http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:27:41 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-february-2/ http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-february-2/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:48:09 +0000 Nissa http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/?p=6630 Capital Shopping Centres deal sparks backlash: A big move into new territories has CSC investors nervous. (Telegraph) How Brands Can Manage Facebook Comment Overload Most of us should be so lucky as to have this problem, but as your brand grows online, so do certain troubles. (Mashable) NRF’s 101st Annual Convention draws record 25,500 attendees: [...]]]>

• Capital Shopping Centres deal sparks backlash: A big move into new territories has CSC investors nervous. (Telegraph)
• How Brands Can Manage Facebook Comment Overload Most of us should be so lucky as to have this problem, but as your brand grows online, so do certain troubles. (Mashable)
• NRF’s 101st Annual Convention draws record 25,500 attendees: Not bad at all. Did you attend? How was it? (Home Textiles)
• Mall Mixologists: It’s more than possible to blow minds with unique retailers and restaurants. (Houston Press)
• Survey finds heartening level of consumer spending for Valentine’s Day: Over $17 billion, apparently. Good news for everyone, romantic or not. (Chicago Tribune)
• Consumers Expected to Spend $11 Billion on Super Bowl: Another retail holiday that’s expected to do quite well. (Fox)
• Smaller Australian malls struggling to fill retail space: While the big players are mostly riding out the difficult economic conditions, smaller malls are having a rougher time. (Reuters)
• Where You Might Not Shop In 2012: Discount retailers seem like the horse to back this year. (Forbes)
• AP Interview: JC Penney CEO tries to transform Penney, borrows from Apple’s playbook: An in-depth look into Ron Johnson’s big plans. (Star Tribune)

]]> http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-february-2/feed/ 0 http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-january-26/ http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-january-26/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:00:33 +0000 Nissa http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/?p=6586 U.K. Retail Sales Increase as Price Cuts Lure Shoppers: December wasn’t a stellar month in the U.K., but it was definitely a bit of a lift. (Bloomberg) Three Technologies that Will Change the Way We Shop: A concise look at three retail technologies that are far closer to reality than fantasy. (Advertising Age) Brad Hutensky [...]]]>

• U.K. Retail Sales Increase as Price Cuts Lure Shoppers: December wasn’t a stellar month in the U.K., but it was definitely a bit of a lift. (Bloomberg)
• Three Technologies that Will Change the Way We Shop: A concise look at three retail technologies that are far closer to reality than fantasy. (Advertising Age)
• Brad Hutensky tapped to be ICSC chairman: We won’t know until May for certain, but looks like the ICSC has its next chairman all wrapped up. (Shopping Centres Today)
• H-E-B helping customers achieve weight-loss goals for 2012: The company is putting its money where its mouth is to engage shoppers with healthier eating. (San Antonio Business Journal)
  
• Booksellers’ bonanza: It might be a bit early to declare the bookstore dead – booksellers in Australia enjoyed a hearty year’s end in 2011. (Inside Retailing)
• Fantasy Shopper becomes one of Europe’s hottest startups with $3.3m from Accel and NEA: We covered the retail game a few months back – looks like it’s doing quite well today. (TechCrunch)
• Thou Shalt Covet What Thy Neighbor Covets: A look at the psychology behind brand adoption – why we want the things that others want. (Fast Company)
• Online shopping won’t kill bricks-and-mortar stores, Whistler conference told: There are certainly retail sectors seriously threatened (or already decimated) by online retailers, but many will carry on unscathed. (Montreal Gazette)
• Retail sales rise for fourth month: More good sales news out of Canada. (Ottawa Citizen)
• Learning from international retailers: A look at how South African retailers are reacting to the arrival of Wal-Mart. (Biz Community)
• Five Things You Need to Know About the Changing Face of Retail: If you’re feeling left behind by recent shifts in the retail world, catch up here. (Forbes)

