Retail Roundup: St. Patrick’s Day, Nordstrom app, Marni on EBay
--Bartenders will have something to cheer on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17: More than half of Americans plan to celebrate the Irish holiday this year, plunking down an estimated $4.6 billion for their revelries, according to a National Retail Federation survey.
The retail group predicts that each person will spend an average of $35. More than 1 in 4 plan to go to a party at a bar and restaurant, about a third plan to stay in and make a special dinner, and 80% of those surveyed say they will acknowledge the holiday by wearing green.
--Shopping on the iPad just gets easier. An iPad app released this week allows shoppers to order made-to-measure suits from label Joseph Abboud at luxury department store Nordstrom.
Sales associates at Nordstrom stores around the country will be armed with iPads (app already installed) and help customers go through the step-by-step process of measuring and selecting fabrics, color and design, tech site Mashable reported.
The initiative, which is rolling out to all 118 Nordstrom stores by the end of March, will send orders to a New Bedford, Mass. tailoring center and ship garments to shoppers within a few weeks.
--Merely a day after the Marni line at H&M launched, thousands of pieces have already shown up on auction site EBay, much of it with severely marked-up prices.
H&M’s designer collaborations, which frequently inspire crowds of hundreds and a circus-like shopping atmosphere, have been targeted by fashion scalpers who buy up loads of items and then promptly resell it online for a profit.
A white sequined Marni collar, which retails at H&M for $19.95, is available on EBay for $79.99. A blue printed frock with a retail price of $99 is now selling online for $199.
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