Talking Retail

Holidays, Pt. 2

2010-11-23T10:06:00.000-08:00

Lord & Taylor is the latest retailer to unveil its Christmas windows, and it was done amid much fanfare, including performances by Emmy and Tony award-winner Kristin Chenoweth and the Young People’s Chorus of New York City.

The venerable department store went high-tech, streaming the event online. It also for the first-time sought feedback into the window displays, asked customers, friends and family to share their favorite holiday memories and traditions over Facebook and by sending in letters. Inspired by these submissions, the four Fifth Avenue windows came to life with 12 Christmas scenes set in New York City over the past 50 years. The customer names and stories that inspired each mechanical window scene are displayed in the window for viewers to see.

A video of highlights from the event can be seen at youtube.com/watch?v=PomNmKGU_rA&feature=player_embedded.

Holidays in New York

2010-11-18T12:52:00.000-08:00

It’s that time of year again … you know the holiday season is officially upon us when retailers in Manhattan start unveiling their elaborate holiday windows. This year, one of the first out of the gate is Henri Bendel, on Fifth Avenue, which is offering a haute homage to the New York City Ballet’s version of The Nutcracker, complete with beautifully costumed, Swarovski-bejeweled mannequins (from Atrezzo). The Nutcracker theme continues inside the luxurious store as well, where suspended mannequins whirl in a ballet wonderland.

Check out the photos below:

Retailers Keep Upping Ante in Times Square

2010-10-22T05:45:00.000-07:00

New York City’s Times Square gains more wattage with each passing day. Teen fave Aeropostale has opened a 19,000-sq.-ft. flagship at 1515 Broadway between 44th and 45th Streets, smack in the middle of the tourist Mecca.

The two-level store is lit up with a 120-sq.-ft. digital billboard made up of two million LEDs. The content varies, but will include images of the store’s shoppers, who are invited to dance with virtual models in The Balcony, an open space on the second-floor. A camera embedded in the screen in the room will film the shoppers and display their images on the storefront billboard about 20 minutes later. That a retailer as savvy as Aeropostale is willing to give up valuable (and very expensive) square footage to an empty room -- one with not a shred of merchandise -- is unusual to say the least.

To read more about the Aeropostale store, click here. And to see more photos, click here.

... But Aeropostale isn’t the only one adding to the Times Square dazzle. On Nov. 9, The Disney Store will unveil its next-generation, interactive store format (see photo on left). The new Disney emporium, at 1540 Broadway, has already started to unveil its exterior.

Toys 'R' Us Times Square’s New Sweet Treat

2010-09-23T09:01:00.000-07:00

From the gigantic Forever 21 superstore to the soon-to-open Disney store and Aeropostale flagship, Manhattan’s Times Square is a beehive of retail activity these days. Meanwhile, the store that started it all -- Toys “R” Us -- has a new “sweet” attraction: The Nestle-owned Wonka candy brand has opened its first-ever retail shop on the first level of the giant Toys flagship. It’s bright and wildly colorful and enticing, with its sweet scents and candy theme. Now if only Johnny Depp would make an appearance …

Herding Cats … in Ikea

2010-09-10T06:32:00.000-07:00

It’s being called the best retail-related video ever posted on YouTube. I wouldn’t go that far, but it certainly is different. British advertising agency Mother London released 100 cats in Ikea’s store in Wembly, England, and then filmed the results for a new advertising campaign whose tagline is “happy inside.” The YouTube film shows footage of the cats being released and exploring the store.

As for the campaign, along with 60- and 90-second TC commercials, it includes a Facebook-linked competition where users have to guess which pieces of furniture the cats in the ad settled themselves down on, to win the furniture in question. The competition microsite at Ikea.co.uk/cats also features a short documentary about the owners of the cats and a "making of" film.

