Black Friday with a Preppish Influence

Hello-Hello, and Happy Thanksgiving once again.

It’s that time…. a look at Black Friday Sales & Savings opportunities with a preppish slant. As always, we have done the best we can in terms of information gathering, but if you have any questions, do check with your individual store to verify our information.

• At LL Bean, those spending $50 or more receive a $10 gift card, and shipping is free with any purchase through December 20, use promo code TIMETOSHOP and pin# 2310
• The same applies at LL Bean Signature.

• Lands’ End is taking $20 off purchases of $75 or more, those spending $150 or more receive $50 off
• Lands’ End Canvas continues its ongoing sale…
• And Canvas is also offering a new discounting promotion, The Classifieds, very similar to the Orvis Tent Sale

• Brooks Brothers is repeating its special of last year, an additional 15% off your entire online purchase through Saturday, and in-store Friday and Saturday until noon. There are also special discounts on various items, too many to list here.
• Brooks Brothers Factory Stores: 40% off entire purchase through Sunday. Those shopping before noon on Friday and Saturday will receive an additional 10% off their purchase.

Brooks Brothers

• Polo Ralph Lauren offers an additional 25% off many already-reduced items.

Polo Ralph Lauren

• At Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Stores, there are a number of different savings.

Via Daddy 'O Deals

• Nautica is offering 40% off the entire site, use promo code SAVE40 to receive the discount.

• Tommy Hilfiger suggests avoiding the crowds, continuing its 30% off special online and in-store through the 30th.

Tommy Hilfiger

• Tommy Hilfiger Factory Stores: take 40% off the entire store on Friday

• Regular J. Crew stores are taking 25% off purchases of $150 or more, online use promo code TURKEY
• J. Crew Factory Stores offer those shopping before 8am an additional 40% off clearance merchandise.
• J. Crew Factory Online is doing 40% off all styles through midnight Friday night. A few cautionary notes, this does not apply to Factory Stores, while the graphic says ‘two days only,’ the fine print says the offer ends Sunday night.

• Kate Spade offers 10% off your entire purchase with a coupon slated to arrive shortly via email; the company’s Facebook page also has the coupon. Additionally, the “Find the Penguin” promotion returns, items marked with the little guy are 20% off.

• Tory Burch: Those spending $300 or more in-store and online receive 30% off; use promo code GETGIFTS. Also, customers who spending more than $150 get a free tote bag.

• Coach Factory Stores have an additional 20% off promotion, click here to print a coupon for use in-store.

• Ann Taylor: Until noon on Friday, 40% off entire purchase, if shopping online, use promo code THANKS at checkout
• Ann Taylor Loft: 40% off entire purchase, use promo code ENJOY at checkout (no end date for this offer is shown)

Ann Taylor Loft

• Gap stores:

Gap Stores

“Start out your Black Friday shopping with style! Get 50% off the entire store until 10am only.

Offer ends at 10am sharp at all Gap, GapKids, babyGap, and GapBody stores. Certain restrictions apply. Only select stores will open at midnight. Please check with your local stores for their operating hours.”

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Gap is also doing free shipping on orders totaling more than $50.

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As many are no doubt aware, Target decided to open on Thanksgiving. To see their discounts, click here.

Vera Bradley has a number of special offerings online and in-store, including a free tote Friday, but only for in-store shoppers spending more than $100. For more information on the company’s promotions, click here.

• Saks continues its sale, with increased discounts on Friday from 8am to noon, including an additional 50% off already reduced prices.  For shoppers spending more than $100 in cosmetics/fragrances, the retailer is offering a $25 gift card.
• Until Noon on Friday shoppers at Saks Off 5th outlets receive  additional savings of 30%-50% off entire purchase

• Neiman Marcus continues its sale, look for increased discounting in-store and online.
• Neiman Marcus Last Call has an enticing offer for those who can cope with the mayhem:

Last Call

• Bergdorf Goodman continues its 5F (designer) sale.

• Banana Republic is taking 25% off your entire purchase online and in-store through Sunday night, use promo code BRTHANKS at checkout.

Banana Republic

• Talbots is offering a variety of special deals, one item to be discounted, the cotton cabled turtlenecks normally selling at $69.50 will be $25.00, although we don’t know the duration of the markdowns. Additional, the retailer is offering free shipping with any purchase.

And a few shops or promotions that won’t appeal to everyone:

• Apple is teasing a one-day shopping event, from our experience this is unlikely to offer significant savings.

Apple

• It’s Clinique Bonus Time at Saks, that means we need to toddle on over and purchase a lot of unnecessary cosmetics and peruse the counter, the gift shown below accompanies a $35 purchase. If shopping online, use promo code CLINQUEG to receive the gift.

Saks Fifth Avenue

• Coach fans may be interested in the current purchase-with-purchase at Dillard’s.  A special Coach cosmetic bag filled with goodies is offered at $35 with the purchase of any Estee Lauder fragrance.

Tiffany Says Not in Our Backyard, Next Target Designers Revealed, Black Friday

Hello-Hello and welcome to a Monday!

