A Sobering Note On ADA ... Lawsuits Keep Coming

March has been a stormy month for retail attorneys, as ADA lawsuits are back on the docket.

This week, a Colorado subsidiary of Kroger Co., agreed to make improvements to 101 King Soopers and 35 City Market stores as part of a settlement with Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition. Although there was no financial award, the company will work with Access By Design, an accessibility consulting firm, to improve accessibility in parking lots, service counters and check-out lanes.

The Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition is the same group that earlier this month settled a 1999 suit against Kmart for $16.25 million -- the largest such award to date. (Macy's paid $2.8 million in 2001 to settle an accessibility claim.)

Kmart also agreed to spend as much as $70 million in the next eight years to bring its stores into compliance with federal standards for merchandise placement, counters, restrooms, fitting rooms and parking lots.

I hate to speculate as to what sort of financial toll this $80 million-plus pricetag will take on Kmart (Sears Holdings), which is already struggling with declining sales.

And March isn't going out like a lamb either. Now Target has been sued because its Web site is inaccessible to the blind...

--Karen Schaffner

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

America is tired. We're overworked, under-rested and stressed out the majority of the time. Giving customers what they want is the name of the game, right? So if customers want a book they can comfortably read while laying in bed, then let's give them what they want. Trinidad, Calif.-based Bed Books did just that, creating a new book-printing format that has the text printed sideways on the page so that the book can be read comfortably from a horizontal position. It might not work for the average subway or plane reader, but for a lazy Sunday afternoon? I'd try it out.

British Airways now caters to the horizontally minded consumer with the launch of their First cabin experience, where passengers can fly overseas while laying down in a 6 ft. 6 in. bed, complete with a duvet, linens and a full-size pillow. You hand over your passport, and wake up in another time zone. I could get used to that.

You can even kick back and rest your laurels while nightclubbing these days, thanks to the hot new restaurant and lounge chain Bed. Clubbers and diners can lounge the night away on comfy flatbeds partitioned by transparent curtains and padded with copious amounts of pillows. Sounds relaxing to me!

I even got the chance recently to take a load off at the newly opened Magnolia store in Atlanta--one of Best Buy's newest brand concepts. The store marries the latest home technology equipment in the setting it warrants--beautiful residential room models. I had the pleasure of testing out a new rear projection screen that was bigger than my car, while laying in an ultrasuede, fully reclinable lounger. The sales associate turned down the lights, closed the electronic partition that separated us from the rest of the store (via remote control, mind you) and played a Michael Buble DVD through the stellar home audio system. There was no pressure to buy, and the sales associate didn't mind our restful and enjoyable 20-minute video viewing. If only shopping was always this relaxing!

--Alison Embrey

Whompin’ Stompers

Not since Harrod swished and stomped across the stage in the '70s musical “Hair,” have we seen such outrageous footwear. Diva’s eye to Spring fashion snagged on the shoe news and didn’t get much further. In case you haven’t checked out the hottest fashion sources yet, the news in shoes is platforms—the highest and hunkiest platforms the fashion industry has ever seen. Paris Hilton will have to do resistance leg lifts to train to wear these monsters—some set on platform bases that are four or more inches high, with separate heels or massive wedgies. And they are from lots of savvy designers this spring—ranging from Stuart Weitzman to Prada to Steve Madden. A headline in the New York Times Sunday magazine fashion section said: "Big Foot Lives!" So, throw out those Jessica Simpson, “Dukes of Hazard” boots from last season and head for the mall: give these new platforms a stomp (Just be sure your personal injury insurance is paid current first.). Coincidentally, Jessica has just introduced a new line of shoes that she personally designed and recently introduced in Las Vegas.

--Diva

Will the Real Wal-Mart Please Stand

If you haven't already heard the news, Wal-Mart just opened a new test Supercenter store in Plano, Texas, on March 22 that may convince customers they've entered, well, another store besides Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart really went all out on this store design, which caters to upscale shoppers, particularly female consumers. No loud PA announcements, additional cash wraps in apparel departments, a new signage and graphics package to better aid wayfinding, more space around display racks (are you kidding, at Wal-Mart?), and customers can even take purchased apparel home on the hanger. The new store's book and magazine section features wood bookcases, lending it a bookstore feel. Its facade takes a departure from its traditional red, white and blue; the Plano store has brick with green signage and accents.

