Never Fear, Retail Hero is Here!

Zap! Ping! Zoinks! Evil beware! Arguable studies have come out touting the benefits of video game play and its ability to enhance hand-eye coordination, analytical thinking, etc. But never before has a game been created to help enhance the ability of building a retail business. And a superhero game at that! An interactive, online game by Retail Hero (a provider of POS and retail security systems), dubbed "Retail Champion," allows you to "play" the retail market, starting from running a small hot dog stand all the way up to a top-notch, high-end retail store. Through five training levels, cartoonish characters and animated graphics allow you to advance your skillset toward running the retail operation of your dreams. (It's no Madden, but it is a great time waste that's sorta-kinda-semi-work-related.)

The program promises to teach you various bar code scanning techniques and skills to catch high-ticket sales, use retail technology to lower shrinkage and increase revenues, learn to withstand a sudden tax audit, learn issues of human capital, experience the magic of POS and successfully exercise an exit strategy. In level one, our able-bodied Retail Hero must make a profit of $200 (i.e. by determining how much to borrow and catching falling Uber-Colas and hot dogs out of the air). However, when a big-bad, masked thief the likes of a skinny version of the Hamburgler comes to steal your loot, you are warned that security cameras might have been a wise investment (nice subtle plug, guys).

--Alison Embrey Medina

Color Me Green

It's no longer a trend. Alert the media, call your grandma and sit the kids down for "the talk." Green living is here to stay, folks. It's not just about eating organic food and replacing your light bulbs with compact fluorescents (although that's a very good start). Nope, green is making it BIG in the world of fashion and not so surprisingly, in cars. Fashion--the notorious "it" industry--is showcasing some of the most progressive and forward-thinking collections since...well, the caveman and the loin cloth.

Case in point, during the recent Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in California, Evidence of Evolution Green unveiled its 2008 spring/summer collection. While that's noteworthy on its own, catch this - Mercedes-Benz was actually sponsoring Evidence of Evolution Green as part of the release of its eco-friendly E320 BLUETEC automobile. Nice. In an outstanding partnership, Mercedes-Benz released its clean-diesel engine car during fashion week where it also sponsored an eco-friendly clothing line. Talk about strategic target marketing!

Even though an eco-friendly Mercedes is worth mentioning, it's this fashion line that's got me all worked up. The line uses low-impact dyes and zero volatile organic compounds (VOC). Who knew?! In addition, Evidence of Evolution is providing a collection comprised of eco-friendly and organic fabrics for fashion maven Barneys New York. Not too shabby. Collection pieces include organic sateen cotton for men and organic cotton voile dresses for women.

Designers Ali Alborzi and Andrew McCarthy created the ready-to-wear collection, launching their creations in 2004. The line is sold exclusively in not only Barneys, but Maxfield Los Angeles, Ships Japan and Montaigne Market Paris.

To top it off, the clothes are actually attractive. Skinny pants, flowing tops and slip-on mini-dresses made the line for 2008 and it all looks wearable--even for us "normal" people. A lot of fashion week clothing looks best only on models (a la' Nicky Hilton's new line), but not Evidence of Evolution. I say, let's get to Barneys!

I'll know green living has seeped into every aspect of retail and fashion when Target launches its own eco-friendly line. It's just a matter of time...But, until then, I'm enjoying how eco-chic our world is becoming.

--Heather Strang

I, Like, Totally Heart Fashion Valley!

Songs aren't written about this glorious location for nothing. A place where the sun always shines, the people are beautiful and the shopping is spectacular. In California, anything is possible.

Even an upscale shopping mall called Fashion Valley, located in San Diego. While the name may lend itself to soap-opera-like images, it's actually a 1.7 million-sq.-ft. shopping center frequented by upwards of 18 million shoppers every year. That's more than the combined annual attendance of Sea World, Legoland, San Diego Padres, San Diego Chargers, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, The San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park.

Can you imagine what this place is like for holiday shopping?!

Oh, and it gets better--check this out--Fashion Valley is also only one of three venues worldwide to include the decadent shopping combo of Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's. Hence, the 18 million shoppers. Think that's luxurious? Just wait. Things are about to get so much hotter.

In 2008, Fashion Valley will welcome Barneys New York COOP, CH Carolina Herrera, Hermes, Jimmy Choo, Just Cavalli, M Missoni, Michael Kors and Tourneau. That's like a luxury shopping overdose! Many of these retailers are entering the San Diego market for the first time, so you know the 18 million + shoppers will be dying to get a chance to shop at any one of these new stores.

With that many high-end retailers making their grand entrance in 2008, it's obvious that good things come in nice, big packages. When I called Fashion Valley to confirm that their 2008 retailers will all be opening at the same time, their representative could neither confirm or deny this report. Touché. They like to be mysterious too...