We begin with a tale about Tiffany; this time it is the story of the luxury retailer’s lawsuit against its landlord in Century City (California).  It seems the jeweler is making it ever-so-clear they do not want fast-fashion merchandiser H&M as a neighbor. (As in H&M that just did the wildly popular ‘Jimmy Choo for H&M’ line, described in this post.)

Apparently Tiffany believes having H&M as a neighbor would be just this side of apocalyptic; the LA Times has more:

“H&M is not a luxury or upscale retailer. H&M is at best characterized as a ‘popular-price’ mass merchandise clothing retailer.”

“The location of the H&M store will cause irreparable injury to Tiffany’s business reputation as a luxury retailer, a reputation that Tiffany has enjoyed and worked hard to maintain for more than a century and a half,” the lawsuit said.”

While understanding a brand’s desire to protect its caché, the story points out that in Pasadena the two stores are almost next door to each other. Other stories on the topic wonder about Tiffany’s efforts to embrace the ‘aspirational shopper,’ those coveting upscale brands while also shopping mass retailers like H&M.

Courtesy Tiffany

Many such consumers are precisely the same customers fond of merchandise displaying a retailer’s logo, something Tiffany has marketed strongly the last several years.

It will be interesting to see how this turns out. We do want to note this is not ‘new news,’ as we are wont to say; the original story broke in September and yours truly keeps forgetting to post it.

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A few more retail notes today, including word on the next two accessories designers for Targèt; the Cynthia Vincent for Target collection will launch at Target stores nationwide and at Target.com from April 18, available through through July 1. Below, several styles from Ms. Vincent’s Fall 09 Collection.

Also, headwear from Eugenia Kim will debut next year, it is going to be the first hat launch in Target’s series of limited-time-only accessories. The Eugenia Kim for Target collection debuts April 18, running through June 20. Below, looks from the 2008 Eugenia Kim line.

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There is also news that Forever 21 has launched its love and beauty cosmetic line.

Courtesy Forever 21 via WWD

Everything in the new line is priced at $10 or less; it all appears to be available online.

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Before delving headfirst into our next topic it is time we are honest with our cherished readers; we do not participate in Black Friday.  It is really not our cup of tea; additionally, we are always blessed by a visit from The Queen Mother for Thanksgiving, precluding any chance to partake of the mayhem. Such a shame. (Cough-cough.)

We still desire to maintain contributions to the PPP (Pocketbook Protection Program), continuing efforts at providing a list of fiscally friendly locales for the upcoming frenzy.

To be fair, there are far too many special markdowns, discounts and promotions to accurately track; we are including those we believe to be of the most interest to our bloggy friends.

Here we go, beginning with Talbots, already offering 20% off merchandise and free shipping; use offer code 020556520 at checkout to receive the discounts.

Martin & Osa will discount all denim (regularly $89.50 – $120) and cashmere to $59 (regularly priced at $130 – $170).

• Brooks Brothers: November 27th and Saturday, November 28th until 12:00 noon each day. Shop Early and receive an additional 15% off your entire purchase; receive an additional 5% when using your MasterCard or your Brooks Brothers Platinum MasterCard

• J. Crew Outlet stores will take an additional 40% off Clearance merchandise before 8am Friday morning; clearly one should check with their local factory store for hours
  • Other discounts at Crew outlets  for the weekend include 30% – 50% off select holiday styles & 30 – 40% off select Crewcuts holiday styles

• Tommy Hilfiger Factory Stores: 40% off the entire store all day on Black Friday (the 27th)
  • There are additional discounts for specific days, including the Wednesday before Thanksgiving; to download coupons providing these markdowns, click here.

• Banana Republic Outlets: 40% Off Any Purchase

• Old Navy stores: Open 12 – 7pm on Thanksgiving Day, & 3am – midnight on Black Friday, too many discounts to list

• Henri Bendel 8-10am Friday:
  • Save 40% on all Cold Weather Knit Hats, Scarves & Gloves
  • Save 40% on Bath & Body Collection
  • Save 25% on Candle Collections, Home Fragrance, Sweet Treats
  • (After 10am these items remain on sale but at 25% off)

• Macys.com continues its Thanksgiving sale with savings of 20% to 50%, ending 11/28.

• Lacoste: 30% off everything in the store

We are still seeking verifiable information on the following stores: Ann Taylor & Ann Taylor Loft, J. Crew, Banana Republic, Polo Ralph Lauren & Polo Ralph Lauren Factory stores, Brooks Brothers Factory stores.

NOTE: Please be sure to note if we are citing discounts at regular stores and factory stores or outlets.  Be sure to let us know if you have information to share on any preptastic shopping opportunities and we’ll pass it along.  If looking for other products, here are some general Black Friday sites:

• Black-Friday.net
• BlackFridayAds
• GottaDeal.com
• BlackFriday2009.com

Savvy shoppers may remember that after all the Black Friday comes Cyber Monday: the day when online retailers offer special deals.  That tradition is alive and well here at The Princess, in fact, we’ll have a little surprise for what we’re calling Pink & Green Monday.

