Retail Diary: Book Club: "The Kingdom of Prep: The Inside Story of the Rise and (Near) Fall of J. Crew" by Maggie Bullock

A start-up story. A family business story. A retail icons story. Reality. Prep (but not prep.) Let's read into it.

"The Kingdom of Prep: The Inside Story of the Rise and (Near) Fall of J. Crew" by Maggie Bullock order your own copy from Bookshop.org, pick up at a local book store or reserve from your Library.

The Kingdom of Prep by Maggie Bullock

Overview:

Before Jenna Lyons & Mickey Drexler there was Arthur Cinader and his daughter Emily Cinader launching a catalog business around the lifestyle of Prep without being preppy. If you love reading about start-ups, fashion, American style and business this is a great quick and easy read. Think of it as an extended addition of a Vanity Fair x Women’s Wear Daily article from fashion journalist Maggie Bullock.

Highlights:

• Reading about all the J. Crew employees over the years. Yes, we all know about Jenna Lyons and Mickey Drexler. Now dive in and read more about Sid & Ann Mashburn, Brian Sugar, Todd Snyder, Emily Cinader Woods (and here), Jennifer Foyle, etc.

• How Brian Sugar pitched his skills to the J. Crew CIO to launch jcrew.com, and how he was in a race with Aileen Lee (now Cowboy Ventures Founder & Managing Partner) as she was launching gap.com.

• Comps and the impact on the overall business (circa 2012.) “As early as 2012 “it was always, ‘What sold well last year? How are we going to anniversary that?’” says a former designer. “It was ‘L.Y. vs T.Y.’” - last year vs this year - “all that corporatespeak.” Having to “anniversary” your own wins is a slippery slope.” page 275. It is truly the push and pull of financials vs creativity.

  Content YMAL (aka: you might also like):

  • Vanity Fair is where Maggie Bullock explored the J. Crew topic.

  • Maggie Bullock interviewed by Hillary Kerr on the Who What Wear podcast.

  • THE J. Crew blog: J. Crew Aficionada

  • With RHONY Jenna Lyons has been expanding her style presence again and I love seeing the fans resurrecting looks of hers. Most recently I saw other influencers styling a denim jacket as a shirt a la Lyons.

  • Recently Rachel Tashjian at the Washington Post wrote about Jenna Lyons on the subject of taste.

  Big Takeaway:

  • Hiring people who are passionate about their work and believe in the company’s mission and direction to move forward is so important.

  • The idea of a brand that is dedicated to a single lifestyle/look vs being a brand that is driving fashion trends. Something I’m noodling on.

  Unrelated:

  What Else I’m Reading:

  • Bad Summer People - this is the beach read for your next relaxing vacation.

  • Meet Me At The Lake - love this blurb "Meet Me at The Lake is a beautiful, heart-tugging, love story about secrets, lies, missed connections and second chances. Set against the idyllic backdrop of a family hotel on a rural lake, this novel brims with the warmth of summertime and the feeling of home. An exquisite, emotional read."
    --Jill Santopolo, New York Times bestselling author of Stars in an Italian Sky

  Independent Book Store to Support:

  • Rakestraw in Danville, CA. I love their customer service, assortment and fabulous events.

  • Omnivore Books in San Francisco, CA. THE place for a wonderful cookbook.

  Thanks for reading Retail Diary: Book Club. Let me know what you think.

  Sarah Shapiro