2008 Woodie Awards
Urban Outfitters opens in BoDo
Francy Marcotte
Issue date: 3/5/07 Section: Culture
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However, on Feb. 28, the rules broke when crowds of people swarmed BoDo in Downtown Boise for the opening of Urban Outfitters.
Urban Outfitters - known for selling clothes and houseware items in cities like Portland, Seattle and New York City - arrived in Boise last week, ready to introduce residents to a new definition of style.
For its opening week, the store offered extra incentives to make customers’ first experience in Urban Outfitters a memorable one.
First, every purchase came with a customized tote bag reading “UoBo” on one side and “City of Trees: Boise, Idaho” on the other.
Secondly, 10% of purchases went directly to Allies Linked for the Prevention of HIV and AIDS (A.L.P.H.A), an organization dedicated to preventing and educating the public about HIV and AIDS.
Walking into Urban Outfitters transforms a once hum-drum Boise life into a hip, upbeat shopping experience, reminiscent of what one might find in a big city. An employee greets customers at the door with expressions like “hello” or “how are you today?” making each feel right at home in the expansive space.
Seriously, it’s a huge store.
However, considering the variety of merchandise Urban Outfitters carries, it needs the space.
The store offers everything from clothing to shoes to dinnerware and other household items. Therefore, it’s not only a clothes haven, but a lifestyle store as well.
Women’s clothing takes up the front portion of the store. Rows of shoes hang off the walls, displaying their leopard-print or rainbow-dotted patterns in full view.
T-shirts, sweaters and crystal bowls filled with jewelry cover round tables and floral-printed dresses hang on racks nearby.
Admittingly, the women’s clothing takes up a large part of the store’s space. It starts right at the entrance and extends all the way to the back of the store, next to the fitting rooms.
Right around that area is the men’s clothing. This section sports graphic T-shirts ranging from $24 to $48.
It may seem a little pricey, but isn’t it worth it to have a shirt that says “Fight Me I’m Irish” on it? Urban Outfitters thinks so.
Guys can also expect to find a selection of sweatshirts, jackets, sweaters and shoes on display to feed their inner style cravings.
Besides women’s and men’s clothing, Urban Outfitters dedicates a considerable amount of space to household items.
The store exposes customers to dish sets in bold colors like red, orange and blue, flower and zebra-striped rugs, picture frames, red and yellow wicker chairs, bedding and candles.
It also offers less practical items such as “Borat”-themed drinking glasses and “G.I. Joe Kung Fu” action figures.
Despite its amount of merchandise, Urban Outfitters scores highest for its atmosphere.
Indie-rock bands like The Shins and Bloc Party play through the loudspeakers, making music an integral part of the shopping experience. In fact, customers can purchase Bloc Party’s latest album “Weekend in the City” at the registers.
Antique-style cabinets and lamps also cover the store and contribute to its funky, urban vibe.
Finally, employees never hesitate to assist customers in finding an item, and leave a friendly impression on them.
However, high prices stand as Urban Outfitters’ one negative point. Most clothing items start at $24 and can reach $100.
One zebra-striped bracelet costs $18 - a price most college students would not dream of paying.
Though its prices can easily empty a bank account, Urban Outfitters possesses a variety of quirky merchandise new to Boise shoppers. It is a strong addition to BoDo and will certainly enjoy a long, prosperous life there.
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