And that's not all. The higher-end product assortment includes fresh sushi, a wine selection that spans 1,000 labels (ranging up to $500 a bottle), gourmet cheeses, an expanded selection of organic foods and even a Wi-Fi-enabled coffee shop. 

Now, this sounds like a Wal-Mart I'd browse and could even commit some impulsive buying. Although some analysts warn that creating such different types of stores could alienate its core customers, I say Wal-Mart gets a gold star for trying to make the shopping experience more enjoyable--be it at any price point.

--Rachel Brown

You Know Improved Store Design Helps Increase Sales, But Would You Believe 46%?

You know what I like about American Eagle? The company is about the only retailer I know that is willing to openly discuss ROI on store renovations. Here's what the retailer had to say at its recent conference call:

"In 2005, we ... remodeled 43 stores. Remodeled store economics are quite positive. After a renovation, average store sales increased 46% and sales per square foot increased 14% on a square footage increase of 29%. We have about 160 stores yet to remodel."

I think sharing information like that with the investor community is pretty darn smart, because it leads to less push-back when you get to the next part of the discussion:

"For fiscal 2006 we expect capital expenditures to be approximately $175 million. This is related to [50] new and [50] remodeled stores, our new Pittsburgh headquarters in center as well as the construction of a new distribution system in Kansas, to support Martin and Osa, intimates expansion and potentially our direct business."

Back in the mid-nineties, DDI and GlobalShop worked with Deloitte on a major study about ROI and store renovations. We even sponsored a competition to recognize renovations that increased sales. Both initiatives were short-lived.

When DDI editors interview retailers regarding store renovations, they always ask about the impact on sales. Nine times out of 10, they are told, "We don't release that information."

What's the big secret?

--Karen Schaffner

Picasso Peccadillo

Diva wants to know: was Costco getting too uppity when it recently took to selling rarified, collector’s edition fine art—including original Picasso’s on its Web site? A New York Times article on March 16, said: “From diamonds to dog food to Dom Pérignon, Costco is known as an astute marketer of high and low.” According to the article, though, the Picasso’s Costco was trying to sell were fakes. Included was a drawing called “Drawing Arles,” which sold for $39,999.99 and came with a certificate of authenticity. Another offering was “Picador in a Bullfight,” which listed at $145,999.99, also presented as authentic.

According to Picasso’s daughter, Maya Widmaier-Picasso, who was present when Picasso did most all of his work and who keeps meticulous records of all Picasso’s art, the offerings from Costco are not authentic. Widmaire-Picasso issues certificates of authenticity for her father’s art and keeps photographic records of all the certificates she issues, so she should know. She also authenticates his works for Christie’s and Sotheby’s.

Now Costco can’t be beat for huge cans of Campbell’s soup, flats of bottled water and even TVs, and the wine shop does a great job of offering decent selections at a price; but Diva’s advise is: stick with one of those fancy-schmancy Madison Avenue art galleries for trophy art to impress your friends. Fine art is not chopped liver.

The buyer can, however, rest assured that Costco is doing all it can to investigate the situation and make it right. For now, any remaining Picassos have been removed from Costco's site.

--Diva

A Green Oasis

The spa industry has been leaning toward au naturale, organic products and services for some time, creating calming, mystic sanctuaries to relieve the stresses of its clientele. But your average day spa doesn't practice what it preaches in its store design, in terms of using eco-friendly materials. Atlanta-based Natural Body Spa & Shoppe, a Southern spa chain with locations in Georgia, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, however, has made a 100 percent green commitment to its customers. In its "Green Spa Pledge," the company commits to "striving to set a new standard for the ultimate Green Spa experience." The green experience transcends from the natural and organic products to the design of the space. Floors are made of recycled school bus tires and other reuse materials, spa menus are printed on recycled paper with soy ink and building materials of the surrounding environment are created from reclaimed wood and other post-consumer materials whenever possible. The chain also offers a recycling program for old cellular phones, pagers and PDAs--customers can drop them off at any Natural Body location, and they will donate them to Earth Share, a nationwide network of environmental and conservation organizations.