Wanted: 10 Chain Restaurants that Should Open in Manhattan

2010-08-26T08:43:00.000-07:00

It’s no secret that the Big Apple is a restaurant mecca. But I never realized that so many of the nation’s largest and most successful fast-food and casual dining chains have yet to open even one outpost in Manhattan until I came across this list on ny.eater.com:

In-N-Out Burger (A poor man’s Shake Shack but with better burgers, according to some fans.)
Chick Fil-A (A mall classic. And amazingly good value for the money.)
Chili’s (Americanized-Mexican and Southwestern fare.)
P.F. Chang’s (Lettuce Rolls and The Great Wall of Chocolate -- enough said.)
Cracker Barrel (But the company’s signature rocking chairs outside the front door wouldn’t last a day, even if they were chained down.)
Denny’s (Its new Value Menu goes down easy.
Dairy Queen (Of the entire group, this is my personal favorite. Expensive artisinal ice cream and gelato pales next to a Blizzard.)
Krispy Kreme (Actually, I don’t think Krispy Kreme qualifies for this list in that it has already been here. But it shuttered its stores due to poor sales.)
Waffle House (Not too exciting, but always consistent.)
Sonic Drive-In (Of course, those roller-skating waiters would have to be brought in indoors.)

Sugar Cravings in Times Square

2010-08-11T12:31:00.000-07:00

I never particularly liked Pop-Tarts. But I think the brand’s just-opened pop-up store in Manhattan’s Times Square is a hoot. It also shows that, with a little creative thinking, how effectively a brand can engage customers in a physical space.

Wrapped in Pop-Tarts branding and promoted with a six-story billboard, the 3,200-sq.-ft. Pop-Tart World is hard to miss. The focal point of the space is a café, which serves some 30 snacks. The menu includes such concoctions as Fluffer Butter (marshmallow spread sandwiched between two frosted fudge Pop-Tarts) and Pop-Tarts Sushi, which is basically a fruit roll stuffed with three minced-up Pop-Tarts flavors.

Visitors can also create their own Pop-Tarts, starting with the basic pastry and then adding the frosting, toppings. and drizzles of their choice. Or, using a computerized vending machine, they can choose among all 23 Pop-Tarts flavors (23 flavors! Who knew?) to customize their very own variety-pack boxes to take home.

Computer screens in the store provide access to PopTartsWorld.com, social media sites and Pop-Tarts video games. Consumers can also buy themed merchandise, and even design their own T-shirt. The store also sells all variety of themed-merchandise. It even has select a Pop-Tarts T-shirt made by specialty artist

The lease on Pop-Tarts World, which is on the south side of 42nd Street between Sixth Avenue and Broadway, runs through January. Reportedly, executives will then decide whether the store has legs.

New Disney Magic

2010-07-20T06:42:00.000-07:00

The Disney Store’s long-awaited new design has finally been unveiled. The design, which made its debut at Montebello Town Center, Montebello, Calif., blends high-tech elements with signature Disney icons. From a Princess Castle complete with a magic mirror (with the wave of a wand, a Disney Princess appears) to a theater where customers can pick from a selection of pre-loaded content and watch classic and new Disney entertainment), the store is fun and entertaining.

See for yourself by watching the video above.

PS: A big thanks to the folks at RCS Real Estate Advisors (the firm is helping Disney reposition much of its real estate as it rolls out the new design) for sending the clip to me!

Times Square goes gaga over Forever 21 billboard

2010-07-16T07:45:00.000-07:00

“Wow.” “Cool.” “How do they do it?”

That pretty much sums up the reaction to Forever 21’s dazzling digital billboard in Times Square. The display, which sits on top of the retailer’s massive new flagship, has people gawking, necks craned upwards. What’s causing all the attention -- and camera flashes -- is the way the display integrates real-time video of the street with programmed content. Every now and then, you come across something that is truly worthy of being deemed “cutting edge.” This is one of those times.

Urban Outfitters to celebrate a bygone New York

2010-06-23T06:04:00.000-07:00

It’s not every national retailer that would go out of its way to celebrate mom-and-pop shops. But Urban Outfitters has always operated a bit outside the norm, particularly with regards to its store designs. Now comes word that the company’s new store on Manhattan’s Upper West Side will be designed to resemble a series of independent shops, with four distinct (and false) storefronts: a hat store, a hardware store, a neighborhood bar and a bodega. The store, on Broadway near 100th Street, is due to open by fall.

The design is by Pompei A.D., New York City, which has designed countless stores for the Urban Outfitters brand and Anthropologie division.

"The whole idea was to do this kind of ironic statement of lining the building with storefronts that would be reminiscent of independent businesses," Ron Pompei, creative director of Pompei A.D., told The Wall Street Journal. "It's the story about the streets of New York as they once were."