]]> http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-january-26/feed/ 0 http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-january-19/ http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-january-19/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:39:54 +0000 Nissa http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/?p=6543 Study: Consumers Want More Communications From Retailers: Surprisingly, customers want more contact, not less. (Convenience Store News) U.S. Retail Sales Growth Will Slow to 3.4% This Year, NRF Says: Last year’s growth was better than expected. Here’s hoping this week’s will be too. (Bloomberg) Fitness Track May Work Out for Stumbling Sears: The retailer is [...]]]>

• Study: Consumers Want More Communications From Retailers: Surprisingly, customers want more contact, not less. (Convenience Store News)
• U.S. Retail Sales Growth Will Slow to 3.4% This Year, NRF Says: Last year’s growth was better than expected. Here’s hoping this week’s will be too. (Bloomberg)
• Fitness Track May Work Out for Stumbling Sears: The retailer is moving toward long-term health relationships. (Advertising Age)
• Customer-centric Retail Model Starts in Marketing: It’s all about reaching out to each and every customer. (Multichannel Merchant)
• Zellers reviews options for outlets ‘left behind’: After Target picked up most Zellers locations, the 86 outlets they didn’t want have an uncertain future. (The Globe and Mail)
• Study: Young Consumers’ Shopping Preferences: A peer survey with interesting insights. (Women’s Wear Daily – subscription required)
• How to make your customers love you more: Small businesses have the flexibility to be creative with marketing. Makes for good inspiration. (NRF)
• Check the malls, they’re not so jolly – and landlords know it: Another look at the turbulence in the Australian shopping center market. (Sydney Morning Herald)
• General Growth Completes Spinoff of 30 Retail Centers Into New Rouse REIT: Rouse is up and ready to go. (Bloomberg)
• Professional Development: How to Stay on Top of the Latest Marketing Trends: We’re always happy to help you keep on top of the trends, but here are some more great tips (Mashable)

]]> http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-january-19/feed/ 0 http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-january-12/ http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-january-12/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:41:17 +0000 Nissa http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/?p=6529 Blackstone Joins DDR to Buy 46 Shopping Centers in U.S. for $1.43 Billion:The purchase makes Blackstone the second-largest U.S. owner of neighborhood and community shopping centers. (Bloomberg) Is Apple the Answer to Target’s Problems?: December was a difficult month for Target, but rumor has it Apple may yet save the day. Big Department Stores Help [...]]]>

• Blackstone Joins DDR to Buy 46 Shopping Centers in U.S. for $1.43 Billion:The purchase makes Blackstone the second-largest U.S. owner of neighborhood and community shopping centers. (Bloomberg)
• Is Apple the Answer to Target’s Problems?: December was a difficult month for Target, but rumor has it Apple may yet save the day.
• Big Department Stores Help Brand ‘Fashion Star’: Reality TV might be just what the fashion world needs. (MediaPost)
• Nordstrom Lowers Price of Rewards: The retailer is making its loyalty program more appealing with more perks and cheaper rewards. (Wall Street Journal)
• India lifts restrictions on FDI in single-brand retail: After tense negotiations, foreign investment in Indian retail goes through. (Reuters)
• Shopping centers with grocery stores poised to grow this year: While the big boxes falter, grocery stores are still going strong. (Washington Post)
• Trendspotter shares what to watch in retail in 2012: The big trends to watch for. (NRF)
• Retailers stuff their stores with QR codes: Front windows are a popular location, but retailers are experimenting with every place to put them. (Internet Retailing)
• Gulf malls risk ghost brands as retail recession claims victims: Brands that haven’t survived in the US and UK may still be represented with successful locations in the Gulf. (Arabian Business)
• Shopping Center Leasing Increases in U.S. as Consumer Confidence Increases: Lease rates are officially up for the first time in 15 years. (Bloomberg)

]]> http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-january-12/feed/ 0 http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-january-5/ http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-january-5/#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:16:54 +0000 Nissa http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/?p=6467 Same-store sales seen up 4.3 percent in December: Looks like last-second shoppers saved Christmas for many US retailers. (Reuters) Strip malls to be stripped down in international touring design contest: The strip mall is a retail segment that’s been badly neglected in recent years. Can it rise again? (Winnipeg Free Press) Gift cards will extend [...]]]>

