topic Re: Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink in Community Chat

Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink

Say Nay — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 19:36:05 GMT

Curious about the shoes. I wonder if this will be a QVC exclusive thing.

From JCK:

Over the last year, Judith Ripka has shut most of its retail locations, as it reorients its retail strategy toward a mix of brick-and-mortar locations and shop-in-shops.

The only stores it is leaving open are its store in Long Island, N.Y., and its store on East 62nd Street and Madison Avenue in New York City. It has shut its other store on Madison Avenue, two outlets in Florida, as well as stores in Chicago and Las Vegas.

“The other stores were not performing,” says Robert D’Loren, chairman and CEO of Xcel Brands, which bought the brand in April. “The stores that they had couldn’t have made money under any circumstances. They were just the wrong locations, the wrong footprints.”

He says that when the company refines its product mix, it will decide on a retail strategy.

“We have to get the right product out there and then turn the marketing engine back on,” says D’Loren. “You can’t do your own store unless you have the operating metrics right.”

He says the brand will soon be back in Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, and likely Saks Fifth Avenue. It also plans to expand the line to other accessories, including handbags, evening bags, and footwear.

Re: Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink

sunshine45 — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 19:38:56 GMT

her handbags didnt do very well on qvc, did they? they certainly didnt last long and i am still seeing them at the outlets!

Re: Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink

Say Nay — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 19:43:50 GMT

Not sure if they sold well or not (never paid attention when they were on air) but it looks like they're all last clicks or clearance here too. I wonder if QVC decided to drop the JR accessories.

Re: Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink

Linders Back — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 21:57:35 GMT

She no only needs new PRODUCT ideas but new DESIGN ideas. All her stuff looks alike.

Re: Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink

ROMARY — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 22:32:24 GMT

This decision makes a lot of sense. Less expensive, too. No need to pay high rents for each/all individual JR store(s).

Re: Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink

colliegirls — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 22:42:18 GMT

Its so much faster to make large profits on QVC than to have the overhead of stores anywhere. No shop can sell as many items as they do in one hour on the Q. Its all about the bottom line.

Re: Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink

croemer — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 22:47:21 GMT

On 10/7/2014 colliegirls said:
Its so much faster to make large profits on QVC than to have the overhead of stores anywhere. No shop can sell as many items as they do in one hour on the Q. Its all about the bottom line.

Agreed but when the Q is done with you...then what? We know that happens all the time.

Re: Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink

RibbonsRosesRainbows — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 22:52:58 GMT

Sams sells her rings I was told but they are only one size.........they don't have different sizes and I was told from a person that shops at Sams that they are not going to carry her line anymore.

Re: Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink

RibbonsRosesRainbows — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 22:53:45 GMT

On 10/7/2014 croemer said:
On 10/7/2014 colliegirls said:
Its so much faster to make large profits on QVC than to have the overhead of stores anywhere. No shop can sell as many items as they do in one hour on the Q. Its all about the bottom line.

Agreed but when the Q is done with you...then what? We know that happens all the time.

I don't know what happens when the Q is one with someone. 100% pure seems to be doing great and some move to HSN.

Re: Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink

ROMARY — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 22:54:58 GMT

Yes, and less expensive to be a vendor in a dept. store, too. Less overhead, easier to just ship items to stores, etc. Now-a-days, with online capabilities, practically no need for a huge crew of full-time sales reps. All in all, this decision probably (and hopefully) means that prices won't escalate out of control.

Re: Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink

terrier3 — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 23:00:20 GMT

If she thinks she can get back her high end Saks customers, I think she will be in for a rude awakening.

Once your products are mass marketed, like on QVC (not to mention Sam's Club!) you will NEVER get your HE business back.

She sold out to QVC and to a big investment company.

Re: Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink

ROMARY — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 23:36:17 GMT

We'll have to just wait and see.........My guess is that she will have a special Saks (and others) line, etc. Perhaps exclusive to those stores, respectively. She and her items are well-liked, respected. I really don't see much of a problem. But time will tell..........

Re: Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink

jackthebear — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 00:36:04 GMT

On 10/7/2014 terrier3 said:
If she thinks she can get back her high end Saks customers, I think she will be in for a rude awakening.

Once your products are mass marketed, like on QVC (not to mention Sam's Club!) you will NEVER get your HE business back.

She sold out to QVC and to a big investment company.

ITA

Perhaps if she still owned her company and name, but I don't think this is true

Re: Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink

Kachina624 — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 00:36:50 GMT

I wish she'd close her QVC store.

Re: Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink

lulu2 — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 00:38:40 GMT

On 10/7/2014 ROMARY said:
We'll have to just wait and see.........My guess is that she will have a special Saks (and others) line, etc. Perhaps exclusive to those stores, respectively. She and her items are well-liked, respected. I really don't see much of a problem. But time will tell..........

My husband bought me a lovely JR ring at NM. About 2 years later an identical copy complete with DMQ showed up on QVC for a fraction of the price. The last time I wore it, someone grabbed my hand and said "that's JR from QVC, isn't it?"

I have never worn the ring again.

If I buy or am given a beautiful authentic piece of jewelry, the last thing I want to see is a clad copy with fake stones. There are scads of jewelry designers. I would never purchase (and I've instructed my husband not to) another JR item.

Re: Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink

terrier3 — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 00:43:57 GMT

On 10/7/2014 ROMARY said:
We'll have to just wait and see.........My guess is that she will have a special Saks (and others) line, etc. Perhaps exclusive to those stores, respectively. She and her items are well-liked, respected. I really don't see much of a problem. But time will tell..........

When I visit NYC, I stay at the Waldorf Towers...right by Saks. One time my friend and I stopped by the Ripka display on the main floor. They had the original country link with heart.

It was 18K and instead of a beaded border, it had diamonds. It also was MANY thousands of dollars. I was wearing the QVC version and we compared. The salesman almost had a FIT...he wanted us out of there, pronto. Even back then - it had to be 10 years ago - the QVC dupes were ruining the Saks business.

Re: Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink

ROMARY — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 02:35:03 GMT

Thanks for the info, posters. I haven't visited any of her stores, or have any of her 'real' (as in diamonds, etc.,) expensive pieces. Well, wishing JR and all (of us) the best.

Re: Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink

Lotus — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 02:41:37 GMT

Is the one on Long Island in East Hills?

It's a very small store.

Re: Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink

Kati — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 08:22:50 GMT

I saw a JR ring for sale at TJ Maxx. It was under the glass, but it was still TJ Maxx!

Re: Judith Ripka Shuts Most Stores in Retail Rethink

brii — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 12:10:19 GMT

I don't think she cares, honestly. She sold out many years ago.