While typically, one or two stores will enter a shopping location together, rarely do they do it all at once. It sounds like this might be the strategy for Fashion Valley in 2008. I like it because it sends a powerful message to the shopping public--Fashion Valley is the place to be (duh!).

In addition, throughout 2008, Anthropologie, H&M, Juicy Couture and True Religion will also call Fashion Valley home. The goal is, of course, to make San Diego and thus, Fashion Valley, the location for trendy, high-end shopping. And it's working. Even the retailers are convinced. With CH Carolina Herrera boutique's due to open this month, she had this to say:

"I just adore Southern California. Fashion Valley is fantastic," said Carolina Herrera. "I love how you can walk around in the sun to see all the other great shops. I cannot wait to open my own CH Carolina Herrera boutique there."

I'm on board! Frankly, I would love to see luxury retailers go into an upscale area all at once. The impact would be huge, especially if it's their first time entering the market.

What do you think? All for one, one for all? Or is it best to maximize publicity and stroll into a market all by yourself? Would love to hear your retailing thoughts...

--Heather Strang

A New League

Remember those classic high-top Reeboks that you just had to have back in the '80s? The sports apparel/footwear/equipment retailer (a subsidiary of the Adidas Group) has come a long way since those iconic high-tops. Everything from the product to the logo has changed. In fact, the retailer could be called the comeback kid in terms of branding.

After the high-top craze of the '80s came and went, so did the Reebok brand. The company would pop up every now and then with a new athletic shoe, but they always seemed to be on sale at a discount store--never in high demand or with a large presence at department stores or sporting goods retailers. And then Reebok came out with a new logo (Rbk) no one recognized (which was probably a good thing in retrospect.) Now, all of a sudden it seems the brand is everywhere. Its alliances with the National Hockey League (the new NHL Powered by Reebok store in New York City on 6th Avenue) and National Football League (Reebok has a contract to outfit the NFL) make the brand a major player in the industry.

And not only has Reebok teamed up with sports' major leagues, it has also befriended the female consumer in several ways. One that first comes to mind is the commercial currently on air, in which several women show up for a football game/house party in fashionable jerseys that represent their favorite team (In this case it was the Giants, and then one woman has the audacity to walk in decked in Jets garb.) The athletic jerseys, customized for women, don't make it look like you're wearing your boyfriend's or brother's clothes. Who thought that women were actually interested in professional sports? It's about time.  Also, for the second year in a row, Reebok has been the official footwear and apparel sponsor of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, a series of weekend-long walking events that take place from May through October in eight cities across the country, attracting tens of thousands of participants who generate funds and awareness to help find a cure for breast cancer.

Well, I have to say cheers to Reebok! It appears the brand has come full circle. It all started out with that classic high-top--that women loved. And now that Reebok is back on top, it's nice to know it didn't leave its female customer in the dust.

--Rachel Brown

Don’t Mess with Diva’s Chocolate

Diva is one of the original died-in-the-wool chocoholics. And a bit of a chocolate snob to boot. When in Europe, she brings back as many boxes and bars of chocolate as she can fit into her suitcase--if it is Swiss or French, so much the better. In New York, she always finds time to visit the Bloomingdale’s in-store Martine’s Chocolates and the Neuhaus shop at Rockefeller Center. And when out West, See’s Chocolates go into the carry-on bag. Diva's pantry is a chocolate travelog.

So, it was with great tribulation that Diva heard about the plot to subvert chocolate in the United States into some new, tasteless commodity. U.S. chocolate makers (rumored to include Hershey’s and Nestlé) are trying to get the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to pass a law allowing the substitution of vegetable fats and other cheaper components to be added to chocolate--in place of the traditional cocoa butter, which has always been a key ingredient. Cocoa butter is what gives chocolate its smooth, silky texture and a feeling of creaminess. Recent price increases of cocoa butter have chocolate producers--especially those making less expensive products--concerned about keeping their costs in line. As far as Diva is concerned, if it doesn’t contain cocoa butter--it isn’t really chocolate. An article called “Chocolate Wars,” in the new Portfolio magazine, gives further insight into what is going on.

Chocolate sales now total $16.3 billion annually, and since 2001, sales of chocolate have increased by an explosive 129 percent. Chocolate just keeps getting more and more popular, what with chocolate "bars" like Ethel M’s Chocolate Lounges in the Midwest, and that Bald Man Max Brenner’s new storefronts in New York City. M&M's push for retail stores has helped spread the message as well. Then there’s that brand for the super-wealthy “chocoseurs”--Noka. Sold in Tokyo, Dallas and other key cities [and in many Neiman Marcus doors]. These are said to be the most expensive chocolates in the world, costing up to $20 a piece, and up to $2,000 a pound for vintage, single-source chocolates.

