Cheap, cheerful and very stylish. (H&M)

Member Name: LaptopAcidX

Product:	H&M
Date:	01/06/09 (28 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, wide range of all kinds of clothing.

Disadvantages: Sizing a bit dodgy, occasional poor quality, extreme bias towards women.

I've been shopping at H&M since the early nineties, which if I remember rightly was about the time they came to this country, certainly it was when they opened their first shop in the North East in Newcastle.

I've always been attracted to the cool, stylish and sometimes edgy design which in my braver moments I have succumbed to. Over the years I have bought work wear, casual stuff and even sports wear and the odd suit. I feel the sizing in general is a bit optimistic, obviously designed for tall skinny men although I find the large shirts are a perfect fit for sleeve length and OK on the body if I suck my stomach in.

The quality is inconsistent and sometimes poor but I think this is to be expected for such a wide range of low priced goods, and I've never had problems taking stuff back. This is due to the mostly knowledgeable and friendly staff, I suspect H&M have really good hiring and training policies as even very young staff are capable communicators.

The main thing that really bugs me about H&M is embodied in the Harrogate store and that is the lack of a menswear section or department in the store. Fair enough it's not as massive as most of there other shops but in my opinion it's big enough. It's got a massive baby and youths section and plenty of womens wear why not make these slightly smaller and put some jeans and shirts in. Most stores have massive ladies sections and miserly mens sections as well and I remember a few years ago when the Trafford Centre store got rid of it's menswear section.

H&M embodies the typically Scandinavian approach to retail, cheap prices and great style although the quality isn't always there.

Summary: One of the first palces I go for clothes.