The company also sends out a quarterly newsletter offering tips and advice on how to maintain a natural lifestyle, including introducing new yoga poses, Earth Day announcements and other comparable topics delivered right to customers' e-mail inboxes. What a wonderful example of a retailer being true to its customers and to its brand.

--Alison Embrey

Manufacturing Design

Diva always gets excited about a hot new store design, but it’s even more exciting (and unusual) to find a hot new design statement that comes from an industry manufacturing facility. Fixture manufacturing plants are usually functional, well-oiled machines that churn out product in relatively plain, unimaginative environments. That’s not the case with Morgan Concepts, whose new Huntington Beach, Calif., facility is trendy and radical enough in its design to turn heads on Rodeo Drive, or in New York’s Soho. Nabs Carlson, Morgan Concept’s Design Director and General Manager, is responsible for the new design, and he sums up the intent of the project: "The building is a fun environment, where commonality dwindles and passion is rejuvenated.” While new, state-of-the-art robotic equipment smoothes the manufacturing process, Carlson’s eye-popping design will be impressing clients with this manufacturer’s ability to speak design. If you’re in the L.A. area, tool by 5921 Skylab Rd. and take a peek. Go join Nabs and the folks at Morgan Concepts for a cup of coffee and tell them Diva sent you. This is way-cool design, and a unique step--establishing a brand image for a manufacturer.

--Diva

Point, Click.....Buy

Without question, online shopping is a mainstay in the consumer marketplace. A recent ACNielsen Global Online Consumer Confidence Study, which polled more than 21,000 respondents in 38 markets about their online shopping experiences, found that one-tenth of the world's population is shopping online. According to the study, some 627 million people admit to shopping online, 325 million of them as recently as last month. I know I was one of them. You probably were too.

Internet shopping is turning the consumer marketplace from inquisitive browsers to actionable buyers. All the price shopping, brand comparisons and decision making can be done in the comfort of your computer room, so by the time you stroll into Best Buy to purchase that high-def plasma, you're equipped with enough knowledge to tell the sales associate exactly what you want and how much you expect to pay for it. Thanks to the Internet, we've all become smarter shoppers.

Online shopping has even spawned the birth of a new retail segment--bricks-and-mortar stores that buy, trade and sell items from consumers for eBay and other Internet auction sites. With 166 franchise stores open and more than 800 stores under contract, iSold It on eBay is one of the largest such retailers. The retailer has even expanded as far as Canada, England and Ireland. This chain is making a fortune selling customers' junk for them--and why not? We pay people to wash our cars, walk our dogs and do our taxes--why not pay them to sell our old stuff?

The Internet has been an immensely powerful tool in all aspects of modern-day life, and will continue to be my No. 1 place to go to research products and become a better, more knowledgeable buyer. It will also benefit my credit card companies, as I haven't quite gotten past that whole impulse buying thing yet...

--Alison Embrey

Sport The Diva Bling, Baby

Dears, in case you were wondering, Diva will be jetting off to Orlando for GlobalShop in a couple of weeks. I absolutely wouldn't miss the most important event of the season. You'll be there, too, right? I mean, don't go all Tom Cruise and pull a no-show--after all, what would the red carpet be without you?

Where can you find me? Well, by now you may have determined that Diva has decided to remain anonymous, so you won't see my lovely face in person, but my now-famous likeness will be everywhere -- and I do believe that's as it should be. After all, if I do say so myself, in just a few short months, I've come to represent the Diva in all of you.

You're disappointed, aren't you? You really wanted to see me up close and personal, I know. So here's what I've decided to do:

You can pick up some Diva Bling (really...a pin with me on it) from my minions at the DDI booth in the main entrance foyer. At various times during the show, those very same minions will be walking though the aisles, looking for Diva wannabes. If you're sporting your Diva Bling and you're at the right place at the right time (what Diva wouldn't be?), you may win either an I-Tunes gift card or an official Diva T.

