Stella McCartney for H&M #2
- Thread starter *JJ*
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more info for SF shoppers.
"
Get there early. The first 250 customers at Powell Street will receive a T-shirt and 20 percent off purchases
H&M brings its high fashion, low prices to S.F.
[SIZE=-1]By Blanca Torres and Jessica Yadegaran[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]CONTRA COSTA TIMES[/SIZE]
Bay Area fashionistas, your day has come.
H&M, the European retail chain selling trendy clothes at low prices, is opening two stores Saturday in San Francisco's Union Square and a third in Concord this spring. The stores are H&M's first on the West Coast.
Big deal. We already have Zara and Forever 21, right? Wrong. H&M takes cheap chic to a different level.
Hennes & Mauritz, which maintains 1,000 stores worldwide, breeds cultlike shoppers who squeeze in stops there when trotting the globe and line up outside the megaplex stores the morning of a collection launch.
"Fashion is no longer a matter of price," says Jennifer Uglialoro, H&M's U.S. fashion spokeswoman. "Our customers wear their Prada pants with an H&M top."
The Swedish company, founded in 1947, reported sales of more than $8 billion and profit of about $1.5 billion in the one-year period that ended Aug. 31.
It has adopted a model of fast pace and constant improvement, and has spent years refining its operations to efficiently design, produce and stock merchandise quickly.
"What they're doing too brilliantly is that they put together an operations system that really can support this brand idea," said Susan Nelson, executive director of strategy and insight for Landor, a San Francisco-based brand consulting agency. "It's a very egalitarian concept that people deserve good fashion and shouldn't have to pay thousands of dollars for it."
Creating a lasting brand in retail is a tough challenge, Nelson said, because retailers have to find a way to balance their pursuit for top fashion and their ability to serve customers. Another challenge is predicting what consumers are going to want one year in advance.
"We have in-house designers and buyers; the only part of the supply chain we don't own are the factory productions," said Lisa Sandberg, U.S. communications director for H&M. "Those designers and buyers are able to turn around designs in as fast as four to six weeks."
Coming west was a natural progression, said Sandberg. The company was eyeing both San Francisco and Los Angeles but chose San Francisco when space became available in the historic "Elevated Shops" building at 150 Powell St.
"It's a fantastic location that really suits our brand, and the neighborhood is exciting," Sandberg said.
The Bay Area is ripe for a retailer such as H&M, Nelson said, because it appeals to consumers in the middle of the economic spectrum.
"If I were other mass market retailers, I would be quite nervous," she said. "There's been a gap between the really high-end and the low-cost retailers. ... There's not a lot of selection in the middle."
Many international, especially European, retailers tend to start off in New York City because they see it as a perfect test market in the United States, said Stephen Stephanou, vice president and co-founder of Madison HGCD, a New York-based real estate firm.
"If you can be successful here, you can be successful other places," he said. "It's a great place for people to get their brand out. It gives them a lot of exposure."
H&M's hip factor could spice up Sunvalley mall in Concord. Construction there begins in February, and the store, replacing four spaces on the mall's upper floor, should be open by May.
"It's a great move for us and a real coup to be one of the centers," said Tom McCracken, the mall's general manager. "I certainly think it's going to bring a more fashion-conscious customer here."
While the Sunvalley location and Post Street store in San Francisco will carry women's merchandise, the Powell Street store -- all 35,000 square feet of it -- will carry cosmetics and lingerie in addition to clothing for men, women and teens.
The Bay Area stores make H&M more accessible to thousands of West Coast shoppers, such as Angele Motlagh.
"Before, I looked forward to going there as part of my trips to Paris or New York," said Motlagh, a San Francisco lawyer. "Now I can go on my lunch break."
As will other bargain hunters. Especially now, with British designer Stella McCartney of Gucci and Chloe recreating her romantic styles for the H&M price point.
The line, which launched Nov. 10 and ranges from $70 to $200, sold out at one of seven Manhattan locations in 15 minutes. Expect similar frenzy Saturday in San Francisco, as Southern California shoppers are sure to drive up for the event.
