Jeans West boobs on Pink Week

Jeans West, East Gardens. Make no mistake, supporting breast cancer research or 'Pink Week' initiatives is the right thing to do. So I was interested to note how this business had co-operated with some leading designers to produce a range of tees. The only snag is: if you were proud to be associated, wouldn't you show the merchandise in the window, as opposed to tucked away in the store and barely visible from the entrance ? and why would you use the really small font for 'Pink Awareness Week' ?

It just seems to signal indifference ? And perhaps that the Mimco brand was a more important aspect of this promotion ?

Mainstream Fashion Unravels

(East Gardens, General Pants, Katies, Jeans West, Just Jeans). A visit to the mall this afternoon left me wondering whether mainstream fashion retailers really understand where their customers' heads are at. Have a look at this selection of windows from well-known brands on the Australian retail scene, targeting a wide spectrum of the so-called mainstream mid-market for apparel.

What struck me is that none of them has a compelling message or offer. We are in the middle of the worst recession anyone can remember, and customers have been used to seeing '50% to 70% off' sales every week. This is not to suggest that is what retailers should be doing at this point. All credit to retailers who feel they can move away from this 'consumer drug' - the road to ruin for many a mall retailer.

My question is this - is there no news ? eg. new season or product lines ? Are there no value offers (to be fair Jeans West had advertised $65 jeans, but very 'quietly') that can catch the imagination of shoppers ? Where is the call to action ? I understand we are in a trans-seasonal (or transitional) period) - but it does seem there is a single lack of imagination amongst retail marketes in this sector. Let me know your thoughts.

GONE WEST ?

Jeans West, Broadway. The winter offering looks a bit drab in the window poster. Always a problem trying to 'lift' the retail theatre component in winter.

TIGHT TRADING JEANS

Jeans West, East Gardens, 3.30pm Saturday. Mall was pretty busy, but this retailer's attractive sale window and offer was obviously not enough to convert the traffic flow. Tough times.

DENIM FITS SALE

On-brand, sale execution. Jeans West, East Gardens