Are you a Farrow & Ball fan?

[SaraS]

Hi,
I am a student at the London College of Fashion and my current project objective is to design a range of clothing that could, theoretically, be part of the Farrow & Ball brand.
The only problem is that I do not know much about it, apart from what I have read and seen at my visit to their showroom.
What do users of F&B like or dislike about their products?
Who is the typical F&B customer?
I would be really helpful if someone can fill me in...?
I have also created a survey, but I believe that I am not allowed to directly 'advertise' it here, so if you would be willing to participate please contact me via my profile page.

Many thanks.

 

[phil1806]

I wouldn't describe myself as an F&B fan or even customer, but I'm aware of them as we're renovating an old house and they're one of the brands you can go to for paints and wallpaper in "heritage" colours, using traditional materials and methods. But, they're quite expensive and you can get a similar effect with the heritage ranges you can buy in B&Q. Probably not as good, but does the job.

So they have the same affinity to clothing as Laura Ashley, ie none really unless you want your skirt to match your wallpaper. Clothes made from "traditional" materials by "traditional" methods are going to be expensive and not aimed at the fashion market. I keep thinking of Goth with colour.

 

[CG]

Phil is right with regards to the cost of FB paint as it is quite expensive, the do have a good range of colours which period property owners like but the Limewash and Casian distemper are the only traditional products they do. The emulsion is still a plastic emulsion paint. You never see this stuff in and proper restorations as most conservation officers will insist on proper limewash etc for use on lime based plasters only on multifinish or plaster board you will be able to use normal emulsion. You can get proper limewash with proper heritage colour pigments (from tallow or herbs or berrys etc) for 1/4 of the price of a can of FB if you know where.

People often use the colour swatch as it tells you about the history of the colour you are looking at and if is a true Victorian or Georgian etc. but dont be fooled into thinking that the emulsions are any more traditional than B&Q £10 for 10 gallons stuff!!

 

[SaraS]

Thank you phil1806 and CG, that is really helpful!

 

[Scrit]

The emulsion paint is thin and requires 3 or more coats when Dulux Trade (and they can match the F & B colours) would do it in 2 coats, so I'm unimpressed by the quality (and frightened by the prices). Same goes for the eggshells. The typical customer who asks for a farmhouse kitchen to be finished in an F & B paint is well-healed, middle-class, middle-age and has basically quite a staid, traditional taste (at least in kitchens). Me, I know my place.......

Scrit

 

[Zampa]

Yeh I must admit im not keen...its ok..just but certainly not worththat sort of money.

People think they are getting something special..they aint...crown dulux johnstones are all accomplised manufacturers too

A worthy comparison is dulux flay matt emulsion..or the oil based equiv..and its only 27 quid for five litres!

No-one is going to look at a wall and say...nice depth of colour..I see you have used farrow and ball..

Note:- Laura Ashley paint..made by F/B its like water...avoid at all costs..its sfot too...lousy durability.

The typical customer...hmm...without generalising to much...middle class country types..or trendies..or people that have just bought or converted an old farm or barn and think the only paint you can use when you live in the country is limewash or distemper...people who think they are getting something special (ok it is a bit different) because the colour card is a bit fancy and the colours are set out rather cleverly..if you go though other peoples colour satch books youl find all the same colours in there somewhere..

Fired earth is another one...what a rip off

I hope my current customer doesnt read this..ive bene using F/B in her bedroom!!

SaraS...why dont you paste your survey up...the MODS can only take it off if its agasint the rules

Do you work for F/B by the way?...doing a bit of market research?

 

[SaraS]

Thank you for all your replies!

To answer your question Zampa I truly am a student, and I am in no way affiliated with F&B, but yes it is market research, but for my own academic purposes only.

All your views really are very helpful for me in order to define a consumer profile, decide on a target group and to give me ideas on what type of clothing I am going to design and develop for this project.

When I was set this project I thought 'omigod', I do not have a clue what to do!
F&B is so not much usual style, but now I have got quite a few ideas running through my head and I think I can do something interesting with it, although it is still a huge challenge.

I still have not had a lot response on their wallpapers, anyone out there want to fill me in what they think about them and why?

 

[Zampa]

Just checked the site out...hanging the paper is not for the faint hearted or the amutuer..like the paint I would expect it to be pricey..all hand printed papers are.

Designing a clothing brand around the F/B name and style..hmm..im sure not many people would want to walk around in striped dress'es and suits..or be covered in ivy leaves

However given that those designs reflect a certain period...have you considered designs based on the work on William Morris?..he did some fantastic stuff..that would suit similar style properties.