It's easy to see why. Much like Target -- which claims Isaac Mizrahi among its designers-for-less -- H&M's motto is to get it while it's hot, get it for less and get over it when it goes out of style.
The trend has been in effect for about five years and is most evident to those flipping through fashion magazines. Editors are almost required to offer various value tiers when writing up clothes. And H&M is almost always the "cheap" version.
With attitudes about fashion quality and price changing, both retailers and designers are comfortable designing an inexpensive line because they can gain publicity and reach a different market of consumers.
"It's not like developing a line of sheets like Martha Stewart would have done -- it's something that will be in the store for a few weeks," Stephanou said. "It wouldn't really detract from (McCartney's) luxury biz. A lot of it is about the excitement of the experience, which is another part of the phenomenon. And, it brings customers into the store who normally wouldn't come into the store."
Reach Blanca Torres at 925-943-8263 and Jessica Yadegaran at 925-943-8155.
Grand opening
H&M debuts on the West Coast on Saturday with the opening of two stores in San Francisco's Union Square shopping district.
• WHERE: 150 Powell St.
• SIZE: 35,000 square feet
• FEATURES: Apparel and accessories for men, women and teens
• INFORMATION: 415-986-4215
• WHERE: 150 Post St.
• SIZE: 10,000 square feet
• FEATURES: Apparel and accessories for women and teens
• INFORMATION: 415-986-0156
• HOURS FOR BOTH STORES: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Shop, don't drop
The first weeks at H&M will be madness. Follow these insider tips to avoid a shopping breakdown:
• Get there early. The first 250 customers at Powell Street will receive a T-shirt and 20 percent off purchases.
• Shop mornings. Lunch breaks, nights and weekends are hectic.
• Know your European size ahead of time so you can grab it. They differ from U.S. sizes; for example, a U.S. women's dress size 12 translates to a European size 38.
• All sizes aren't put on the floor at once, so always ask.
• If you can't find something, check back. New merchandise hits the store daily.
• If all you need is women's apparel, hit the Post store. It's smaller and will be less chaotic.
"
Get there early. The first 250 customers at Powell Street will receive a T-shirt and 20 percent off purchases
H&M brings its high fashion, low prices to S.F.
[SIZE=-1]By Blanca Torres and Jessica Yadegaran[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]CONTRA COSTA TIMES[/SIZE]
Bay Area fashionistas, your day has come.
H&M, the European retail chain selling trendy clothes at low prices, is opening two stores Saturday in San Francisco's Union Square and a third in Concord this spring. The stores are H&M's first on the West Coast.
Big deal. We already have Zara and Forever 21, right? Wrong. H&M takes cheap chic to a different level.
Hennes & Mauritz, which maintains 1,000 stores worldwide, breeds cultlike shoppers who squeeze in stops there when trotting the globe and line up outside the megaplex stores the morning of a collection launch.
"Fashion is no longer a matter of price," says Jennifer Uglialoro, H&M's U.S. fashion spokeswoman. "Our customers wear their Prada pants with an H&M top."
The Swedish company, founded in 1947, reported sales of more than $8 billion and profit of about $1.5 billion in the one-year period that ended Aug. 31.
It has adopted a model of fast pace and constant improvement, and has spent years refining its operations to efficiently design, produce and stock merchandise quickly.
"What they're doing too brilliantly is that they put together an operations system that really can support this brand idea," said Susan Nelson, executive director of strategy and insight for Landor, a San Francisco-based brand consulting agency. "It's a very egalitarian concept that people deserve good fashion and shouldn't have to pay thousands of dollars for it."
Creating a lasting brand in retail is a tough challenge, Nelson said, because retailers have to find a way to balance their pursuit for top fashion and their ability to serve customers. Another challenge is predicting what consumers are going to want one year in advance.
"We have in-house designers and buyers; the only part of the supply chain we don't own are the factory productions," said Lisa Sandberg, U.S. communications director for H&M. "Those designers and buyers are able to turn around designs in as fast as four to six weeks."
