Me&Em - Crowd funding

[EggsEleven]

Have received an email from Me & Em stating that they've set up a crowd funding page in order to expand. Is this a sign that they're struggling or am I just out of touch and this is the way online retailers do things now a days? I normally associate it with start-up companies.

I'm not sure what the point of this thread is, just that I was a bit surprised

[Niminy]

I think you're right about the market they're going for. When they started they were more jersey dresses and separates but they have moved their niche.

I have two pairs of their trousers that I wear all the time for work - indeed am wearing one now, bought in the sale at a great reduction. Fantastic quality and washable, unlike so many smart trousers. But I don't suppose they can really survive on people buying one pair of trousers per year in the sale.

[Cristiane]

Interesting... I think they have already gone bust once before as they used to be called Pajama Room and then reopened as Me&Em. Retail is tough. The stuff is also quite same-y so once you have the palazzo pants/ swing dress etc you don't need more, as the colours are so dull.

[Niminy]

There's an interesting contrast with Winser London who are going for the exact same market but seem to be thriving. By and large I like Me&Em's clothes much more, but I think WL do more colours so it doesn't look so same-y.

[BikeRunSki]

I agree, they are just too smart. Also very polyestery! And I find very expensive.

[notnowfrank]

I wonder how their sales/market share compares with Baukjen? There's another brand that I'd only consider buying in the sales, and even then, the clothes are slightly too dressy for casual wear, and far slightly too clingy for office situations.

[FrustratedFrugal]

I used to buy from them every season and some of my staples are from them but they have moved to a high fashion / low practical value direction (to please editors? - but white man pant for winter, really?). I like crisp shapes in neutral colors but their current oversized cuts tend to look baggy and unflattering on me. If they returned to their looks a few years ago, I would buy more from them.

Also, ordering from them is super pricey if you are outside the UK - I had to return a few orders and can no longer take that risk.

I now shop at Stories.com and COS, similar aesthetic and fabric quality at lower prices.

[FrustratedFrugal]

I agree about dress codes moving to a casual direction. They are trying to do more casual looks but the clothes are still a tad too formal. I am currently wearing black velvet leggings and a long Fair Isle cardigan and Suede chelsea boots and I am a senior professional...

The Me+Em staples that I have worn non-stop are cotton sweaters and their spaghetti strap vests. I also have a chambray blouse that is great. Their swing dress is not bad but too formal for most days and I find the polyester a bit scratchy.

[Lucked]

Wow. Not sure I approve.

I think crowdfunding has its place in startups etc but not sure about for an established company. The only thing I have ever crowdfunded was a tiny donation to getting the Veronica mars movie made😀

[Floisme]

Yes those Jersey separates were fabulous: flattering, perfect for work and great quality. I wonder why they stopped doing them.

[IWillGoToTheBall]

Pah! Even less likely to buy from them now I see their European delivery is £15 AND takes 10-15 days. That, compared to other retailers, big and small is sky high and smacks of greed.

[TrollTheRespawnJeremy]

I havent bought from them in over a year. They used to be great at cutting clothes for people with curves but now I find everything is cut straight- for tiny boobs and in colours I do not want.

White trousers are not a thing.

[EggsEleven]

Intetesting recent interview with the founder of Me & Em especially who she views as the target market. No mention of crowdfunding though!

wearandwhere.co.uk/set-up-business-meem-clare-hornby/

[Cristiane]

I'm really not sure about their new collection - suede jogging pants... only £599!

[bingohandjob]

I love their stuff and the quality is wonderful but I do think it is over priced.I've bought several items in their very good sale over last few years but lately they seem to have gone off the boil - the white colour block used on items just screams "colour run/stains" to me

[SarfEast1cated]

I have a few things from them, one jumper which is lovely, but a stripy T-shirt which has washed badly and is twisty and odd now, and a pea coat which is polyestery and has started bobbling. I would like Me+Em a whole lot more if their fabrics were washable and lasted longer.

[SoloD]

Crowdcube is an platform for businesses to raise capital in return for shares in their company. It's not like Kiskstarter for example where you get a physical item.

It is risky, there is a high probability of loosing all of the investment in some business. However some companies have already provided returns (Brewdog for example early stage investors have received a 2000%+ return).

[PhilTheSahd]

There's a key difference between what the picture shows this company is doing then the typical crowd funding way (the way that kickstarter projects work) - that picture says you get some equity in the company. It's only crowdfunding in the sense of lots of people contributing a small amount of money. Usually crowdfunding isn't done as an investment for the funders - its supposed to be that you want the project to exist so you'll chip in, and often its done as essentially a preorder with no guarantee of the projects success. As with any funding (or investment) , funders should make sure that the project runners have the skills and resources to succeed and are not out of their depth or doing a stupid plan with no risk avoidance planning.