Joules clothing has gone bust!

[Zrt]

I just heard on the radio. Don't know what others think but I used to love their brightly coloured pyjamas.

You're the one who mentioned dressing like part of a weird country set or dressing like a womble!

Joules is samey and a bit dated to me, cute and twee, but it had its day what, about, 10/20 years ago...?

One of my best friends will be upset as she gets a lot from there and does suit their floral tops and Breton ones and likes their bags with the multi glittery straps. I did buy a nice sweatshirt from the Friends of Joules range for a friend of a friend this year.

I hardly ever bought any womenswear from there - even the plain items had branding on (I don’t want a pink rabbit on my workwear cardigans!)

The kids’ stuff was good until recently, though — beautiful girls’ dresses of amazing quality. DD had some gorgeous things about 7-8 years ago that were incredibly well made — lined good quality linen cotton dresses in lovely prints. Sadly I don’t think they have sold things like that for a while, though.

The quality went downhill a few years ago; and like a pp I thought the “third party hosting” website thing was the kiss of death. It made their own website unusable. And if I want to buy something from Cox&Cox I’ll buy it direct! Not through someone else’s website. I once bought some plants from Ivyline through the friends of Joules website, and they were really late and not good quality - two died almost instantly and I could not get any decent customer service on it at all.

It’s been clear for a while that it’s a bad idea for name brand websites to do the “third party hosting” thing. Even Tesco had to stop doing it in the early 2010s when they tried it: it similarly made their website unusable and dropped online sales massively until they went back to their own brands. Bad idea for Joules.

I think it’s exactly the Laura Ashley story.

Brands do need to keep updating (they didn’t), but they also need to retain a clear DNA (they didn’t).

I’d be a lot more surprised if seasalt went bust (although they might obviously, pending how bad things get.)

Sounds similar to John Lewis that refurbished Peterborough store at a multimillion pound cost then closed it down, so much waste in retail

Up to 70% black Friday sale..should have been a give away I guess

My joules wellies leaked.
I don't think they are cheap.

I am not surprised. Their clothes are so dated. They haven’t moved on in 10 years.

I do think this is a bit of a shame as this last year, the quality of stuff in Joules has actually improved. I haven't bought anything from them for YEARS but after having DD1 last year, I've bought a few lovely thick jersey empire line dresses to hide my tummy that have washed really really well. The sizing is still chaos, but compared to eg. Boden, the price was still reasonable and the designers havent actually lost their minds. Might try and hoover up some bits if they have a big administration sale 🤔

Is it OK to still order online for Joules?

They haven't gone bust. They have suspended their shares and calling in administrators and hope to find a buyer. Please be kind to staff in the shops. My friend has already had some twatty comments this morning.

Oh that's such a shame. Yes, it isn't the most trendy place on earth but the children's clothes wash very well. My 2 year old daughter has a gruffalo cardigan from there which gets a lot of compliments.

It's possible to like the odd thing from a season's range and not be head to toe in it. I have some things. Some things i liked when i bought a few years ago but don't wear now. Some have lasted the test of time.

The speed to judge people who are sad about a British firm in trouble is quite troubling. Honestly this place is like the school yard sometimes. Not everyone is just like you and that's exactly how life should be.

I think there are a few trolls here tbh.

I think it's always sad when a business is struggling, especially for the staff affected. I've bought some stuff from Joules in the past and like others have said, it did used to be good quality and I don't mind paying more for something that lasts. But the quality dipped in the last few years but the prices didn't reflect that. They also seemed to lose their way a bit.
Gutted to know that Garden Trading is owned by the group. I love their stuff so I really hope someone steps in to save it.
At this rate, Next, M&S and Mike Ashley will own every shop on the high street.🙁

If the website is still up later I think I might take a chance. Either that or order through their Ebay outlet and get Ebay protection.

Why?

Because if you don’t like Joules you must be a troll?

No because it's not normal to be spiteful over a clothing brand ffs 🤣

What?

Most “anti” comments are along the lines that the decline in design and fabric quality, and general descent into twee, probably contributed to their business struggles.

That isn’t an attack on anyone. It’s an opinion. Apparently quite a widely held one.

It’s the Joules fans who seem to be struggling with the fact that tastes vary.

Spiteful?
Have Joules’ feelings been hurt?

I like their stuff but it is a bit dated

seasalt is similar.
absolutely love my Joules wellies though with cute ducks on

That's a shame. I love their stuff for my grandchildren. The only brand to include labels encouraging people to hand on outgrown clothes and being good enough quality to do so.

I think one person mentioned age, which could be taken amiss. Everyone else has just spoken about taste, design and quality. That’s not spiteful.

I said I hate their clothes. I’m sure lots of people hate what I wear. It’s fine. What’s the problem?

I’m interested to hear where other people shop. I only shop online these days as I’m so far away from shops.

I’ve never shopped in most of those places so I will have a look and see if I can find something. I genuinely appreciate a bit of help.

As for looking like a middle class mum, whatever that means. I have been wearing joules since I was in my 20’s and definitely not a mum.

Joules does menswear too. I work with a man in his 20’s who wears some lovely joules shirts and the girls all swoon over him. He’s definitely not frumpy.

It's such a shame. In winter I still live in my tweed shooting jacket I bought from there donkeys years ago, and my family were (indirectly) involved in getting it all going in 1989.