In a shocking recent announcement, Henri Bendel revealed that the esteemed and established retailer is going to cease selling clothing. The startling change (a reaction to the trying economic times) will take effect this summer, leaving the Bendel's stores to focus solely on beauty products and accessories.
Now, you may be thinking, “No clothes? Bendel’s isn’t ‘Bendel’s’ without clothes!” Well, my fashion-focused friends, you’re right. The Bendel’s that’s been making its way since 1895—the Bendel’s we’ve all come to know and love—is no more, both literally and figuratively speaking. Beginning with the elimination of one of its three floors in the historic Fifth Avenue flagship store, a multitude of changes and developments are to take place within the company, leaving the face of Bendel’s almost unrecognizable.
Additional alterations include a broadening of the Bendel’s brand, with a focus on beauty and gift items to be packaged in boxes, cartons, and bags bearing those iconic signature brown and white stripes. Stepping further away still from the “store of shops” concept of previous times, the department store is expanding with a series of accessories-only stores, which will pop up in malls across America this year.
Bendel’s?? In malls??!! We’re certainly not in New York anymore, Toto.
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1 comment:
I am devastated by this piece of news. When I read about this I couldn't believe it! Bendel's is one of the purveyors of original and noteworthy fashion. They take chances on lesser known designers and market products that are more girly and original then other stores. They never cared about the fame of a brand, and now that has caused them to fold their clothing department. While Bendels does have the best (and I mean the best) accessories, it is so sad to think of no more fashion competitions allowing younger designers out of school to have prime retail positioning. A sad day indeed!
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