topic Re: How many Ripka B&M stores are left? in Jewelry

How many Ripka B&M stores are left?

sashamatthews — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 21:12:40 GMT

I was looking online and was surprised how many have closed. Understandable due to the economy, but many upscale brands are not experiencing this downsizing. There is no recognizable heir apparent. Skip the DS or DIL. Does Judith own the line wholly or are there investors? I ask these questions because she isn't getting any younger and I don't see the brand restructuring to address a future business plan.

Re: How many Ripka B&M stores are left?

sunshine45 — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 21:45:38 GMT

looks like just 3 regular stores remain..... long island, ny, and ny flagship stores are open now.

she also has 2 outlet stores in florida.

she is also in select jewelry stores, although i would think that the selection is not that large.

Re: How many Ripka B&M stores are left?

ritasNo1Fan — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 21:52:18 GMT

The one in San Francisco closed months ago. I never saw any customers inside, only the guard with a gun and a depressed lookin clerk. I always window shop. Ripka Jewry is beyond beautiful, so elegant.

Re: How many Ripka B&M stores are left?

sashamatthews — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 22:30:43 GMT

Thank you. I was trying to figure out - without knowing inside information - if the QVC sales were subsidizing the stores. I had read that Judith licensed her designs to the Q but there must be some type of percentage of sales involved, too.

Re: How many Ripka B&M stores are left?

moto — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 22:51:59 GMT

On 3/23/2014 LuvMM1 said: The one in San Francisco closed months ago. I never saw any customers inside, only the guard with a gun and a depressed lookin clerk. I always window shop. Ripka Jewry is beyond beautiful, so elegant.

Time flies - the SF store actually closed 4 years ago, in 2010, at a time when the economy was making it very difficult to keep the doors open for many businesses; and after a strong armed robbery: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?id=6792124

Re: How many Ripka B&M stores are left?

oceanviewTL — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 23:02:19 GMT

I was in her Las Vegas store, in the Forum, a year ago, and in the Beverly Hills store just a couple months ago. Are they both gone?

Re: How many Ripka B&M stores are left?

ahoymate — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 23:10:58 GMT

Lots of designer stores have closed. De Beers closed in SF a few weeks back along with several other high end stores in the past couple of years.

I wouldn't worry about Judith. She's doing ok and her sons & daughter in-laws will eventually be running the business. There's more to worry about in this life besides Judith Ripka & her lovely jewelry business.

Re: How many Ripka B&M stores are left?

teainlondon — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 23:11:40 GMT

Didn't she just have the luxurious grand opening of a store in Moscow? She had pictures on her blog with all the royalty and important people and places; I think. With the political upheaval going on with Putin, I wonder if she would even dare to go back to Moscow without fearing for her life. I don't think Putin likes America or Americans.

I would hate to think of putting all that money in a store there and never be able to get to it again; that could be possible. If Putin decided to close it and confiscate all the contents, I guess he could.

Pretty scary. QVC buyers are the ones who probably have to support the other B&M stores that are left.

Hope it all works out.

tea

Re: How many Ripka B&M stores are left?

silkyk — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 23:15:47 GMT

On 3/23/2014 moto said:
On 3/23/2014 LuvMM1 said: The one in San Francisco closed months ago. I never saw any customers inside, only the guard with a gun and a depressed lookin clerk. I always window shop. Ripka Jewry is beyond beautiful, so elegant.

Time flies - the SF store actually closed 4 years ago, in 2010, at a time when the economy was making it very difficult to keep the doors open for many businesses; and after a strong armed robbery: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?id=6792124

I use to pop into the SF store and check out the new stuff all the time. Kinda snobby...not friendly. I bought more Ripka on the Q than I ever would have there. When this robbery happened years ago I told DH that I was sure most of the jewelry would end up on ebay.

Re: How many Ripka B&M stores are left?

lianne — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 04:13:09 GMT

I walk by the flagship store every day on my way to work and I have never seen anyone in there.

Re: How many Ripka B&M stores are left?

silverwear — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 13:39:02 GMT

On 3/23/2014 sunshine45 said:
On 3/23/2014 Seka said:
This is from her Website (and she has well over 100 Authorized Retailers listed):
<ul class="leftnav" style="margin-top: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 32px; padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1; text-align: left; z-index: 100; width: 148px; font: normal normal normal 1em/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; border-width: 0px;"> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.1em; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; color: #8c6b1f; border-width: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Boutiques</li> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.1em; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; color: #8c6b1f; border-width: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Dallas</li> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.1em; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; color: #8c6b1f; border-width: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Las Vegas</li> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.1em; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; color: #8c6b1f; border-width: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Long Island</li> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.1em; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; color: #8c6b1f; border-width: 0px; padding: 0px;"> New York</li> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.1em; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; color: #8c6b1f; border-width: 0px; padding: 0px;"> New York - Flagship</li> </ul>

<ul> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.1em; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; color: #8c6b1f; border-width: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Outlets</li> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.1em; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; color: #8c6b1f; border-width: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Orlando</li> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.1em; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; color: #8c6b1f; border-width: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Sawgrass</li> </ul>

the dallas and las vegas stores are closed. if you click on those locations you will find that they say they are no longer open.

i am sure that the authorized retailers dont carry THAT many JR pieces. i imagine the bulk of her business is right here at qvc.

There was one in Chicago too, on East Oak Street.

