Joe M.
Yelp
I am a fan of Crossroads Trading as a chain, but Pasadena has become an unfortunate location. The reason is specific being a male that is shopping for men's clothes. In the last year, either because of increased competition locally or some sort of executive decision, the men's section has basically shrunk. Every time I have visited over the last several months, there is a smaller and smaller section geared at men and more geared at women.
Visiting the other locations, it's fairly common to see both people that identify as women and non-binary shopping in the men's section because they like it in addition to men, just like some men or non-binary individuals shop in the women's with women. I'm good with that, but that also said, I am not interested in wearing women's clothes so a smaller section means less for me and others I mentioned to consume. Being there recently, the women's section is currently about 80% of the store. Then, the people buying for the men's sections are not bringing in the best stuff. Going several times, I've seen better selections at lower thrift stores. Now, I realize that some of it depends on who's selling to Crossroads, but they used to get really good stuff and maintain it every time I was in there. They still get really good men's items at literally every other nearby location. Here it appears they've given up and just put a token men's section in but focus only on women's items. To give them credit, the staff is nice, helpful and generally speaking, the location is clean. The problem is the selection for men's items. My advice would be stop bringing in men's clothes, like J.Crew or Lucky or lesser brand shirts that look like they've been washed one hundred times too many before arriving, and bring in more high end stuff like Prada, Missoni or Burberry. If you are going to have a small men's section, it can't look like the stuff they threw away or put on clearance at Buffalo Exchange or the Salvation Army particularly when you have this huge women's section with stuff like Miu Miu. It's Pasadena and there are plenty of men with money that will spend and recycle their clothing if you give them a reason, but now there's no reason.
To give them some credit for the men's, perhaps maybe they've started the process. I hope they have. I noticed they had some better brands that I'd seen in my last 4-5 visits, but I'm not interested in stained Vince short stand-up collar shirts, much less plain color Sandro or The Kooples shirts. I am a man that wears shirts and I wouldn't wear them, so I am not sure who will unless it is a hipster trying to be ironic. If you're going to bring in items that people need, whether it's someone like myself or perhaps even younger, make them sportier, focus instead on stylish long sleeved t-shirts or henleys, more sportswear from places like Lululemon, even though I get it's not for everyone and maybe more beachwear. When you are buying, think of a target male customer and picture what you'd put them in if you were styling them. Don't think this faded Nickelback shirt is ironic, I bet someone would love this. I get that it's not a perfect science and there are a lot of hipsters, but there is too much stuff on the racks that just shouldn't be there and if your men's section is 20% of a large retail space, you are losing a lot of customers to places like Second Street because regular guys or other consumers interested in similar items can't find things to wear or even consider.
I used to look forward to shopping here, but not sure when I'll return at this point. I'd rather go to Los Feliz or Echo Park where they have a great selection of items geared at men or women or non-binary customers that also want to buy items with more of a male or men's focus.
