There has been a lot of buzz circling around Tampa’s International Plaza Mall, as shoppers anxiously awaited the grand opening of the clothing store, H&M and H&M Kids. For individuals who have never been to H&M or even heard of it, it is easily defined as a store that gives you more “Bang for the buck!” This store has something for everyone and every budget. As stated on H&M’s Facebook Page:
“Offering fashion and quality at the best price, H&M offers a varied assortment for the entire family, including concepts for ladies, men, teenagers and children.”Don’t get me wrong, customers will find pricier clothing articles throughout the store, but there is an abundance of selection for everyone’s budget and everyone’s different fashion styles.
Before I divulge on the grand opening I have to commend the H&M staff for how calm and collected they were with such chaos going on around them. Everyone I talked to was friendly and helpful, even with a huge crowd that was non-stop. I was able to speak with H&M representative Tony Everett, as he kindly took some time out of his big day to walk me through the kids store and tell me about some of the reasons why this store is so fantastic, and what it means for the Tampa Bay community.
When discussing what makes H&M a great place to shop for kids, Everett pointed out the unbeatable prices (one being an adorable girl’s holiday dress for only $10) as well as informing me that H&M has a “Basic & Conscious” clothing line. He stated “These items are made of 50 percent organic cotton blend,” and that, “ H&M is proud to be able to cater to the various lifestyles that their shoppers encompass.”
At the International Mall, H&M opened a kids store in addition to their regular store, providing clothing from babies to adults and to males and females. Everett explained that H&M is truly “A one stop shop for the entire family.”
As for what the opening of these affordable fashion stores means for Tampa Bay, Everett enlightened me by saying, “It means great things. The other day we had a special opening for the Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay in which we were able to give them a catered, mini-shopping spree as well as donate $2,005 to their organization.” It was refreshing to see the genuine smile on his face as he spoke about that evening and the impact this store can have on our community.
Now onto the details about the grand opening and advice on how to attack this shopping spree with the least amount of stress possible:
Let me first say, if you plan on visiting the store this weekend, be prepared for lines. Lines to get in the store, to try on and to check out. If you absolutely cannot handle waiting in lines, I suggest holding off visiting the store until the weekend is over. Be advised though, the opening sales are WORTH THE WAIT! If you have even the littlest of patience, I encourage you to check it out before the weekend and sales are over.
Pros:
- $10 off purchases $50 and more coupons: People in line received this coupon, which allows shoppers to save a little (or buy a little more…). I am not sure if these will be available the whole weekend, but stapled to the receipts were also a $10 off gift card.
- Opening sales: H&M is already reasonably priced for the most part, and adding these sales on top is a shopper’s bank account dream! This is a great time to get holiday shopping done, because as stated before you can find something for everyone! Some of the sale highlights I saw were: $35 pencil skirts for $10, $35 sweater dresses for $15 and kid’s tops and dresses for $5-$10.
- A gracious return period: Why is something that every store has listed as a pro? Because you can skip the dressing room line, make your purchases and if they don’t work out, you have 30 days to return them (BIG time saver)!
Cons:
- Lines: After asking around most people said it took them about 20 minutes to get into the store. The check out lines seemed to take around the same amount of time (mid-day). Lines are expected at grand openings, so it seemed like most customers did not mind, and it was apparent that H&M did everything they could to speed it up.
- Temperature: If you go, wear layers or something breathable. This will not only help you try stuff on without going into the dressing room, but I assure you it gets a little toasty as the bodies fill up in there.
- Sales prices: Be careful when you choose the items that have the opening sales prices. Customers told me that items that were on sale racks did not always have the sales tag, and when rung up, they would sometimes register as the regular price. Before you walk away, be sure to check your receipt and make sure you are getting the sales price on the correct items.
For more information on H&M visit: http://www.hm.com/us/
No comments:
Post a Comment