A lot of his 'work' was in fact copies by a guy called John Henry Dearle..who worked for him nd a lot of the stuff that people assume was Morris was not..it was the work of Dearle

 

[Third_Eye]

Mmmmmmmm, always learning Zampa cos a didny know Laura Ashley paint is made by F/B. Though, if so, then i have used F/B wallpaper & matt emulsion. To my suprise there wallcovering was of good quality in terms of hanging and it was of an matt finish which did not soak in the paste (This can cause flashing). Also, again to my suprise there matt emulsion was of an flexible body which is VERY STRANGE for a matt emulsion. The job did turn out excelent as i did have my concern about the quality of Laura Ashley paints & wallcoverings. Though the Biggest problems with wallpaper from an decorators point of view is flaws in the paper as i find up to 50% of wallcoverings do have flaws and every time you open a roll u think and pray the roll has no flaws as this can cause delays & loss of profit etc..............

 

[SaraS]

Yes, learning something new is great, definitely one of my favourite parts of being a student!

I have got some more things I am wondering about... (still wanna learn more!)

What (kind of) brands you guys consider to be F&B's main competitors?
Is it other 'luxury' brands, or is it the cheaper brands with wide ranges of colours?

What about for wallpapers?

Plus, does environmental/ethical factors influence peoples decisions to go for high-end brands such as F&B or is it a question of clever marketing/packaging etc?

 

[Zampa]

Main competitors...Hmm..fired earth maybe..allthough they are not as big..

There are quite a lot of specialist raditional paint makers dotted around the UK..

Dulux and crown both have Traditional ranges on the market..and if people looked into it a little deeper they may that they match F/B like for like on many counts.

And certainly better them on price.

A lot of the companies bang they paint in a fancy tin...bit of italic writing on the side...old fashioned metal handles...and whack another tenner on the price..

Its like the Jam thing..screw top lid..89p...bit of muslin and a rubber band and a bit of 'handwritten' label...call it 'preserve' ...bosh...£3.50 please!

Also the names...Farrow and Ball...sounds posh...sounds classy..fired earth...sounds eco friendly..raw..earthy..all part of the sell...

If F/B stood for 'Frank Blogs' ...they wouldnt sell any!

Theres a bit of snob factor with paint...some people wont be seen dead with Magnolia on their walls..too 'council' for them...but will pick a colour from a colour palette which is exactly the same!

Environment..nah..offered an eco type couple the option of dulux for 15 quid or eco paint for 40...guess what they picked!

 

[Third_Eye]

Let me explain my wisdom & experience for you SaraS. I dont see it as 'What (kind of) brands you guys consider to be F&B's main competitors? ' the way i see it is the general public will find it difficult to accept 5 litres of coloured emulsion costing £50 PERIOD. The general public will accept £20 for 5 litres of coloured emulsion. Therefore what paint makers need to do is hoodwink the public by taking out some quality materials out of there Vinyl Matt coloured emulsion and restock shelves with Matt Emulsion, rather than put up the price causing a loss sale. The best example is MOST general public do not understand that Matt Emulsion & Vinyl Matt Emulsion are two different paints (i.e. hoodwinked) and Matt Emulsion is cheaper and lower quality. But Matt Emulsion is branded as being cheaper when its not really (i.e. hoodwinked) its the public being fooled. Meaning Vinyl Matt Emulsion Coloured costing £30, then no-one buys, then they restock to Matt Emulsion Coloured costing £20 and claim it's cheaper ! But it cant be cheaper cos as explained Vinyl Matt Emulsion & Matt Emulsion are two different paints due to quality etc............I could go on and on and on like her out of father ted, the tea lady.......but i dont have the time. Its like when hardly anyone knew that economy burgers were actually 10% meat but sell it cheaper and brand it as meat when its only 10% meat. The same tactic is done with paint brushes cos they label them pure brislte and making the decoraor think to himself "I have a pure brislte brush" BUT it could only be one brislte in that brush that is pure brislte. HOODWINKING is a way of life unfortunatly though big institutions companys are being HOODWINKED themselves by on-going pension scandels etc etc etc etc...........

 

[Zampa]

What he said...

 

[Third_Eye]

Also what Zampa said....... NB if F/B want to make more sales then the best thing for them to do is have 3 different brands. What i mean is have one expensive but of high quality brand for people who can count higher numbers due to ther bank balances (so-called upperclass) and call this brand High Quality Farrow & Ball Paint, then the sales will attract the got to be seen in public buying the dear paint people. Then have another meduim priced brand called Good Quality Farrow & Ball Paint, then the sales will attract the middle class people who not dare have more than 2 children. Then have another bargain brand called Economy Farrow & Ball Paint, then the sales will take care of people on benefits & pensioners. But still keep the image Farrow & Ball has at present. There sales would triple. But thats only my humble opnion ! hehe.

 

[Zampa]

Good idea...but I dont think the likes of Farrow an Goolie would lower themselves.