To put it in contemporary terms, Are you feelin' me?

-- Diva

Chocolate Disappointment

Who can think about chocolate without imagining the mouth-watering, seductive aroma, and the feel of the tongue-swirling, flavor-bursting, sinfully-rich, melting goodness in the mouth? From a cup of hot cocoa, slathered in whipped cream; to a molten-hot chocolate cake with its runny, gooey filling oozing across the desert plate; to handmade truffles, chocolate lives up to its reputation. (Some people say chocolate is even better than sex.)

That’s why I was surprised and somewhat disappointed to visit the Chocolate exhibit at the Fernbank Science Center in Atlanta recently, to discover that this exhibit missed every opportunity to appeal to the senses. There were audio/visual presentations and interactive kiosks; and displays, that presented an historical look at packaging for chocolate products over the years; but somehow the exhibit failed to meet expectations. (The exhibit was designed by the Field Museum in Chicago and has been traveling around the country.) But it could have been so much more interesting—with only a little more effort.

They should have hired a visual merchandiser, who would know that sensory technology—including a machine to scientifically dispense the chocolate aroma—would have been a huge plus. The emotional connection, triggered by smell, would certainly have done more to drawn viewers into the mystique of chocolate, for it is this emotional craving that has created a market for chocolate, worldwide. And, why not engage Hershey, or another chocolate manufacturer, to provide free samples, thereby also engaging the sense of taste? Viewers, whose taste buds were stimulated by the show, could only buy a limited selection of chocolate bars and other treats in the small museum gift shop at the end of the exhibit. Maybe teaming up with a retailer for the retail effort could have resulted in a really knockout chocolate shop.

This exhibit (from a conception and design point of view) was all about missed opportunities. The exhibit came off as cut and dry, and there’s nothing cut and dry about chocolate. Just ask a chocoholic—like me.

--RoxAnna Sway

Will $200 A Barrel Oil Mean $15 for a Cup of Joe at Starbucks?

Hang onto your hats; it’s going to be a bumpy ride! In fact, park that gas-guzzling SUV by the roadside and leave it (you won’t be able to pay to fill the gas tank) and start pumping up your pedaling power—as in bicycle. Stephen Leeb, Ph.D., a leading investment advisor known for calling it right, is predicting that while most economic forecasters are asleep at the wheel, the price of oil is about to soar to $200 a barrel, with major implications for the economy. His just-released book, co-authored with Glen Strathy, “The Coming Economic Collapse: How You Can Thrive When Oil Costs $200 a Barrel,” is about as sobering as driving into a brick wall at 50 miles per hour.

Leeb’s last book, “The Oil Factor,” was laughed at by many when he predicted $100 a barrel oil. At the time oil was $33. This year, oil has hovered at or close to $70.00 a barrel—not far to go to reach that $100 mark. He says that analysts who predict the moderating of oil and gasoline prices in the future have it all wrong. Leeb says we will probably never see substantially lower prices for these commodities again, due to a dwindling world supply of oil and rapidly increasing demand—mainly in China, India and other developing countries. Unfortunately, he also predicts a return of '70s style inflation, boosting prices of just about everything along with escalating oil and gasoline costs (about the only things that were cool about the '70s were funky clothes and electronic music).

Does this guy know what he is talking about? Only time will tell (and to be honest, the title of his book is a little melodramatic), but let’s hope he’s wrong. Until then, Diva is going to trade that stationary (exercise) bike for one that moves. Diva’s monthly gasoline bill is already twice what it was two years ago. And about that coffee break at Starbucks—well, this could start a rush back to Dunkin’ Donuts.

--Diva

Will You Wait For Shareholders, Or Go Green 'Cause It's The Right Thing To Do?

If bamboo flooring is the extent of your interest in "green design," you might want to catch up on what's happening among a few publicly held retailers whose shareholders are not-so-subtlely suggesting they start paying attention.

