also often find menswear retailing on the high street to be generally more uncreative and more sort of spoon feeding to the male customer. In other words, garments and key pieces are often displayed uncomplicatedly, with little fuss.
Obviously things start to get blurred as you move up the market, high end menswear retailing is obviously going to be more about the luxury environment and the more "discerning" male, however Im also interested in places such as American Apparel who seem to blur mens and womenswear retailing on the high street. Personally I see AA as challenging the preconceived idea that menswear and womenswear need to be totally disconnected and somewhat encourage men to browse or purchase items which might be considered womenswear through a quite androgynous approach.
So anyway if any guys, or girls, have any comments or any thoughts on menswear vs womenswear, Id be interested in hearing them. Thoughts on retailers who get menswear right and those who do not. Also, tactics and strategies you've seen employed on menswear floors in an attempt to make the average, uncomfortable male shopper, feel more relaxed in a retail environment....