Countdown to Forever 21’s Times Square Superstore

2010-06-18T09:48:00.000-07:00

Forever 21 is counting down the hours -- literally -- to the opening of its Times Square flagship. The fast-fashion chain has installed a giant LCD display above its facade that is counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until it officially opens.

While the retailer is mum about the details of the store, word is that the interior is all white. Even the chandeliers. More details to come!

Postscript on Apple

2010-05-21T11:52:00.000-07:00

A friend sent me an update on my previous posting about Apple’s widely admired and, some would say, widely copied, store design. The Web site slashgear.com has revealed that Apple is seeking to trademark its store design and has filed with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. The filings present a mark that "consists of distinctive design and layout of a retail store."

To read the full story, go to slashgear.com/apple-attempt-to-trademark-distinctive-apple-store-design-1885991/.

Name that store …

2010-05-07T09:53:00.001-07:00

Familiarity breeds … success? Maybe that’s what the folks behind the new Sony flagship in Tokyo and Microsoft stores are hoping.

From the basic color palette to the display techniques to the approach taken to signage, the two formats have a lot in common. And not just with each other. Is it just me, or do both come off as not-all-that original variations of the Apple store? Aren’t there any new ideas out there?

Sony, Nagoya, Japan

Microsoft, Scottdale, Ariz.

Apple, San Francisco

U.K. department store ad surprisingly emotional -- and effective

2010-04-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

I admit it: I’m a sucker for sentimental TV advertising. I can still tear up at the memory of an old Hallmark commercial that involved an elderly teacher and a former student. Over in the United Kingdom, the big buzz is about the new commercial for department store retailer John Lewis. Many British TV critics are saying it packs more of an emotional punch than any of the current televised dramas.

The ad condensifies a woman’s entire life into 90 seconds (well, almost entire -- she is silver-haired with grandchildren at the end). It’s simple, but masterfully done. Everything works. The only audio is a reworking of Billy Joel’s “Always a Woman to Me, ” sung by British indie artist Fyfe Dangerfield.

The message is one that resonates in today’s uncertain world: Life is full of unexpected turns, and it goes by fast. Buy reliable, quality goods that will stand the test of time.

Watch it here.

Shopping Vicariously: Hauls on YouTube

2010-04-27T05:55:00.000-07:00

Want to find out what teens are buying these days? Just go to YouTube and search the word “hauls.” And then just click on one of the videos that come up on the right. (Or you can just click above or on the links at the end of this posting.)

Anyway, I have to admit that I had never heard of a haul until yesterday morning when my favorite DJ (Elvis Duran on Z100, just for the record) started talking about it. Here’s the scoop: A haul is basically a video diary in which a young consumer (typically a teen girl) details every single purchase she has made in her most recent shopping trip, showing off the items to the world courtesy of her trusty Web camera. What’s amazing is how confident most of these girls are about passing judgment on products and brands.

The haul videos have developed into a major YouTube sensation, with more than 100,000 such videos already uploaded on the site. The most popular haul diarists (or “vloggers” as they call themselves) have devoted followings and their videos get hundreds of thousands of hits. All this has not escaped the attention of savvy makeup and clothing marketers, who are showering the most popular vloggers with lucrative product deals and sponsorships. Not a bad way to earn some extra cash -- it sure beats flipping burgers.

To watch some hauls, click any of the three links below:

Black Friday haul
Victoria's Secret Makeup Haul & Review
Another Forever21 haul

A Record Day

2010-04-16T06:28:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite retail-related holidays is fast upon us: Saturday, April 17, is Record Store Day. It’s a celebration of all-things vinyl, created a few years back by independent music store owners.

I feel sad for today’s music-loving kids and teens, the majority of whom buy their music online. Sure, it’s quick and convenient. But it doesn’t come close to the fun of browsing through bins of records in small, dusty stores -- I’m talking pre-Tower and pre-Virgin here -- adorned with posters of cool bands and packed with racks of magazines devoted to the same. Such places, while quite rare, still exist, particularly here in New York City. One of the best is Rebel Rock, 319 Bleecker St.