Among the first are Lowe's and The Home Depot, which have agreed to begin sharing information on their buildings' energy efficiency. Will you be next? If you're Bed Bath and Beyond, the answer is "absolutely" (requests have already been filed). If you're publicly held and own your own real estate, the answer is probably yes--and sooner rather than later.

Smart of Whole Foods Market, then, to announce it will purchase renewable energy credits from wind farms to offset 100 percent of the electricity used in all of its stores, facilities, bake houses, distribution centers, regional offices and national headquarters in the United States and Canada. The renewable-energy commitment--the largest in the United States and Canada to date--makes Whole Foods the only Fortune 500 company to offset 100 percent of its electricity use through wind energy credits.

Whether activist shareholders create your interest in green design or the impetus comes from your personal or corporate concern for the environment, please consider joining the small, but gowing (I hope), number of retailers that are earning LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. To begin, check out the links in this posting...then head for GlobalShop, which features a Green Retail Design pavilion.

--Karen Schaffner

Diva Puts A Bug In Your Ear

Sure, you know that music can boost sales, and it certainly improves shoppers’ moods in retail stores, but did you know how influential it could really be? Now, researchers are trying to measure the impact of audio effects in restaurants. Reuters and The Associated Press report that researchers at the University of Leicester and the University of Surrey, both in the U.K., have completed studies of restaurant patrons in various dining conditions and determined that there is a correlation between the types of music played in restaurants and the amounts that diners spend. Classical music, it seems, generates the most expansive (and expensive) attitudes among patrons, inducing them to buy more appetizers, fancy coffees, high-priced wines and extravagant deserts. Classical music boosted the average tab per person to $40, while pop music only generated $36.75 per person. For silent dining rooms, the average was $35 per person. Not huge differences, but enough to make some restaurateurs pump up those violins. And about Diva staying on that diet, maybe eating in restaurants with no music is the key. Who knew? Less music, less calories.

--Diva

Business 2.0's Take

A great example from Business 2.0 Magazing of what we discussed in our recent piece here on The Socialization of Real Estate.  Interesting comments from the experts, and I think that I would agree with some of the overall tone of their comments.  Still, I think it's a little too focused on selling music instead of creating an experience around music.  The coffee shop is a great idea--it should become a destination for more then just purchasing music and music memorabilia.  It should be a place for music aficionado's to come and talk music, maybe even share music.  Could be the start of something pretty wild!  But, they need to step back from needing to be about selling music directly.  We’ll try to follow this and see what happens.

"In the demolition derby that has become the digital-age music business, no one has taken more of a beating than traditional retailers....But Musicland, for one, still believes that shopping for music at the mall can be more exciting than scanning aisle after alphabetized aisle of overpriced CDs while the smell of Cinnabon wafts in from the food court. In October the company unveiled a new store-within-a-store concept called Graze--a 1,000-square-foot mesh-enclosed lounge packed with couches, a see-through video wall, a sound system, even a scent machine that pumps in the smells of chocolate and citrus--at 14 Sam Goody outlets in the Minneapolis and Philadelphia areas. Musicland execs are betting that the new ambience will persuade mall shoppers to linger, listen--and buy."

Business 2.0: The Experts Sound Off
PACO UNDERHILL Founder, retail consultancy Envirosell; author, Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping: "A problem with something like this is that it's very cool the first visit, possibly the second, but the 10th? The question is, Does it go far enough? Shouldn't they also be including an ice cream parlor, a coffee shop, or another way of generating income as they're attracting people to hang out there?"

TED SCHADLER Analyst, Forrester Research With Napster: "Music stores stopped being a place where you go to discover music. So this could bring in some of what you get online--a sense that it's a place to find new songs and artists. But it's hard to have the environment create the experience. It needs to be an organic thing. If other cool people aren't there, why would you go?"

