Tag: You're It

Airport retail is big business. At Pittsburgh International, retail sales average $12.27 per enplanement, which is no small feat. In the U.K.'s Manchester Airport, operators want to find out how to make their retail sales even bigger. The airport is going to test out tagging its airport passengers with RFID trackers to see how and where travelers are spending their time in the airport. Helping to maximize time spent in the retail area is the goal. Manchester, which has performed RFID testing in the past, said the new lower-cost UHF 13.56 MHz tags are allowing them to drive forward with the tests to learn more about passenger behavior in the airport. While enhancing the retail component is the driver, RFID promoters say the technology is also enabling advances in airport security, queue reduction and baggage tracking.

I just hope they don't track how many times I visit the Cinnabon stand while I'm on a layover.

--Alison Embrey Medina

Trick or Treat!?

So what if Halloween is on a Tuesday this year? It doesn’t look like that’s going to stop children, or adults, from celebrating. According to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) 2006 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions survey, nearly two-thirds (63.8 percent) of consumers polled said they plan to celebrate Halloween this year, compared to only 52.5 percent last year. This surge in celebrating is part of NRF’s forecast for an increase in Halloween spending (consumers are expected to spend $4.96 billion this Halloween, up significantly from last year's $3.29 billion). Per-person spending is expected to rise, with the average consumer planning to spend $59.06 on Halloween, compared to $48.48 last year.

And how will people be celebrating? Halloween activities will include handing out candy (73.4 percent), dressing in costume (34 percent) and visiting a haunted house (17.2 percent). Maintaining its spot as the second-biggest decorating holiday of the year after Christmas, 67 percent of consumers plan to purchase Halloween décor and almost half (48.6%) plan to decorate their home or yard. Additionally, 95.7 percent of people will buy candy, with the average consumer spending $18.72 in that category. Consumers are expected to spend $21.57 on costumes this year.

And it’s not just the little ones getting into the Halloween spirit--85.3 percent of 18-24 year olds planning to celebrate the holiday, up from 66.8 percent. An additional 76.5 percent of consumers aged 25-34 and 71.3 percent of 35-44 year olds also plan to celebrate. Halloween remains the sixth-largest spending holiday since it is not a gift-giving holiday or an apparel holiday. It follows the winter holidays ($457.4 billion estimated), Valentine's Day ($13.70 billion), Easter ($12.63 billion), Mother's Day ($13.80 billion) and Father's Day ($9.01 billion).

Another interesting find: for the second year in a row, the princess costume remains the most popular among kids, with 3.97 million children planning to dress up as one. The top costume among adults is a witch, with 6.15 million. The second most popular costume for children, as well as for adults, is the pirate. I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one already gearing up for the Halloween season.

--Jessie Bove

And the Rich Get Richer...

And then there were 400. Billionaires, that is. For the first time ever, every single person on Forbes magazine's 400 Richest Americans have a net worth of more than $1 billion. The collective net worth of all 400 listees rounds out at a whopping $1.25 trillion--that's $120 billion more than last year's list.

If you feel like feeling sorry for yourself and your measely salary (anything less than a billion constitutes as measely here), take a look at this year's uber-rich top 10:

1. Bill Gates, Microsoft founder, $53 billion

2. Warren Buffett, investor, $46.5 billion

3. Sheldon Adelson, casinos, $20.5 billion

4. Larry Ellison, Oracle software, $19.5 billion

5. Paul Allen, Microsoft founder, investor, $16 billion

6. Jim C. Walton, Wal-Mart heir, $15.7 billion

7. Christy Walton, widow of Wal-Mart heir, $15.6 billion

8. S. Robson Walton, Wal-Mart heir, $15.6 billion

9. Michael Dell, Dell Computer founder, $15.5 billion

10. Alice L. Walton, Wal-Mart heir, $15.5 billion

Photo: "Billion Dollar Bill" from FreakingNews.com.

