Sunday, January 20, 2019

Why Did Gymboree Declare Bankruptcy?

Once upon a time, I used to be a frequent shopper at Gymboree.

The clothes were adorable. They were known to be "matchy matchy." There would be matching hats, tights, hair pieces, purses, and shoes. I ate this up. So did many other parents. 



People would ask how I could spend the money on overpriced clothes, but if you shopped the sales, the clothes weren't much more than ones found at Walmart. Also, there were usually always coupons stuffed in magazines, so that helped too. The quality was there.



The employees began to know who I was. There was one, Dorothy, who would greet me by name.




I would re-sell the clothes so I could buy new outfits. Sometimes. There were some that I still have to this day. I'm not sure why I'm holding onto them. I'm done having kids. Maybe for future grandkids? Or maybe because we had a lot of wonderful memories in Gymboree.





Some years ago I began to notice the quality was going downhill. I mean, I get it, companies want to save money so they try to come up with ways to do this. But I find when this happens, customers stop shopping. 

Yes, part of the reason why I didn't shop there was much was because my daughter was getting older, but it was mostly because the quality was going and the sales seemed to be diminishing. There used to be a Red Balloon Sale, where clothes from past lines would be out and incredibly cheap. I would load up here. Where did all the sales go? 





I noticed the Gymboree lines that came out weren't as appealing. The styles seemed off. In the past there were lines that I would grab up. (And they all had fun names. Cupcake Cutie. Petite Mademoiselle. Cozy Owl.)





So why did Gymboree declare bankruptcy? Well, they didn't listen to their customers. I know there is more to a business than I'll ever know, but they missed the mark by giving up the quality of their clothes. They also started going modern, and modern can be boring. I was part of various Gymboree groups, and mothers LOVED the "matchy matchy" aspects of the lines. When that went away, what was the point? When Gymboree started to look like regular clothes, there was no reason to shop there anymore. 

It's probably too late now, but if Gymboree were to bring back old lines, they'd make a killing, I can almost guarantee it. If they brought back the quality, people would return. 




My daughter can still fit into Gymboree, and I found the clothes she picked to be age-appropriate. But I would have not purchased it if she were younger. I would want the whimsical looks and the matching hats. I would want the purses and the shoes. 






I'm sorry Gymboree will be gone. I'm sorry they didn't listen to their customers who were the ones scooping up the clothes years ago. 



But maybe other stores will take it as a lesson. Don't take the easy route. Modern doesn't always mean stylish. Most parents want to dress their kids as...well KIDS. Not as mini teenagers. Matching knee socks will always be a hit. 





At least we'll always have memories of the Gymboree we loved. 






And I am grateful for that. 








41 comments:

  1. This is a classic example of the customer is always right. At most they should have gotten a survey and made appropriate changes

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  2. So sad when a company goes bankrupt - and also when a company changes so much from what you loved. I have had a few Aussie companies here do the same, and you can see them losing customers fast. Gorgeous photos!

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  3. When a bad company declare bankruptcy, it sometimes feels good. It is called Karma. But I dunno what I can say about good company, maybe they do go out of control that they had to declare bankruptcy. This is why you should listen to customers base rather than going out all on your own. The second option sometimes works.How you can earn money if you are not thinking about your base. Pretty sure that is the case of Gymboree

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  4. We had a simular situation happen over here with Pumkpin Patch. They went into liquidation and shut down all their physical stores ... really they were over priced and parents these days are shopping smarter. They needed to change their formula

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  5. It's so sad when a dear store closes :( I've been there too, and it was hard to find another great store that I really loved.

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  6. So Gymboree closed? So unfortunate when everyone seemed to love them. The clothes were just so beautiful for your daughters.

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  7. It makes me so sad! I still find good things there for my boys. I'm wondering if they'll sell everything off for cheap at the end!

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  8. first of all the photos of your daughter are just the cutest! so adorable! and it is saddening when a good place goes bankrupt but at the same time it is understandable, that's economics I guess!

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  9. I am sad they are closing but I agree that they just didn't listen to clients and did not keep up with the times. The sales used to be so good and I know they could have had a real shot to stay relevant but just did not

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  10. This place did have cute clothes, even for boys. When my boys were little, I loved shopping there for matching outfits.

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  11. It is always makes me sad when something you used to love closes down. The outfits are so cute! I am charmed!