--David Polinchock

Gold in Those Garages

Diva has a tip for retail designers who lose their jobs this year (not being pessimistic, but there are Federated/May Co. layoffs pending): consider going into garage design. The New York Times recently reported that this is a hot new profession, with clients paying $12,000 or more to have their garage clutter organized and whipped into shape. After the boxes of Christmas décor and tools are tidied-up, some suburban residents even opt for upscale flooring, the best storage systems from California Closets, and even garage feng shui sessions, to be sure the energy is propitious. Here’s the best part—what got Diva’s attention—the article reported that Barry Izsak, president of the National Association of Professional Organizers, says fees paid to garage designers “can run upward of $200 an hour.” (A lot of store designers don't make close to that.) Diva isn’t into career counseling, but with garage makeovers accounting for 10 percent a year growth, and with current expenditures of $800 million annually for garage organizing products, it’s the fastest growing segment of the home improvement market. Retail designers polish up on your racetrack layouts, and what about face-outs for those garage walls? After the shopping spree of the past decade or so, most garages are stuffed with tons of junk consumers can’t find room for inside their homes. Diva says: Maybe I’ll take a shovel to my garage, and then reward myself with a $600 check (figured at $200 an hour, for three hours—conservative estimate of the time it would take). That’s enough bucks for a brand new Diva-size splurge. Watch out Nordstrom; now Diva’s got an empty garage to refill!

--Diva

Like The Weather…Or Not

Snow in Southern California. A blizzard in New York City last month, which dumped the most snow—26.9 in.—in Central Park since 1947. This followed a week later with sun and a temperature in the low ’60s.

Weather is growing more fickle these days, and in many parts of the United States, short sleeves today may turn into a sweater and jacket tomorrow. So why aren’t some retailers accommodating this bizarre weather cycle by stocking the appropriate merchandise mix? It’s not just hurricanes, tsunamis and tornadoes that are wreaking havoc in today’s schizophrenic weather system. If retail sales, especially apparel, are plummeting as indicated in the latest financial analyst reports, perhaps retailers should pay more attention to weather reports than following traditional merchandising schedules. Plan for the unexpected. Even in February, a consumer trying to find that perfect scarf to accessorize a coat bought last season may be out of luck in some regions (even though the temperatures are freezing).

The introduction of spring fashion coinciding with winter fashion should occur in most U.S. regions these days. This may be the case in the Northeast, but I can tell you it is not so in the South, which is also experiencing flippant climates. There’s nothing like browsing swimsuits when you need a sweater.

So, until the weather follows a “traditional” pattern—which won’t happen anytime soon—maybe a new way of merchandising needs to prevail in retail.

--Rachel Brown

Community-Designed Stores?

If you've followed Wal-Mart's efforts to adapt to community design aesthetics, you won't be surprised to hear that a new Wal-Mart under construction in Atlanta received support from an alliance of 17 community associations after the company agreed to make radical changes to its store exterior.

What shocked me was the fact that the Northwest Community Alliance also has been promised input on the store's interior design and merchandise mix.

In developing a custom design for the 150,000-square-foot store's interior, Wal-Mart will involve a panel of community members with expertise in architecture, design or "artistic ability." Included in the panel will be Jerry Phillips, the local architect who worked with them to develop the unique exterior design.

Among other things agreed to in a letter of understanding with the alliance, Wal-Mart promised the neighborhood groups it would not include an auto service center or sell guns in the store, and it will not hold sidewalk sales.

Apparently Wal-Mart executives are coming to town within the next few weeks to take the group to visit their newest Atlanta-area store, and also will share with them photos of their other new urban format stores.

As much as Wal-Mart could use some help in designing more customer-friendly interiors, I'm amazed that they've agreed to such a deal. Among the many problems it creates is incedible inefficiency--which flies in the face of everything Wal-Mart represents.

How in the world can they expect to open 1,500 new stores and remodel another 1,800 stores if they are forced to involve the community at this level of detail?

--Karen Schaffner

The Temporary Physical Virtual Store

The J.C. Penney temporary, physical virtual store could be a way cool addition to the retail experience.  One of the things that's really pretty edgy is that it is designed to showcase its private label and exclusive brands, which also makes them a pretty hot target for all of their retail partners. I love the location and think it can bring a totally different vibe to the J.C. Penney brand.  Interestingly, I spoke to a journalist doing a story on the changing face of grocery stores and one of their questions was about how retail seemed to be moving in two directions—price-based and experience-based.  Their hypothesis was that stores in the middle, featuring neither the lowest prices or the best experiences, faced a very uncertain future.  I not only agreed, I thought it was a challenge for the entire retail industry, not just grocery stores.