• Same-store sales seen up 4.3 percent in December: Looks like last-second shoppers saved Christmas for many US retailers. (Reuters)
• Strip malls to be stripped down in international touring design contest: The strip mall is a retail segment that’s been badly neglected in recent years. Can it rise again? (Winnipeg Free Press)
• Gift cards will extend retailers’ holiday cheer: Another year, another big uptick in gift card sales. It means a hit for the holidays, but more shoppers in the always tough January. (LA Times)
• Sears to close 100+ stores: Another blow the department store anchors. (Desert Sun)
• Drake Rumor Caused Mall of America Fight: We all know celebrity appearances can cause chaos, but simple unfounded rumors can too? Ouch. (ShalomLife)
• Why Best Buy is Going out of Business…Gradually: Batten down the hatches, apparently we’re losing another one. (Forbes)
• Dollar General to add 6,000 jobs in 2012: Dollar General may save the day with 625 new stores this year alone. (Knox News)
• U.S. is top 2012 property investment pick: Brazil is catching up, however. (CNBC)
• Top 10 luxury marketing ideas in 2011: The luxury world was abuzz with new ideas, mostly on the web. (Luxury Daily)
• Man vs. Machine: A look at the future of the self-checkout. (Stores)
• A shopping season full of surprises: 5 ways the holiday season turned away from expectations. (Star Tribune)

]]> http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-january-5/feed/ 0 http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-december-22/ http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-december-22/#comments Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:45:19 +0000 Nissa http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/?p=6417 Holiday shoppers feeling jolly, sales increasing: There was a brief lull, but shoppers are primed and ready to go for their last-minute Christmas shopping. (Detroit Free Press) Toys R Us to stay open round the clock till Christmas Eve: Here’s one retailer ready to facilitate that. (CNNMoney) Watch the Season’s Best Holiday Ads: We can’t [...]]]>

• Holiday shoppers feeling jolly, sales increasing: There was a brief lull, but shoppers are primed and ready to go for their last-minute Christmas shopping. (Detroit Free Press)
• Toys R Us to stay open round the clock till Christmas Eve: Here’s one retailer ready to facilitate that. (CNNMoney)
• Watch the Season’s Best Holiday Ads: We can’t fit them all in here, so here are the most popular ads of the season. (Advertising Age)
• Looking for every sale, retailers inject testosterone into holiday shopping: An interesting team up between retailers and alternate venues to lure male shoppers. (Baltimore Sun)
• Simon says add fine dining at malls: Fine dining in the mall is a growing trend. (Philadelphia Business Journal)
• As Sales Lag, Stores Shuffle the Calendar: Retailers are split on whether to focus their Super Saturday efforts on Christmas Eve or not. (New York Times)
• At malls and Christmas gatherings, sensitive Santas catering to needs of children with autism: We’ve covered these programs before, but it’s something worth looking into if you haven’t already. (The Washington Post)
  
• Anonymous donors pay off Kmart layaway accounts: We’re hearing reports worldwide of this sort of thing, and for some families it’s a true Christmas miracle. (Yahoo)

]]> http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-december-22/feed/ 0 http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-december-14/ http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-december-14/#comments Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:38:07 +0000 Nissa http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/?p=6375 Retailers Re-Embrace Christmas: Should we say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays?” The debate is heated, and this year the trend is changing. (Forbes) Stores more aggressive with marketing this season: It looks as though predictions of a season of deep discounts are coming true. (San Francisco Chronicle) Mary Portas: shopping is gone, bring back the [...]]]>