--Alison Embrey Medina

Percolating prices

The cost of gasoline comes down; the cost of coffee goes up. Just as consumers breathe a sigh of relief over gasoline prices, which have moderated over the past few weeks, Starbucks decides to sock it to its customers. While the nickel-per-cup Starbucks’ price increase is not devastating, in and of itself, it does add to consumer angst over an entire array of price increases that have been brought into play over the past year--especially for food items, energy and other essentials. Now, you will argue, a cup of Starbucks is not an essential. If customers can’t afford it, they don’t have to buy it--and you would be right. It’s not like eggs, bread or butter. Customers can live without coffee (well some can; for others, that’s questionable). And for those with tight budgets--that number of consumers is growing weekly--well, McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts are dramatically improving their coffee offerings, which are still affordable, when compared to Starbucks--whose coffee was already expensive before adding that additional nickel per cup (but in Diva’s opinion, worth it). It’s been estimated that some consumers spend as much for Starbucks as for gasoline in a year--a Starbucks drink a day could run to more than $1,000 annually. Diva suspects that some coffee drinkers may be downshifting in the future as the economy tightens, so get prepared for some coffee jitters at the office.

--Diva

Toys "R" Us: No Deal

Toys "R" Us, the kids retailer who sells kids toys to kids in a place "where a kid can be a kid," has launched a marketing campaign--for grown-ups. (I know, I don't get it either.) The retailer has teamed with NBC game show "Deal or No Deal" for a fully integrated campaign that will invite customers (i.e. parents) to play a retail version of the game in its stores nationwide. Translation: bring them into the stores to spend money.

Apparently the game goes like this: For four weeks in October, newspaper circulars will include a game piece featuring two briefcases: one for "Deal" and one for "No Deal." (Following so far? Good.) Customers can bring their circular to any store and choose "Deal" for an automatic 10 percent discount on any one item, or choose "No Deal"--test their luck and try to win $1 million or other prizes. (I'm sure your chances of winning are astounding. One in 100 billion perhaps?) Here's the kicker. If the briefcase comes up empty, you get the in-store discount anyway. Call me crazy, but I'm not really seeing the big risk here. It's not a game, it's just a very elaborate coupon.

On top of the marketing blitz, "Deal or No Deal" merchandise presentations will be featured in Toys "R" Us stores across the country, including an assortment of licensed games. Wasn't aware the game was marketing to the kid demographic, but hey, what do I know? Suspicious briefcases, ridiculous amounts of money and scantily clad models do not a kids show make. Personally, I find "the Banker" a bit scary and Howie Mandel quite creepy in his new Mr. Clean do. I'd take a "Bobby's World" DVD over this stuff any day.

--Alison Embrey Medina

O Oscar!

Who doesn’t like Oscar de la Renta? I’ve never actually bought (or even tried on) any of his designer apparel, but I’ve seen his collections on TV more than enough times to know that, could I afford it, I would cloth myself only in Oscar de la Renta day and night, 365 days a year. As if I needed any more reasons to love this designer, did you see his appearance on "Oprah" awhile back? The one where he gives a tour of his beach house in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic? I not only loved him, I wanted to BE him. This renowned fashion designer is king when it comes to the red carpet, and his gorgeous evening gowns, wedding dresses and ready-to-wear apparel are only the beginning. There are accessories, fragrances and home furnishings wielding the Oscar name, too. Now, a new collection of women’s better sportswear dubbed O Oscar will join the arsenal of de la Renta merchandise. And where can fashion-insatiable consumers get their hands on it? No, not in a boutique on Fifth Avenue or Rodeo Drive, but at Macy’s! (Yes, Macy’s, I know.)

