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 Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 1:23 pm
Recently, there have been a lot of rumors circulating about Pacific Media Expo [PMX] and the Angelic Pretty panel/boutique/brunch that will be held there. Some of these rumors have caused speculation as to whether or not Angelic Pretty will begin selling their wares abroad as Metamorphose and Baby already do. They have also raised questions as to whether or when any of these companies might open stores in the United States or other countries [as Baby has already done in Paris and is apparently going to do in San Francisco; it seems to have been delayed, so I'm not sure what's going on with that].
In addition to franchise-run stores that already exist, there are a handful of companies which run small boutiques or sewing services that cater to lolita customers by selling new and used brand and off brand items. Some of these are web stores such as In the Starlight, Excalibur Girls or Fan Plus Friend Garden. Others are actual, physical stores such as Be Innocent [now out of business], MFashion and Kinokuniya [which no longer sells the Baby items it once did]. There are others in Canada and Australia, but they do not stock brand items often, aren't reliable, etc. These stores, in order to cover their costs and make a profit, often mark up their goods a considerable amount from the original price that the companies list. However, they are also able to get items which would otherwise not be shipped directly out of Japan [from brands such as Mary Magdalene, Victorian Maiden, Angelic Pretty, etc.]
Finally, there are numerous resources for purchasing lolita goods and clothing online that aren't run by a particular brand or company. Some of the most commonly used examples are Mbok, Yahoo!Japan, eBay, the EGL Community Sales on LiveJournal, and various shopping services straight from Japan.
So which is preferable to you, in terms of convenience, cost, trust, and other qualities?
A web shop, as already provided by Baby and Metamorphose
A web shop, as provided by In the Starlight and Fan Plus Friend which deals mainly in replicas and commissions
An auction site, such as eBay where the occasional item can be found
An auction site, such as Mbok or Yahoo!Japan where items are less expensive, but require a shopping service to acquire
A physical store, such as Baby's in Paris or the other brand stores in Japan
A physical store, such as Mfashion which provides multiple brands
Other online options, such as EGL's community sales
Do any of these options seem like a particularly bad idea?
If so, why?
What would you like to see most in terms of your chosen option?
For example, if you prefer web-based and brand-run stores, what would you like to see them doing more of in their business?
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 2:56 pm
-C'est la lune qui conduit la danse...-
I'd much rather either buy off the actual brand site (non-overseas brand with a reliable shopping service), or buy off a reliable person on the EGL_comm_sales on LJ. Reason being that I'm most used to shopping for Lolita that way.
I may or may not buy from an actual, physical brand store. If I visit Japan, then yeah. But as for the store in Paris and the store coming out in San Fran, I probably wouldn't. If my mom or someone wanted to buy brand for me, it would be a convenience to them compared to shopping on a foreign site with language and currency they're unfamiliar with (mind you, this is if they open a store in NYC).
But me, personally, I wouldn't buy from a physical store. For example, when I had bought a pair of BtSSB boots from Kinokuniya, Their price was based on a) the original store price, b) the shipping, and THEN I had to pay New York taxes. And that's basically how it's like in Paris, and how it's gonna be for the brand stores coming out here in the U.S.
-...quand le soleil sera couché dans ton âme froide.-
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:36 pm
That seems to be the major problem with franchise-style stores of major brands. There will be mark-up and taxes involved no matter what. One one hand, it might be nice to be able to go in and try things on, see how they look and fit, and then buy them online? haha
Ohman. That feels like such a rotten, cheating way to go about it, though!
I do agree with you, in any case. If Baby ever gets their English site up to par [because it definitely isn't just now], I think that that would be ideal.
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Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:06 pm
I personally like shopping off the baby site (if I liked meta I'd use their English site) but I currently don't use the Baby English site.
Though I must admit I prefer to use American seamstresses whenever I see something quality. I love ITS and CV.
I dislike auction sites for lolita. they're a pain in the butt. And the markup from the physical stores is such a bummer (though I did plan on checking out kino, but not anymore).
I really love the EGL sales community (and other lj comms) cause you can get some really great prices on brand. I'd just be sure to use the Database for good sellers though I've never had a problem.
I'd like to see more successful american seamstresses like ITS and I'd like to see them keep up with the other brands, in particular baby's in the bedroom line. In otherwords, I think Leah should make some nighties.
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Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:14 am
I agree that having more [reputable] seamstresses in the United States willing to make lolita clothing their focus would be wonderful. I'm waiting for La Dauphine to open up since I'm curious to see how that will go in the long run. I know that she's very talented, but I'd like to see how people respond to her pieces and prices as compared to say Candy Violet or In the Starlight [both of which are great--especially ITS' replica work, which looks impeccable]. It should be interesting!
I'd also, I think, be more apt to order through Baby straight if their site was a little bit easier to work with. I missed out on the lucky packs at the end of summer this year because they took the shopping cart orders before e-mailed orders. This is annoying since they labeled it "first come, first serve" and I know at least two girls who ordered after me via shopping cart and still managed to get their order filled.
So come the winter LPs, I'm going to be using the shopping cart as well, believe you me. .:cough:.
Anyway. I really do like Meta's system in terms of ordering, and it's a shame that Baby's English site isn't quite as well maintained. Perhaps, if Angelic Pretty starts shipping abroad they'll actually make sure to have the whole inventory available via English catalog rather than via e-mail and Japanese shopping carts like Baby's? It'd probably generate even more sales for them overseas than they already have now with shopping services.
