Is Johnny Boden a plonker?

[JeopardyMoose]

Has anyone else had this postcard from Boden apologising? I did used to buy loads of Boden a few years back but I’ve not found anything I liked recently - and the prices seem so high. Interesting that they seem to be listening…

Still love this Boden thread in classics
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_classics/1392622-BODEN-the-endless-threads-about-quality-These-have-been-around-since-Dawn-of-time

I got the same and thought it was a weird piece of marketing!
I used to buy kids clothes in the sales but they’re too old for Boden now, and a few T-shirts for me if the price was right. Not sure I’ve ever paid full price for anything!

It looks a bit dodgy and fraudulent. If Boden is going to turn itself around and be back more like it used to be though, I'd welcome it.

Well at least there is some hope that they may go back to doing staples that are excellent quality and some nice new pieces (ideally with a good bit of nice embroidery). I used to look a the site and find loads I wanted now....tumbleweed.

I got the "I effed up" postcard today. A tenner off would have been nice 😝

I saw an interview about Johnnie B in the press and I thought he did come over as a bit of a plonker there, just from the title alone. He was apparently also a former member of the Bullingdon Club (as was Boris Johnson who he knew). Link to article below but there may be a paywall.

Johnnie Boden: ‘If you want more money, just go out and make it’ (telegraph.co.uk)

I also got the "I effed up" postcard yesterday - not even an offer of a tenner off - what incentive is that to go back and look at Boden?

I used to regularly buy things from them but abruptly stopped 2 years ago as the designs are either middle of the road and / or plain naff.

Thanks @HyggeTygge
I missed that one . Brilliant.

I had one yesterday. It was definitely a stupid marketing ploy.

Oh my word of Johnnie!

I moved house and JB hasn't managed to track me down thank goodness.

I got it too. Now I think you're more of a plonked JB

I still sometimes remember ‘Hotch begat Potch’ and laugh out of nowhere.

Actually snorting out loud at this. A true classic.

I think Boden is a bit like cath kidson or even Jamie Oliver - that wholesome , aspirational, middle England positioning has lost its audience. If I was them I would pivot to just kids and do it well

He certainly looks like a full-on plonker in that Telegraph photograph.

He is definitely a plonker. And Boden clothes have been shit for a few years now - goodness knows what they were thinking, but it sounds like their sales have tanked.

Hopefully this means they'll go back to doing good quality staples amongst the 'fun' prints, but I wouldn't bet on it.

So he’s basically admitting their clothes have been rubbish overpriced tat for ages?

There are so many great online stores too these days at a better price point

I got that post card and thought it weird as fuck.

Not an incentive to buy at all! Not even a discount code?! Weird.

I got it and thought it was really unusual marketing. I couldn't work out if it was genius or idiocy. Definitely unusual though! I'd be interested in what someone who works in marketing/PR makes of it.

I've just read the thread from Classics - oh my word, it's so good

Still love this Boden thread in classics
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_classics/1392622-BODEN-the-endless-threads-about-quality-These-have-been-around-since-Dawn-of-time

Someone might just possibly have sent that link to Johnnie via the feedback form

They've certainly gone back to the appearance of the Boden of old. The new catalogue has lots of dresses that, for the first time in ages, look suitable for work (i.e. not shirred, flouncey, with ugly cut-outs, too short, too long, etc.). I ordered some. But the quality was certainly not that of the old Boden, and it all went back. This, for example, had horrendous, thin, nasty material: https://www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/kate-midi-shirt-dress-fiesta-orange-diamond/sty-d0733-lrd?cat=C1_S2_G4

I didn't get one 😭 I've only ever bought 2 kid's anoraks from them, though. Tbh I did think at the time that offering massive discounts to me probably wasn't good business sense as I was only ever gonna buy 2 things.
And yes he does look a complete plonker (I'd go as far as to say massive twat) in that picture.

I have a soft spot for Boden and still think that their quality is very good. But agree with pp that their place is alongside Cath Kidston, Joules etc and it is no longer popular. I still check their website if I'm looking for something but am fed up of garish patterns and colours. It is increasingly difficult to justify paying the prices. But then I do have clothes of several years that have been worn and washed hundreds of times and look like new.