So what is Mr. de la Renta doing at Macy’s? Well, according to a press release, Oscar de la Renta Ltd., Federated Department Stores Inc. and Kellwood Co. announced an agreement to launch the O Oscar collection--a better women's sportswear collection available exclusively at Macy’s for Spring 2007. Way to go Federated! This is a good move and company executives are saying that it’s part of a plan to draw in new customers. In addition to its existing in-house brands, which include Charter Club, I.N.C., Alfani and Style & Co., and which make up 18 percent of store sales (higher than most department stores), Macy’s is adding a women's clothing line from Elie Tahari, T Tahari, and Martha Stewart’s home collection.

Oscar de la Renta Ltd. boasts that the O Oscar collection will feature rich colors, embellishments, and iconic detailing for a sophisticated, luxurious look, including: jackets ($199-$229), pants ($79-$99), skirts ($99-$139) sweaters ($99-$129), dresses ($169), knit underpinnings ($49) and shirts ($79). And Oscar de la Renta said he hopes to expand the O Oscar label at Macy’s to other merchandise such as women's accessories, fragrance and men's clothing.

With all the Macy’s conversions across the country, and other department stores consolidating, shoppers (especially those faithful Marshall Field’s patrons) have not been too happy. Some shoppers are boycotting, some are just complaining, but no one seems very eager to accept the change. This new addition just may quell some resentment. As much as I love Oscar de la Renta, I’m not sure if this is enough to make me forgive Federated for taking out my beloved Burdine’s in Florida-- but it does help. If they add some affordable lines by Vera Wang and Juicy Couture, then we’re really talking.

--Jessie Bove

Photo: Oscar at his kickin' Caribbean abode.

iPods and Elmos

iPods (i.e., the original iPod with more and more memory every year, Shuffle, newly remastered Nano now available in the same colors as the former Mini--retooled as today's Nano); and Tickle Me Elmo both have something in common. In fact, a couple of things. Not only have they been THE gift to give during recent holidays past, but they also have the nine lives of a cat. They give new meaning to re-invention.

As the holiday season approaches, retailers may find themselves a bit disappointed on what is supposed to entice shoppers to stores to buy that "gotta have it" gift. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF) forecast, total holiday retail sales are expected to increase 5 percent over last year.

“Consumers make small sacrifices all year so they can splurge a little during the holidays,” said NRF President and CEO Tracy Mullin. “If gas prices continue to fall, shoppers will find a little something extra in their wallets, giving them even more reason to celebrate.” So, will consumers really be inspired when they end up "splurging" over the "new, improved" iPod that they bought someone last year or the new Tickle me Elmo? Back with a new name, T.M.X. Elmo stands for "Tickle Me Extreme" or "Tickle Me 10," representing the toy's 10th anniversary. Just announced today, the buzz about this laughing toy is that there's going to be a shortage. (I'm sure everyone remembers a decade ago when the Elmo shortage sparked unprecedented violence among parents trying to get the last one off the shelf..just in time for Christmas Eve.) So, is the new Elmo really that different? Fisher Price would have you think so, but we'll see. Already, consumers have posted the red monster on eBay, with some asking more than double the price. So, who's laughing now?

So, as I wait for the next hot (and innovative) new gadget, I'll stick with my Gen4 iPod and avoid any store aisles that sell Elmo this holiday season.

--Rachel Brown
 
 

Walking: Back in Style

A recall of all 23,500 of the self-balancing electric scooters known as the Segway Human Transporter has been issued because of a minor software glitch--you know, just suddenly reversing directions mid-ride and tossing riders like a wet rag to the street.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has advised consumers to stop using the vehicles immediately. Personally, I would have stopped using the vehicle back in 2003 after its first recall (yes, this new one is a second go-around), when the scooters were losing control when the batteries ran out. (Woohoo--what a ride!)

The moral of the story--walking will never let you down. Your legs will never voluntarily buck you in the opposite direction, nor start running around in circles when your "batteries are drainied." They say the Segway glitch will be repaired with a simple software upgrade, but I say get out now while you can! Save yourselves!

Airport concourses and mall security will never be the same.

