Elite Suits - Official Affiliate Thread - Page 2

It certainly looks like the marketing department is up to something...I'm not sure about $398..is that on a discounted price? It would be great to provide picture of your sample suit as reference.

From these banners I'd think you were selling zex toys!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon at Elite 

 

Here at Elite Suits the plan is to reverse that decline. Those that want a better suit can now have their suits made by real tailors using a full canvas and select the quality of wool they want for their suit. While I accept the criticism here is entirely valid, you would be surprised on how many emails I receive saying how much they love the site and the ability to put together exactly the suit they want and have it made to the standard they desire. The traffic and sales for the quarter just ended are both up by over 50% compared to the same time last year over a not exactly insubstantial base. We are a successful company and sell a significant number of suits every month, not as many as the big operators of course but still many more than a lot of other similar websites in a market that is becoming very crowded.

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Simon,

If your product really is of halfway decent quality I applaud your attempt at giving a high quality product at reasonable rates however I would be somewhat cautious for a couple of reason in which I will use sweeping generalizations but I think ring true.

1. The average guy who wants to spend $400 on a suit has neither the desire nor the wherewithal to search you out rather than go to Macy's or JCP

2. The Average guy who spends $400 on a suit doesn't understand what a "nicer suit" is and likely wont understand why canvasing makes anything a better value

3. Many shoppers outside of SF believe quality comes from a label (or in conjunction with a label) and would probably rather buy Alfani than a no-name internet brand.

4. Most people who don't understand the details of suiting think that a higher price corresponds to a higher quality product so you will likely lose those potential customers.

That leaves your target audience pretty slim. People who understand suiting enough to want canvassing, who care enough about their appearance to spend the time to take measurements and wait for a MTM experience, can only spend a few hundred dollars, and aren't familiar with the SF Buy/Sell forum where deals on known brands can be had for that price.

Finally -  your model has both buttons buttoned on his 2-button suit... really?

These guys aren't trolling. They are offering some pretty decent advice. Even if the website as is were defensible (it isn't), the fact that so many knowledgeable people are telling you the same thing should be enough for you to reconsider your approach. 

It wouldn't be an expensive overhaul. They aren't criticizing your supply chain or anything. Take the advice, fix the website, and enjoy more success.
 

Also, take a look at your affiliate avatar/logo and compare it to the others (eHaberdasher, Kent Wang, Shop the Finest, etc). There is a disparity in quality and presentation there.

I'd imagine I'm pretty young compared to most of you, I own one suit and I got it from elitesuits. It cost me $299 (and I got a nice deal on some custom shirts with it) and as far as I can tell it's a decent suit, but I don't actually know anything about suits so it could be crap. Would some photos be of any benefit to any of you? How much can be told about a suit from photos?

And yes, the website needs work. Regardless of good intent concentrating efforts elsewhere, people are awful judgemental and lazy, if they think navigating a website is too much effort then poof goes a potential buyer and you know they'll never come back, and they certainly won't ever realise what they're missing out on.

Simon
(A different one)

Thanks. And Wraith, sorry if you took that as me questioning the community here. What I meant was, if you like and if it would be beneficial at all, I can put up some photos of what I have to aid your judgement.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon at Elite 

 

That there are at least some people who really want a better quality suit at a value for money price and something far better than they can buy at Macy's or JCP for the same price. This doesn't necessarily mean cheap either as we do sell many suits over the $1,000 mark with one recent sale at $2.299. 

I beleave that I am that one person that bought a suit valued at $2.229 from Simon

First as my main aim was to buy a suit I did not notice that the site was as tacky as some are saying it is as I was more interested in seeing what was on offer at the site.

Yes I took my first suit buying advice from a telecomunications site 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martinet 

Thanks. And Wraith, sorry if you took that as me questioning the community here. What I meant was, if you like and if it would be beneficial at all, I can put up some photos of what I have to aid your judgement.

I think he meant to trust the SF community...they'll be able to tell from the pictures about the quality of the suit.