Following the Gap's lead with their Old Navy brand, children's retailer Gymboree is set to open 10 new stores later this year which will target poorer more "budget-conscious" customers.
Called "Crazy Eights," the name indicating that families are busy "eight days a week" (huh?) and often until "8 p.m.," (okay, yeah) the stores will open in 3-4 test markets across the country.
My hope is that Crazy Eights stores will actually sell clothes without appliques, sequins, and other righteous crap all over them, cuz I'll bet you fifty bucks you can't find a plain t-shirt in a Gymboree. What looks like an unadorned t-shirt when folded will reveal eyelet sleeves, button flowers along the hem, and the words "sweet little baby cowgirl fairy princess" embroidered in rainbow thread across the chest. And that shirt will be part of a 3,871-piece grouping that includes everything from coordinated multi-colored ribbon barrettes to matching Band-Aids.
Enh. I like to give Gymboree a bad time for its over-the-topness, but truth be told, it's the only place we buy socks, undies, and nightgowns. And if the Crazy Eights basics are as well made, I'll probably shop there, too.