--Alison Embrey Medina

Mad Dog Maude the Squeemish…

… is my pirate name according to the "pirate name generator" on Long John Silver’s Web site. Before you think I’m crazy, let me explain how it all started. While doing some research, I came across a press release for this fast food retailer’s annual “Talk Like A Pirate Day” on Sept. 19 (today!). The title of the release was so funny that I couldn’t help but laugh. And yet, I was strangely intrigued.

The seafood chain, which is named after the pirate in Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, is inviting customers to get in on the buccaneer fun and visit their restaurants today for special “Talk Like A Pirate Day” festivities, including pirate-themed menu items and hats. This got me wondering: who came up with this “holiday?” Long John Silver’s? Someone else?

Well the company’s press release says “‘Talk Like a Pirate Day’ began in 1995 when creators Mark Summers and John Baur were playing racquetball in Albany, Ore. When one player reached for a tough shot, he exclaimed, "Aaaaarrrr!" Spontaneously, the two began speaking in pirate jargon, complete with accents, and the idea was born.”

Well that didn’t really answer my question, so I read on to discover some really funny stuff. A rep from the company states that “Pirates have never been more ‘in,’ but that's not news to Long John Silver's. Long before Johnny Depp embraced his inner pirate by bringing the character of Jack Sparrow to life in 'Pirates of the Caribbean,' we recognized America's love affair with pirates and named our company after one." (Here is where the stifled giggles began.) The rep went on to say, "Asking us if we celebrate 'Talk Like a Pirate Day' is like asking Santa Claus if he celebrates Christmas. We celebrate piracy in a fun way every day at our restaurants, but Sept. 19 is pretty special to us." (Enter uncontrollable, exploding laughter)

Long John Silver’s even conducted a “non-scientific” poll that revealed "Arrr, matey!" is the favorite pirate expression among 5,000 voters. (In case you were wondering, the rest of the most popular sayings were "Shiver me timbers," followed by the Long John Silver's tag line "Yarr, Genius!," then "Hand over the Treasure Chest (extra tartar sauce, please)" and "Yo-ho-ho!")

The press release also refers readers to the company Web site, which I could NOT pass up after reading such interesting information. Turns out their Web site has a special page dedicated to pirates, including a pirate dictionary and, of course, the aforementioned "pirate name generator" (Go ahead and give it a whirl, I promise you’ll laugh). 

Will this actually generate more sales for Long John Silver’s today? Will more consumers flock to their restaurants? Maybe. It’s definitely attention-grabbing and humorous, and who doesn’t like some light-hearted fun? I can bet, though, that their Web site will be seeing some record-setting heavy hits.

-- Mad Dog Maude the Squeemish (but just for today)

Exposed! Inside the Secret World of Store Design!

Seems like September is the month when the national consumer press discovered store design. It started with USA Today's expose on how retailers "set lures" to trick shoppers into buying things they don't need. Next came Business Week's Special Report on new advances in shoplifting prevention at retail, followed within a week by the same publication's feature on Safeway's store redesign. And two out of the three stories came with full-page graphic renderings of a store layout. You know store design is much more than creating an attractive space, that it's a complex field requiring a deep understanding of design, consumer behavior and technology...and that, done right, it can have a major impact on sales. Now perhaps all the hoopla will bring more corporate focus--and investment--your way.

--Karen Schaffner

Are you into PDDA?

I am guilty of PDDA (no not PDA): public displays of doggie affection. (We return to the topic of our beloved canine friends once again!) Apparently, I’m not the only one who swaps spit with man’s best friend. Never mind that their mouths aren’t cleaner than ours by some magical germ-fighting enzyme, like I used to think when I was younger and still pretend to believe. The fact is that 74 percent of dog parents confess to whispering sweet nothings like “good doggie,” hugging, kissing and displaying “Public Displays of Doggie Affection” (PDDA) with their four-legged family member, according to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive. Specifically, 26 percent of dog owners let their pets kiss them. Even cooler/scarier, one in ten say their dog is the best kisser on the block.

