Have you noticed the recent trend in apparel retailers opening men’s only doors? Over the last several months Coach, Hermes and J.Crew, to name just a few, have all opened stores catering exclusively to their male customers. Boutique shops like UnionMade here in SF have also begun to sprout up. During the recession it became abundantly clear to retailers how important their male customers are to the bottom line, many of whom have historically under served their male shoppers , and many who are continuing to do so. There has long seemed to be a gap in the market for specialty and luxury retailers to tap deeper into this shopper. Perhaps a men’s only store is not right for every retailer, but in most major urban markets it just makes good business sense, at least for now. And there are great examples that there is a strong appetite for this in smaller urban areas like Madison, WI, with boutique shops like Context. J.Crew is a bit unique in that they actually were ahead of the trend when they opened the Liquor Store a few years back in Tribeca, and have opened three more since.
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