I recently went to Lane Bryant, and it was a decent shopping experience. I dropped roughly $240 dollars to get a few signature pieces for school. I strive to dress “college professional” — not quite business style, but I like to avoid the whole jeans-and-a-tshirt thing. It’s just not my thing.
I get to the counter, and I get 4 little plastic coupons attached to my receipt. It’s the Real Woman Dollar promotion. On the surface, it’s pretty straightforward: for every $50 you spend, you get $25 in “real woman dollars” to use for another purchase. Caveat: that next purchase must be $50 or more.
Now, I’m rather critical of advertising as it is, but the overall concept speaks to me: Real Woman Dollars? Plus size fashion is emotional as it is, and you’re giving us little fashionistas dollars that are targeted just for us? Cool!
However, there are things about this promotion that irritate me:
The promotion runs from September 5th - 26th. That’s very, very, limited to me — why can’t we have the Real Woman Dollars all year, or at least through the fall season? Perhaps the time crunch is to create more demand, but in my case, it has the opposite effect — if you don’t fit into my schedule, you don’t get bought.
Your next purchase has to be $50 or more — which is fine, I suppose, if you’re honestly going to be returning within the tiny time frame they offer.
And let’s not get into the other big limitation — no online. That’s a shot to the knee and then some: why cut out the massive throngs of people online that are absolutely in love with your store, your product, your brand?
When I’ve got people in the UK and other places abroad telling me to thank my lucky stars there IS a Lane Bryant, I know that this company is here to stay. However, the more I’m watching Lane Bryant and the other two Charming Shoppes storees, the more I’m wondering how dedicated CS really is to plus size fashion, or are they just cashing in?
It really is the little details that cross my mind. My dollars are very important to me — when I spend them, I want to feel satisfaction in my purchases. Perhaps this is just a sale that this deluxe fashionista won’t be indulging in.
Perhaps this would be an excellent value-add to the creditcard holders? Right now, other than being able to use it at Lane Bryant, I don’t see much point in having a Lane Bryant credit card. I haven’t caught any “secret sales” because of the credit card, nor have I gotten any real incentives.
The Charming Shoppes trifecta really needs to kick it up a notch — I’m starting to see some other players in the game coming directly into the spotlight. Has Lane Bryant gotten soft? I’m saving Fashion Bug & Catherine’s for another day — one at a time. However, I keep mentioning them in threes because they -are- run by the same company, and the niche is so related that we really should be seeing better service across the board.
It saddens me that this promotion isn’t stronger — it’s a great idea linked to a very emotional section of shopperhood that would honestly get a kick out of this idea. Why not make it year round? Why not make it online as well as in stores?
Sure, you might lose sales in the stores, but you can always catch the online shoppers -and- most likely upsell them on items they would have never bought if they slipped into the store.
What do all of you think? It’s your shopping dollars, people — if Lane Bryant is going to offer you a sale, what has to be in the sale to make you go? Is the realwomandollar important to you, or did the sale fall flat for you too?
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August 18th, 2006 at 12:53 pm
Looking at things from the almost 2yrs that my wife worked at Lane Bryant, though they are not blatant with the real women dollars promotion, they get there shoppers in droves becasue there is some type of sale going on all the time and there are several promotions that can be combined.
I don’t know to many stores that a person can walk in and spend three hundred dollars and come out with almost seven hundred dollars worth of merchandise. In this area Lane bryant has pretty good grip on what ladies will do with there shopping habits.
Sure it could get more press but they are relying on there army of word of mouth soldiers to let it be known how to take advantage of the real women dollar promotions.
August 18th, 2006 at 4:20 pm
I think it’s that concept — “the good grip” — that concerns me the most.
We’re a lot more emotional about our purchases than other shoppers might be — I was just disappointed that such a great concept isn’t really played up by the company running it.
Word of mouth is great, but could you imagine what could happen if word of mouth was combined with better promotion?
We deserve to be catered to and marketed at with the best tools possible. I just find the realwomandollars fell a little flat for me.
I’m a shopper that can, and has spent $1200 on clothing before. I’m very conscious about sales and promotions. I have to assume that my fellow fashionjunkies are too.
August 20th, 2006 at 4:09 pm
In the last couple of years, the only times I shopped at Lane Bryant were when I had the $25/50/75 off coupon, 40% off coupon or RealWomen dollars. Otherwise I couldn’t justify paying full price for the clothes. (Pay $44.50 or $49.50 for a pair of trousers? I don’t think so.) These promotions worked out well for me since there really wasn’t a lot LB had that I wanted to buy.