Just to let everyone know, my all-time favorite record store was a no-frills spot on the corner of Broad Street in downtown Elizabeth, N.J., called Vogel’s. It was a small store, probably no more than 1,500 sq. ft., with a shopworn look to it. But when I was growing up, I thought it was the hippest store around. My friends and I would take turns begging our parents to drive us there on the weekends. Vogel’s was known for having the very latest releases (particularly from the British bands that we so adored). No one else came close.

On some Saturdays, Vogel’s was so crowded that we actually had to wait in line outside get in. We didn’t mind. It only added to the excitement -- and to the store’s lure. My godson laughs when I tell him these stories. He downloads the latest release within seconds. So do I for that matter.

I’ve been to some great stores over the years, in some pretty exotic places too. But none of them can conjure up the same feelings and magic as Vogel’s.

What store does it for you?

Designers fashion a Barbie dream house

2010-03-16T14:19:00.001-07:00

Barbie Shanghai took the top honors in Chain Store Age’s annual Retail Store of the Year design competition, where it was honored as best of show. I had the chance to chat with the designers of the store -- Hayes and James Slade of Slade Architecture in New York City -- at our recent SPECS show in Orlando, Fla. Here are the highlights ...

January’s post-holiday bump

2010-02-04T16:58:00.000-08:00

In a bit of welcome news for retailers, January same-store sales rose 3.3% compared with the 2.5% that analysts had forecast. Gift-card spending and post-holiday sales helped fuel the rise, particularly in teen apparel.

Many industry experts and analysts question whether retailers will be able to sustain the momentum going forward, especially if unemployment remains high. I say, give retailers one day to celebrate some good news before worrying about what February and March will bring.

Meanwhile, here’s my take on some of today’s results:

Among the biggest surprises -- and winners -- in January was Abercrombie & Fitch, which posted an 8% rise in same-store sales. Forecasts had called for a decline of 8.6%. The news prompted a friend to call me: “Abercrombie is back,” he said. I’m not convinced -- at least not yet. One month does not make a turnaround. I think at least part of A&F’s January sales gain had to do with holiday gift-card redemptions. It will be interesting to see how the chain fares this spring. However, A&F’s results do make one thing clear: Teens are among the most fickle consumers out there.

Another big surprise was The Buckle, which posted a 1.2% decline. Analysts were looking for a 4.1% gain. The Buckle has been an exceptionally strong performer throughout the downturn. Unlike a lot of other retailers, it was going up against a strong performance from last January.

Hot Topic is no longer benefiting from the “Twilight” phenomena. The teen retailer, which has been struggling for the past few months, posted a 13.1% drop in January.

Luxury is rebounding. Both Nordstrom and Saks had strong gains that were markedly better than Wall Street expectations,

Kohl’s continue to shine. It had a 6.5% gain in January sales compared with the 2.8% uptick Wall Street predicted.

Don’t count department stores out -- at least not yet. Macy’s posted a 3.4% sales increase in January. The retailer’s January sales rose to $1.25 billion.

Value remains key. TJX had a double-digit gain in same-store sales. Ross Stores posted an 8% increase.

Wanted: Borders CEO -- Again

2010-01-29T11:38:00.000-08:00

The big news this week is the sudden departure of Ron Marshall from Borders, which leaves the struggling bookseller forced to find another chief executive for the fourth time in five years.

When Marshall arrived at Borders last January, he was billed as a “turnaround expert.” But so far as I can tell, he did little to turn the chain around. Sure, he is credited with spearheading operational improvements (read: cost cuts) to drive increased cash flow and reduce debt. But cost-cutting, as many retailers are sure to learn in the coming months, can only get a chain so far. Marshall seemed to have a blind eye when it came to improving or defining the Borders brand and in-store experience. Improving a company’s cash flow without giving equal attention to improving its traffic flow is folly in the long run. Look at the numbers: Borders has reported three consecutive quarterly losses, and crucial holiday same-store sales dropped 14.6%.

On a macro-level, Borders’ struggle is indicative of a trend that has befallen Circuit City and other big-box specialty retailers: In today’s super-competitive environment where shoppers have so many shopping choices, there may only be room for one national brick-and-mortar big-box player in any particular category. Barnes & Noble has outplayed Borders in nearly every way. Sure, it’s had some rough sailing during the recession. But it is a rock of stability compared with Borders.