• Retailers Re-Embrace Christmas: Should we say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays?” The debate is heated, and this year the trend is changing. (Forbes)
• Stores more aggressive with marketing this season: It looks as though predictions of a season of deep discounts are coming true. (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Mary Portas: shopping is gone, bring back the car boot sale: It doesn’t seem as though more car boot sales will save the high street, but Portas knows best. (Telegraph)
• The Future of Retail? Look To Its Past: Technology may change retail, but it doesn’t change people. (Harvard Business Review)
• No Hit Toy to Brighten Retailers’ Christmas: It’s not as bleak as it sounds, but toy retailers do need to be cautious in the face of a season without a must-have. (New York Times – registration required)
• Retailers move with lightning speed to create mobile apps: A look at the way real people are using mobile to enhance their shopping experiences. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
• Mall powers its Christmas tree lights with energy from shoppers’ footsteps: Midsummer Place has implemented this tech on the small scale, but every little bit helps. (Click Green)
• Cleaners’ strike to hit Christmas shoppers: Australian cleaners have, of course, timed their strike for maximum impact. (The Age)
• Disney rebooting its retail stores à la Apple: Steve Jobs, Disney’s biggest investor, inspired the company to “think big.” (Star Tribune)
• Lowe’s in Facebook Hell as Racist Comments Pile Up: Lowe’s is in the midst of a PR nightmare after pulling its advertising from ‘All-American Muslim.’ (Adweek)
• U.S. retailers trim Europe plans on region’s debt woes: U.S. retail chains may need to accept that there’s no magic bullet for investment at this point. (Reuters)
• Macy’s to Keep Stores Open Around the Clock Pre-Christmas: Last-minute shoppers will have no excuses this year. (Forbes)
• Virgin Mobile’s high-tech solution to Christmas shopping jingle hell: Some shoppers can’t stand Christmas music. Virgin has found a way to help them out without spoiling everyone’s fun. (news.com.au)

]]> http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-december-14/feed/ 0 http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-december-8-2/ http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-december-8-2/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:27:16 +0000 Nissa http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/?p=6341 Retailers report strong sales for November: Looking good, November. (Associated Press) Best Buy Biggest Winner On Black Friday Weekend: Big box retailers did well in general, but Best Buy took the top spot. (Twice) Dogs join hunt for bargains and some stores welcoming them: More and more retailers allow pets on the premises. (Access Atlanta) [...]]]>

• Retailers report strong sales for November: Looking good, November. (Associated Press)
• Best Buy Biggest Winner On Black Friday Weekend: Big box retailers did well in general, but Best Buy took the top spot. (Twice)
• Dogs join hunt for bargains and some stores welcoming them: More and more retailers allow pets on the premises. (Access Atlanta)
• Good ol’ days gone forever? Maybe not: “Retro” is in, but what does that mean this year? Apparently, just about anything before this millennium. (Houston Chronicle)
• Consumers No Scrooge With Sale of Seasonal Decor in U.S.: The jury is still out on holiday sales, but shoppers are buying decor like mad. (Brandweek)
• Spirit of Scrooge haunts Christmas shoppers: Unfortunately, retail sales in the UK are not doing quite as well. (The Guardian)
• Retail central to NYC’s rebound, Bloomberg tells conference: A nice bit of recognition at the National Conference. (Shopping Centers Today)
• Crate expectations: Shipping containers used for first ‘pop-up’ shopping mall: Boxpark is live in London. (CNN)
• Retail group lashes out after Amazon announces Price Check app promotion: Everyone knows shoppers do this, but explicitly rewarding them for it is a bit scummy. (LA Times)
• India Suspends Decision to Allow Foreign Retailers: The Indian government has backpedaled on an earlier decision after backlash. (Voice of America)

]]> http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-december-8-2/feed/ 0 http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-december-1/ http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-december-1/#comments Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:57:10 +0000 Nissa http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/?p=6293 Mall owners pull plug on cellular tracking, for now: The fire under Footpath has got it pulled for now. (Ars Technica) Retailers leaving ‘wrong’ locations: As the high street empties, malls fill up. (The Guardian) IPad-Crazed Toddlers Spur Holiday Sales: While little ones normally have their parents in line early for the next toy trend, [...]]]>