I know that it’s all a smoke screen and that they aren’t losing a lot of money with the promotions. Once upon a time I temped as a buyer’s assistant at 5-7-9 and the markup was ridiculous. I noticed that the traffic in the LB stores seemed to only increase when one of those promotions were in effect or during the redline sales otherwise it was pretty dead. I’m sure they are timed to get as many full priced sales as they can before they start tossing in the promotions, then they rinse and repeat throughout the season.
These types of promotions don’t occur here in the UK, at least not at the places I shop at. You get some mid-season sales and two big sales that happen in January and July but that’s about it. It’s just another thing I’m still trying to get used to here. I’m crossing my fingers that a coupon promotion will be going on when I’m back in the states for Thanksgiving. I’m dying over here trying to find something to wear and a strong pound should go a long way.
August 23rd, 2006 at 8:42 am
IMO LB has been severely lacking with some of the sizing of their clothing. You could try on a top in a 14/16 in 3 different styles and 2 out of three won’t fit. Same with their trousers. Their Madison line fits great - their Houston, notsomuch. They need to regulate the designers and make things more true to size. They have some gorgeous things for fall, however the cut on some is so low it could be scandalous - should come with safety pins.
Now with their prices, there is a huge markup (I used to work for LB) but during the real women dollars/gift cheques, that’s when I will shop there. However, a disturbing thing 2 weeks ago happened to me where an associate told me that any coupon from Figure Magazine for LB could ONLY be used by a LB cardholder and that it was in the fine print. II looked at the fine print and there is no such disclaimer. When talking to a manager, she informed me that they are now only allowed to accept any coupons from Figure by LB Cardholders only and had received a memo re: that. While refusing to get a card, she told me that I would repeatedly get into this issue with the coupons and why not just open a card and not use it. That was when she learned something very quickly - I informed her about her “parent company”. As I work for a law firm, I’ve been able to see how badly Charming screws up people’s credit reports with their constant inquiries and that I would NEVER get a LB credit card - ever. It’s not worth my credit rating going downhill to get a damn coupon. As for Figure magazine, I’m cancelling my subscription if that is indeed their motive to increase cardholders.
Good thing is with the LB coupons from Email - those are still good. Just read the fine print.
November 16th, 2006 at 5:47 pm
I agree with you. LB’s Houston trousers do NOT fit me well at all. However, the Lexington and Lafayette trousers fit like a dream. I have no idea who’s sizing this stuff. The arms are too tight on ALL the cute tops that came out this summer/fall. Not to mention the patterns — who’s buying this stuff? Why does everything in the store have to have flowers and zig-zags and tons of patterns?
December 31st, 2006 at 12:13 pm
I was a manager for LB when they were owned by The Limited Inc. and things have not changed much
since they were purchased by Charming Shoppes Inc. They offer the nicest clothes in Plus sizes
unless you want to go somewhere like Saks Fifth Avenue. Yeah, the prices can be high, but they
have great sales and offers like the Real Woman Dollars. Sizing can differ from line to line as
is the norm with any designer, you just have to find the ones that fit you properly. I don’t
understand where you are going with the whole emotional shopping thing, body image affects people
of all sizes, it’s like the big ladies think they deserve special allowances, better prices, etc.
There is always Wal-Mart if you think LB prices are too high….or Weight Watchers
January 14th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
It really is the little details that cross my mind. My dollars are very important to me
March 9th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Does anyone know when they do the real woman dollars? I know it is usually 2 times a year, and I thought if anyone knows what months during the year - I could plan to go. I need some new tees!! *smile*
March 18th, 2007 at 6:48 am
Fioricet migraine….
Fioricet migraine….
April 30th, 2007 at 9:47 am
I know that Lane Bryant prices are high, and that $45.00 for pants seems pricey, but I also have to realize I’m paying for a pair of pants that I’m going to get at least a couple of year’s worth of wearing out them, the tops are going to shrink little to none, and nine times out of ten, they will have my size. No, LB isn’t perfect, but at least you know that their plus size clothes are not just an afterthought, as opposed if you go to Target, whose sizes in pants and tops are truly ill sized, or Wal-mart, where the selection will not be as large or diverse. Their clothes are trendy, maybe sometimes overly trendy, but I appreciate that they realize not all women who wear plus sizes are my grandmother’s age or want shapeless shirts and skirts with appliques of apples and rulers on them (well, that’s more Catherine’s forte). I usually try to shop with the Gift Cheque coupons ($25, $50 off purpose…) and to be honest, I usually end up losing the Real Women dollars. What I hate about the Gift Cheques, however, is that in the past, they would let you use them on sale and clearance items and you could REALLY make away like a bandit, but now, in the fine print, they have stopped that. It was not a happy day around Christmas when I found that out. And yes, the different cuts of pants that they have can fit a little odd, but I appreciate that they have the different fits to compliment different body types, and I think that shows b/c everyone seems to have a certain type that fits them best. I’ve never heard that the coupons from Figure could only be used with a Lane Bryant card. Sounds like the LB wherever you are Lys is trying to rip run some shady biz on your and that sucks. I’d delve a little deeper into that one….
