The buzz today was about the new Nordstrom Rack opening in Union Square May 11^th, 2010. While this is just happy news for us, from a business point of view it signals the nation continues to be in the bargain mind-set.  What can you expect? Discounts up to 60 percent off original Nordstrom retail prices and some merchandise purchased specially for the Rack.  The retail big wigs are all optimistic that this is the way to go, with Sacks, Lord and Taylor, Neiman Marcus and Talbots all getting pretty aggressive in the outlet arena. The question is, with so many bargains in stores and the mailbox, who is still buying retail?

You name it, they’re participating. Never before has the fashion community united as strongly as they will Thursday, September 10th for much anticipated “Fashion’s Night Out.” Anna Wintour’s brainchild, this evening aims truly aims to promote retail, restore consumer confidence, celebrate fashion and unite industry aspects. There are no tickets, no invitations, no exclusive lists. From 6p.m. to 11p.m. stores will welcome customers with giveaways, sweepstakes, cocktails and mini manicures and more.

The Vogue City normally encourages bargain shopping, widely discouraging full price purchasing, but Fashion’s Night Out is more than just shopping.  All proceeds from Fashion’s Night Out official t-shirt sales will benefit the National September 11th Memorial and Museum. Over 700 retail stores in the 5 boroughs are on board to participate and in addition to celebrating, many retailers are taking a charity angle. A city-wide clothing drive where people can donate new or gently used clothing will kick off to benefit the New York City AIDS Fund. The collected clothing will be distributed to 17 area AIDS charities. For a list of retailers accepting the clothing donations, click here.
With Zac Posen painting one of a kind dresses at Bergdorf and a Patrick McMullen photo exhibit at Lord & Taylor, participation is running the gamut. It wouldn’t be New York and it wouldn’t be Vogue without some star alignment. WWD reports Sienna Miller at Intermix, Hugh Jackman at Jeffery, the Olsen twins at Barney’s, Charlize Theron at Dior, Justin Timberlake at Saks and the list goes on.

Rich, poor or somewhere in between, this is an unprecedented global event orchestrated by the American fashion industry. No where else in the world could such an ambitious, charitable and energetic idea, accessible to every citizen regardless of class, color, or cash flow, ignite a global phenomenon pulling together every teeny aspect of monstrous industry. Despite the state of our economy, shaky decision-making and heart-wrenching loss in some of our most creative industries, we are New Yorkers. Like Bergdorf’s president and CEO, Jim Gold, said a few weeks back, “You can lay down and do nothing, or beat the drum and create excitement.” In New York, we’re drum beaters.
Fashion’s Night out is an initiative supported by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, The City of New York, New York & Co., and Vogue. For a list of retailers, timelines or other information, visit www.fashionsnightout.com. 

Emma Dinzebach

You might be here for our New York bargains, but aren’t you curious what other women are buying, especially the ones with household incomes of $250,000 or higher? Women’s Wear Daily   was too and they compiled for their readers (who tend to be people in the fashion and beauty industry) the list of the leading beauty and skin care brands for the first half of the year Well, they have two lists in fact, one for “prestige”  beauty and skin care brands and one for the  “mass brands”.  Here’s the “prestige” list and I have to admit I was surprised to see that brands like La Mer, Dior, and La Prairie were missing and somehow amused that Chanel that seems to have won our readers vote (see our fragrance poll) is on the list. Anyway, enjoy but don’t let it change the way you shop.
Here, the top prestige beauty and skin care brands among affluent consumers for the first half of 2009, you can read the whole article at WWD List:Buying Beauty

1 CLINIQUE

New York bargain news from WWD

by WWD Staff
Posted Friday July 17, 2009
From WWD.COM

Are Dollar Stores The New Black?

Years ago, as the economy stumbled, it was noticed that woman started trading down from department stores and even drugstores to discount stores. But in this recession, women have yet another choice — dollar stores.

Dollar store retailers aren’t blind to the trend. They are dusting off beauty departments and going to vendors for special deals. Today’s dollar stores are far from dirty and dingy. Most, in fact, sell merchandise for more than a dollar so the name has become a misnomer. Visits to dollar chains reveals brands from Maybelline, Revlon and Cover Girl, as well as some lines created specially for the budget-minded consumer. A case in point is LA Colors, and Markwins is currently revamping some of its properties for distribution in the dollar channel. Mike Botterman of 99 Cents Only stores confirmed vendors are creating special items for his chain which is on a fast growth track and is considered a cool place to shop by many patrons, he said. The largest dollar chain is Dollar General. Dollar General has a defined and planogrammed beauty department. Dollar General, along with most of the dollar chains are producing double-digit profits gains. Last year, Dollar Tree broke into the Fortune 500 and was its top-performing stock.

The reason for the growth is undeniably that women are expanding what they purchase at budget stores. With more consumers trying to be smart about purchasing, they feel savvy about finding a deal. Research from Mintel reveals most shoppers are cutting back and no longer buying a lipstick as a pick me up. But, six out of 10 said they haven’t given up on beauty regimens and that bodes well for dollar stores who can provide their needs as they go what Mintel calls “austerity chic.”

Management of dollar chains is also getting more professional. Dollar General has Rick Dreiling as chief executive officer — he came from Duane Reade where he enacted major improvements. He is focusing on presentation instead of just piling cheap items on displays. He’s already improved the merchandise mix at Dollar General, financial analysts said. These moves are making vendors take notice of dollar chains.

One dollar store retailer summed it up: “Suppliers used to cancel meetings with me at ECRM or Marketplace [trade shows], now I’m at the head of their list.”

The only caution for dollar stores is to continue to spruce up in order to not only attract shoppers, but keep them once they have more money.
People, Places and Things

A few words with Sally Hershberger, the famed hair stylist (her cuts can cost $800) turned marketing whiz as she dazzled visitors to the NACDS Marketplace meeting in Boston last month.

WWDBeautyNews: You’ve expanded beyond Walgreens. Where are items sold now?

Hershberger: We are looking to grow and we’ve entered Shoppers Drug Mart, Ulta and Target. We have a national print campaign.

WWDBeautyNews: Is timing bad for a premium hair care line right now? Hershberger: No! As bad as everything is, this is a great time to spend [on advertising, growth]. It’s an incredible time to build business.

What’s In Store

Beauty Foods Slow To Take Off In U.K.: Datamonitor reports the beauty foods featuring benefits such as antiaging are not catching on as fast as marketers had hoped. Consumers aren’t buying into the “you are what you eat,” theory.

No Gray: The company that brought a product to correct a bad at-home hair color, DevloPlus, now has a formula for at-home use to properly cover gray. Called No Gray, the item is stocked in Walgreens, Duane Reade, Rite Aid and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

-from wwd.com