Retail Shopping Analysis:
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Bloomingdales Private Labels __________________________________________________________________
Camille Ervin Fashion Product Evaluation 04.25.11
Introduction Department stores often carry both designer brands, as well as in house private labels. Private labels are labels that are only sold and carried within the department store, and can not be sold or manufactured for other vendors. These labels are often so that a department store can reach out to customers with different incomes, and different age ranges.
Bloomingdales has four in house labels. I.N.C, and Aqua, are the private labels for women. Broome 55, and The Men’s Store are the in house private labels for men.
Within these four private labels, the construction,quality and prices will all be evaluated. Under evaluation is a Shirt,Blouse, and T-Shirt from each label. Within the evaluation a thorough review of the interior and exterior of all garments are examined.
Male Private Label : Broome 55 Shirt _________________________________________________________________________ Quick Cost Retail $88.00 á 2 Wholesale $44.00 á 2 Manufactures Cost $22.00 ________________________________________________________________________________________
Evaluation The plaid Broome 55 shirt, follows all TFPIA regulations. The shirt is made from The garment has a three piece collar, including a removable stay. The top and bottom collars has been sandwiched into the stand. The men’s shirt has a back yolk, with a forward roll. The side seams, and the armscye have been attached using flat felled seams. The left and right placket both contain fusing, and have been lock stitched. The garment has 7 button holes on the left placket, and 7 buttons on the right placket.
Comparison This garment in comparison to other garments in the same department store is relatively at the same level. The garment was found near other items with similar style, and price levels. The construction of this garment was constructed at the same level as the other items that were part of the Broome 55 label, but did not reach the same level had more poor quality than the other items in the same department that were not part of the private label. The Broome 55 shirt did contain loose threads in the interior of the garment, as well as fraying at the hem and armscye.
Male Private Label : Broome 55 Shirt
__________________________________________________________________ Retail $88.00 รท 2 Wholesale $44.00 รท 2 Manufactures Cost $22.00
__________________________________________________________________ Evaluation The Broome 55 shirt follows all TFPIA regulations. The garment is made of 100% cotton. The garment contains a two piece collar; the top and under collar have been sandwiched in. The button down shirt contains a left, and a right placket, containing the garments 7 buttons, and 7 button holes. The garment has 7 buttons that are 4 whole 20 ligne buttons. The garment does contain a two piece back forward roll yolk. The yolk has been separated in the back by a back center seam, which is a flat feld seam. Side seams are all butterfly seams. The garment contains set in sleeves, which have been also put in by butterfly seams. The garment has rounded barrel cuff, with gauntlet sleeve plackets.
Comparison
The garment had fairly good quality for what the MSRP price was. The garment was constructed well constructed, and fit the MSRP price. The garments quality did meet the same quality as all other items in the department that were not Broome 55, as well as the garments that were in the private label. Although this shirt was strong quality, the Broome 55 label does not show consistency within its label.
Male Private Label : Broome 55 T- Shirt
__________________________________________________________________ Retail $38.00 ÷ 2 Wholesale $19.00 ÷ 2 Manufactures Cost $9.50
__________________________________________________________________ Evaluation The Male Broome 55 T-shirt followed all the regulations of the TFPIA. The garment was made from 100% cotton, and was made from Columbia. The garment contained a slight vneck which had binding. The garments side seams are lock stitched and pressed back. The garment contains a 1” cover stitch hem. The short sleeves have been attached to the body by butterfly seems. The garment does
Comparison
The Broome 55 T-Shirt does show strong quality in the garment. The garment does have even side seams, as well as showing a clean even hem. The t-shirt does similar quality to other items within the same department of the store, as well as same quality shown in some of the Broome 55 items. This T-shirt is one of the nicer quality garments that have been found within the Broome 55 label.
Male Private Label : The Men’s Store Shirt
__________________________________________________________________ Retail $98.00 ÷ 2 Wholesale $49.00 ÷ 2 Manufactures Cost $24.50
__________________________________________________________________ Evaluation The product does follow the regulations of the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act ( TFPIA). The inside care label states that the product was manufactured in Bangladesh , and that it was made from 60% cotton, and 40% polyester. The garment tag also states that the garment is a man’s XL size, which declares that it is a man’s executive size. The garment has white polo button down collar as contrast, and a pink and black stripe self. The garment has a three piece collar, including a removable stay. The top and bottom collars has been sandwiched into the stand. The men’s shirt has a back yolk, with a forward roll. The side seams, and the armscye have been attached using flat felled seams. The left and right placket both contain fusing, and have been lock stitched. The garment has 7 button holes on the left placket, and 7 buttons on the right placket. The garment has french cuffs on both sleeves both containing a gauntlet placket. The hem of the garment is a baby inch hem less than 1/4 of an inch.
