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

Don't Trash Customer Service

Impeccable customer service is hard to come by these days. However, I have a story that blows the lid off many retailers who have thrown customer service by the wayside. Not long ago, after purchasing a pricey trash can--the sort with a stainless steel cylinder and foot pedal--for the second time in two years, the lid on it broke...again. The mechanism that opens the lid kept breaking after a few months of use. Most people would say to go with a trash can that doesn't have a foot pedal, but this is not an option in my household, where a chocolate lab and foxhound reside (who would readily tip over a plastic trash can or stick their noses in an easily accessible top.)

After trying to repair the trash can with no success, my husband decided to buy yet another. We racked our brains on other alternatives, but caved in and were ready to shell out money for a similar product. While at Bed Bath & Beyond, my husband spoke with a store manager walking the floor, telling him about the problem and asking input on which trash can had the least problems. After five minutes of conversation, the manager pointed him to a trash can that had a more durable lid connector and told him to bring the broken trash can back to the store for a refund. Yes, a refund with no receipt and for a product that was purchased last year. When my husband returned home with the new and improved trash can and news that we would be getting it for free, I almost passed out. Good thing we didn't throw out the old can! It gets better. The store accepted a 20 percent off coupon on top of the full refund, so we ended up with a store credit to boot.

And I thought customer service was a long forgotten practice. While it may not be the answer to world peace, good customer service isn't just good for business--it does wonders for humanity.

--Rachel Brown

The End of Strip Malls

I am so sick of strip malls. Let me count the ways. First, they are aesthetically unpleasing. Maybe this was a-okay in the '80s, but not so much now. Secondly, I'm simply not going to use every store within the strip or suddenly decide I need cowboy boots since there's now a new western wear store next to my favorite Old Navy. No, it won't happen.

However, the perfect panacea for the strip mall is the widely popular mixed-use development.

Now, a mixed use development I love. It feels homey (and it IS home to a lot of people), it's like you've stepped onto some delicious movie set where people live and shop together as one. Ahh...heaven. Apparently, I'm not the only person in love with a mixed-use development, because they're springing up all over the place.

Seattle recently announced the construction of its newest 445-foot condo tower, AVA. How avant-garde! This development takes the whole retail/condo/office space thang to new heights. At AVA, (which boasts the tagline: Zen Living in the Zing of Downtown) high-rise condos and estates are planted on top of a luxury boutique hotel. Now we're talking. Hotel guests and residents can enjoy the benefits of a heated pool, cabanas (in Seattle!), fitness facility, 3,000-sq.-ft. spa and the rooftop SkyLounge. Yum! In addition, a full-service business center is on-site, with secretarial services available, as well as meeting and conference rooms with rooftop deck access. Add to that a 4,000-sq.-ft. restaurant and lounge and yet-to-be decided retailers on-site, and you've got yourself a little piece of nirvana. Pre-sale responses are reportedly through the roof, even though prices range from a meager $400,000 to $5 million.

The rest of the Pacific Northwest is no stranger to these magnificent mixed-use developments. In Portland, Ore., a once ho-hum suburb, Hillsboro, was transformed into an urban dream with the advent of Orenco Station. In fact, in 2006, Sunset Magazine named it the best new suburb on the West Coast. If Sunset Magazine isn't enough to sway you, I can vouch for it. Before Orenco, I never went to Hillsboro, but after, oh, you bet I go to Hillsboro now. Solely to enjoy Orenco, but hey, who cares? They have a fabulous weekend farmer's market, kitschy stores, including the biggest, most wonderful New Seasons Market and lovely local restaurants. I simply linger around wondering what it would be like to live there. If it wasn't sold out, I would be living there already.

So, retailers, scrap plans to open up in the next strip mall and go for a design that is trendy, fun and let's face it, going to bring you far more customers. Mixed-use development = cha-ching.

Have a mixed-use development on the East Coast or in the Midwest that you adore? We'd love to hear about it. Be sure to include links to their Web sites in our comments section.

