Lilly Pulitzer Anyone?

[glittergal1985]

Has anyone else noticed Lilly suddenly pushing the sorority items in their retail stores? I was in two stores this week and both now carry the full line of products, though neither of them did a month ago. I'm guessing it's a sign of something, either they are looking to see if they can be successful in stores before they add more groups, or they are just trying to get rid of their stock and leave the sorority business. Thoughts?

[Griffins&Quills]

Via a post on their facebook page, rumor has it " Lilly Pulitzer just shut down their Panhellenic Division, and there will be no more prints anytime soon"

[MaryPoppins]

Originally Posted by Griffins&Quills

Via a post on their facebook page, rumor has it " Lilly Pulitzer just shut down their Panhellenic Division, and there will be no more prints anytime soon"

Just went to look for that and could not find it. Perhaps I missed it or perhaps it just is rumor.

[SLAM<3 Always]

It's posted on a comment from June 18th. This makes me sad, especially since I developed my appreciation for Lilly because of my sorority sisters.

[aesovs]

Originally Posted by Griffins&Quills

Via a post on their facebook page, rumor has it " Lilly Pulitzer just shut down their Panhellenic Division, and there will be no more prints anytime soon"

I hope this isn't true! I believe that they promised (or at the very least, intended) to finish out the prints for all 26 NPC sororities. That maybe wasn't the best business decision on their part, but I'll be sad if they don't keep their word. Supposedly they already have designs for all of the sororities (don't know how true that is), so I think the main obstacle is just poor sales - I noticed that they put some of the sorority line in their Warehouse Sale. I think if they could work to put a few of the products (the scarf, picture frame, phone case...whatever sells best) in each sorority's "official" store online and at conventions, then they might do a little better.

They do make limited edition prints for some events and causes, which most of the time are only available from an outside vendor (e.g. - they did a print for the National Aquarium that was only available at the NA giftshop or their online giftshop). I don't see why the sorority print collection couldn't operate in a similar fashion!

[WCsweet<3]

The exact comment:

I was just at my own sorority convention, and one of the shirt vendors told us that Lilly Pulitzer just shut down their Panhellenic Division, and there will be no more prints anytime soon. I'm going to ask Lilly directly, in case this is a rumor- I hope not.

However, I didn't find an NPC sorority that had a conference around June 18th not could I figure out the commenters affiliation. All the ones I found that started in June started a week after. Are my detective skills failing me?

[glittergal1985]

Originally Posted by WCsweet<3

The exact comment:


However, I didn't find an NPC sorority that had a conference around June 18th not could I figure out the commenters affiliation. All the ones I found that started in June started a week after. Are my detective skills failing me?

I believe the poster was in Tri Sigma.

[SLAM<3 Always]

Originally Posted by glittergal1985

I believe the poster was in Tri Sigma.

Tri Sigma's convention didn't start till the weekend after the post was made.

[aesovs]

Originally Posted by SLAM<3 Always

Tri Sigma's convention didn't start till the weekend after the post was made.

I thought it started the 21st? The poster made the comment on the 25th!

[KD4Me]

I LOVE the KD print, but hardly any of the Lilly line fits into my post-collegiate life. I'm sure collegians are the target, but there are plenty of alumnae who like the print and might buy more, if there were items offered that they would actually use. I do have the iPhone cover, which has turned out to be very poor quality. After 6 months of use, it is dingy and the print is wearing off the edges. I thought about purchasing the tote, but don't use them often enough to justify an $88 price tag. In thinking about it, I'm not sure what products would appeal to me, but I sure wish LP would figure it out!

[glittergal1985]

Originally Posted by SLAM<3 Always

Tri Sigma's convention didn't start till the weekend after the post was made.

I employed my fb sleuthing skills and can confirm that she is a Tri Sigma In any event, I hope that what she was told was incorrect, as there are still so many sorority women chomping at the bit for their own print. My theory is that Lilly took the wrong approach by creating so many products for a few groups, rather than making just a tote and scarf for each. Perhaps they can still salvage the sorority line by designing prints for each group and only selling the items in bulk orders? Vineyard Vines seems to have found success this way.

[DubaiSis]

I thought they missed the boat on the prints and what they choose to do with them. They could have, even with the almost universally unappealing prints, done a combo of print with solid or stripe and made clothing/fabric accessories. Or, they could have made the prints available, in fabric form, for sale so that chapters could do with them what they will. The money there was in collegians buying the stuff in bulk, and there wasn't much incentive to do so.

They also could have consulted some actual collegians on what the prints should look like or what elements were most important to include in the prints. I don't get the sense that they did, and I've found it odd that the sorority prints didn't seem to coordinate in any way with their other lines. I mean, they don't need to be matchy matchy, but you'd think the themes and tones would be reminiscent of lilly, and it sure didn't to me! Frankly, many of us playing around on that fabric design website came up with way cuter prints.

I also hope they finish out the line for the gals who are excited to have their turn, but if they do, hopefully they'll do a better job to justify the continued effort.

[amanda6035]

There was a whole section of Lilly items being sold by our Xi Boutique at convention last week. I didnt hear anything about them going out of stock though.

[Griffins&Quills]

I'm certainly not in love with the Alpha Xi print (I mean really, blue roses and half the crest??). I guess it's cool we have one, and I do think they should finish out the 26 NPC sororities. But, if it's poor sales, I can see where it's coming from. There were several groups who weren't thrilled with their prints, I've seen that the iphone cases don't last and have heard several accounts of poor quality with other items, and also, it is overpriced for what it is. $48 for the silly resin photodome bangle?? WHAAAAT? Just my opinion.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

I think part of the problem is that you have to like YOUR group's print for it to work.