Comparison Comparing The Mens Store shirt with other shirts in the same department, it was clearly shown the garment had strong quality and construction. The garment’s label shows consistency within all of its shirts, and all of its products. The garment price definitely reflected the garments quality and construction.
Male Private Label : The Men’s Store T-Shirt
_______________________________________________________________ Retail $38.00 ÷ 2 Wholesale $19.00 ÷ 2 Manufactures Cost $9.50
__________________________________________________________________ Evaluation The garment being evaluated is a Men’s white crew neck shirt, which complies to all of the TFPIA regulations. The garment contains a heat seal as its label. On the label it includes The Men’s Store logo, as well as stating the garment is 100% cotton, and the care instructions. The garment also states the sizing in alpha as well as the numeric sizing for the men’s shirt. The Crew neck is binded at the edges,as well cover stitched. The bottom hem is cover stitched while the side seams are lock stitch, as well as the short sleeve armscye is attached.
Comparison
The T-shirt from the Men’s Store is well constructed. The t-shirt contains unbelievably phenomenal construction for the MSRP. Comparing the garment to other Tshirts in the same department they are all at the same level, but have higher prices. This garment was the departments best t-shirt for the retail price.
Male Private Label : The Men’s Store Blouse
_______________________________________________________________ Retail $38.00 ÷ 2 Wholesale $19.00 ÷ 2 Manufactures Cost $9.50
__________________________________________________________________ Evaluation The men’s shirt with decorative detailing clarifying it to be a men’s blouse, is from the private label of The Men’s Store. The blouse has a three piece collar,including; two piece collar with stand, and a stay. The garments two piece collar have been sandwiched in, and fusing is between the top and under collar. The removable stay is a piece that is used to help create durability collar that is stable. The collar on the men’s blouse is defined as a pointed collar. The men’s blouse a decorative topstitch bib which has been placed all around the front of the garment. The blouse has a left placket, and a right placket, which contains the button and the button holes. The buttons used on the placket are 4 whole-20 ligne buttons. The garment does have an all white pure self for its fabric, but the back yolk with a forward shoulder roll does show it has been cut on the bias. The garment’s set in sleeves have been lock stitched and pressed open, while the the side seems have been lock stitched and pressed back. . The garment has french cuffs on both sleeves both containing a gauntlet placket. The hem of the garment is a baby inch hem less than 1/4 of an inch. Comparison The garment in comparison to other garments in the same department that are not part of the same private label show the same level of quality as the blouse. Comparing the blouse to other tops in the same private label, I would say that the label is consistent, and the pricing is accurate. The Men’s Store shows consistency in it’s tops, and has well constructed products, throughout the label.
Female Private Label: I.N.C Shirt
__________________________________________________________________ Retail $89.50 á 2 Wholesale $44.75 á 2 Manufactures Cost $22.38
__________________________________________________________________ Evaluation The woman’s size I.N.C. shirt contains a decorative zebra pattern. The garment follows all regulations of the TFPIA. The garment is 90% polyester and 10% spandex. The button down collar shirt, has a two piece collar. The garment should contain fusing within the collar for durability and sturdiness, but does not contain any fusing sandwiched between the top and under collar. The shirt has a back yolk with forward roll. The yolk on the garment has been cut on the bias grain of the fabric. The garment contains both a left and right placket. On the left placket of the garment contains 7 button holes, and the right placket contains 7 decorative jewel buttons. The garment has rounded barrel cuff, with gauntlet sleeve plackets.SIde seams and shoulder seams have been lock stitched and pressed back, while the hem of the garment has a double rolled hem.
Comparison Comparing this garment to other I.N.C. garments in the same department it does have the same level of quality. Comparing the shirt to garments in the same department that are not of the I.N.C. label it showed poor quality. Within the same department, there were many higher end designer brands that were visually placed next to the I.N.C. shirt, making the garment quality not look as strong as the other garments in the department.
Female Private Label: I.N.C T- Shirt
__________________________________________________________________ Retail $59.50 ÷ 2 Wholesale $29.75 ÷ 2 Manufactures Cost $14.88
__________________________________________________________________ Evaluation
The I.N.C t-shirt is a decorative heat seal women’s t-shirt. The garment follows all regulations of the TFPIA, and is made from 100% rayon. The garment has scoop neck, which has been cover stitched and binded. The garment’s decorative flower heat seals are contrast to the garment’s heather grey self. The heat seals are flowers also including decorative sequins. Side seams of the garment have been lock stitched and pressed back. The hem of the garment has a double roll cover stitch hem.
Comparison
The garment does shows better quality than some of the other T-Shirts and other brands in the same department. The T-shirt shows to have the strongest quality of the garments within the I.N.C. brand. The garment has been priced fairly cheap for the labor and quality of the garment. The garment has stronger quality than some other I.N.C. garments that do not have nearly as much labor and quality put into it.
