Harrod's Food Court info needed
Aug 9th, 2004, 02:38 PM
#41
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lacking taste is an understatement. the decor of this place is appalling and does not deserve the reputation that it enjoys in America and east Asia as the ultimate pillar of british taste and society. this was the old reputation before house of fraser bought it...and certainly before al-fayed turned it into a vulgar souvenir shop.
in england it is commonly known as a joke of a place and any suggestion otherwise is wrong. British society, is understated and detests anything vulgar, garish or "mega".
sadly, i don't think that even americans are impressed with the crispy cream counter as they are now easily available in just about any mall or supermarket in the US. This is typical of how pathetic this place is...crispy creams were introduced with much fanfare just as they became uncool.
go to harrods if you must but beware that is is contrived for american tourists and has nothing to do with britain anymore. this place is a mob scene filled with people only wishing to buy a souvenir with the harrods name on it and score a little green and gold plastic bag.
BTW, i don't care for any of these places so i'm not trying to prove anything. just an observation on how this place now fits in with british culture.
in england it is commonly known as a joke of a place and any suggestion otherwise is wrong. British society, is understated and detests anything vulgar, garish or "mega".
sadly, i don't think that even americans are impressed with the crispy cream counter as they are now easily available in just about any mall or supermarket in the US. This is typical of how pathetic this place is...crispy creams were introduced with much fanfare just as they became uncool.
go to harrods if you must but beware that is is contrived for american tourists and has nothing to do with britain anymore. this place is a mob scene filled with people only wishing to buy a souvenir with the harrods name on it and score a little green and gold plastic bag.
BTW, i don't care for any of these places so i'm not trying to prove anything. just an observation on how this place now fits in with british culture.
Aug 9th, 2004, 02:45 PM
#42
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"in england it is commonly known as a joke of a place and any suggestion otherwise is wrong. British society, is understated and detests anything vulgar, garish or "mega""
My dear, one goes shopping to purchase Prada, Jil Sander, etcetera... Harrods happens to be the only store that contains both under the same roof, it's convenient, and offers a fabulously well edited selection from virtually every major and not so major designers' collections. Obviously you have no idea about fashion, or the retail environments that it lends itself too. Having various designers side by side allows for comparison, and also helps one compose outfits and a wardrobe that can blend. It's very easy to buy something and find that it goes with nothing else in your wardrobe, however extensive it may be.
Please stop anglicising Krispy Kreme - it's a brand name - if you find "crispy cream" amusing, by all means chuckle away to yourself, but I find it far from it. It's like be calling Louis Vuitton , Lewis Veeton, I mean really you just show you have very little retail experience.
As for the Egyptian bits, one doesn't go to department stores for interior design ideas, one goes there for shopping, and Harrods offers the most pleasurable experience in the UK at present.
My dear, one goes shopping to purchase Prada, Jil Sander, etcetera... Harrods happens to be the only store that contains both under the same roof, it's convenient, and offers a fabulously well edited selection from virtually every major and not so major designers' collections. Obviously you have no idea about fashion, or the retail environments that it lends itself too. Having various designers side by side allows for comparison, and also helps one compose outfits and a wardrobe that can blend. It's very easy to buy something and find that it goes with nothing else in your wardrobe, however extensive it may be.
Please stop anglicising Krispy Kreme - it's a brand name - if you find "crispy cream" amusing, by all means chuckle away to yourself, but I find it far from it. It's like be calling Louis Vuitton , Lewis Veeton, I mean really you just show you have very little retail experience.
As for the Egyptian bits, one doesn't go to department stores for interior design ideas, one goes there for shopping, and Harrods offers the most pleasurable experience in the UK at present.
Aug 9th, 2004, 03:06 PM
#44
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you are correct, i do not work in retail as you do. letting the term "retail experience" slip from your fingers just gave it all away! my dear.
99.9% of tourists do not go to harrods because they buy luxury goods that can't get anywhere else. they go there because of its reputation. A reputation that is hollow for the reasons i described.
A serious question...since al-fayed was denied citizenship, do you think he delights in how he turned the old harrods into a pillar of vulgarity? maybe he's saying ___ you to the establishment that denied him citizenship? if that's the case then good for him but i'm still staying away.
if "pleasant experience" means tripping over tourists yelling "hey look, marge this watch damn near costs 50,000 dollar pounds!!!" then enjoy it.
99.9% of tourists do not go to harrods because they buy luxury goods that can't get anywhere else. they go there because of its reputation. A reputation that is hollow for the reasons i described.
A serious question...since al-fayed was denied citizenship, do you think he delights in how he turned the old harrods into a pillar of vulgarity? maybe he's saying ___ you to the establishment that denied him citizenship? if that's the case then good for him but i'm still staying away.
if "pleasant experience" means tripping over tourists yelling "hey look, marge this watch damn near costs 50,000 dollar pounds!!!" then enjoy it.
Aug 9th, 2004, 03:13 PM
#45
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Walkinaround: anybody that says that Krisy Kremes are "out of style" needs to do some more "walkinaround!"
Krispy Kremes have been around since the 1940's-many of us grew up with the fresh hot ones, and love them still to this day. It is only in the last few years when the company went public that their stores exploded across the U.S.-and the rest of the country went crazy over them-odes were written about KK's in no less an august publication as the New Yorker.
In short, Krispy Kremes will never be "out of style."
Krispy Kremes have been around since the 1940's-many of us grew up with the fresh hot ones, and love them still to this day. It is only in the last few years when the company went public that their stores exploded across the U.S.-and the rest of the country went crazy over them-odes were written about KK's in no less an august publication as the New Yorker.