As for Ron Marshall, amazingly, he has already landed a new gig: He will report to duty as CEO of the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. (A&P) on Feb. 8. In some ways, he is jumping from the frying pan into the fire. The supermarket operator has been losing money since June 2008.

In the eye of retail: Holiday takeaways

2010-01-05T07:53:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite sources is Retail Eye Partners, an independent equity research and consulting firm, which, among other things, offers up a real-time pulse on the consumer and the performance of specific retailers and brands. The company also has a consumer panel of 400 women that it surveys every month.

Here are the big takeaways from Retail Eye’s latest consumer panel (the comments in blue are from the firm’s principals, Lisa Walters and Sapna Shah):

Shoppers spent more than they planned to on holiday gifts, so spending rebounded above 2008 levels, likely to have a very positive impact on December sales for most retailers. (We suspect that great deals in stores and online helped to boost spending and consumers ended up doing a little self purchasing as well, given they were able to stretch their budgets further given better-than-expected discounting by retailers.)
While shoppers didn’t buy for more recipients, they did spend more on each gift. (Again, we believe that hard-to-pass-up pricing and doorbusters made shoppers want to spend.)
Consumer electronics and gift cards were still hot this year, and gift-card purchasing rose to 2007 levels. (Our store checks show that CE was strong all month long with almost half of our panel buying at least one CE item as a gift this year, and shoppers favoring strong pricing at mass merchants over consumer electronics stores.)
Mass merchants, off-price and online were the biggest channels that shoppers looked to for holiday buying. (Similar to what we saw for Black Friday, value-oriented retailers continued to have the best traffic and selling across each region of the United States.)

On the all-important teen front, the firm made the following observations:

Teens received fewer gifts this year, with cash, gift cards, apparel and consumer electronics being the most popular gifts.
Uggs are still hot -- 30% of our teen panel said they received Uggs boots, slippers or shoes this year.
Most teens received gift cards this year, but haven’t spent the bulk of them yet. (We believe many are saving them for apparel and other purchasing later in the spring. As a result, we expect to see slow sales trends for most teen retailers until mid-first quarter.)

J.Crew: Dressed for success

2009-11-30T06:18:00.000-08:00

Here’s what I found so invigorating about J.Crew’s strong third-quarter performance (its profit more than doubled): The retailer did not attribute it to cost cuts. Instead, the chain based it on something slightly more old-fashioned but a lot more significant with regards to long-term growth: sales. Same-store sales rose 8% in the quarter, while overall sales jumped 20%.

I wasn’t all that surprised by the results. J.Crew seems at the top of its game. Its stores look great, and the merchandise even better. And unlike a lot of other retailers, when you shop J. Crew, you don’t get the feeling that the sweater that sells for $69 one day will be on the clearance rack the next. The fact is, J.Crew occupies a great sweet spot right now: It has become the go-to store for upscale shoppers looking to trade down a bit and for middle-market ones who want to trade up.

There’s no getting around the fact that J.Crew is a merchant-driven company, with the message set at the top by CEO Millard “Mickey” Drexler. Commenting on the third-quarter results in a company statement, Drexler said the company's success was tied to doing simple things well.

"It's about product, it's about quality, it's about design, it's about creativity," he said.

Interestingly, J. Crew reportedly doesn’t have any special promotions or discounts in place for the holiday season. It may be of the few retailers that doesn’t have to.

Retail reality of the TV variety

2009-10-21T06:15:00.000-07:00

I love reality TV shows about retail. My latest fave is “Mary Queen of Shops,” a British import that is being shown here on BBC America.

The star of the show is Mary Portas, the former creative director of the fashionably trendy Harvey Nichols store in London. Like so many other retail consultants, she is inclined to blanket statements and arching pronouncements: In the opening show, she opted that the Primark chain is “ruining” England.

The premise of the show has Portas traveling all over Britain, helping shopkeepers attain greatness (think of it as a “Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares” for the retail trade).

