Oliver Bonas

[OopsaDazy]

I was somewhere this week where I was able to have a good look around OB- a small-medium sized branch.

I was distinctly underwhelmed. It looked like expensive tat. All the home stuff looked cheap and nasty and the clothes are synthetic 'brights'.

I know they are expanding their stores but I can't see what their identity is.

They seem to have a business model of take on vacant shops- presumably at low or no rent. Do them up, then close in a couple of years and move to the next one.

I like OB! Not keen on some of the knitwear but I love their jewellery and home stuff.

I do love the homeware but agree it is overpriced. You can also buy nice presents from there. I have never bought clothes from there, they look nice but the prices and materials put me off.

100% This

I was disappointed as I thought it would be some interesting and unusual stuff. It was much the same as I can get in nice little independent shops near me.

I think their homeware is trashy and some smaller chains like Vinegar Hill or even major stores have more interesting things.

I've recently been in an even bigger OB shop and it was so depressing.
It really is tat.

Who is their demography?

It's full of polyester clothes in bright colours. Ok if that's your thing.

But the rest- cushions, ornaments, cards, trinkets etc. All trashy or can be found in other stores for less, or better quality.

I can't see them continuing long term TBH because they don't have anything unique. Their homeware is shoddy and I can't see anyone going to OB for some quality home accessories. Cards- well, plenty of other shops sell cards and a bigger choice.

The quality has gone distinctly downhill over the past few years and particularly since covid. I have a couple of dresses and some knitwear from there, which I love. I have loads of their earrings and I'm about to buy a bedspread with some birthday vouchers.

It's definitely not the shop it used to be, sadly.

My DM has some stuff from OB that I think she looks fab in. But she’s nearly 80 so make of that what you will!

I have some cord trousers and a jumpsuit from last year which have been my favourite things. I don't like polyester so don't buy their shirts / blouses but I really like the fact that they have colour and something different.
The jewellery seems to have gone downhill but it might just be that whatever is trending at the moment isn't my thing (I feel that if you are going to have very fine things, they need to be good quality not to look flimsy and cheap).

I think they very much have their own identity- I definitely think you can tell when something at someone's house is from there when it comes to the homeware, which I'm not overly a fan of but know plenty who are (who probably think my fairly minimal neutral/boring home is hideous). Each to their own. I find it a bit of a slightly lower end Anthropologie - which I also think is an acquired taste.

The website sells various brands as well as their own range so it's difficult to criticise one without criticising the other. Eg- they sell Esska shoes/Sorel boots, Selected Femme; they sell various brands.

I don't tend to go in the bricks and mortar shop but do shop their for gifts and have received some nice gifts from there even if I'd not have necessarily bought them myself - got some lovely glasses for christmas last year, scarf/gloves, a necklace, Coffee table books, that kind of thing.

I'm torn. I got so sick of their puff sleeve dresses I stopped bothering to look.

But my very favourite ever trousers (lovely cotton cords with a very high waist and adjustable side buckle to fit them perfectly) are OB.

The first time I went in one I thought it would be upmarket ,going by the name! Came out thinking it was overpriced tat.

I really like it

I like the bags, the scarfs, tgd jewellery, the clothes, the cushions 😁

I guess I m a bit trashy then😂

Got some jumpers from there which are lovely quality

Kettlewell even if it’s only for the basics?

I have a few nice items of clothing from there - a lovely fitting pair of high waisted bright pink cord trousers, a cream/ beigey pink wool mix short sleeved top, a linen mix palm print maxi skirt, and long viscose skirt in yellow with a tropical monkey print - the latter two are summer staples for me.

But I realise that all of these were bought over 4 years ago and I have not got anything recently despite passing by branches every day of my commute and at the weekend.

I have never bought any of their homeware - it all seems a bit generic "moderately trendy woman in her thirties".

They really pushed having stores in affluent city suburbs for ages. When I was on maternity leave in Zone 3 London, it was a bit too much of a mission to get in to town and go to a real shop, so I often felt like OB had all the 30something middle class mums over a barrel because it was the only way you could buy a little clothesy treat without getting on a bus. If I ever got something from there I felt like I'd only done it because I had Stockholm Syndrome. They've started opening more stores now and in the context of a normal high street you see how blah it is - Paperchase for management consultants. Neon pink accents, bit of drop shadow lettering, bit of tasteful animal print.

PS. the initial mugs are very "leaving present from a quite nice workplace where you'll stay facebook friends with ex-colleagues but not see them very often"