Gymboree’s avid followers – usually moms – often have been referred to as cult-like, with Web sites and Yahoo groups devoted to Gymboree. I must admit that I am a fan of Gymboree, and I am a member of several Gymboree Yahoo groups. One of the main reasons I don’t buy Gymboree more than I do is because the clothing can be somewhat expensive ($85 for an outfit for a 2-year old). I just can’t swing it. Well, there is good news for those of who love Gymboree but can’t afford to pay the high prices: Gymboree has recently opened Crazy Eights, a clothing similar store that is less costly than Gymboree or Janie and Jack, another popular children’s clothing store owned by Gymboree.
The idea is modeled after Gap’s creation of the lower-priced Old Navy brand that has become more profitable for the company than Gap’s higher end stores. It is Gymboree’s hope that Crazy Eight will be as hugely successful for them as Old Navy has been for Gap.
Crazy Eight stores have been opened in test markets, and depending on the response more stores may be popping up soon. There are seven stores currently open, five can be found in California, two in New Jersey, one in Staten Island, New York, and two in Houston, Texas. Five of the stores opened in August with two celebrating their openings in October. Gymboree has stated that consumers can expect as many as twenty new stores by the end of the year.
As with Gymboree, Crazy Eight stores will feature a TV area in the back of the store for children to watch while parents shop. Though Crazy Eight is modeled after Gymboree, it will offer a wider range of sizes than Gymboree currently does, offering sizes ranging from newborn through size fourteen.
For those of us who are not lucky enough to be near a Crazy Eight store at this time we can satisfy our desire to try out the new clothing line by shopping their online store that is currently open. As of right now, the online store is currently offering free shipping on all orders. They also have a special section of items priced at $9.99 and below, I found 232 items in the girls section, and 121 items in the boy’s section. And no they weren’t all priced $9.99, there were some very cute shirts in both sections priced for as low as $4.99 and $5.99. If the quality of the clothing is anywhere near the quality of Gymboree’s it will be an excellent deal.
