Lisa Kline Plots New Course
Lisa Kline will stay on high-profile shopping street Robertson Boulevard, and she will remain a presence in the women’s fashion industry—the rest is up for grabs.
After 16 years of selling premium fashion on Robertson, she is in the midst of changing her business. Recently, she sent a message to her womenswear vendors to tell them that she will no longer sell women’s fashions at her Lisa Kline boutique, located at 143 S. Robertson Blvd. For now, the boutique’s operations will be devoted to menswear. Ultimately, that might change.
Kline said she has not decided where Lisa Kline Men will end up. It could remain in the same locationor move to the store front of the Lisa Kline Kids boutique at 123 S. Robertson Blvd. Kline also plans to exit the children’s business.
There is no set schedule to phase out the women’s business or make a decision on store locations, yet both changes will be made in less than one year.
Kline said she got out of the womenswear business because it did not make financial sense for a small business to compete against deep-pocketed department stores and e-commerce emporiums, which frequently offer women major discounts. Women’s fashion retail also became saturated with too many competitors and choices, she said.
“[Men] are not going online for the discounts,” she said. They still pay full price for fashion, she contended. “I was never worried about the men’s business. It’s a model that still works.”
She plans to continue working with her loyal women’s customers, possibly in styling. She’d also like to start a new women’s fashion business, and ideas for this business are still being formed. “I’m still figuring out the recipe,” she said. —Andrew Asch