J.C. Penney could potentially fall into the middle category and this is an excellent way to totally change the perception of who they are.  I mean, after all, they are a founding father of the retail industry and in many ways, but they've lost the voice of their story.  Experiences like this are a great way to get their voice back and introduce themselves to a whole new audience.  But, they do face the very real challenge of making sure that their entire experience delivers on their story, not just this one location.  Here's what BusinessWeek had to say:

"A spectacular initiative from American department store retailing institution J. C. Penney yesterday might cause everybody to rethink how e-commerce and the future of retailing might unfold....The company will construct a 15,000-square-foot physical manifestation of the virtual store at One Times Square on the corner of 42nd Street and Broadway, New York. In our humble opinion, the opening of this temporary virtual store from March 3-26, in which shoppers can purchase the company's full range of merchandise at interactive kiosks, marks a significant development in the history of retail. We believe that traveling virtual superstores could be a part of retailing's future."

Interestingly, last year Sheldon Gordon announced a new retail concept.  For this of you who might not know Mr. Gordon, he was the man behind Cesear's Forum Shops, some of the best retail space in the biz!  Here's a brief overview:

"Sometime near the end of 2006, the complex, called Epicenter, is scheduled to open in Columbus at the Polaris Fashion Place. The nucleus of Epicenter will consist of two parts--the Buypod, a hand-held electronic device, and electronic kiosks located throughout the mall. Under the concept, customers will enter the mall and register their credit card information, which will then be put into their Buypods. As customers browse merchandise, they can use their Buypod--which, as the name suggests, looks something like an Apple iPod--to scan the labels of items they want to buy."

Lots of folks are used to buying online now.  They don't need to lug the package out to the parking lot, into their car and then home to feel the satisfaction of shopping.  But many times, they do like to see and touch the merchandise.  This is the perfect combination of retail experiences.  And I think this is only the start. 

If someone from the J.C. Penney PR team sends an invite my way, I'll give you live blogging updates from inside the store!

--David Polinchock

Running of the Brides

It's that matrimonious time of year again. The annual "Running of the Brides" at Filene's Basement will bring wedding parties from across the country for the biggest bridal gown knock-down event of the year. Each spring, Filene's drastically marks down its collection of more than 2,300 gowns from designer bridal houses, and eager brides line up outside the store's doors, hungrily awaiting the 8 a.m. stampede to get inside and to the racks first.

Now as a consumer, I can completely understand the lure of a $9,000 wedding dress offered up for $500. But as a bride-to-be myself, I will never understand the torment and agony these women put themselves through for the sake of a cheap gown. Having witnessed first hand last year's Running of the Brides at the Atlanta store, I can tell you that I'm still trying to erase the images in my head--a thousand women with mixed facial expressions of utter greed and complete despair. I saw two women nearly come to punches arguing over the same dress for a good 30 minutes. I saw a bride standing half naked in a "designated corner," while her bridesmaids frantically shuttled dress after dress to her in any size/style that remotely suited her. I saw a misplaced brother or boyfriend carrying about a dozen purses and holding up a sign that read "We're looking for white, strapless, small train, size 8." He looked as if he might bolt at any moment. And I didn't bother counting the number of tear-stained faces that day--just being there made you want to cry!

Now this is the part that kills me. The annual event is such an emotional and physical roller coaster, there is actually a dress code (no high heels or flip flops--for safety reasons, I guess). And Filene's actually offers up "10 Tips for Success At the Filene's Basement Bridal Gown Sale." Top that off with the fact that two marketing professors at Bentley College actually used Filene's Running of the Brides as the subject of a study on consumer behavior.

Just goes to show how far the magnetic power of a good sale can go in the consumer marketplace. You can count me out for this sale though--I picked out my dress in a quiet shop while sipping on champagne.

--Alison Embrey