Even though the Gap was kind enough to address (er, refute) our reader’s observations about the Gap’s general state of crappiness, we haven’t forgotten that the store isn’t doing so well sales-wise, and it is therefore our sad duty to inform you that same store sales are down 7%.
Within the Gap empire, the numbers seem to mirror the sentiments expressed in our comments:
Gap is down 10%, Old Navy missed by 8%, and Banana Republic is only down 2%.
All three were worse than analysts expected. Does this mean that “reducing the number of styles in our stores to make it easier for our customers,” didn’t work? Or maybe it was the string bikinis for toddlers that drove the shoppers away?
Oh well,Todd Oldham to the rescue!
UPDATE: Gap Sales Drop Below Forecasts; Shares Dip[CNNMoney]
(Photo:bopo)
PREVIOUSLY: Old Navy Hires Todd Oldham As Creative Director
Why Do You Hate The Gap? The Gap Responds To Your Complaints
Dear New Gap CEO: Here’s How To Fix Your Stores
String Bikinis: Now Available for Toddlers!
Goodbye, Forth & Towne, We Hardly Knew You…
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@oneswellfoop:
I agree, but I think this is a problem with the AMERICAN clothing industry in general not just The GAP. It’s hard for men with healthy proportions to find stylish clothing that isn’t a size L or XXL. I wentlooking for work clothes earlier this week and took 3 hours looking for khaki pants in a size 30″/30″. Most of them are around size 34″ waist or larger at Macy’s or those other department stores. Dress shirts tend to run in the large sizes and go up from there. Lacoste is the only store that always has enough stock of small and medium shirts, but then again they’re a European clothing store. However I don’t like paying $75 for ultra-colorful work polos.
Sometimes I’m tempted to just start eating at Mc Donalds for a month so I can fit into a size 34″/ 30″ pair of pants and cut down on the shopping annoyances.
@Akamaru:
At least men’s pants sizes have some rhyme or reason. Women’s pants sizes can vary quite a bit by store and/or designer. I usually take 3 pairs of the same style — in 3 different sizes — into the dressing room with me. Talk about shopping annoyance…
Blue shirt? Khaki pants (or blue and grey)! Yeah! We’re ready to go to work!!! Seriously, men need another style at the office.
GAP has gotten extremely boring. I’ve found better brands, better clothing and got only a few shirts from them this year.
Yay! More horizontal stripes! Stripes! Stripes! Stripes!!!!!!!
WHY DO I HATE THE GAP?
Lets see.
First,
It has the most anoying commercials, EVER!!!
It’s stores have the look of a close out store.
It’s Prices are Crazy High!. If the store had a 75% off sale it still would not be worth checking out.
It’s quality is the worst.
The clothes themselves, They make good looking people Ugly, and , Ugyl looking people UGLIER!
( Need I say more).
Snotty store employees.
The Fit of the clothes, I have never seen them fit right on anyone.
Those stupid looking headsets.
And lastly,
It’s name Rhymes with Crap.
The one good thing the GAP had were those Audrey Hepburn pants a year back or so. They had these skinny straight leg pants that actually fit my girlfriend. Unfortunately, it seems like the Gap likes running their specials for about 2 weeks, so they were impossible to find again.
Anyway, the only place we usually shop anyway is American Apparel.
I agree, Old Navy needs to go back to basics (hint: bring back the perfect tanks!), and Gap…well, they need to deal with their $60 jeans issue.
BTW, has anyone else noticed an annoying trend in stores like Gap – they’ll put a set of Style #1 on a rack with Styles #2, 3, and 4, and then put another set of Style #1 on some decorative/promotional rack or hanger? I can’t swear to it, but the last time I was at a Gap, I think I saw the same pair of pants hanging in 3 different places. Maybe it was only 2; who knows? In any event it was a pain to find my size, wash, and fit – there were so many choices, and in so many places.
@SpaceCat85: You posted exactly what I wanted to say – from the sizing to the fabric weight to the teen pseudo-maternity wear. Glad to know I’m not the only one who’s frustrated!