Bobbie sent a message to Arthur L. Peck – Chief Executive Officer of Gap Inc. – Email Address that said:
Mr. Peck,
I just read the article in WSJ by Khadeeja Safdar. As a GAP customer for over 15-20 years, I resonated with many of her comments. I know your time is valuable, I just want to make a few comments.
1) I would like to see GAP return to majoring in the basics. Everyone wears jeans. GAP is my preferred brand. $80 is not too much for a good pair of jeans, if you wear them four or five times a week and they last for several years, it is well worth the price. Many young people are willing to pay the bucks for a good pair of jeans. I recently bought a full price pair of tennis shoes and paid over $100. they will not be worn as often as my jeans. The young people who wear athletic wear, pay the price as well. FOCUS ON MAKING GOOD QUALITY JEANS. HAVE CELEBRITIES WEAR THEM, IF YOU NEED A COOL FACTOR.
2) T-shirts are also a basic and can worn with other trendy items or alone. The quality of your t-shirts have declined over the years! FOCUS ON MAKING GOOD QUALITY T-SHIRTS and JEANS and I will be a customer for life.
3) My thoughts are to focus on the basics and do them with excellence!!! Everyone wears t-shirts and jeans. Let GAP be the go-to store for your basics.
4) Have your hand in trendy items, let them come and go. Keep your finger on the pulse and think ahead. BUT MAKE YOUR BASICS YOUR BREAD AND BUTTER.
5) Maybe there is a place for the basic shirt...plaid, oxford, pinstripe or whatever, white (everyone needs a white shirt). The quality of your shirts have also declined. I hesitate to buy them. But love plaid and some of the styles, but after a few washes they lose their shape and sometimes even unravel at the seams, etc. Definitely not worth the $54 original price. Improve the quality or lower the price.
6) Sales. GAP has many sales. Too many. I believe it devalues the product. It is easy to see that many items are not worth the original price! After awhile, thats exactly what your are thinking..."GAPs original prices are too high for what you get." So you wait for the sales. HAVE LESS SALES, IMPROVE THE QUALITY, AND PRICE THEM ACCORDINGLY.
I believe there is a niche for good basics. Dont try to be everyone else. FIND your niche and do it with excellence.
Thank you,
Bobbie
