Today's earnings report by Swedish trendster-favorite apparel store H&M says that the retailer plans to open in five new markets this year. But Thursday evening, a spokeswoman said Charlotte isn't one of those slated to get an H&M store.
Many Charlotteans hoped prospects for the chain opening a location here were looking up after H&M opened a Raleigh store - its first in the state - last year. However, the only other new U.S. city H&M opened a store in during 2010 was Portland, Ore.
"We still consider Charlotte a really attractive market," said Nicole Christie, H&M's spokeswoman. "Our first store in Raleigh is performing beyond expectations, so we know we'll do well in Charlotte whenever we do find the perfect place."
H&M, owned by Hennes & Mauritz, AB, has made its name in the fashion world selling affordable, trendy pieces, with offerings that change rapidly in-store. The company is now the world's third largest apparel seller, but has been slow to open stores in new U.S. markets, especially the South.
There is some good news for fast-fashion starved consumers in Charlotte. H&M plans to begin offering online sales in America towards the end of 2011, meaning that you'll be able to buy their clothes in and around the Queen City whether or not they ever open a brick-and-mortar shop here. For now, that will have to be enough.
If you want to read the whole earnings report, click here.
The only place they will initially make sense is at SouthPark Mall, but I don't know where there is space there for an H&M. An uptown H&M store would be a nice draw, too.
ReplyDeleteI guess H&M will do okay if it comes to Charlotte, but I think it would need to be placed more in the University area. Although it's a big store, the clothes are CHEAP in every sense of the word. I only ever bought my toddler come clothes there. Everything else was way too trendy for my taste. I think I may be too "old" for the "fashion" they offered. (:
ReplyDeleteThere have been H&M commercials running in the Charlotte market for a number of months now. Ikea did the same thing before they announced they were coming.
ReplyDeleteSeems like a new Gap to me. And I seem to be too old for their fashions.
ReplyDeleteI love H&M! Yes, it is definitely trendy, but if you can get a few pieces here and there, it is a fun and cheap way to add to a wardrobe. I've gotten scarves, jewelry, light jackets and shirts there. Never pants though. I hope they come here!
ReplyDeleteH&M = Hit or Miss
ReplyDeleteMostly miss from what I've seen. CHEAPLY made clothes.
If they come, it will be popular for a month. Then it will just become a destination for people from Gastonia and Rock Hill to go to. Bascially the exact same thing as Urban Outfitters, just with cheaper clothes...
ReplyDeleteI'm 39 but still can find pieces for me in H&M. I have shopped at locations around the world. I would be over the moon to have one right here in my back yard!!!!
ReplyDeleteHaving an H&M in Charlotte would be great!!!
ReplyDeleteWe definitely need more of these chains stores in Charlotte. It will show the world we have arrived.
ReplyDeleteI can honestly say on national (US) lists, Raleigh Metro consistently ranks higher than Charlotte Metro. Has a lot to do with employment sectors (RDU has more high tech, higher education, state gov't sectors) population growth and income.
ReplyDeletewhoops, I thought this was an article forS&M in Charlotte ...
ReplyDeleteWhat you really meant to say is that people who are now Charlotteans who moved here from somewhere else are hoping for an H&M. Natives like me have never heard of it, much less shopped there. I've made it so far without this store; don't care if it comes or not.
ReplyDeleteThere's a group for trying to bring one to Charlotte on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=68768345841
ReplyDeleteI would die a happy woman. Everytime I go to Atlanta H&M is always a stop. I don't much go to Raleigh or it would be a stop here.
ReplyDeleteAnon 3:05 or maybe it's just you because I know plenty of 'Natives' that would be happy if H&M came here. Maybe because they get out of the city every once in a while. Don't paint everyone with your 'never been out of my city so i reject anything/everything that isn't native to Charlotte' brush.
ReplyDeleteUmmmm, I am a native Charlottean and I have definitely heard of them. Concord Mills is a good place for them. And, yes, the clothes are cheap AND trendy . . . that's why most people like them!
ReplyDeleteI shopped at a H&M in the Beverly Center located in ritsy Beverly Hills, CA. The Beverly Center isn't a mixture of cheap stores. So if H&M can thrive in the Beverly Center, it can do well here especially at South Park or Cotswold. I wouldn't put in in concord Mills where it would get loss in the crowd or in a site like IKEA where it would be a destination. Put the store where there is good traffic already.
ReplyDeletethey'd probably put it around IKEA
ReplyDeleteThe city has been wanting to attract retail to Uptown. I could see it going in or near the Epicenter. Ride the light rail in, do some shopping at H&M, get a bite to eat. Gosh, that would be so...cosmopolitan!
ReplyDeleteI agree with 5:07. An H&M could be a catalyst for other stores to open downtown. There's a beautiful old building on West Trade that could be great for an H&M; it's surrounded by condos, apartments and restaurants; and would be on the streetcar route.
ReplyDeleteA good spot would be MidTown where Home Depot used to be or ner the Epicenter. The stores I have been in are pretty big (jaded by them being on Fifth Ave) and that would definitely serve as a draw in both areas.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to stimulate the American economy - a Swedish company selling Chinese-made garbage.
ReplyDeleteHopefully Brooks Brothers will have some US hand-tailored stuff like their Golden Fleece and Black Fleece labels when they move to Phillips Place. In the meantime you can find good US-made stuff at places like Saks Off Fifth @ Concord Mills (Joseph Abboud) and Neiman Marcus (Adriano Goldschmeid).
The only people who truly think H&M is some kind of shopping and fashion utopia are teenage girls, and fat middle-age women who think they are teenage girls.
ReplyDeleteI recently moved here from Dallas and I was totally bummed that they put a "trial" store in dallas a month after I moved. It started with h&m commercials once a month and I KNEW they were bringing it to dallas. It's the same here. I started seeing random commercials in the charlotte area and I got excited. I've been to the one in NYC only and I loved it. I appreciate the concept of the store. Trendy pieces for affordable prices. Trends come and go and I would hate to spend 100 bucks on something that was only in for a season or 2. H&M at least offers trends for A LOT LESS along with staple pieces. So I'm no charlottean but so what. Charlotte needs more options for clothing so everyone isn't waling around in the same thing. H&M lets you be creative and brings more personality to your wardrobe.
ReplyDeleteIts listed in the store directory at Hanes Mall (Winston Salem)!!
ReplyDelete