H&M coming to Seattle
The affordably priced fashion apparel company (known commonly as H&M) has announced that they are coming to Seattle within the year…and coming in force. H&M has announced that they will be opening three stores in the greater Seattle area (U Village, Downtown, and Southcenter which is just outside of the city limits). You’d think a fan of the company would be happy about this announcement, right?
I’m actually a little disappointed in the move, and very rapid expansion to Seattle. One of the great things about H&M is how exclusive their stores have been here in the Northwest. When you went to New York or a few other fashionable cities (Vancouver included recently) you could pick up some fashionable clothes for a very good price, yet still be trendy back here in Seattle, as nobody else had the same clothes here.
The fact that they’re bringing three stores to Seattle makes me wonder about the expansion of the company. I know I’m not paid to research this stuff, but wow, this seams like it could lead to some heavy over-saturation.
Seattle PI Story
Howard Schultz is BACK.
I have not made any secrets about Howard Schultz being one of my favorite CEO’s, even though he had not been the CEO of Starbucks for quite a few years, and not while I had been a fan of the company. Well, today Jim Donald stepped down as Starbucks’ CEO and Howard has said that he will become the CEO for the long term and lead Starbucks back to where it should be.
With the stock price dropping 50% over the past 12 months and hitting a 4 year closing low last Friday Starbucks had to do something to help their stock and this appears to be the biggest step they could have made. Howard took Starbucks out of a bean selling coffee shop in Pike Place to the International company that it has become. Already, the stock has jumped 10% since the announcement and we will see where it goes from here.
Since Howard instilled the original values of the Starbucks Experience, I am looking forward to seeing what will happen over the next 6 months to a year. We will see poor performing stores closed, better training for front line “parnters,” and an overhall on the entire coffee experience. One prediction I will make, some kind of change to the breakfast sadwich stations. They create an aroma that covers the coffee smell that I understand Howard hates. I know they’re a high margin item, but if Howard wants to take back the coffee shop experience, I see a change happening here.
Oh, and for those of you that I asked about investing in SBUX last Friday…man, I wish I would have pulled the trigger. I still think there is alot of room for growth. What do you think, will SBUX bounce back to the high $20′s low $30′s?
What will Bill do after Microsoft?
Bill Gates will be stepping down later this year from Microsoft. What does the world’s second richest man do after retiring?
Video: Bill Gates Last Day CES Clip
Actually, he’ll be heading up the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, but a rich man can dream can’t he?
Pike Place Market Neighborhood?
Came across this great story today. The neighborhood of “Pike Place Market” was just named to the top ten list of best neighborhoods in the country by the American Planning Assosciation.
A few problems
- Pike Place Market is a market not a neighborhood. It is in between the West Edge, Downtown, and Belltown neighborhoods. I think there’s only a single condo building in the market and I don’t think that can make up an entire neighborhood.
- There is a picture in the article of “residents” enjoying Steinbrueck park. Umm, they’re either homeless (not a part of the neighborhood if you don’t have a home I guess?) or tourists. Again, this park is not a place that the residents hang out at.
- Over 10 million people supposedly visit Pike Place Market every year. I live in Alki and get sick enough of the ammount of people that come here in the summer, I couldn’t imagine that the “residents” of the “Pike Place Market community” would really enjoy that many visitors if they did in fact live there.
I wonder how this list was created, how Pike Place became a neighborhood, and really if there was any local research done on this piece. Lake Oswego also was named one of the best neighborhoods. Way to represent NW.
Perspire Soda?
Okay, as I’ve said before I’m a big fan of Jones Soda. I was just the hawks game on Sunday and got a few samples of their delicious cream soda, which took me back to senior year of high school (Yea, I drank alot of Jones then).
Jones has never been one to pass on a weird tasting soda to get some pr. A few years ago I bought their holiday pack which included Turkey, Smoked Salmon, Green Bean Casserole, and Pecan Pie. Nobody wanted them with their Thanksgiving dinner, so a few weeks later I tried one of them. It’s safe to say I didn’t drink the rest of the holiday pack.
Well to one up the holiday pack and to tie in their sponsorship of the Seahawks Jones Soday today announced their new “Seahawks Collector Pack” which includes these fine sodas
Dirt Soda, Sports Cream Soda, Perspiration Soda, Natural Field Turf Soda, and Sweet Victory Soda.
Mmmm, sounds delicious. When two things you love combine to make something so horrible it just doesn’t seem right.
Seahawks investment…
So the thing to wear to Seahawks games here in Seattle is a jersey. Now jersey’s aren’t cheap, and in particular, authentic jerseys are not cheap. I have this dilemma of buying a pro players jersey. With free agency, cutting players due to salary reasons, and the amount of trades these days, it’s hard to know how long your player will be on your team.
I think I need to bite the bullet this year and buy a jersey, but I am having a hard time figuring out which jersey to buy. The most popular jerseys here in Seattle are Shaun Alexander and Matt Hasselbeck. I like Matt, and think he’s a great QB, but I’m not going to buy a guys jersey who is over 30 (getting up there for the NFL) and kinda boring, plus it’s just way to popular. Shaun, nope I’m not going to buy his jersey. I love Walter Jones, but he’s been in the league 11 years, his career could soon be ending (although I hope not) So that leaves me with a question for you readers. Which Seahawks jersey should I buy?
The possibilities: Lofa Tatupu (maybe the third most popular jersey choice), Julian Peterson (will he stay here awhile?), Darryl Tapp (2nd year player who just earned the starting DE role 2 weeks ago), Joe Newton (Can you buy a practice squad players jersey? He’s a former Beaver and I just think it’s to risky as he might be traded off.), Seneca Wallace (backup qb, but may be getting some time in at wr soon).
Here are 4 jerseys I wish I could buy (I won’t get into specifics, but all 4 of these people could be and SHOULD be Seahawks): Steven Jackson, Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, or Mike Hass.
About Otis
I live in Seattle, Washington. I am passionate about working with and interacting with others. My work experience includes marketing, account management, and sales.
I am a huge sports fan who on top of cheering for my favorite teams (Go Beavs!) also appreciates coaching strategy, as well as the marketing behind teams, players, and events.
Personally, I enjoys exploring new cities and areas (particularly small towns) and getting outside and playing.