In short, Krispy Kremes will never be "out of style."
Aug 9th, 2004, 03:13 PM
#46
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You see, I don't work in retail at all, I just have a lot of experience with luxury brands and shopping!
Obviously you visited Harrods as a tourist and didn't get off of the ground floor - the other floors are quieter, more peaceful and offer their fabulous ranges. My dear, these people should go to Asprey to have their eyes truly opened.
On that note, I would like to encourage people to try Asprey's new ready to wear collections - available in a separate store incorporated into the original flagship, but with its own entrance in Abermarle St. Their trainers are fabulous quality and will always have a classic look, as do their immaculately cut suits, and classy casual-wear.
Obviously you visited Harrods as a tourist and didn't get off of the ground floor - the other floors are quieter, more peaceful and offer their fabulous ranges. My dear, these people should go to Asprey to have their eyes truly opened.
On that note, I would like to encourage people to try Asprey's new ready to wear collections - available in a separate store incorporated into the original flagship, but with its own entrance in Abermarle St. Their trainers are fabulous quality and will always have a classic look, as do their immaculately cut suits, and classy casual-wear.
Aug 9th, 2004, 03:18 PM
#47
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I adore Krispy Kremes.
I always have a box of twelve if people are coming over for a coffee. The flavoured ones are fun, yes they're a little synthetic tasting, but who cares - they're amusing, they're colourful, and have flavours a little removed from their natural counterparts. Who cares? I enjoy them. The normal ones have lots of sugar and fats I'm sure, well I'm still slim, so don't blame them for obesity.
I always have a box of twelve if people are coming over for a coffee. The flavoured ones are fun, yes they're a little synthetic tasting, but who cares - they're amusing, they're colourful, and have flavours a little removed from their natural counterparts. Who cares? I enjoy them. The normal ones have lots of sugar and fats I'm sure, well I'm still slim, so don't blame them for obesity.
Aug 9th, 2004, 03:22 PM
#49
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Mk2-you just can't win. Either people think you're working as a concierge at Claridge's or as a facilities attendant, or you're in retail at Harrod's! Whatever it is that people think, it gives me an intense fit of the giggles-just like SydneySteve telling you you needed to buy a banker's tie!
Aug 9th, 2004, 03:27 PM
#54
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I had numerous encounters with the late Diana in the vicinity of Harrods. Once, she was running from a photographer (in the early days, early eighties) around the back of Harrods, and she bumped into me, knocking me flying.
Aug 9th, 2004, 03:29 PM
#55
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spygirl...i'm aware that KK grew up out of a southern store dating way back. probably had a lot of charm.
when turning from these roots into a mass market endeavour, they relied on a marketing campaign that centred around the doughnuts being unavailable to most. when they did become available, the lines formed, stories in the news, etc. everyone was talking about them but few could get them. now they have exploded everywhere and are commonplace. you no longer have to travel anywhere to get them, and it's no longer impressive to tell your friends you have tried them as they are common now.
this is like planet hollywood...most people would visit one when on holiday in NYC or LV but when they expanded all over the place, they weren't special for people anymore. as a result these kinds of places are struggling and closing down outlets in non-key cities.
KK is experiencing the same thing. sales are down and the company is no longer a darling of wall street. they blame the atkins diet but it's really that they have just lost their magic and is nothing unique anymore. hence out of style. if they didn't "explode" then they would have remained in style maybe forever. unfortunately, it has lost its character in its attempt to be on every street corner. not an uncommon story.
when turning from these roots into a mass market endeavour, they relied on a marketing campaign that centred around the doughnuts being unavailable to most. when they did become available, the lines formed, stories in the news, etc. everyone was talking about them but few could get them. now they have exploded everywhere and are commonplace. you no longer have to travel anywhere to get them, and it's no longer impressive to tell your friends you have tried them as they are common now.
this is like planet hollywood...most people would visit one when on holiday in NYC or LV but when they expanded all over the place, they weren't special for people anymore. as a result these kinds of places are struggling and closing down outlets in non-key cities.
KK is experiencing the same thing. sales are down and the company is no longer a darling of wall street. they blame the atkins diet but it's really that they have just lost their magic and is nothing unique anymore. hence out of style. if they didn't "explode" then they would have remained in style maybe forever. unfortunately, it has lost its character in its attempt to be on every street corner. not an uncommon story.
Aug 9th, 2004, 03:33 PM
#57
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The recent downturn in the otherwise spectacularly rising KK stock is not saying much-in other words, profit-taking has something to do with this.
I maintain, Krispy Kreme is no longer a regional institution, but a national one-it will always be there, it will never be "out of style."
I maintain, Krispy Kreme is no longer a regional institution, but a national one-it will always be there, it will never be "out of style."
Aug 9th, 2004, 03:40 PM
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I'm sure that has something to do with it, I think pizza/pasta chains are taking a stock downturn as a result of the "low-carb" craze as well. That's okay, I could never do low-carb-I couldn't live without pasta or pizza (or KK's for that matter-yes, thank you, I go to the gym!)
Aug 9th, 2004, 03:40 PM
#60
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maybe you're right but i think it will be a challenge to do so as their major marketing assets (feeling that they are unattainable, the celebrity PR, queues at store openings, etc) will not continue when they are on every streetcorner.
maybe you'll say that it will succeed because the doughnuts are great but i think that's a little simplistic.
maybe you'll say that it will succeed because the doughnuts are great but i think that's a little simplistic.
