From the desk of Roxy
Effortless Anthropologie
New York, NY 10005
Dearest Anthropologie,
Just a little love note to let you know (for the kabillionth time) how much I love you. And your website. But like all great loves, well, I just want you to change a wee little bit. It’s not you — it’s me…I just want things to be better between us you see. It will make our relationship stronger. If you could find it in your heart of hearts to do this little short honey-do list for me I would be most thankful.
1. Please add an “email me when this product comes back into stock” option.
For serious my dear Anthro, every e-commerce site that takes themselves semi-seriously has this option. I realize this is akin to promising that yes, this product will come back into stock; therefore destroying the illusion of rarity. But the benefits to your devoted customers would far outweigh the effort involved.
2. Please allow me to link directly to my wishlist!
Yes, it’s true that I could make my Wishlist public. But then people actually have to go searching around your website to find it for themselves. *sigh* This is counter-intuitive. Have you seen my parents try to use the Internets? Oh sure some things are no problem for them but if you want to drive sales it would be much easier for me to paste a link in my email and say “please pick something from here. Love ya!”
3. Please add a “Find this at an Anthropologie store” feature.
Ok, this one is a bit more complex I know. It requires seamless integration between your inventory tracking system and your e-commerce platform. And true I could be dissuaded from going to a store if I know the item I want is not in-store. Oh heck, who am I kidding? I will go to the store anyway! But it would be nice to NOT have to search around the store for 40 minutes looking for a certain top that you call one thing online but has a different name in your inventory system so Store Associates have no idea what I’m talking about. Or your denim. Can we talk about how EVERY PAIR of jeans looks the same in real life? I can’t tell J Brand from Joe’s from Level 99. I’m sorry. And my divining rod isn’t helping.
4. Please let me know when something on my Wishlist goes on sale!
I know you’d rather I paid full price, and I usually do. But if you really want the most sales from me email me a little note when something on my Wishlist goes on sale. My wallet may not thank you but my smile will!
5. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put your old catalogues online.
Your catalogues are quite simply works of art. Beautiful photography for beautiful products. And you give your products such out there names…I would love to be able to take a look back to see your 2005 looks (as an example). It doesn’t have to be flash! It could be nice simple static HTML. You are inspiring me to be a pack rat and that is not a good thing!
Warmest Regards,
Roxy
I agree with the "Find at Store" option- that would be awesome! I also wish that they'd be better about putting brands up on the website- oftentimes they won't name what brand a top or dress is by. It seems like they've gotten better about this lately, but I'd also like to see customized size charts. I might be a size 2 or 4 in Odille, but a size 0/xs in everything else. I hate having only one generic size chart to go off of while shopping online. *sighs*
OH. And one more complaint to Anthro.STOP MAKING EVERYTHING LOOK SO PRETTY! I WANT TO BUY IT ALL! AND I'M ON A SHOPPING BAN! *cries*
…Amen! I just wanted to say I just came across your blog and it's spectacular!! I really enjoy it and will visit often ;)~michelle.f
i am with you on all of these things but especially #5!!
Great Letter! It would be great if the stores new the item names. My store is big (OK not big enough to carry shoes – sigh) and it would be great if I could ask an associate where the EL Gato Slims are located. I have asked for items by name and they just look at me like aI am crazy! Oh, and a find it in stores option would be great. J. Crew should get one too.
I agree on everything, Roxy. I would like them to also work out more of their website glitches. For example, if you just start shopping, see an item you like, then add to your wish list, it tells you you need to be signed in. So you go up and click on the link to sign in, then have to go back to the item. It should all just appear on one screen—it should be seamless.Like Chloe, a listing of the brand or designer is also helpful. I know how I fit in some brands versus others and it would save a lot of heartache and returns.
Amen, sister!Yeah, I wish they'd put more of the brand/designer names to the products. I know how I fit in certain brands of theirs, so it makes it harder to shop online if I don't know who it's by (i.e Moth, Odille, Ric Rac, etc.). I've actually emailed them about putting a "size up, true to size" option, as well as calf circumference for their shoes and boots. Of course I got back a generic "Thanks, and we've already taken that into consideration and are working on adding that feature." Didn't see it added though!
Great post! I would love #1. I agree that the store staff don't know the names of the items, that's frustrating – what's the point of the names?