Here’s hoping they don’t water down chocolate--turning it into something else entirely. If you’re interested, check out: DontMessWithOurChocolate.com. They call it a “Mockolate conspiracy.”

If this new rule gets passed, Diva is stocking up in advance, because she will not buy chocolate--that isn’t!

--Diva

Mannequins Get Movin'

Do you sometimes wish that the 1987 movie Mannequin wasn't simply a silly fantasy? I know I do. Often, I lay awake at night wondering what the world would be like if mannequins actually moved and could become your friends. Well, I'm not the only one pondering this important topic. The folks at Gap decided that traditional mannequins were passé and in the spirit of 1987, brought some of theirs to life.

Welcome to the moving mannequin.

I mean, let's be honest here, it's tough to know how those khaki's are going to perform beyond merely standing in a store window. How will they look as you sprint across the street to save that puppy/elderly woman/handsome man? Will they wrinkle? Puff out in the wrong places? There's no end to the questions. So, I'm pretty grateful that Gap is taking this whole mannequin thing to the next level.

But, I sure hope they come out with a sitting or getting-out-of-the-car mannequin soon. That would have really helped me this weekend when I purchased a seemingly fantastic pair of jeans at Old Navy. You see, they looked fabulous when I was standing in that dressing room. Operative word here is standing. Side note: On top of that, they were on sale, which may have greatly influenced my enthusiasm for the purchase.

I realized something was terribly wrong when I went to sit down for dinner that very night. The jeans were actually stabbing me in the stomach. I could not sit comfortably, as the top button jammed itself into my lower abdomen. Damn the sale jeans! I realize now, that if I had seen a mannequin sitting in those jeans I would not have been in that horribly awkward (do I unbutton the top button? at dinner? in a fancy-schmancy restaurant?!) predicament. Or I could have sat in the jeans, while in the dressing room, but that would have been logical. Not my forte.

On to the point...and there is a point, moving mannequins are the next phase in mannequin design. Show me a mannequin walking, sprinting, getting up and sitting down from a dining room table--and I'll show you the potential for increased sales. That kind of mannequin would have completely saved me this weekend.

What do you think--would moving mannequins help you decide whether to make a particular purchase? Or do you also love the movie Mannequin? 
Do tell!

--Heather Strang

Hellooo Zara

Finally. Atlanta finally has a Zara (enter rejoicing voices here)! The Spanish fast-fashion retailer recently opened up a store at Lenox Square mall, which I just so happened to stumble upon during a "research excursion" (it's okay, you can admit that you're jealous, my job is pretty awesome). A sign announcing the new store caught me by surprise and pointed me down the revamped wing of the mall with a big fabulous arrow and the words "Now Open."

"Now open?!" I practically screamed in disbelief. I don't think anyone has ever made such a sharp turn before--I bolted down the corridor with images of cute tops and stylish pants dancing through my head in a fashion-frenzy-induced, almost rabid state. Upon reaching the storefront, I did a quick glance-over and dashed inside, restraining myself from rushing forward with arms outstretched, shouting "gimme, gimme, gimme" (not to be confused with the new Britney Spears song). Once inside, a fashion mecca greeted me with a plethora of affordable work suits, coats, dresses and tops galore. I spent a good amount of time inside the store, as if stuck in a kind of time warp where the minutes (hours?) seemed to disappear into space. After carefully perusing the plentitude of racks for every possible item of clothing that might tickle my fancy, I left the store with one sole item--a deep chocolate brown, v-neck, supersoft blouse (for only $20!). I was in fashion heaven.

Unfortunately, a little bit of hell tainted my paradise in the form of unknowledgeable and rude sales associates. But have no fear, I was still happy as can be--no one, not even a snide saleswoman, could ruin my day.  I chocked it up to the fact that the store was still new and the staff was still getting acclimated. We'll see if this is the case the next time I go back.

In terms of store design, I have no complaints. The location isn't the most innovative thing I've seen, but it is pleasant enough--nice layout, easy-to-shop, and cozy yet modern. Definitely more approachable than the Zara in Dadeland Mall in Miami (which is pretty nice itself).

Now that Zara is here, the next step is H&M, which is expected to open up in the mixed-use center Atlantic Station in spring 2008. I don't particularly like frequenting Atlantic Station because it is a little far from where I live, but I do make exceptions--especially in the name of "research."

--Jessie Bove

Photo: The Zara at Union Square in San Francisco

 

Who Is Diesel Dating?