Portas has a big mouth. She has an air of self-importance and is arrogant as all get out, which is ultimately what makes the show so entertaining. As she put it in the first episode: “What I don’t know about shops isn’t worth knowing.” See if you agree -- the show can be seen on Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. on BBC America. As it happens, my other fave TV reality show, “Man Shops Globe,” featuring the suave and dapper Keith Johnson from Anthropologie, is on Wednesday night also, at 10 p.m. on the Sundance channel. It’s a solid night of retail nirvana -- who could ask for anything more?

My new must-see TV: Shopping around the world -- for Anthropologie

2009-10-02T06:42:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder where Anthropologie finds some of the goods that make its stores so interesting? Well, wonder no longer. A new series on the Sundance Channel, called “Man Shops Globe,” will take viewers around the world with Keith Johnson, buyer-at-large for Anthropologie, as he scours flea markets, out-of-the-way antique shops, obscure art studios, private dealerships, craft stalls and even a student design show in search of decorative antiques and found objects. Some of his finds will be sold in Anthropologie stores. Others will serve as inspiration for the company’s in-house design team. Johnson also seeks out gifted artisans to create original works.

Johnson, who spends a good deal of the year abroad, will visit a different country in each of the show’s eight episodes. In the first, which airs on Oct. 7, he haunts flea markets in Paris and sprints through an Avignon antiques show. Other episodes will follow his shopping exploits in Holland, South Africa, Belgium and other global destinations.

Promotional material describes Johnson as having “the greatest job in the world.” It’s a job he was seemingly born to. The son of a global-trotting art dealer, Johnson often accompanied his father on excursions around the world. His association with Anthropologie dates back to 1994, when his partner and company president Glen Senk (now CEO of Anthropologie's parent company Urban Outfiitters) asked Johnson to find decorative antiques and found objects for the company’s first store. As the brand grew so did Johnson's responsibilities. He now buys for Anthropologie’s 123 U.S. stores and two in Canada, and also curates the brand’s art gallery in its Rockefeller Center location.

To see a preview of “Man Shops Globe,” click here.

Boom times for Dollar Tree

2009-09-25T09:12:00.001-07:00

My neighbor called me over a few days ago to check out some of her newest purchases. It was a mixed bag, with everything from candy and gift wrap to Halloween décor and scented candles. As I looked the goods over, she proudly said: “I bought it all in a dollar store. I always thought of those places as junk stores, but it wasn’t anything like that at all.”

I couldn’t help but think about my neighbor as I listened in on Dollar Tree executives on Wednesday at the chain’s annual capital markets conference, which was broadcast over the Internet. At a time when most retailers put the brakes on store expansion, Dollar Tree is forging ahead. Along with such other extreme value retailers as Family Dollar and Dollar General, Dollar Tree is growing its footprint. With 3,717 stores as of Aug. 1, the chain will end the year with about 3,800 stores, expanding its square footage by 6.5%.

"For us, the world's our oyster," said COO Gary Philbin with regards to expanding real estate opportunities. "With other folks canceling deals or cutting back, Dollar Tree is still out there to take advantage and we can move quickly."

On the call, CEO Bob Sasser said the company is betting that the momentum it gained during the downturn will remain in place even as the economy improves. All the evidence -- anecdotal though it may be -- points to the fact that consumers have undergone a change of thinking, he added. Frugality is in.

I think Sasser is right. These are boom times for stores such as Dollar Tree -- and they’re not all that bad for the suppliers who do business with them either.

But I’m not sure I agree with all the experts who say the new frugality mindset is here to stay. Consumers have short memories. What do you think?

Is the Gap back?

2009-08-24T07:47:00.000-07:00

The long-suffering Gap is generating quite a lot of good buzz these days. It’s pulling out all the stops celebrating its 40th anniversary, from hosting a simultaneous acoustic concert in its stores nationwide to outfitting the traders on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday in jeans from its latest collection. The collection itself, by the way, is part of the celebration: It’s called Gap 1969 Premium Denim Jeans in honor of the chain’s debut year. The jeans, at least the ones I’ve seen, are stylish and fit well -- and they’re priced just right, not value by any means, but an affordable splurge for sure.

Gap also generated some cheer from its second-quarter earnings report, which was slightly above analysts’ estimates and also showed improved margins. On Friday, it was upgraded to "outperform" by FBR Capital Markets and raised to "buy" by KeyBanc Capital Markets.