Inspired by the news that dog owners like to make-out with their pets, Del Monte Pet Products came out with Kibbles ’n Bits Brushing Bites, a dog food designed to keep Fido’s teeth clean and his breath fresh. To go along with the dog food’s debut, Kibbles ’n Bits Brushing Bites has actually launched a national contest to find “America’s Most Smoochable Pooch.” A doggie casting call for “America’s Most Smoochable Pooch” will be taking place throughout the country until the end of the year--kind of like “America’s Next Top Model,” only better and with (gasp) food. A Kibbles ’n Bits Brushing Bites “Mutt Mobile” and Kissin’ Bandit costume character will travel the nation with a Kissin’ Booth photo studio where pet owners can audition their dogs. Photos will be posted online at www.smoochablepooch.com, along with entries submitted by mail or e-mail. Then, people will rate your pooch’s smoochability and the winner will get his “mutt” shot, if you will, on Kibbles ’n Bits Brushing Bites packaging. As a bonus you’ll also get a lifetime supply of dog food and you’ll get to tag along with your dog to Los Angeles for pampering at a dog-friendly hotel. Sweet!

It’s not just pet-related companies like Kibbles ’n Bits that are jumping onto the doggie bandwagon and promoting their products/brands with the help of our domestic friends. Over the summer, Old Navy held a search for the new “Magic,” to replace the former canine mascot (who, by the way, "retired" and is almost impossible to find online...hmm) and invited people to submit photos of their dogs for consideration. While I didn't enter that contest, I plan on entering this one for the Most Smoochable Pooch.

I don’t know if any of these dog promotions actually work or win their companies any profits. But, I do know that my dog’s mouth smells like a dead animal, so if we’re going to win this thing, we need to start freshening that breath—now. One bag of Kibbles ’n Bits please!

--Jessie Bove

Photo: Here’s a shot of me and one of my dogs rehearsing for our audition.

"Lern" something

What was New York & Company thinking? On a recent trip to the mall, my shopping buddy and I both took notice of New York & Co.’s new store design, which, to put it nicely, isn't so hot.

When New York & Company Inc. was sold in 2002 (it used to be owned by The Limited Brands Inc.), the company operated stores as both “Lerner New York” and New York & Company.” Little by little, Lerner stores brandished new signs as they were converted to the New York & Co. name, and that seemed to be the only alteration. I can’t remember exactly when the New York & Co. store in my mall (I shop there so frequently I feel entitled to some ownership) got revamped, but I want to say it happened within the last year. I never gave it much thought as I passed by its storefront on numerous excursions. But finally last week, something hit me: the store looks awful.

In fact, it’s so uninviting that I have only been inside once since the remodeling. On the occasion I happened to venture inside, I stayed in the store only for a brief couple of minutes before quickly making an exit--I had started to feel like I was suddenly shopping in Rave. Bright white walls, black-and-white panels, boring displays and a grid-like layout were all screaming “cheap” in my face. Don’t get me wrong, I love affordable apparel. But when I shop for a bargain, I want to feel like I’m getting a steal, not like I’m buying something cheap. I felt uncomfortable as I navigated the very-much separated sections of the store and was surprised to see that the fitting rooms no longer had a waiting area for boyfriends/husbands/fiancés to gather and awkwardly, but diligently, hold our purses. Something about this particular store’s design was just off--unfriendly and forgettable.

The new layout doesn’t compel me to even go inside, let alone to buy merchandise. It makes me miss the old store, with its plush lounge chairs in the area surrounding the dressing rooms, three-way mirrors, subdued lighting and open, flowing floor plan. Given, it wasn’t the most exciting or innovative design, but it was warm and inviting. The old New York & Co. felt more upscale, and it made shoppers want to stay in the store and take their time meandering and perusing the racks. To this day, the mere mention of the word “Lerner,” still evokes a panic-stricken look on my father’s face as he’s reminded of how many hours of his life were wasted away sitting in that store. Now that is powerful stuff.