Female Private Label: I.N.C Blouse
__________________________________________________________________ Retail $49.50 ÷ 2 Wholesale $24.75 ÷ 2 Manufactures Cost $12.38
__________________________________________________________________ Evaluation The Blouse from the I.N.C private label, is a women’s fitted top. The garment follows all regulations of the TFPIA, and is made from Polyester,Spandex, and Rayon. The garment had a left and right placket, containing the seven buttons, and the seven button holes. The buttons were four whole 18 ligne buttons. The garment has a seven layer decorative flounce technique that is in a bib format on the front of the garment. The flounce does not surpass the plackets and goes around, in a decorative formation. The layers of flounce have been finished with an emero edge. The garment has set in sleeve in which have been locks stitched and pressed open. The side seems of the garment contain butterfly seems, while the hem of the garment has a double roll baby hem. The garment does contain a back yolk, but does not have a forward shoulder roll. The garments overall appearance is pleasant and appealing. Comparison Although the garment has a beautiful exterior, and appears to be a beautiful garment, the interior of the garment tells a different story. The garment’s pattern fabric does not meet and match well at the side seems, and the seams of the garment have been poorly constructed. The garment’s construction and labor does match the pricing of the garment, making it seem poorly constructed. In comparison to the other I.N.C. items it did not meet the standards in quality as many of the other items. The garment also did not fit the quality and construction of other items in the same department that were not part of the I.N.C. label.
Female Private Label: Aqua Shirt
__________________________________________________________________ Retail $88.00 รท 2 Wholesale $44.00 รท 2 Manufactures Cost $22.00
__________________________________________________________________ Evaluation The Aqua female shirt does include three piece collar, but does not contain a removable stay. The garment has ruffles which have been gathered into the seam. The first panel of ruffles has been lock stitched into the placket, while the second and third set of ruffles on each side have been lock stitched to the self of the garment. The garment contains a 1/4 puff sleeve, with a three button continuos cuff. The garment has two darts in the back of the garment that run from the center back to the baby hem, as well as two darts in front which are double front waistline darts.
Comparison The Aqua shirt in comparison to other shirts within the same department is relatively poor. The shirt did not show the same standards that are shown within the other brand labels. The Aqua shirt does show relatively standard quality for other garments within the Aqua private label. The Aqua label shows to exceed in some garments while not showing the same level of quality in others. This garment is an Aqua garment that does not show the highest level of the construction the Aqua label has to offer.
Female Private Label: Aqua T-Shirt
__________________________________________________________________ Retail $28.00 ÷ 2 Wholesale $14.00 ÷ 2 Manufactures Cost $7.00
__________________________________________________________________ Evaluation The t-shirt from the aqua label is a women’s v-neck style t-shirt. The garment has short sleeves, in which have been attached by using lockstitch and overlock. Side seams have been lock stitched and overlocked together.The neckline of the garment has been bound and cover stitched, while the hem of the garment has a double roll cover stitch hem.
Comparison Comparing the women’s Aqua T-shirt with other brand t-shirts in the same department, the quality level was even. The Aqua t-shirt did not have lesser nor greater quality than other items in the same department of the store, that were not from the Aqua label. Garments that were from the Aqua label showed to have stronger quality than the t-shirt. The benefit that the garment did not have strong quality, is that the price reflected the quality of the garment, but this does show the label to not be consistent in its quality.
Female Private Label: Aqua Blouse
__________________________________________________________________ Retail $78.00 รท 2 Wholesale $39.00 รท 2 Manufactures Cost $19.50
__________________________________________________________________ Evaluation The blouse from the female private label:Aqua, is a single georgette.The garment follows all regulations of the TFPIA, and is Polyester and Cotton.The garment has binding around the Mandarin neckline. The garment has a key hole in the front, and has two self spaghetti straps with filling. The garment has box tucks on both the left and right self of the garment.The garments side seams have butterfly seams, while the dolman sleeves have been set in and lock stitched and overlocked and pressed back together. The dolman sleeves contain barrel cuffs, with a gauntlet placket. The back of the garment contains a one piece yolk, with a center back seam. The garment has an unfinished raw edge for the hem.
Comparison In comparison with other garments from the department that are not part of the Aqua label,the garment did have the same level of quality. Within the Aqua brand the blouse also did have outstanding quality, which supports the well constructed garments that are also within the Aqua brand. The price for the garment is a relatively good price for the garment, and its fabric and labor costs. The garments MSRP is a good price for the quality of the garment.
Store Experience Working in retail for many years, spotting great customer service comes instantly and almost natural. My customer experience while at Bloomingdales, was more than satisfactory, and I believe that they did an excellent job assisting me during my shopping experience.Prior to entering in Bloomingdales for the assignment, I was not aware of all the in house labels that the department store offered. Entering in the store, on each the women’s and men’s floors, I was well assisted in finding the in house labels. I had employees in each department help assist me in identifying the labels, and finding them within the store.