Stade California is Here to Stay

Remember how great of a store The Closet was? Well don't worry; the owner of what once was The Closet, Billy Stade, just opened his new store, Stade Co, at South Coast Plaza. In the way that Billy made The Closet a staple for Southern California fashion, he has been successful in producing the same vibe for Stade Co. The store carries popular brands RVCA, Commune, OBEY, Oakley, and many, many more. Not only can you waste a lot of money on clothing here at this modern and fashion forward store, but you can also get your hair cut. Preme Hair is the salon in the back half of Stade Co, it is a state of the art salon that offers only the best in hair care and styling. Retailing like this sounds like a blast right? 

Now I would like to take the time to comment on the current state of retailing. First of all, I got my first taste of retailing this summer on none other than the famous shopping destination on Sunset and N. Crescent Heights road. And I can say with confidence that I don’t see a live-long career in it. For instance, imagine you sitting in a store for 8 hours without making one sale or even have a person stopping by for that matter. In today’s economic landscape, retailers are changing the way they do business. As a result, we are seeing an influx in more creative mixed-use types of stores in order to get customers in the door. Take Stade California for example. The concept store has a very diverse and eclectic product mix, as well as a hair salon. Stores are exercising their creative muscles in order to appeal to a wider audience, provide a comfortable shopping environment, and to ultimate boost profits.

Sounds easy enough, eh? Well, there is a reason why the Closet doesn’t exist anymore. After several good years, Billy Stade’s “Closet,” shut down for good this past year. Falling in the trap of rapid expansion, the Closet opened too many stores at the wrong time. On a macro level, the economic recession has crushed many upscale fashion retailers, which has forced them to either close up shop, or change their acts. To be honest, I think the recession was for the better for retailers because it has made the industry more competitive, which in turn is benefiting consumers. Stores can no longer get away with having a minimal product offering, or be able to charge exorbitant prices for mainstream garments. What we are seeing is retailers becoming more innovative, smarter, and younger. Out with the old, in with the new. Check out Stade California for yourself and see why they will be in business for awhile.