--Jessie Bove

A new era

Goodbye Marshall Field’s. Goodbye Filene’s. Goodbye Famour-Barr. Goodbye Foley’s. Goodbye Hecht’s. Goodbye Kaufmann’s. Goodbye L.S. Ayres. Goodbye Meier & Frank. Goodbye Robinson-May. Goodbye Strawbridge’s. Goodbye The Jones Store. Goodbye Rich’s. Goodbye Goldsmith’s. Goodbye Lazarus. Goodbye Bon Marche, Goodbye Burdine’s. Goodbye Bullock’s. Goodbye Shillito-Rikes. Goodbye Jordan Marsh. Goodbye I. Magnin. Goodbye Stern’s. Goodbye Maas Brothers. Goodbye Abraham & Strauss. Goodbye Broadway Stores. Goodbye Weinstock’s. Goodbye Liberty House.

Hello Macy’s.

--Diva

Mizrahi Gets a Magazine

Isaac Mizrahi, the eccentric designer most recently known as the new face of fashion apparel in a Target store near you (and let's not forget the little squeezing-of-Scarlett-Johansson's-breast discretion on the red carpet at this year's Golden Globes), is joining the likes of Oprah, Martha Stewart and Rachael Ray. Not in terms of serving time or cooking up dinner or even starting his own TV show (he's already had one on Oxygen), but in launching his own magazine. Isaac's Style Book is a biannual publication that will touch on all things fashion and many things not. If his Notes From Isaac page on the mag's Web site is any indication, the publication could include anything from ice cream recipes to the longest word in the German language. A special feature on the "Hairography" of Linda Dresner is one of the highlights of the debut issue. I can't wait!

--Alison Embrey Medina

Retail as Someone Else's Theatre

So, what happens when the consumer turns your store into their stage?  How do you react?  Do you call the police, like Best Buy did?  Do you enjoy it?  Do you take pride in the fact that they picked your location?  Do you tell your staff to play with them?

It's a very interesting question and it certainly brings us back to the socialization of retail question that we've brought up in the past.  In a world where the consumer is used to controlling all of their content, what happens when they walk into your retail space?  What opportunities are you giving them to personalize their shopping experience?  Consumers want to have fun and if you don't provide the opportunity, then they may create their own opportunities.

We can only imagine that this kind of thing will occur more and more and the retailer will have to know how to handle it when it does.  Groups like Improv Everywhere are just looking for new ways to have fun and you may be next.

Here's what happened at Best Buy:

"The idea for this mission was submitted by a stranger via email.  Agent Slavinsky wrote in to suggest I get either a large group of people in blue polo shirts and khakis to enter a Best Buy or a group in red polo shirts and khakis to enter a Target.  Wearing clothing almost identical to the store's uniform, the agents would not claim to work at the store but would be friendly and helpful if anyone had a question.  There aren't any Targets in Manhattan, so I decided to go with the two-story Best Buy on 23rd Street."

They did a another mission at the Home Depot in Manhattan:

What happens when hundreds of customers show up at a store and start shopping in slow motion? In this YouTube video clip, check out what happened when 225 Improv Everywhere Agents shopped in slow motion at a Manhattan Home Depot on August 19. The Improv Everywhere site includes extensive photos and videos of the "mission," including a detailed description of what happened during a 15-minute period when time stood still at Home Depot.

--David Polinchock

Photo: Some of the participants from the Improv Everywhere mission at Best Buy.

Crikey!

