I went to the new Whittard of Chelsea store on Newbury Street in Boston. They have the full selection one would find in their UK stores, but at prices, allowing for the current exchange rate, about 45 percent higher than what you¹de pay in the UK. It¹s $9.99 for a 125 gram (4.4 ounces) package of loose tea, which sells for 3.2 pounds on their website. Sounds like it¹s time for a second Boston Tea Party! :-)
They said they are planning to open a second Boston store in Fanuel Hall in July.
I wasn't aware that these shops were popular in the US; they're a bit of a joke in the UK. I wonder if the product ranges are similar.
Toodlepip,
Hobbes
HobbesOxon wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@m36g2000hse.googlegroups.com:
I didn't say they are popular, just that they exist. Their website shows that they only have a few open now in the US, with more planned if these are successful.
As best as I could tell in one visit, the products they carry are identical to the UK stores, only the prices are much higher.
innews: snipped-for-privacy@m36g2000hse.googlegroups.com:
I tried some of their products when I was in the UK. They were good, but nothing outstanding. Certainly not worth the premium price they are charging. They are probably hoping that their will be perceived higher value because the price tag is higher. Twinings is just as good at a fraction of the price and it's more widely available.
Their projected image abroad is an interesting one. As you say, they seem to have (somehow) gained a reputation as selling expensive, sometimes good tea.
The reality in the UK is that they're approaching something like Starbucks: there are 2-3 in most large towns, they sell colourful crockery that looks like it should belong in a 1990s American sitcom, combined with a vast (truly vast) range of flavoured and scented teas. Blueberry, Christmas Pudding, Butterscotch, ad infinitum... Their "quality" teas are restricted to 2-3 options, usually low-grade "gunpowder" wulong and a white tea, at 4-5 the price of even the most expensive Internet vendors. This is true in the smallest of their shops in a provincial town, or their showcase shop in London's Covent Garden.
They're a remarkable conjunction of naffness and high prices, earning them their joke-like status - the sort of place one might buy a gift some someone that they didn't really like... :)
Toodlepip,
Hobbes
In other words, a tourist trap. Give me a cup of PG Tips any day.
I was just in the Boston store a week or two ago. This is a *perfect* description of it. A complete waste of storefront space, IMHO. Fairly aggressive sales people, too, and a lot of them, at least when I was there.
D.
There are a few branches in Bangkok too.. Cost us around 2.1 - 3 USD. I think they are trying to approach to same standard as Starbucks which can grab some upper customers.
Still, should be a nice place to sit around.
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