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July 8th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
I hate Real Women dollars. Becuase of the prices I can only shop LB maybe 2-3 per year at most so they don’t appeal to me; but I have to shop there because nowhere else can I find plus sized clothes that actually fit. The way they cut their clothes I know I will find things that fit everytime I go. I can even buy blind online & know that when the box arrives the stuff inside will fit me. The clothes last a long time too, good since my budget is small. If Walmart made a plus sized line that fit AND didn’t look like a moo-moo, colors & all, I’d probably shop there instead. I’d have more clothes for the money too. For me the gift checks are better because they’re usually available whenever I want or need to shop. If I spend my budget earning the RW dollars I can’t afford to go back.
July 20th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
The one benefit I’ve found with the LB credit card are the 1st Thursdays - where the 1st Thursday of each month you get an extra percentage off your purchase. I hit it right once (wasn’t even aware it was 1st Thursday) where I was buying stuff that were on major mark down AND I got the 1st Thursday discount.
Depending on what card you have ther is the 1st Thursday, 10% off on your birthday, and Personal Shopping Days.
I also seem to get more mailers - love those $15 off $15 ones!
October 26th, 2007 at 9:57 am
I work at a Lane Bryant (xtra part time) and I must say that most of the customers
wont shop without a coupon or promotion. Which makes sense because if there is not
one this week there will def. be one next week. You just have to shop at the right
times. LB clothes last a good while…No fading or anything over time…..I have a dress from LB
that I bought a very long time ago…over 7 years and it still looks brand new…..I still get
compliments
March 21st, 2008 at 9:58 pm
I work at a Lane Bryant in a store that gets alot of bottom feeders….nickel and diming you ..how much is this..how much is that.. I thought it was 4.99 not 9.99 come on if you can’t afford 9.99 then you shouldnt be shopping.
Look up my credit card balance (you don’t know what it is?) when there are 15 people in line and the fitting room looks like a bomb hit it? Not today, no can do. Mad and not coming back. Really , where else are you going to go.
April 4th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
The RealWomanDollars promo is similar to many out there. It usually works in one of two ways:
Giving out dollars during the start of a season’s line, so you spend big $$, and get your discount later when the season starts to go on sale -or-
Giving out dollars just before the season, which you pick up easily on sale items, and next time you come in the full-price seasonal wear is now seeming alot less expensive due to the coupon.
It’s a way for them to maintain full price sometimes while keeping traffic up. Over the past few years, with all the price scandals at (mainly) department stores (Is it a sale if it never actually hit full price?), it’s a smart way to reward savvy shoppers.
PacSun began pushing this promo heavily 10 years ago, and still run it to this day. Ann Taylor (Loft) does as well.
Agree that it should be available online, though! I know they’re trying to increase foot traffic at brick and mortar, but hey… I prefer to shop online. I know, I know.. You can’t try things on, returning is a hassle.. etc… But, well… I’m a man. And not every clerk at LB is understanding.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
The big problem I have always had with this promotion is the short time they are valid. I have a limited budget and to be expected to come back and spend that kind of cash again within a month is out of the question. They make it seem like they are giving you the world when they give them to you too. At least where I shop they do. Right now I have $100 free money at that store - but I can’t afford to spend another $100 to get my free $100. It certainly makes me feel bad. The company didn’t give me anything to reward my shopping trip as they claim. Why not give us a gift card - or just give us the discount on what we bought already?
August 19th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
So, I only buy dress pants at Lane Bryant. For whatever reason, the majority of their shirts are cut like maternity shirts — so I avoid them like the plague. But, I digress… Anyway, I would use the $25/50/75 off coupons a few times a year to stock up on pants/skirts.
Well, I went in this week to use one of those coupons only to find out that the majority of the dress pants are now in the “Right Fit” brand. And, that brand is excluded from *ALL* coupons *EXCEPT* the real women dollars.
I’ve been losing alot of weight this year, so it was a challenge for me to justify purchasing new dress clothes to begin with — had to do it, as most of my wardrobe was falling off me. I guess this is more motivation to get my weight down so that I can buy my dress clothes at the same place I buy my jeans… Gap.