Harris Tweed Sport Coats Sold at Walmart Proxy

[steveoly]



How much do you usually spend on alterations? I assume that sleeves shortened, nip waist +/- lowering the collar runs you about $70 / 80ish.
I usually get the sleeves shortened from the shoulder. This runs me about $75ish to $85.

Usually about $40-50 to alter a jacket - sleeves, neck, waist, put on new buttons. If I bring in a suit it's probably another $20-25. I have never gotten the sleeves shortened from the shoulder (always been nervous to try shoulder work and I realize that's probably a bit more expensive. Mind you I am in Omaha so the pricing is probably on the cheaper side than in larger cities. That's awesome that you were able to get your's tailored to fit you well. I do agree that the fabric is nice.

 

[Septimus]

Is there any consensus or rhyme or reason as to what Wal Marts have these or when they got them? I checked a few in my area (western PA) a couple weeks ago, and none had them. Is it worth checking again?

 

[Master Squirrel]



Walmart likely is making $. The loser is likely Brian Haggas (owner) of Harris Tweed. He made 75,000 of these jackets and they are not moving as well as he thought. I must say, they are pretty awesome all in under $200 (including alterations). These same jackets are for sale on the Harris Tweed website for several hundred pounds.

While Brian doesn't own all Harris Tweed, he did make the mistake of overproducing jackets for a sagging market.

 

[FillW]

Is there any consensus or rhyme or reason as to what Wal Marts have these or when they got them? I checked a few in my area (western PA) a couple weeks ago, and none had them. Is it worth checking again?

I think it would be a good idea. The one close to me just got them this week as far as I know. It was lucky that I noticed them so soon. I had to go in before work to get some cash from the self service register (no charge) as I paid for something cheap. Needed cash to go to a thrift store (they had a couple of pairs of nice slacks for next to nothing).

 

[kentyman]

Just checked 'em out at my Walmart in Austin, where they were going for only $50. I completely agree that they seem to be well worth the money. Unfortunately, 38R was the smallest I found, and it was a bit big and long for me. I, like a previous poster, would probably do better with a 36, but I'm unsure if they even come that small. They did have a wide range of sizes, all the way up to 50.

 

[Septimus]

Just checked and found none in Pittsburgh...

 

[ThinkDerm]



Just checked 'em out at my Walmart in Austin, where they were going for only $50. I completely agree that they seem to be well worth the money. Unfortunately, 38R was the smallest I found, and it was a bit big and long for me. I, like a previous poster, would probably do better with a 36, but I'm unsure if they even come that small. They did have a wide range of sizes, all the way up to 50.

$50? wow. bargain

 

[Caustic Man]

I don't see what the attraction of this is. You can get better tweed for less almost every day of the week on eBay.

 

[cptjeff]



While Brian doesn't own all Harris Tweed, he did make the mistake of overproducing jackets for a sagging market.

He tried to kill off any production of Harris Tweed anything that he didn't own- the mill he does own made virtually all of the yarn, and he stopped selling that to outside weavers. And instead of just weaving fabric like the plant had done in the past, he had it all made into jackets, and ones with pretty awkward fit. When they didn't sell- at all- instead of going back to the bread and butter of the plant he bought, he decided to go scorched earth and shut everything down.

The result of that was that yarn production got taken up by others, independent weavers were revitalized, and the industry started to move beyond him, but it was shaky for a bit, and he damn near killed it off. It was a failed attempt at vertical industry that very nearly destroyed something he claimed he was trying to save, just as it was beginning to have a wave of popularity, just not with his product.

 

[deveandepot1]

Do they have 38Ls or a slim 40L?

 

[FillW]

Just checked and found none in Pittsburgh...

It looked like none of the jackets sold over the weekend. I went there last night to get something else. They had a couple at another Wal-Mart in a nearby town as well.

 

[Big Texas]



He tried to kill off any production of Harris Tweed anything that he didn't own- the mill he does own made virtually all of the yarn, and he stopped selling that to outside weavers. And instead of just weaving fabric like the plant had done in the past, he had it all made into jackets, and ones with pretty awkward fit. When they didn't sell- at all- instead of going back to the bread and butter of the plant he bought, he decided to go scorched earth and shut everything down.

The result of that was that yarn production got taken up by others, independent weavers were revitalized, and the industry started to move beyond him, but it was shaky for a bit, and he damn near killed it off. It was a failed attempt at vertical industry that very nearly destroyed something he claimed he was trying to save, just as it was beginning to have a wave of popularity, just not with his product.

This.

It's a fascinating story, from a business strategy case standpoint. He was operating in basically a steady, no-growth B2B commodities market, and when tweed started trending in fashion, he decided to tap the consumer market directly, playing off the appeal of the Harris brand. Unfortunately, the Harris name -- while venerable -- matters less to consumers than he calculated, and certainly matters less to them than more decisive factors like cut, fit, style, and consumer or fashion brand.

In and of itself, the underlying strategic rationale wasn't terribly misguided. But the tactics were. The better move would have been to juice the Harris brand name with dedicated PR outreach, hopefully leading to blog and magazine writetups, and maybe to partner with one or two big designers on special collections. Essentially, convince the consumer market that "if it doesn't say Harris, it's not the real thing." Then start charging higher prices to the B2B market -- but not immediately. The key would be waiting to see if demand was indeed increasing, and reliably increasing (i.e., not just as a flash in the pan, but as a long-term acceptance of Harris as an institution).

I think back to the classic Intel case everyone learns in b-school, and I think a similar playbook would have served Harris better than what actually happened.

 

[FillW]

I purchased one and am very happy with the quality, for the price. Watch out for the fit! It's size down. I usually wear a 42R. 40R was my best fit, and even then the shoulders are a touch wide (and I have wide shoulders for a 42!)

Hey, can you post a pic of you wearing yours since you say you're happy with it? Thanks!

 

[Flake]



 Hey, can you post a pic of you wearing yours since you say you're happy with it? Thanks!

Not the best pic but you will get the basic idea

 

[Quadcammer]



Not the best pic but you will get the basic idea

well, um, the fabric looks ok. The rest is not terribly flattering.