Clothing retailers turn their focus on male shoppers
While women are generally considered to be the expert shoppers who are always looking for a deal, it seems as though men are coming into their own when it comes to buying clothes. It could be because males are paying closer attention to the latest fashions and want to be stylish, or it could be that they want more control over their options. Whatever the reason, retailers across the globe are attempting to maximize on the recent uptick in mens retail sales. Many clothing manufacturers are starting to see increases in purchases from males, and they are designing and producing new styles that appeal to the gender.
Several men's retailers see quarterly increases
Clothing retailers that specialize in men's fashions have seen a rise in business over the past few months. According to Barron's, both Men's Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank Clothiers reported increases in second quarter earnings. Industry experts believe this jump in sales is due to men shopping for work suits. Additionally, male shoppers want to find trendy and stylish clothing, which both of these retailers offer.
Male shoppers become fashion-conscious
Other clothing stores are attempting to reach out to men as well. The New York Times writes that males are becoming more interested in fashion and want to make decisions about what they wear. The old assumption that men don't care about clothing is being replaced with this new trend of fashion-conscious customers.
"For too long, male shoppers were considered to be the stepchildren," said Jim Moore, the creative director of men's magazine GQ. "There were a lot of assumptions on the retail level that men weren't interested in fashion and that they just went to department stores to buy socks and underwear."
The newspaper reports that there are now some retailers who have opened storefronts that sell only male clothing. Other businesses have redesigned their men's departments to better attract and accommodate these shoppers. These companies range from luxury retailers, such as Christian Louboutin and Hermes, to more wallet-friendly stores, including Ralph Lauren, Nordstom and Ugg.
The economic recession had a negative impact on the entire country, but since its slow and steady improvement, men's retailers have seen adult males become the fastest-growing segment in their apparel market. Many of these companies have been diligently studying men's shopping habits to better appeal to their needs.