• Mall owners pull plug on cellular tracking, for now: The fire under Footpath has got it pulled for now. (Ars Technica)
• Retailers leaving ‘wrong’ locations: As the high street empties, malls fill up. (The Guardian)
• IPad-Crazed Toddlers Spur Holiday Sales: While little ones normally have their parents in line early for the next toy trend, this year it’s all about the tablet. (Bloomberg)
• Mall Santas Curb Children’s Expectations To Reflect Faltering Economy: On the other hand, many families are hoping to avoid the iPad on the wishlist entirely. (Huffington Post)
• Feds seize 150 counterfeit websites on Cyber Monday: The end of a plague of online counterfeiters might encourage shoppers to buy the real brands, or at least head back to the mall. (Orange County Register)
• Target digs in heels as labour union applies to keep unionized status: Target’s move into Canada is causing no small amount of friction. (The Globe and Mail)
• ‘Oh, I shouldn’t have’: Retailers make pitch for self-gifting: The marketing theme this holiday season is a touch of self-indulgence. (MSNBC)
• Gadgets Unchain Cashiers: The distance between browsing and purchasing grows smaller. (Wall Street Journal – tiered subscriptions)
• Sleeping Giant at Walmart Wakes — Its Vast Workforce: Walmart takes steps to turn its customer service workforce into brand ambassadors. (Ad Age – tiered subscription)
  
• Row over India retail shake-up: India is on the verge of allowing significant foreign investment in retail, and the change is not going over entirely smoothly. (NZ Herald)
• Gift card spending to reach $27.8 billion this holiday season: The most practical of gifts gets even bitter this year. (Retailing Today)
• A mall built exclusively for your home reno needs: This is the second high-concept mall we’ve heard about in as many months. Consider me intrigued. (Globe and Mail)
• Santa gets beard caught in Gardens Mall rappelling stunt: A quick bit of spin saves a holiday mishap from becoming a disaster. (CBS12)
• Almost 2,000 free ‘purse protector’ bells distributed at Port Arcades Shopping Centre: Shoppers will be jingling through the holiday season, and their wallets will be safe.
• Shopping centre cleaners walk off the job: The ongoing labor struggle with Australian cleaners has resulted in aggressively-timed job action. (Herald Sun)

]]> http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-december-1/feed/ 0 http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-november-24/ http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/industry-headlines/industry-headlines-november-24/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:32:59 +0000 Nissa http://www.shoppingcenterweekly.com/?p=6255 Vuitton Sees Growth Tied to Invitation-Only Luxury Salon: A new sort of retail is forming up in luxury, one that has a place in neither the mall nor the high street. (Bloomberg Businessweek) Old Navy joins network to reward customers for store visits: Another retailer hops on the Shopkick check-in service. (Retailing Today) Mall owner [...]]]>

• Vuitton Sees Growth Tied to Invitation-Only Luxury Salon: A new sort of retail is forming up in luxury, one that has a place in neither the mall nor the high street. (Bloomberg Businessweek)
• Old Navy joins network to reward customers for store visits: Another retailer hops on the Shopkick check-in service. (Retailing Today)
• Mall owner GGP: The higher the offer the more successful the campaign: A look at how GGP manages its mobile app, and how it’s brought retailers on board. (Mobile Marketer)
• Available U.S. Retail Space to Drop for First Time Since 2005, CBRE Says: Fewer new spaces are becoming available and retailers are starting to expand again. (Bloomberg)
• Retailers Enliven Catalog Offerings Through Apps: More and more retailers see tablet apps as their new catalogs. (New York Times)
• Holiday shopping trend is to not be so trendy: There may not be a single “it” gift this year, which might get shoppers fighting less and browsing more. (Detroit Free Press)
• Retailers roll out Black Friday freebies: The folks that line up early might not just get the best doorbusters this year – many retailers are pulling out huge giveaways too. (USA Today)
• eBay pops up on the high street for Christmas: eBay is looking closely at the benefits of brick and mortar. This new concept sells online goods to mobile shoppers in store. (The Guardian)
• ICSC New York National Conference surge portends retail uptick: The organization has seen a significant increase in registration’s for this year’s conference. (Shopping Centers Today)
• Low-end stores opening earliest on Black Friday: The lower the prices, the greater the competition this year. (Reuters)
• Report: Malls Using Cell Phone Signals to Track Black Friday Activity: More fear about tracking and analytics. If your center uses tracking services, it looks like you may need to be prepared to field questions about it. (PCMag)

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