Until next time, do let us know if you

J. Crew Thinks You’ve Changed & Preppy Black Friday Sales: Lacoste, J Crew, Brooks Brothers, More

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here at the Prepatorium we realize almost everyone is interested in Black Friday, or perhaps Cyber Monday. In a word: savings. Everyone is seeking sales. Discounts. Markdowns. Tips on ‘fiscally friendly’ shopping, we know that.

But first, a quick recap on the latest news from J. Crew, all of it impacting how you spend your trust fund when shopping at the specialty retailer.  Speaking with analysts yesterday about the company’s performance, J. Crew CEO Mickey Drexler was unequivocal in his opinion that the economic crisis has permanently changed how customers perceive and purchase at retail outlets:

“…we recognize that a sea-change has occurred with the consumer….”

Mr. Drexler believes consumers are demanding higher quality at reasonable prices, two attributes he says J. Crew merchandise has. Surprisingly, he mentioned price points on some specific items, unusual in light of the competitive environment:

“… our ballet flat category will start at under $100 for the first time ever…If you look at our January catalog, you’ll see a ballet flat assortment at $98. This year I think they started at $128.”

When asked about what items customers are willing to pay full price for, Tracy Gardner, J. Crew’s President, mentioned several items:

• “…there’s a beautiful ruffly blouse….”
• “… the T shirts that have all the fabulous embellishment, embroidery are blowing out.”
• “Our match stick cords continue to be phenomenal; our match stick denims… “
• “They still love our cashmere cardigans.”

Today’s story about J. Crew’s awful performance in WWD (Women’s Wear Daily, subscription required) also quoted Mr. Drexler:

“We don’t want to be the cheapest player. We want to be the longest-lasting high integrity quality player…. “

So what is J. Crew doing for you come Friday?  They are opening at 6 a.m. and all sweaters are 20% off, with Clearance items also an additional 20% off. Things are already heavily discounted online, like the Girls Riley Critter Cord in bright pink, available in all sizes as of this writing. The Crewcut Kids slacks were originally $54, now $19.99 and $30 with the price determined by the color you select.

The company is also doing their Holiday Cheer promotion through midnight Saturday night, with a 20% – 30% discount dependent upon how much you spend. (Click the graphic to go to the Crew site and see the specifics.)

J. Crew Factory Outlet stores are doing a significant promotion of their own starting Friday, most opening at midnight.

If it is difficult to read the small print up above, early risers who shop before 10am can take an additional 50% off clearance styles, nothing to sneeze at. Here is a list of all Factory Stores so you can check the hours.

Another preppy retailer (perhaps the original), Lacoste, is offering 25% off all merchandise; this includes items already on sale. The discount is good through Monday, December 1 and free standard shipping on all orders is also included through Monday. Use promo code HOLIDAY1 to receive the benefit of these offers.

Brooks Brothers is offering 15% off all merchandise online and in their stores. (See below for Factory Outlet store offers.) This promotion even applies to the Black Fleece merchandise from designer Thom Browne.

However, from today’s WWD story on retail promotions for the holiday weekend:

“Traditionally, the retailer has held tight on promotions until after Christmas.”

“… it’s not a fire sale,” said Lou Amendola, chief merchandising officer. The company is “very selectively” discounting much of the women’s apparel, which is seasonal, along with some men’s wear. Outerwear is 25 percent off. ‘We won’t promote blue or white dress shirts, for example. We have no reason to liquidate basics.’”

Additionally Brooks is offering free shipping on all orders totaling more than $200.

If shopping online at Talbots now, or in stores starting Friday, everything is 30% off and there is free standard shipping on every order. Stores open at 8am Friday and both promotions run through December 1st.

TP was in a Talbots on Monday and all Clearance merchandise was an additional 40% off; we can’t imagine this not being the case over the weekend. (As always, check with your local store – do not take our word as the ultimate answer.)

For the Polo Ralph Lauren fans in the household, the Friends and Family promotion continues, offering 30% off all merchandise through December 8. The promotion code is HOL2008, and free shipping is included in this offer.

The Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Outlet stores open at midnight tomorrow night

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Banana Republic continues their “Dressed in Holiday Style” sale online and in stores. The sale runs through Monday, December 1st.

At Banana Republic Factory Stores starting at midnight the discount is 40% off everything in the store.

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Tommy Hilfiger is offering substantial savings for Black Friday, and according to their news release, the discount is 50% off merchandise as opposed to the 40% shown in our graphic.

There are also a number of coupons for specific savings at the Factory Outlet stores, such as “Save an Additional 25% on any $200 Purchase,” but we have no idea if one must have an “official coupon,” or if it could be printed off any site.

Ann Taylor is promoting 30% off your entire purchase plus free shipping only through midnight Thursday.  The promotion code for checkout is TURKEY.

At Ann Taylor Loft stores, there are multiple promotions underway, including a $25 gift card for every $50 you spend starting online Thursday and in stores Friday.

Gobble-gobble!