Coming west was a natural progression, said Sandberg. The company was eyeing both San Francisco and Los Angeles but chose San Francisco when space became available in the historic "Elevated Shops" building at 150 Powell St.
"It's a fantastic location that really suits our brand, and the neighborhood is exciting," Sandberg said.
The Bay Area is ripe for a retailer such as H&M, Nelson said, because it appeals to consumers in the middle of the economic spectrum.
"If I were other mass market retailers, I would be quite nervous," she said. "There's been a gap between the really high-end and the low-cost retailers. ... There's not a lot of selection in the middle."
Many international, especially European, retailers tend to start off in New York City because they see it as a perfect test market in the United States, said Stephen Stephanou, vice president and co-founder of Madison HGCD, a New York-based real estate firm.
"If you can be successful here, you can be successful other places," he said. "It's a great place for people to get their brand out. It gives them a lot of exposure."
H&M's hip factor could spice up Sunvalley mall in Concord. Construction there begins in February, and the store, replacing four spaces on the mall's upper floor, should be open by May.
"It's a great move for us and a real coup to be one of the centers," said Tom McCracken, the mall's general manager. "I certainly think it's going to bring a more fashion-conscious customer here."
While the Sunvalley location and Post Street store in San Francisco will carry women's merchandise, the Powell Street store -- all 35,000 square feet of it -- will carry cosmetics and lingerie in addition to clothing for men, women and teens.
The Bay Area stores make H&M more accessible to thousands of West Coast shoppers, such as Angele Motlagh.
"Before, I looked forward to going there as part of my trips to Paris or New York," said Motlagh, a San Francisco lawyer. "Now I can go on my lunch break."
As will other bargain hunters. Especially now, with British designer Stella McCartney of Gucci and Chloe recreating her romantic styles for the H&M price point.
The line, which launched Nov. 10 and ranges from $70 to $200, sold out at one of seven Manhattan locations in 15 minutes. Expect similar frenzy Saturday in San Francisco, as Southern California shoppers are sure to drive up for the event.
It's easy to see why. Much like Target -- which claims Isaac Mizrahi among its designers-for-less -- H&M's motto is to get it while it's hot, get it for less and get over it when it goes out of style.
The trend has been in effect for about five years and is most evident to those flipping through fashion magazines. Editors are almost required to offer various value tiers when writing up clothes. And H&M is almost always the "cheap" version.
With attitudes about fashion quality and price changing, both retailers and designers are comfortable designing an inexpensive line because they can gain publicity and reach a different market of consumers.
"It's not like developing a line of sheets like Martha Stewart would have done -- it's something that will be in the store for a few weeks," Stephanou said. "It wouldn't really detract from (McCartney's) luxury biz. A lot of it is about the excitement of the experience, which is another part of the phenomenon. And, it brings customers into the store who normally wouldn't come into the store."
Reach Blanca Torres at 925-943-8263 and Jessica Yadegaran at 925-943-8155.
Grand opening
H&M debuts on the West Coast on Saturday with the opening of two stores in San Francisco's Union Square shopping district.
• WHERE: 150 Powell St.
• SIZE: 35,000 square feet
• FEATURES: Apparel and accessories for men, women and teens
• INFORMATION: 415-986-4215
• WHERE: 150 Post St.
• SIZE: 10,000 square feet
• FEATURES: Apparel and accessories for women and teens
• INFORMATION: 415-986-0156
• HOURS FOR BOTH STORES: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Shop, don't drop
The first weeks at H&M will be madness. Follow these insider tips to avoid a shopping breakdown:
• Get there early. The first 250 customers at Powell Street will receive a T-shirt and 20 percent off purchases.
• Shop mornings. Lunch breaks, nights and weekends are hectic.
• Know your European size ahead of time so you can grab it. They differ from U.S. sizes; for example, a U.S. women's dress size 12 translates to a European size 38.
• All sizes aren't put on the floor at once, so always ask.
• If you can't find something, check back. New merchandise hits the store daily.
• If all you need is women's apparel, hit the Post store. It's smaller and will be less chaotic.