Granted, I’m not into social networking--Facebook, MySpace and iVillage are as foreign to me as Mars, but I can point out the red planet in the night sky, and I’m well aware of how pivotal the whole social networking community is. So kudos to Diesel Denim for just launching its version of social networking on Diesel Dating. They photographed their models wearing Diesel Jeans and posted both real and felonious personals for them. Diesel is encouraging their customers to do the same. While the figures aren’t in yet, it appears that young people in the droves will be dumping provocatively composed personals for themselves wearing, you guessed it, their Diesels. It’s so scathingly brilliant that I wonder why other retails don’t get in the game.

--Ron Knoth, Guest Blogger

Retail Makes Its Move into Paradise

Back in the day, one went to Hawaii for a vacation--a little surf, sand and relaxation. The only problem was, you'd have to stay close to the major cities or you'd be stuck driving 30 minutes-plus to get groceries and go shopping. What a drag! Luckily, big-time mainland retailers like Target, Nordstrom, Whole Foods and J.Crew are saving the day by setting up shop in Hawaii.

Retail development is washing over the Hawaiian Islands like crazed lava flow. Retailers such as Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Costco and Home Depot have already tasted the sweet success of Hawaii, watching their sales skyrocket. The lack of construction workers and retail employees is no longer a hang-up and more retailers than ever before are jumping on board.

Walgreens recently announced plans to open 25-30 stores to better compete with Longs Drugs, and Target will have two locations open by 2009. Nordstrom will have a Honolulu store by spring 2008, while Whole Foods plans to open four stores over the next three years. Now I can sip my tasty beverage, stare at the ocean all day and then go shopping at my favorite retailers. Aloha & Mahalo, baby!

But, even paradise has a down side.

Construction on the Whole Foods store in Oahu recently received a major delay when workers uncovered an ancient Hawaiian burial ground on site. Yikes! Well, it could be worse--on the Kohala Coast, the Queens Marketplace is in the midst of a barren lava field. How's that for location?!

And just because demand is up, doesn't mean things will move as quickly as they do in the U.S. According to a recent New York Times article, “Everything in Hawaii, like making deals, can take twice as long.” Yep, when you're in Hawaii--whether on vacation or a retailer hoping to cash in on the money-making train--you're on island time. But, who cares? You're in Hawaii. While the construction workers decide what to do with the ancient burial site, grab a pina colada and relax on the beach. Seriously. It would do you some good.

Even though construction costs are 30 percent higher in Hawaii, retail vacancy is at an ultra-low 3 percent. It looks as though retailers have some serious island fever. And, I for one think it's fabulous. A-lo-ha!

Know about a retailer that has plans to make it in Hawaii? Fill us in!

--Heather Strang

Global Warming Affects Fashion?!

Al Gore left out one important disastrous consequence of global warming in his stunning docu-drama, An Inconvenient Truth. He forgot to warn us that global warming would greatly impact (are you ready for this?)...fashion. Alas, here we are in October 2007, with announcements from the fashion and retail industries, that due to "unpredictable" weather patterns, it is virtually impossible to follow the traditional spring/summer and fall/winter collection releases.

Apparently, global warming is affecting retail sales, fashion releases, oh and, of course, the ENVIRONMENT. Putting all kidding aside though, recent wacky weather patterns are having a negative impact on retail sales. Retailers are consistently reporting lower than expected sales due to unseasonably warm weather in fall months and cooler weather during typically warmer months. So, what's a fashionista to do?

Beppe Modenese, founder of Milan Fashion Week (and fashion insider) told The New York Times, "The whole fashion industry will have to change." He also commented that designers, "must adapt to the reality that there is no strong difference between summer and winter any more."

Liz Claiborne, Target and Kohl's are already proactively making this change by hiring climatologists. While it might seem like the local weather man throws a dart at a climate board and then makes his weekly forecast, you can't blame retailers for trying. When sales start dropping, retailers need to explore a variety of solutions, even if it involves hiring an on-site weather person.

In addition, Target also announced that it will offer swimwear year-round, which will only make vacation shopping a lot easier. Look, positive changes are coming from global warming. Who would have thought?!

The general consensus seems to be that designers need to provide all-weather clothing year-round. So, instead of selling bulky items for supposed "winter" months, designers will include layering pieces, so that consumers can purchase layers as they need too. Global warming is bringing our world many changes, and fashion/retail is no exception. Retailers and designers are stepping up to the plate and adjusting decades-long industry standards to better meet their customers needs. How fantastic is that?!

In the meantime, I'm eagerly awaiting Al Gore's next documentary, Inconveniencing Fashion--The Global Warming Phenomena. :)

Noticed any recent retail/fashion changes due to global warming? Let us know!

--Heather Strang