I’m a realist and I know Gap has a long way to go before it regains its dominance. In fact, it may never do so given how dramatically the playing field changed during the chain’s hibernation. Other, more nimble competitors from the homegrown Aeropostale to the Swedish import H&M, have proved themselves much more adept at responding to customers’ ever-changing fashion sense. But I’m rooting for the Gap, which finally seems to be showing some signs of life. Let’s just hope those green shoots are the real thing, and not crab grass.

What do you think: Is the Gap on the comeback trail?

High-tech ads build buzz at Harrods

2009-08-11T14:20:00.000-07:00

Harrods may be the largest department store in London (if not the world), but it’s certainly not one of the hippest. In fact, it’s a bit on the staid side compared with British rival Harvey Nichols & Co. But Harrods is creating plenty of buzz for itself with its newest storefront display: high-tech video ads. The eye-catching video, complete with music, debuted this summer and will run through the end of the year, promoting such brands as Land Rover and Veneto. The display envelops the entire window, and has the ability to potentially do gestural as well as mobile interaction.

The installation was done stateside, by the high-tech wizards at Monster Media, which is based in Orlando, Fla. This is the second time that Harrods reached out to Monster. In October 2008, the company created a LCD-based interactive window that ran footage promoting the premier of “James Bond 007: Quantum of Solace.”

Check out Harrod’s video display for yourself: www.monstermedia.net/portfolio.php?#23

Mixed reviews for Urban Outfitters, Hollister

2009-07-20T06:09:00.000-07:00

I stopped at the Menlo Park Mall, in Menlo Park, N.J., a few days ago, to check out one of its newest tenants: Urban Outfitters. The store was rocking, with a relevancy that escapes most chains. It looked fabulous -- and like nothing else in the mall. Urban Outfitters remains unrivaled among specialty retailers for its ability to make each store a unique and compelling destination. Nobody, at least for my money, does it better.

Meanwhile, another teen fave -- Abercrombie & Fitch’s Hollister brand -- made its Manhattan debut with a 40,000-sq.-ft. flagship in SoHo. In keeping with A&F tradition, the store is very, very dark. Pre-opening promotional materials had promised a SoCal-lifestyle driven experience. But with its dark interiors, the store feels more like a worn-in frat house than it does a beach. Sure, there were some cool touches -- most notably, the pier inside the entrance and the wall of flat-screen TVs with live feed of the surf from Huntington Beach, Calif. But overall, I found the new Hollister a pretty gloomy affair. Lighten up, guys. And let the sun shine in.

Christmas in July

2009-07-10T09:09:00.000-07:00

It’s only July, but some stores are already full of fall fashion. There is nothing new about rushing the seasons -- it’s been standard procedure for retailers for years now, particularly those of the luxury variety. Still, I was hoping that the economic downturn would inspire merchants to think more like consumers. And in July, most of us are thinking bathing suits, not warm cover-ups.

But if that wasn’t bad enough, the Chicago Tribune reported today that Sears Holdings has opened Christmas decor shops in its stores and also set up “Christmas Lane” boutiques at Sears.com and Kmart.com. While Sears is obviously hoping to get shoppers in the spirit (and a gift-buying mood) early, the strategy also reflects how competitive the upcoming holiday season is likely to be. And just how worried retailers are that shoppers are going to give Scrooge a run for his money this year.

Anyone willing to make any predictions for the upcoming holiday season?

J. C. Penney takes on Manhattan

2009-07-09T08:16:00.000-07:00

J. C. Penney is ready for the Big Apple, but is the Big Apple ready for J. C. Penney? The chain is looking to make a big splash when it opens its first-ever store in Manhattan (on July 31, at Manhattan Mall in Herald Square). It’s pulling out all the stops -- and digging into its deep pockets -- to create a memorable first impression with a multimedia advertising and promotional campaign.

J. C. Penney’s Manhattan marketing blitz was detailed today, in an article in The New York Times.

The article reveals that, along with the traditional media advertising, there will be a host of extras, including shopping bags with the letters “NYC” highlighted inside the J. C. Penney name, a unique logo, and customized content on the chain’s Web site (jcpnewstores.com/nyc).

As for the ads, they are done in a tongue-in-cheek style designed to appeal to New Yorkers. Some of the ads also take on Herald Square’s most venerable retail tenant: Macy’s.