I went today to h&m and saw the stella collection and i was surprised there was still a lot of things, it seems that it doesn't sell very well here!( I live in provinces) I think it's because stella has more reputation in her country...
so i tried the pink dress in 34 ( eur size) it looked great but was still a bit too expensive for me, the trench coat in xs was too big, the denim skirt was cute but i hesitated
,the skinny jean looked ok and the black jacket with the bow cute too but not my taste...
The belts didn't sell well as the scarfs
I saw the satin shorts only one in 38, the long coats and only one grey dress
there were still plenty of the yellow and blue silk tops...
I think the red dress was my favourite, in black it's also really pretty
But I had to buy a coat because it's cold here!so no dress
so i tried the pink dress in 34 ( eur size) it looked great but was still a bit too expensive for me, the trench coat in xs was too big, the denim skirt was cute but i hesitated
,the skinny jean looked ok and the black jacket with the bow cute too but not my taste...The belts didn't sell well as the scarfs
I saw the satin shorts only one in 38, the long coats and only one grey dress
there were still plenty of the yellow and blue silk tops...
I think the red dress was my favourite, in black it's also really pretty
But I had to buy a coat because it's cold here!so no dress
kimair
frozen
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i went to the larger sf store (powell street) a while ago, and they had a line to get in the store (still!)...
there was some stella stuff left: the trench in brown and stone, the plaid suiting jacket and skinny pants, the black tuxedo jacket (this is what i wanted, but they didn't have my size
), the long wool coat (not cold enough in sf for that), the denim skirts (in grey and rinse), and the stella logo t-shirts...they also had the chain mail bags and belts, but both seemed impractical...
apparently the collection sold out very quickly at the smaller (post street) store...
i did get the black v-neck sweater...i like this piece alot...
there was some stella stuff left: the trench in brown and stone, the plaid suiting jacket and skinny pants, the black tuxedo jacket (this is what i wanted, but they didn't have my size
), the long wool coat (not cold enough in sf for that), the denim skirts (in grey and rinse), and the stella logo t-shirts...they also had the chain mail bags and belts, but both seemed impractical...apparently the collection sold out very quickly at the smaller (post street) store...
i did get the black v-neck sweater...i like this piece alot...
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seasecrets
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i went to the powell store today too. the chain mail stuff is really heavy and impractical. it was so crowded and of course we had to wait in line but it wasn't a very long wait. i want to go again when it's not so crowded.
zashikibuta_vert
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Yes Exactly!.. At the SF store there were ALOT of impatient,
shoppers.It's all about the hype.. I was about to buy one of Stella's oversized shirts b/c it's Stella...but thank god I came to my senses. It's cute..but not THAT cute..so I left it there.
mello_yello_jen
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This morning my mom and I decided to check out the Powell St. location but when we got there around 10:15am, there was a line around the whole block and the security officer told us that we shouldn't expect to go into the store until 2. You can bet I didn't stand in that line!
I wonder what time the people in the front of the line arrived at? And was it just me or did people walking around Union Square with H&M shopping bags act like they were the sh... coolest?
While the line for H&M was definitely entertaining, I couldn't take my eyes off the pet displays in the Macy*s window!
I wonder what time the people in the front of the line arrived at? And was it just me or did people walking around Union Square with H&M shopping bags act like they were the sh... coolest?
While the line for H&M was definitely entertaining, I couldn't take my eyes off the pet displays in the Macy*s window!
zashikibuta_vert
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You know I stood at the line around 12:40..I got in around 1:15.. I was expecting longer...and I wrapped around the block.
'It was silly to wait in line..but maybe it was good marketing? It creates more hype...
'It was silly to wait in line..but maybe it was good marketing? It creates more hype...
LoveMyBoots
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When are they going to get to Los Angeles? Or at least the Southern Calif. area? I don't mind traveling.
haha, yeah, we definatly should 
Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo - Promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo - Couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo - Knowing my fate is to be with you
Waterloo - Finally facing my Waterloo
Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo - Promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo - Couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo - Knowing my fate is to be with you
Waterloo - Finally facing my Waterloo
attn: londoners!!!