Diva will miss the loveable antics of Steve Irwin, the real Australian Crocodile Hunter of the show on Animal Planet. His snappy khaki attire and sassy attitude endeared millions--especially kids--to his TV programs that featured roll-fests with crocs, massive snakes worn like off-the-shoulder feather boas and treks into the bush in search of numerous other deadly denizens. “Crikey!”--As he would say, "what a way to go--stabbed through the heart by the saber-like tail of a stingray." He was only 44 years old, but like the old saying, perhaps, he had used up his nine lives, being bitten by vipers (he admitted to several snake bites) and dodging wild boars. Now he’s up in the Outback in the sky, smiling down on all the creatures he loved and, I’m sure, still loves--even that ugly, old stingray. We’ll all miss you, Steve.

If you would like to make a contribution in Steve's memory, go to www.wildlifewarriors.org.au/

--Diva

An Overstock Story

After searching for months in catalogs and retail stores galore, my husband and I finally....FINALLY....have a brand new king-size bed. (We'd been sleeping on two king-size mattresses on the floor for six months because we were "too busy" to get out and actually make a purchase.) I knew exactly what style I wanted, what color I wanted and how much I wanted to pay for it--or so I thought. I was ready to sign the papers at one notable furniture dealer near my house, until my husband found the exact same bed online for about $400 cheaper. On Overstock.com. Hearing this, I asked in disbelief, "Well, the shipping costs have to be astronomical, right?" His reply, "$2." That's two dollars. Not two hundred--two. The result? I have a new bed and could afford to buy the pricier bedding I had my eye on. And we ordered it before work in the morning. I am now a fan of the Internet.

It appears I'm not the only one. In its latest Consumer Behavior Report, PriceGrabber.com found that consumers are migrating more and more online to shop for furniture, appliances and home furnishings, both to research and buy. Furniture, at least in my eyes, has traditionally been a need-to-see-in-person kind of purchase, but I'm beginning to come to the other side. Shoppers now are willing to buy items such as sofas, patio furniture and tables online in addition to bricks-and-mortar purchases. And we're doing our pricing homework before we go into the store, that's for sure.

According to the survey, the top three motivations to go online for home furniture and appliance shopping are finding better prices, convenience, and the ability to shop from home. Twenty-three percent of survey respondents said they expect to buy more products online for their home within the next 12 months. I'm definitely one of them. A recent JupiterResearch forecast similarly predicts that online spending for furniture will experience a 17.4 percent growth from 2005 to 2010.

Not that shopping in retail stores isn't still my No. 1 pastime, but for the big, bulky items? I could get used to this.

--Alison Embrey Medina

Retail Under the Influence

I went to college and know what goes on behind closed dorm doors. However, recent trips to popular, mainstream retail stores have me asking: what in the world are retailers thinking when they market alcohol to the under-21crowd?

There are several examples regarding my case in point, of which the names will remain anonymous. Just a couple of weeks ago, while shopping in a well-known department store, a group of mannequins strategically positioned at the front of the young men's department posed in a T-shirt that read: "24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case, is this a coincidence?"And on top of this, the back-to-school season was in full swing. While customers age 21 and over shop in this department, younger kids do as well.

Another sighting occurred in a discount department store chain that prominently displayed the adult drinking game, Drinko, amidst student dorm decor. Now, is this a coincidence? Kids are well inducted into the idea of drinking before ever setting foot on a college campus.

A compelling but frightening novel, "Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood," hit shelves last year, documenting author Koren Zailckas' personal experiences of under-age drinking and earned a spot on The New York Times bestseller list. Some say alcohol abuse among minors is becoming an epidemic in the United States, attributing it to various media and marketing campaigns that promote this type of behavior. Could it be retailers have a responsibility in better honing and tailoring their message to the target, and in this case, more appropriate, consumer?

