Madewell Proving More Successful Than J. Crew
For over 70 years, the American brand J. Crew has been known for its iconic, preppy style, including items for men, women, and children, from beloved outerwear to retro-looking swimwear to styles even celebrities want to get their hands on.
But with the change in the shopping landscape, stores like these have had trouble keeping up, with J. Crew’s sales decreasing consistently for the past four years. It’s easier than ever to buy items online for affordable prices, and in order to be successful, they need to be willing to make adjustments if necessary.
And while J. Crew may be taking a slight hit to it’s brick and mortar stores, with plans to close up to 50 stores in near future, its sister store Madewell is flourishing. Its sales have only increased over time, going up by 14% in 2016, 23% in 2017, and 26% in 2018.
Madewell’s success could be attributed to their younger, hipper, more casual style, while J. Crew focuses on preppy, structured pieces. The sister brand is nearing a value of a billion dollars, according to its new, first-ever CEO, Libby Wadle, who says the brand is more than halfway there.
For more information on Madewell’s success, take a look at the video above.
