Slipping up on a Banana.
Things are moving at a pace and back in January it was reported that Banana Republic would be hitting the UK - so come March BR will open is doors in the old Dickens and Jones building. (The other tenants will be a HUGE H&M, as well as an Armani Exchange and Nokia). Gap UK have just put final touches to the PR team (sterling choices) and starting to gear up for the media onslaught. It will be interesting to see marketing strategy.
I remember vividly when the Gap opened its first store (just a few doors down on Regent Street) in the 1980's - the prices were laughably overpriced as they were pure imports from the US. It took them a while to sort that out and now, as we all know they have a dedicated European design team - as they learned that the European woman is very different consumer to her American counterpart (far more Chic lets just call a spade a spade).
On the other side - I think the timing is right for BR as Joseph (since the great man sold it) isn't what it once was. Reiss is also has a bit of an inflated ego - I suspect they will be going head to head against them. If they get the price points right - it will be game on.
4 days ago