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Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:25 pm
-C'est la lune qui conduit la danse...-
lol, With the BtSSB Summer LPs, I ordered that s**t when they first put it on the site, even before they posted an announcement on the homepage. xDDD
In the case of La Dauphine, I think Victoria will make very good business. She's not so much involved in wank communities anymore, and a great deal of girls admire her and her work. I know that some 4channers and others have threatened how they'll get her site shut down and whatnot, but it's only instigation failing to actually happen. I think that since she's recognized, and that she WILL be recognized in the English Gothic and Lolita Bible, as well as the fact that she's trying to get into the Japanese Gothic and Lolita Bible, that her business will be very successful.
-...quand le soleil sera couché dans ton âme froide.-
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Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:29 pm
It's good to see people with skill do well, so I do hope that she manages to get her business up and running and successful. Hopefully it won't be too much stress on her over time, since that would be an awful shame.
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Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:54 pm
I've been waiting for Victoria's shop for ages! I've always admired her work. I can't see her site getting shutdown since there is no one who can say that her clothing isn't quality.
I didn't know she was going to be featured in the English GLB. That's fantastic, I can't wait to see it.
The more American seamstresses there are the better! My boyfriend is very intimidated by Japanese websites.
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Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:08 pm
-C'est la lune qui conduit la danse...-
Haha, yeah.
I'm still really disappointed about La Vie stopping, still. neutral I understand Christina's situation and where she's coming from when I tell her that I can help, but... *sigh*
-...quand le soleil sera couché dans ton âme froide.-
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Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:52 pm
Yeah, it's a shame that La Vie went under.
I mean, there are plenty of talented people in the community who I'm sure could help her out easily if she just asked for it. The thing is, she seems to be one of those folks who aren't willing to delegate a task--then again, I don't blame her. There are some real flakes in the world.
Hopefully Victoria doesn't suffer the same sort of stress and money sink as Christina did with La Vie. That seems to be the most dangerous aspect of the small business world, especially with lolita--the expenses build up fast before you're making a profit it seems.
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Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:51 am
The only reason La vie couldn't work is because there isn't enough support from the American lolita community. It's a shame that the community is so segregated.
I came across an anti-elitist who mods her own "friendly" guild (but is not a very good example of a decent lolita) who gave a terrible review of La Vie and I feel that many inexperienced lolitas who could have benefited from the magazine followed her suit and damn near boycotted the magazine. Sorry for a run-on sentence.
It's a shame that people didn't want to participate and help out. Of course one of problems that I don't see an option for is the lack of advertisers. Like boconnotto said, there's already a lot of expenses that lolita shops have to deal with. I can't see how that would have worked without an actual reader base being established.
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Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:43 pm
If that was someone from Love & Lace that you mentioned just now, I may very well smack myself in the forehead right now. La Vie had a pretty good amount of support outside of the US, but I think one of the problems within the US is that a huge portion of the lolita communities consists of college students who either don't have the money on hand to buy magazines AND clothes, or high school kids who don't have the means to actually do it, or else don't have parents who want to allow them to do it.
Personally, I'm wishing that I had picked a different major right now so I could have gotten a degree and had time to work. As it is, I'm able to buy maybe one item every two months, and only then if I budget really carefully.
That kind of goes for lolita shops and businesses. I'm always amazed that In the Starlight is as big as it is, simply because their products weren't all that great until about a year ago or so [unless you ordered custom pieces]. Hopefully, other folks with skill will pick up their needles and get to it. I'd really like to see more from Excalibur Girls, for example. Looking at their examples, you can tell everything is well made, but they're so expensive [site's down, but I think that it cost about as much as a brand-name piece] and not terribly unique or interesting to look at. I'm half-hoping that their site revision [their site was gorgeous, dunno why they're changing things] involves some price drops.
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Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 3:06 pm
-C'est la lune qui conduit la danse...-
lol. I know who you're talking about.
Even though I didn't see her direct message, I would've automatically said "STFU". I saw the Oct/Nov(?) issue not too long ago, and the quality of the magazine was AMAZING. You certainly don't see magazines like that everyday. The topics were more or less decent, but it certainly wasn't spit-in-your-face horrible. And followers like that= auto-fail. I highly doubt any of them will dress any better than I think they would; and sometimes their attitude contradicts the whole mission of the guild. I'm kind of gaining back a little respect for Miss Nicolette Strange though since she was active in these Lolita guilds for a while.
I've seen Excalibur Girls, at at first it was like "eh", because they were already so expensive with no real status in the Lolita community. They hardly have anything for their catalogue. But I saw that girl's coat the other day on daily_lolita and I was like OH-MY-GOSH. It looked so pretty and so warm! I really want one, but I don't want to pay a shitload of money to a business that's not as popular as BtSSB.
I've been thinking of buying from Rose Chocolat lately; but buying from them would mean that I would have to get custom size done, not to mention the frequent problems they have with their communication... it kinda turns me off. But then I don't want to buy from any eBay stores like that, either.
Oh Anna House, come out with RHSs and save me from this trouble! heart
-...quand le soleil sera couché dans ton âme froide.-
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Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 3:16 pm
Yeah, the coat was really impressive, but I'm not sure that I'd pay that much for any of their regular shop items. Maybe if everything was custom tailored down to the last detail, but I don't think that most of their items were like that. Hard to say right now since the site's down and all.
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Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 8:24 pm
-C'est la lune qui conduit la danse...-
Their things look really simple, to me.
It's like "REGULAR JUMPERSKIRT" and "REGULAR JUMPERSKIRT 2". Nothing like the other indie brands, that at least have a motif or some kind of theme to it that makes it interesting.
-...quand le soleil sera couché dans ton âme froide.-
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Reply
