Thursday, April 19, 2012

Where Did 'Jenna's Picks" Go? {answered}

"Thanks!" to Disco George who shared with us the following article from NY Mag's The Cut (click here to read in its entirety):
Are You Wondering Why We Haven’t Seen ‘Jenna’s Picks’ Lately?
By Charlotte Cowles
April 18, 2012

Has your in-box been looking empty lately? Do you stare off into space sometimes, wondering how to fill the void left by an absence of J.Crew's frequent e-mail blasts about Jenna Lyons's impeccable sweater choices and current obsession with hydrangeas? Well, it turns out that "Jenna's Picks" is "currently on hiatus."

Reports Business of Fashion:
J.Crew isn’t afraid to take a real stylistic point of view, most famously with ‘Jenna’s Picks,’ a wildly successful section in the company’s catalogue and website — currently on hiatus — featuring products hand-picked by Lyons. [Says Lyons,] “It was totally not my idea, just for the record. It was actually the person who ran marketing at the time, who’s no longer here, and wanted to do something that felt a little bit more personal. We were trying to make people feel like there was a selection of things.”

In the meantime, J.Crew seems to be diversifying their tastemakers, introducing picks from fashion director Gayle Spannaus and other stylish, orangey-lipstick-wearing staffers who offer tips on "borrowing from the boys" and other Lyons-y pearls of wisdom. (Of course, let's not kid ourselves: The e-mails we're most likely to open are the ones titled "30 percent off + free shipping.")
Well now we know why we have not been getting those "Jenna Picks" emails recently! It got me thinking that this is a good idea (to involve other members of the retailer in their marketing). J.Crew probably does not want the brand to be associated with one executive only.

I had to laugh at the last line of the article, because it is so true! Honestly, I only care about the sweet deals being offered at J.Crew.

What are your thoughts on the "Jenna Picks" emails on hiatus? What other taste-makers should J.Crew include in their marketing campaign?

8 comments:

  1. I did enjoy Jenna's Picks, but can understand J Crew's decision. I hope that the feature will be back - along with more and bigger coupons!

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  2. OK. Being totally honest. I didn't even realize they were gone and I really don't care!

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    1. Lol. Me too. I don't bother with J. Crew emails (unless they are confirmation emails). I just come here instead.

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  3. I didn't notice they were gone either! I felt it was a way to promote items that didn't sell well, or else an over abundance of certain items... LOL!

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  4. Whatever happened to the handbag thing, where they would have a write up on some employees and what was in their bag? I don't know why, but I liked that!

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    1. They ran out of female employees at the head office? :D

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  5. I think there is more to the story. I would love to see more interaction from social media from them. OOTD from their employees, etc.

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  6. I agree with beachcitylifestyle. Didn't anyone else notice the "Jenna's Picks" layouts started slowing down after the big fuss about the pink nail polish on Jenna's son and more so after the divorce "scandal" hit the air? Perhaps MD or Jenna herself would like to keep a lower profile for now. As someone else in the past said, don't put all your eggs in one basket.

    On a sidenote, I'm stunned by how quickly new releases hit the sale side. Though from personal experience, I strongly suspect quality has a great deal to do with it. Anyway, perhaps J Crew corp is trying not to constantly shine the light on Ms. Lyons. I truly wonder why Ms. Webb left the company.

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