Not sure when it closed, but perhaps a Chicago Ripkanista might remember.

Re: How many Ripka B&M stores are left?

NOMEAT — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 13:47:48 GMT

She was at one time considered a high end designer and was in Neimans, etc. All in my city have dumped her line since she dumbed down and started selling on QVC. I had a few pieces from ten years ago that I sold on Ebay when she first appeared on QVC. She isn't in demand or considered a high end designer any more.

Re: How many Ripka B&M stores are left?

5pugmom — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:53:38 GMT

On 3/23/2014 silkyk said:
On 3/23/2014 moto said:
On 3/23/2014 LuvMM1 said: The one in San Francisco closed months ago. I never saw any customers inside, only the guard with a gun and a depressed lookin clerk. I always window shop. Ripka Jewry is beyond beautiful, so elegant.

Time flies - the SF store actually closed 4 years ago, in 2010, at a time when the economy was making it very difficult to keep the doors open for many businesses; and after a strong armed robbery: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?id=6792124

I use to pop into the SF store and check out the new stuff all the time. Kinda snobby...not friendly. I bought more Ripka on the Q than I ever would have there. When this robbery happened years ago I told DH that I was sure most of the jewelry would end up on ebay.

The SF store was my go to store. My sister and GF and I used to go in there about every other month. They broke out the champagne for us and let us try on everything. It was SO fun!! I bought most of my JR2 items there when they had their great 40% off sales. But in all the times we were there, and always on Saturdays, we would be there for hours and there were never any other customers in to the store. My favorite girl that worked there, was the one that was dragged by her hair and horribly beaten in the back during the robbery. She never went back after that. That being said, about 2 weeks after the robbery, JR did an appearance at Neimans in Palo Alto, which is just the next town or over from the store. My sister and I took the day off to go meet her in person and to see the new pieces. Needless to say, I was shocked that she was in town for 3 days, and didn't even go to visit the store or the employees after what they went through. She almost didn't seem that fazed when it was brought up. Needless to say, that left a horrible taste in my mouth and I never bought any thing else from her store and it closed not too long after.

I used to have many of her items on my wishlist waiting for prices to go down. I almost never buy her stuff anymore because I don't like the current rehashed designs and the prices are riduculous. I was down to 2 pieces on my wishlist as of last week, and what a surprise when Friday morning, the prices on the pieces JUMPED way up. Crazy considering they have been around a while. I deleted them. I zipped through the DVR of some of her shows yesterday and found myself laughing out loud at the prices. AND that some were selling out. My husband said he didn't think the prices were bad...until I told him those were not diamonds...and everything was fake. The look on his face was priceless. So...they are bringing in outrageously expensive jewelry that the average Q shopper won't/can't buy, and pricing us all out the market. But every time I turn around they are shoving Denim and Co and Susan Graver down our throats. So that's what the average customer base is left with if we don't want to spend $800 on a Diamonique cuff? Gee...thanks! All of the great affordable costume jewelry they used to have, is gone. That's too bad.

Re: How many Ripka B&M stores are left?

Happy Elizabeth — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:55:52 GMT

Her store in Aspen closed a few years ago.

Re: How many Ripka B&M stores are left?

tdog — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 17:09:01 GMT

On 3/23/2014 Skylands said:
Lots of designer stores have closed. De Beers closed in SF a few weeks back along with several other high end stores in the past couple of years.

I wouldn't worry about Judith. She's doing ok and her sons & daughter in-laws will eventually be running the business. There's more to worry about in this life besides Judith Ripka & her lovely jewelry business.

Nobody said she was worrying about it!! No need to belittle her question by implying that she is worrying about trivia when there are so many other things to worry about in life. She just asked a question out of curiosity.

Re: How many Ripka B&M stores are left?

depglass — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 17:17:17 GMT

Dare I say it? I think she's on her way out. Outside of that loyal core of Ripkanistas here on QVC, I don't think she has a customer base at all. Yes, she can survive with just QVC. But they might knock off the cross promotion of the so-called "high end" pieces. They are insulting. From the presentation of the watch the first night through to the end, my impression was a total lack of sincerity from everyone except maybe Antonella. Keep this marketing trend up and you will just lose more supporters.

Re: How many Ripka B&M stores are left?

ennui1 — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 17:55:09 GMT

No one mentioned Sam's Club.

5pugmom, that's a sad story -- I wonder if Judith visited privately?

Re: How many Ripka B&M stores are left?

3star — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 18:25:20 GMT

She had a very small boutique on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Walton St. In Chicago. The store was the size of two public telephone booths put together. The window displays were drop dead gorgeous, but never ever saw a customer in the store. It was doomed to close and did about three years ago. I love her coutoure pieces, just not what she does for the Q

Re: How many Ripka B&M stores are left?

Debbie1426 — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 19:19:21 GMT

I know the store in Atlantic City closed some years ago. I did see a large Ripka display last time I was in Saks.

Re: How many Ripka B&M stores are left?

5pugmom — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 19:30:13 GMT

On 3/24/2014 ennui1 said:
No one mentioned Sam's Club.

5pugmom, that's a sad story -- I wonder if Judith visited privately?

Unfortunately she didn't. I kept in contact with the 2 JR girls from the boutique for a few months after the robbery and JR Neimans visit. They said she never stopped in or anything. Kind of sad. I think the writing must have been on the wall for them. The manager quit and moved around the corner to manage another high end boutique within a few weeks.