I originally had another post planned for today, but I didn’t want you to miss the grand opening this weekend, so I decided to shift things around and post this one mid-day today!
I was super excited when I heard that LL Bean was coming to Columbus and even more excited when they invited me to take a sneak peek of the store yesterday before the grand opening this weekend.
During the sneak peek, we were given a tour of the store with chairman, Shawn Gorman. LL Bean is currently in the process of expanding their stores – their goal is to have 100 by 2020, which they started last year. If you’re not familiar with LL Bean, the flagship store is located in Freeport, Maine. They have recently expanded along the east coast and are moving into the Midwest.
Discovery School
One of the best things about LL Bean is their focus on an active outdoor lifestyle. They have a program called Discovery School which offers a wide range of classes outside. It was started at the Freeport store in Maine with the idea of “learning by trying.” In Columbus, they offered kayaking and fly-fishing over the summer and they will be offering snowshoeing and cross-country skiing this winter. The best part is that each class is only $25 – that includes your gear and time with an expert instructor. In high season, they have about 30 instructors here in Columbus.
100% Satisfaction Guarantee
One of my favorite things about LL Bean (and the reason why I’ve gone there for some bigger purchases) is their customer service and their 100% guarantee that extends far beyond the 30 days that most retailers offer. It’s nice to know that you’re buying something of quality.
The interesting thing about LL Bean is that they’re moving a bit in the opposite direction of other retailers. LL Bean was a catalog merchant first and they had their flagship store and they are now expanding their retail space. Other retailers have always had the in-person stores and they are now experimenting with online shopping, etc.
Most popular item
Their bestseller is the Bean Boot – handmade in Maine. The boots are so popular that they are currently backordered with shipment dates in February or March! However, they’re recommending that you order now to make sure you get your pair. One fun thing is that they set aside 500 pairs just for the Columbus store, so if you’re interested in a pair, I recommend going to check out the store this weekend!
Signature
LL Bean Signature offers many of the same patterns as the classics, but in a more modern fit and design. They have tons of flannel as well as scarves and jackets. One thing that they discussed on the tour was the value they see in the store experience – being able to see all of the items in one place – as opposed to the catalog. I completely agree. As I mentioned before, I’ve always enjoyed shopping at LL Bean, but mainly for home goods (like sheets) or for outerwear purchases (like a down jacket). However, I had always found that their clothes appealed to a different demographic than me. I was definitely pleasantly surprised to see it all in the store – their signature collection had a ton of really cute pieces that I would wear on a daily basis as well as some great travel items. I love finding clothes that are versatile and pack easily – and they have some great pieces that they talk about taking from “the mountain to main street.”
Opening Weekend
- Friday – LL Bean gift cards to first 200 customers
- Saturday – Enter to Win a trip to Maine for a family of four
- Sunday – Kid’s Day – live animals from the Columbus Zoo, giveaways, hands-on programs
- All Weekend – free fly-casting lessons with their Outdoor Discovery Schools, slacklining, Bean Boot toss game, giveaways, product representatives from GoPro and PrimaLoft
Don’t miss the bootmobile! (Be sure to get a selfie!)
