OK. I have got to say that this whole 'Bath & Body Works Outlet' idea is going to be very hazardous to our health here at Oakridge. Today I helped out at Gilroy - they needed to set up their store so that it could open Friday morning (it was supposed to open today but they're slow) and since they are converting to an outlet store, it is going to be like the Semi-Annual Sale 365 days of the year. Gone are the 'signature collection' like Cucumber Melon, Sweet Pea, and Cherry Blossom. Le Couvant de Minimes and the majority of C.O. Bigelow is missing too. The store only carries products that are discontinued, or are likely to be in the near future, at deeply discounted prices.
The problem stems from the fact that the 'like to be discontinued' products are still carried at regular stores for full price. I reckon it'll take less than a week for a few enterprising individuals to figure out they can buy the cheaper products at Gilroy's outlet store and return them at our store for store credit at the full dollar amount. A scrub may be discounted to $10 at Gilroy, but you can get $20 store credit up at Oakridge. That's what our customers are like! It's how they think! It's going to be trouble for us, I can feel it.
Since I was at the Gilroy Outlets, far from home, Seanie drove down to take me out to dinner. We went to Applebee's and I got Kiwi Lemonade, which is my new favorite drink. Yay!
