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Abercrombie & Fitch will close its money-losing Ruehl stores and related direct-to-consumer operations by the end of the year and take a $65 million charge in the process, the retailer said Wednesday.
The company cited the "severe economic downturn and its impact on the retail and consumer sectors" for the move. It will shutter 29 outlets that generated an operating loss of about $58 million in the last full fiscal year.
Why doesn't it site some of it's cheap, crappy overpriced clothes and that horrible in-store music for it's downturn in sales?
I bought one pair of pants there for $75 that fell apart by the end of the summer, and I can't tell you how many times I walked into that store and said, "You know, you folks really ought to turn down your music because it is difficult to tolerate."
Very odd store. I was shocked to see just how much DOUGH RE ME these retail geniuses spent on making ordinary mall space seem slightly like some retail space in Greeenwich Village or SoHo -- areas that maybe .002% or less potential customers would understand what they were trying to achieve...
For comparison take a look at an Apple retail store -- those guys buff the concrete, put a big ol' plate glass window on front hang the logo nice and big and WHAM they open and start making money.
And I think the margin on trousers cheaply made in Vietnam or t-shirts that look they were silk screened in some ones dorm room would NEVER support the ridiculous overhead they had with their "club quality" music systems and such.
What a bunch of losers!
Last edited by chet everett; 06-18-2009 at 09:41 AM..
This is terrible news RUEHL actually had a clue in the beginning. Custom made jackets, hand painted (by Americans) stuff. Too bad they started to carry the same stuff as A&F towards the end... not sure why they did that, but it ruined the unique vibe of the place.
Abercrombie & Fitch will close its money-losing Ruehl stores and related direct-to-consumer operations by the end of the year and take a $65 million charge in the process, the retailer said Wednesday.
The company cited the "severe economic downturn and its impact on the retail and consumer sectors" for the move. It will shutter 29 outlets that generated an operating loss of about $58 million in the last full fiscal year.
Well, well another store catering to the fabulously wealthy children of the upper crusty going through store closings. I thought the people with money are spending? I guess not after all. I guess even in bad times the rich can't afford to pay $120 for a pair of jeans.
Very odd store. I was shocked to see just how much DOUGH RE ME these retail geniuses spent on making ordinary mall space seem slightly like some retail space in Greeenwich Village or SoHo -- areas that maybe .002% or less potential customers would understand what they were trying to achieve...
For comparison take a look at an Apple retail store -- those guys buff the concrete, put a big ol' plate glass window on front hang the logo nice and big and WHAM they open and start making money.
And I think the margin on trousers cheaply made in Vietnam or t-shirts that look they were silk screened in some ones dorm room would NEVER support the ridiculous overhead they had with their "club quality" music systems and such.
What a bunch of losers!
ANF is headquartered just outside of Columbus in the upscale rural suburb of New Albany, OH. The Ruehl store here in Columbus is located in Easton Town Center and is in a very odd location IMO. Maybe it is because of the brownstone replica exterior that they had to place it in the spot that they did, but it is very difficult to tell that it was a retail store.
The times that I have been in it, there were virtually no other shoppers.
I dislike the interior as well. The store itself is divided up into room-like spaces and it is very difficult to find anything, from the fitting rooms to the registers even the door to get out of the place. I know I am not there target customer (I believe it's the post college female) but c'mon, this is the worst setup store I have ever been in. Even my teenage daughter who thought initially the store was cool will admit that the store is difficult to maneuver. And yes, the clothes are expensive and really not worth it!
Well, well another store catering to the fabulously wealthy children of the upper crusty going through store closings. I thought the people with money are spending? I guess not after all. I guess even in bad times the rich can't afford to pay $120 for a pair of jeans.
Rich people don't buy this garbage. Middle class people who like to pretend to be rich shop at A&F/Ruehl/Hollister
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RUEHL actually had a clue in the beginning. Custom made jackets, hand painted (by Americans) stuff. Too bad they started to carry the same stuff as A&F towards the end... not sure why they did that, but it ruined the unique vibe of the place.
I know I am not there target customer (I believe it's the post college female) but c'mon, this is the worst setup store I have ever been in. Even my teenage daughter who thought initially the store was cool will admit that the store is difficult to maneuver. And yes, the clothes are expensive and really not worth it!