--Rachel Brown

Retrosexuals? Not on Diva’s watch

Diva has noticed that there seems to be a backlash against any form of modern, civilized life among a significant segment of the male population these days. When every small victory leads to the scream: “Kegger,” when orders for food at popular chains call for He-man-size, whopping triple layers of bread and fat, when one of fall’s most promising new TV shows is about football (the manly sport), and when the DVD he is panting for is the movie “Beer Fest”--it’s time to give that male companion or friend a good thonk up the side of the head with a pink feather duster. All of a sudden, men seem determined to march back to a Troglodyte era when women existed to cook the meat, sweep out the cave and rock Junior to sleep.

This week’s cover story in Businessweek was “Secrets of The Male Shopper.” According to Businessweek, Retrosexuals--“who wallow in male behavior and are nostalgic for the good old days, before the Fab Five and moisturizers”--are bouncing Metrosexuals out of the spotlight.

Diva says, someone should tell those guys to just grow up. This arrested development, frat house behavior is about delusional males who want to still be in their teens--or back in the '50s. Maybe we have “My Name is Earl” to blame for it all. Check out the book, “Rejuvenile: Kickball, Cartoons, Cupcakes, and the Reinvention of the American Grown-up,” by Christopher Noxon. The author says that, like Peter Pan, more and more Americans are refusing to act their age.

And did you see those online blogs last week about the recent Forbes piece: “Don’t Marry Career Women,” which goes on to say, “Guys: a word of advice. Marry pretty women or ugly ones. Short ones or tall ones. Blondes or brunettes. Just, whatever you do, don’t marry a woman with a career.” The author, Michael Noer, calls down all manner of poxes on men who make the mistake of marrying an intelligent, resourceful woman who is a valuable contributor to business or society--a woman who commits the unforgivable mistake of having a career. Diva asks: Who is writing about the failures and foibles of high-powered male execs and their often-disastrous home and family lives? Many of them aren’t perfect mates or husbands either. At any rate, according to online source blogher, feminists are calling for a boycott of Forbes magazine. (Forbes recalled the article, then reposted it along with a rebuttal written by a female.)

Just when we all heard that men were beginning to help out around the house and becoming active partners in raising the kids--true partners--here comes this new, gender warfare. Diva is not in the business of offering advice to the lovelorn, but listen up. If you can’t get him away from the TV football game, if you can’t get him sober by Monday morning, if he won’t razor away that gorilla stubble and ditch the dirty T-shirt--if you can’t get him to grow up--throw the bum out! Diva will take a Metrosexual over a Retrosexual any day--at least they smell good.

--Diva

Happy Labor Day

Diva wishes everyone a pleasant and safe Labor Day holiday! She'll be back tomorrow and blogging about Retrosexuals. What's that you ask? Come visit tomorrow if you want to find out. Diva promises it's something you won't want to miss...

Employees can now be scared to open their company e-mails

Don’t you just love the computer age: the age of instant messaging, blog-fests, YouTube and MySpace (where everyone gets their 15 minutes of fame)--and of remote message firings? Maybe this has become the norm in the age of new media, and maybe Diva is just behind the times--but Diva says that an e-mail blast telling 400 employees of RadioShack that they have been sacked, is not the proper way to do this. According to an article in The New York Times, on Tuesday morning, 400 employees working in RadioShack's company headquarters, received e-mail messages telling them to pack up and get out “immediately.” Though employees had been warned of the coming layoffs in advance, it still shocked many workers (and rightly so) that the company did not think enough of them to tell them face-to-face. The ailing retailer has already closed around 500 stores, consolidated distribution centers and booted out slow-selling merchandise items, in an attempt to boost declining sales. The question comes to mind--maybe a company that is this insensitive to its employees may also be insensitive to its customers. After all, many businesses fail to realize that employees are also customers--and both should be treated with respect and dignity. Diva can think of nothing less respectful of human dignity than telling employees they are fired--by e-mail. Company layoffs are never happy times, but corporate expediency should not be allowed to obliterate human dignity. The manner in which employees are told and how this is handled can deeply affect the self-esteem and future careers and well being of those involved. Diva says no one should have to find out they are out of a job from a computer rather than from a human being.

--Diva