Industry Headlines: August 19th
- Free Speech and Malls: As a court rules conversation rules at a Westfield center unconstitutional, the debate about free speech on private property rages. (Retail Traffic, US)
- Pop-up retailing takes a new direction: Imagine a chain retailer entirely devoted to creating pop-up experiences for other brands in its space. It’s happening in Vancouver. (Vancouver Sun, CA)
- American Apparel runs out of cash, Abercrombie to close 110 stores within two years: Not a good week for teen retailers. (The Guardian, UK / ICSC)
- Westfield confirms September 2011 opening for Stratford shopping centre: Looks like they’ll make the Olympic deadline with time to spare. (Property Week, US)
- Extortion claims rejected: Are extended trading hours in Perth leading to shopping center owners extorting retailers? It doesn’t really sound like it, but one MLA believes they are. (WA Today, AU)
- Retailers Moving Christmas A Little Closer: US marketers are planning to push Black Friday and Christmas sooner and for longer. (Marketing Daily, US)
- Panera’s Pay-What-You-Want Restaurant Actually Works: A fascinating new retail concept that may be reaching more markets soon. (GOOD, US)
- Edmonton gets Canada’s first Victoria’s Secret: The lingerie retailer heads north. (Times Colonist, CA)
- Bed, Bath & Bribes: An interesting look at Ikea’s struggles with Russian expansion. (Foreign Policy, US)
- Opry Mills’ return after flood remains mystery: Opry Mills was devastated in Tennessee floods three months ago, and owners aren’t sure how much longer it will be closed for. (Tennessean, US)
- Fathers Day buyers split 4 ways: With Father’s Day coming up on September 5th in Australia, shoppers take different, but identifiable, approaches to shopping for Dad. (Inside Retailing, AU)
- Analysis: Clothing discounts set for snip as costs rise: Clothes makers are no longer able to sustain the deep discounts that have kept them afloat through the worst of the recession and recovery. (Reuters, US)
- J.Crew Takes a Leading Role in Men’s Fashion: The brand fills the gap between intimidating luxury offerings and outdated brands. (Bloomberg Businessweek, US)
- Threadless tests chain store waters: Threadless, a trendy online t-shirt maker, is selling products on Nordstrom racks. Online brands embracing brick and mortar space – this could be big. (Chicago Tribune, US)
- Fire-ravaged shopping centre reopening: Happy news for Central World, the shopping center set on fire by protesters in Bangkok in May. (Inside Retailing, AU)
Image: Freedom & Truth, a cc licensed flickr photo shared by [nati]