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  12. I was honestly stunned to see that Gymboree had declared bankruptcy. It's a store that has been around for as long as I can remember. Though I never shopped there, I know that it is something that will be missed by a lot of customers.

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  13. How sad is when businesses like Gymboree close. Many people loses their jobs and fans of the stores and brand are tuned off. The outfits are really cute though.

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  14. It's sad when this happens. I love the outfits though. Very good selection you have , I must say :)

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  15. Aww! Those outfits are so adorable. A pity that Gymboree went bankrupt. Are they the same store that had events for kids? Or am I confusing them with another brand?

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  16. I've always loved Gymboree. I almost worked there at one stage of my life. I'm hoping that like Toys R Us, someone comes in and helps.

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  17. It is absolutely heart breaking seeing something like this happen. I guess that's the most important message they've missed. I am always a Customer Is Always Right believer.

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  18. For any business, it is really important to know your customer’s feedback and never ever sacrifice the quality for the profit. I hope they will come back soon.

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  19. Honestly, I had no idea Gymboree declared bankruptcy! I used to love walking in the store and spend hours checking the clothes. This is sad.

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  20. Natalie is such a model even when she's little. I did not know Gymboree gone bankrupt, I used to buy clothes for my daughter with this brand.

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  21. Sometimes companies try to cut cost and start making products that just won't stand the test of time. Plus if the customer service is bad I don't go back.

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  22. I didn't even know that they were going into bankruptcy. The points you have here make perfect sense. They were always known for their quality clothes in if they decide not to do that anymore than what is the point.

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  23. I'm sad they are going out of business. They truly did have some adorable outfits over the years.

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  24. I shopped there only a few times. I was always a Carter's shopper. Especially for little boys, Carter's seemed to have a bigger selection and better sales. I know several moms who shopped at Gymboree all the time and enjoyed it.

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  25. Such a shame. I remember the days of Gymboree sales and coupons, however, once those stopped, I started shopping at Carter's, OshKosh and Old Navy.

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  26. It's a shame how it ended for them and unfortunate they began to skimp on quality. That surely didn't help with the decline.

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  27. Gymboree was one of my favorite stores to shop for my boys. Now that they're older I don't shop their as much. But it's still sad to see them go.

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  28. That's too bad about Gymboree, I think you are right, though. Parents want to dress their kids like kids, not mini teens!

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  29. I heard about Gymboree and I thought of ToysRUs and decided that the parents of the 80s and 90s liked to shop a lot. You are right though, once the quality went, so did the customers.

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  30. I loved Gymboree and was so sad to hear they’re closjng. I LOVE their baby clothes. The only reason I stopped shopping there is because my kids got older and I’m less into their options for older kids. But I’m so sad to see them go.

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  31. I know so many people who were disappointed by Gymboree over the past few years. When the quality changes, people really do notice.

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  32. OMGoodness! I hadn't heard about Gymboree closing. My daughters loved their clothes, and so did I. They were so colorful, fun and different. At any given time about 75% of the clothes in their closets were Gymboree. It's sad to hear that they're gone.

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  33. I'm sad that they are closing. Our closed a while ago but, we loved their sales and clothes. So cute and age-appropriate.

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  34. I shopped at Gymboree a lot for my nieces and I LOVED the clothes!! I hate that they quit making their cute, signature, whimsical outfits!!

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  35. Thank you for this post, I hope that someone who needs it will learn their lesson before it's too late! I also love "matchy matchy" of baby lines. This makes our kids so cute and kids!

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  36. It is so sad to know that a good place went bankrupt but I am glad that you have some great memories of the place. Adorable pics too

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  37. Saddened by the news about Gymboree, but I'm happy to hear they won't be closing the gyms.

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  38. I had no idea! I've bought so many things for me son when he was little at Gymboree! So sad!

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  39. Oh wow! I had no idea! That's a huge disappointment. Gymboree was a really great brand, all good things must come to an end, I suppose. xo, Suzanne

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  40. You really nailed it with your take on Gymboree. I will miss the old Gymboree so much! My daughter grew up in their lines and I always thought that I'd be able to dress my grandkids in it, too!

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  41. This article gives a superior thought regarding blessings. It is a genuinely informative and gainful post. Continue posting this sort of information, Much obliged. matching hats for couples

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