Stella Stampede' to hit the High Street again
Its last sale caused near hysteria among shoppers. Now H&M plans to sell more cut-price McCartney threads
By Abigail Townsend, Deputy Business Editor
Published: 20 November 2005
It was the fashion event that provoked handbag-to-handbag combat on the high street. Now it's happening again: Hennes & Mauritz, the cheap and cheerful chainstore that sparked mass hysteria earlier this month with the launch of its Stella McCartney-designed collection, will host another Stella shopping day this week.
Hundreds of women descended on H&M's flagship Oxford Street store when the designer's exclusive 40-piece collection went on sale on 10 November. They flocked to get hold of choice items such as trendy skinny black jeans for just £39.99 and pink tulip dresses for £59.99.
The scene swiftly degenerated into a scrum as eager shoppers blindly grasped armfuls of clothes. But H&M has confirmed that it still has some of the stock designed by Ms McCartney, and it will go on sale this Thursday.
Due to the frenzied demand in the first sale, this time only a handful of stores in selected markets - the UK, France and Sweden - will sell the items, none of which costs more than £100.
It is a strategy designed to boost expectations and desirability. In the UK, just five shops will stock the items, all of them in London.
An H&M spokeswoman said the sale was being restricted to markets and cities where demand was particularly strong last time. She refused to say which items will be on sale.
"We were very optimistic of course but still, we were a bit surprised," she said of the first sale. She declined to be drawn on whether the retailer had underestimated demand, saying: "Of course it was a big success and it's always hard to find the correct balance. But we were pretty satisfied in the way we planned it."
Within hours of the first sale, some items appeared at inflated prices on eBay, although costs were still nowhere near as high as Ms McCartney's own range. Dresses by the designer, the daughter of Paul and Linda McCartney, normally sell for thousands of pounds.
Ms McCartney's H&M range followed the lead of Karl Lagerfeld, who teamed up with the Swedish chain last year.
Stella Stampede' to hit the High Street again
Its last sale caused near hysteria among shoppers. Now H&M plans to sell more cut-price McCartney threads
By Abigail Townsend, Deputy Business Editor
Published: 20 November 2005
It was the fashion event that provoked handbag-to-handbag combat on the high street. Now it's happening again: Hennes & Mauritz, the cheap and cheerful chainstore that sparked mass hysteria earlier this month with the launch of its Stella McCartney-designed collection, will host another Stella shopping day this week.
Hundreds of women descended on H&M's flagship Oxford Street store when the designer's exclusive 40-piece collection went on sale on 10 November. They flocked to get hold of choice items such as trendy skinny black jeans for just £39.99 and pink tulip dresses for £59.99.
The scene swiftly degenerated into a scrum as eager shoppers blindly grasped armfuls of clothes. But H&M has confirmed that it still has some of the stock designed by Ms McCartney, and it will go on sale this Thursday.
Due to the frenzied demand in the first sale, this time only a handful of stores in selected markets - the UK, France and Sweden - will sell the items, none of which costs more than £100.
It is a strategy designed to boost expectations and desirability. In the UK, just five shops will stock the items, all of them in London.
An H&M spokeswoman said the sale was being restricted to markets and cities where demand was particularly strong last time. She refused to say which items will be on sale.
"We were very optimistic of course but still, we were a bit surprised," she said of the first sale. She declined to be drawn on whether the retailer had underestimated demand, saying: "Of course it was a big success and it's always hard to find the correct balance. But we were pretty satisfied in the way we planned it."
Within hours of the first sale, some items appeared at inflated prices on eBay, although costs were still nowhere near as high as Ms McCartney's own range. Dresses by the designer, the daughter of Paul and Linda McCartney, normally sell for thousands of pounds.
Ms McCartney's H&M range followed the lead of Karl Lagerfeld, who teamed up with the Swedish chain last year.
oceanharlot
stories everywhere
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didnt the girls rip the clothes OFF the mannequins the first time? thats probably why they didnt put clothes on them again... so the poor SA wouldnt have to wrestle the clothes off the mannequins for angry, pushy shoppers.