“We heard Herald Square needed a good department store,” one ad reads, according to the report.

Recession aside, it will be interesting to see how a chain long associated with middle America fares in the middle of an urban playground, one that also happens to be America’s fashion capital. What do you think -- will J. C. Penney have Big Apple appeal?

Juicy gets intimate

2009-07-07T07:22:00.001-07:00

Someone forgot to tell Juicy Couture about the recession. The company launched its new format, an intimate apparel concept called Love G&P, with a store at Las Vegas’ Forum Shops at Caesars Place. (The G&P stands for the first letter in the names of Juicy co-founders Gela Nash-Taylor and Pamela Skaist-Levy.)

Love G&P has a soft, feminine look that is more toned down and grown up than most Juicy stores. It’s done in cream and pink hues, and has a vintage feel. At a time when some intimate apparel stores have taken on an R-rated cast, Love G&P seems refreshingly old-fashioned, but in the most inviting way possible. Maybe everything old does become new again.

Full-figured women: Attention must be paid

2009-07-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

Hurray for Christopher & Banks Corp.! The chain is set to open a new format that will feature merchandise from its nameplate division as well as its plus-sized offshoot, C.J. Banks. The company expects the concept, debuting in Scranton, Pa., will be the prototype for all its new stores. This comes at a time when other retailers, including Ann Taylor, have abandoned larger sizes entirely or, as in the case of Bloomingdale’s, reduced the space allotted to them.

I’ve never understood why mainstream retailers don’t give the plus-sized shopper the attention she deserves (the average American woman, by the way, wears a size 14 according to recent figures). But I’m happy to see that women of a certain size are finally speaking up. The first-ever Full-Figured Fashion Week was held last week in New York City, and it featured a mix of plus-sized fashion shows, panel discussions, and guest appearances from “curvy” celebrities. The attendees included marketing professionals, fashion buyers, designers and plus-sized fashionistas. You don’t have to be thin to love fashion. But that’s something that many retailers (with a few exceptions, including teen fave Torrid) still don’t get.

Two new stores worth watching

2009-06-23T12:49:00.001-07:00

Target shareholders send Ackman's slate packing

2009-05-29T14:14:00.001-07:00

Marianne applauds Target for rejecting William Ackman's push for an expanded Board of Directors.

Live from Green4Retail

2009-05-01T10:50:00.001-07:00

Marianne reports live from CSA's Green4Retail conference in Chicago, April 29-30.

Topshop NYC makes a disappointing first impression

2009-04-28T14:36:00.001-07:00

After its grand opening three weeks ago, Topshop NYC still has not found its New York City groove.

Retailers report mixed results in March

2009-04-10T12:48:00.001-07:00

Marianne discusses March sales results.

Barbie's new home

2009-03-27T14:12:00.001-07:00

Despite the global recession, Mattel opens Barbie store in Shanghai, China.

Wal-Mart shops for space in Manhattan

2009-03-12T14:15:00.001-07:00

Marianne discusses Wal-Mart's desire to come to New York City.

U.S. Virgin Megastores chain shutting down

2009-03-04T15:14:00.001-08:00

Marianne discusses the closing of the brick-and-mortar music superstore.

January Sales

2009-02-06T07:45:00.001-08:00

The Buckle and Aeropostale continue to buck the recession with strong performances in January.

Retail Excitement in Times Square

2009-01-28T08:10:00.001-08:00

Marianne discusses the latest retailers moving into Times Square.

The New Frugality

2009-01-16T13:56:00.001-08:00

Marianne discusses hot topics from the National Retail Federation's annual conference in New York City.

Vampires Help Hot Topic

2008-12-22T14:30:00.001-08:00

Hot Topic sees a resurgence thanks to teen film, Twilight.

Playing with Fire?

2008-12-15T07:22:00.001-08:00

Abercrombie may be alienating its customers by not slashing prices amid a struggling economy.

The Buckle's Standout Performance

2008-12-08T16:49:00.001-08:00

The Buckle comes shining through in November.

Gift Card Rumors

2008-12-01T09:58:00.001-08:00

Marianne discusses a viral email campaign that seems aimed at scaring customers away from buying gift cards.