Does Ralph Emerge Victorious?

[CunningSmeagol]

Reports abound of luxury retailers cutting prices with abandon, effectively turning them into outlets and eroding brand cachet, some have speculated, irreversibly, at least in the near future. RL is doing this too, but RL has always done this, and yet through some miracle of marketing, the brand does not seem to suffer.

In these times of forced markdowns, Ralph seems to be in his element. Does he, for this reason, emerge unscathed? RL (NYSE) is down about 50% from 2007 highs. Does he outperform the rest of retail?

 

[chorse123]

There was an interesting article in the Times on Bulgari in the last day or two. Gotta go finish it, but it was about the challenges overextended luxury brands face.

I think RL has done a great job in spreading the brand without overly diluting it. We all ooh and aah over RLPL shoes, but I would imagine they make most of their money on millions of pony embroidered polo t-shirts, at a huge huge margin.

 

[nate10184]

Originally Posted by chorse123

I think RL has done a great job in spreading the brand without overly diluting it. We all ooh and aah over RLPL shoes, but I would imagine they make most of their money on millions of pony embroidered polo t-shirts, at a huge huge margin.

Yeah when I go to the RL outlet I see people of all socioeconomic levels buying up Polo shirts in huge quantities and somehow they still don't become cliche'd. I can't see RL going under any time soon.

 

[ManofKent]

I can't understand why people pay so much for RL Polo. Average quality clothing at an inflated price for an ostentatious embroidered logo.

 

[CunningSmeagol]

No such thing as bad press:

The tabloids caught up with former three-time All-Star Lenny Dykstra yesterday after he settled a lawsuit from an accounting firm which claimed Dykstra didn't pay almost $140,000 in accounting fees. Dykstra said the firm "folded like Mitch Williams in the ninth" and added, "There was no case. There was nothing"--all while chomping on Twizzlers. When a reporter brought up allegations that Dykstra bounced a $7,000 check for a private plane flight, the Post reports Dykstra, who put some of the $27 million he got from the Phillies into car washes, said, "That's my f---in' ashtray money, bro. I don't even know if I flew on their plane." then proceeded to show the Post reporter the label of his pinstripe suit, "See that purple label, bro? That's seven large." Keep it classy, Nails!

http://gothamist.com/2008/11/25/lenn...ounting_la.php

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

unfortunetly its hard to prevent some people from buying your clothes.

RL understands the economics of the consumer, there is a buyer at every price point, and more buyers as the price decreased per given quality level.

At 4k you will sell X amount of Purple label suits, at 2k you may sell 1.5X, at 600 you may sell 10x

for example, they understand that and they want to grab every consumer, which brings more people into their brand,

For example, why would i spend $250 on Allen Edmonds loafers when i can hold out for a sale and snag a pair of Ralph Lauren loafers at $140 marked down from $400 that are assembled better.

 

[hadamulletonce]

Regardless of all the ridiculous super sized logo and crested shirts released every season, RL Polo has kept the majority of it's classic available. A guy can still hit the RL website and find the same rugby shirt he bought 10 or 20 years earlier. Similar fit, and same color.

Polo has been selling this exact model for 30 years.

 

[Material Boy]

As of this morning, RL has a higher market cap than Macys on the NYSE. So he is doing better than others during this downturn.

RL is marking down his "stuff" very very fast. I went to Rodeo last night because it is the last day to use the Friends and Family 30% saving. With the help of the additional 30%, I was able to get pretty much everything (excluded the new Cruise line) at 70% off.

 

[fashion_newbie]

How much did the RLPL suits drop down to last year? They usually hit bottom around Jan, right?

 

[Material Boy]

Originally Posted by fashion_newbie

How much did the RLPL suits drop down to last year? They usually hit bottom around Jan, right?

Around 70% off last year. But this year, I am seeing 70% off already (by using the Friends and Family discount) in December.

You might want to get your RLPL suits at Woodbury outlet. You might able to do 90% off or more there.

 

[vitaminc]

Originally Posted by SkinnyGoomba

At 4k you will sell X amount of Purple label suits, at 2k you may sell 1.5X, at 600 you may sell 10x

you are assuming elastic pricing, which is rarely true in times of distressed demand.

 

[embowafa]

one bad result of this price gouging is that there is not enough stuff to go around.

I went to the Cabazon outlet ready to throw down on some marked down BL and PL. Turns out they don't sell the high end labels for men there anymore.......not enough product for all 4 outlets.

I think Woodbury got all of it.

 

[chrome_dout]

Originally Posted by nate10184

Yeah when I go to the RL outlet I see people of all socioeconomic levels buying up Polo shirts in huge quantities and somehow they still don't become cliche'd. I can't see RL going under any time soon.

+1
I find it hard to justify purchasing a PL dress shirt at 3x the price of a very similarly patterned PRL dress shirt.

 

[fashion_newbie]

Too far from Woodbury unfortunately, unless someone can do a pick-up!
Do the staples (Navy, Charcoal) go on sale as well?

I should probably check out the Mich. Ave. store this weekend. The Friends & Family is over but I expect prices to keep dropping.

70% off is around ~600, correct, for a RLPL?

 

[embowafa]

Originally Posted by fashion_newbie

Too far from Woodbury unfortunately, unless someone can do a pick-up!
Do the staples (Navy, Charcoal) go on sale as well?

I should probably check out the Mich. Ave. store this weekend. The Friends & Family is over but I expect prices to keep dropping.

70% off is around ~600, correct, for a RLPL?

They will ship to you.