--Heather Strang

Be afraid, Be Very Afraid

Now, Diva is not known for playing the Chicken Little routine and going around yelling that the sky is falling. But, the real estate market has Diva worried--along with a host of retailers. There is no doubt that the housing boom has gone bust. Prices are falling and inventories of unsold homes are building up to unprecedented supplies. Selling a home in today’s market can be a daunting task. Home Depot is suffering, as consumers are spending fewer dollars on their homes. Pier 1 is struggling, and Bombay Co. just declared bankruptcy. It is going to be a tough spell for home goods stores.

How bad will it get? No one knows, but the signs are not upbeat. A report this week on ABC news reported that a California homebuilder, Anderson Homes, was conducting a fire sale of numerous unsold homes in one of its new developments. Brand-new homes that previously listed for $650,000 were selling for only $355,000—about half price. Homeowners in the development stand to see their home’s values reduced by as much as a quarter-million dollars a piece. Interviews with other home owners, in the TV news special, told of homes in new developments, originally priced between $500,000 and $700,00, going for as little as $295,000. Boy, these home builders are better at mark downs than Wal-Mart. Does a half-price sale of new homes sound crazy to anyone other than Diva?

Diva decided to look around some other cities, and what she found was alarming. In cities in Ohio, some neighborhoods have blocks where more than 50 percent of the homes are either in foreclosure or for sale—and those foreclosure signs are driving away any prospective buyers, other than those looking to make a killing by buying property from desperate sellers at cheap prices. (Some of these cities are providing special security units to protect the homes from vandals).

In one Atlanta subdivision--a gated community in an upscale neighborhood--10 percent of the houses were on the market, with some having been for sale for close to a year with no buyers. One home, recently purchased by “an investor group,” according to the prospectus, was offered for sale at $211,000. This home was bought new from the builder for a price in the mid $300,000s, a little more than a year ago. At $211,000 it’s a bargain for the new buyer and potentially devastating for the other homeowners who live in the development.

In talking to some industry real estate experts, it seems that some investor groups are snaring homes and flipping them--this time for lower prices, rather than higher prices--to make a fast buck. In all likely-hood, they discover a homeowner on the verge of foreclosure or bankruptcy and offer to buy their home for only the remaining loan amount. A desperate home owner may take the deal to avoid a foreclosure. If the owner had made a large down payment or rolled over profits from a prior home sale, the outstanding balance could be fairly low. Or the investor has made some special arrangements with the holder of the mortgage, to preempt the default and help recoup whatever it can for that lender, by selling the house quickly.

If more of these real estate fire sales spread across the country, this could not only have an unprecedented negative impact on the real estate market but also undermine the entire economy. Homeowners are braced for a possible 5 percent to 10 percent decline in home value, due to the recent foreclosure debacle and the collapse of the housing boom--but they are not braced for price drops of up to 50 percent. Consumer spending has been driven by the “wealth effect” for the past five years or more--the psychological, positive influence of rising home values. When homeowners see the price of their homes potentially dropping by as much as 50 percent, they are going to be terrified. Don’t look for those consumers to be spending anything at the mall.

Is this a fluke? Let’s hope so.

--Diva

Wal-Mart Learns From Its Mistakes

Remember when you'd get in trouble for sitting on your baby sister or eating pixy stix before dinner? Sure, you'd feel bad and maybe a little scared (my mom had this crazy vein throbbing in the middle of her forehead), but as soon as she wasn't looking or another pile of sugar appeared, you'd dive right back in. Well, not much has changed, right? We date the same types of guys or girls over and over again, make the same mistakes in business and never fail to tell our friends, yet again, that we can't stand their significant other. Fortunately, retailers aren't as stubborn as the rest of the world.

When Wal-Mart launched its upscale clothing line, Metro 7 in October 2005, sales soared. Then, suddenly, they crashed and burned. For damage control, Wal-Mart pulled the line from more than half of its stores, stating it was simply in too many locations too soon. Fast forward to present day and Wal-Mart, once again, has an upscale women's clothing line to launch. But, this time, they're learning from their mistakes--unlike me!--and are only launching z.b.d design online.

The new line features everything from tweed jackets to square neck dresses, turtlenecks and crew tees. And guess what? It's actually pretty cute clothing for a discount retailer. Prices are extremely affordable, from $9.88 to $36.88, and I'm really digging the tab-waist trousers and 3/4 sleeve crewneck. I might even have to order a few things for my continued "research." Speaking of, Wal-Mart did its research this time around and discovered that its Web site customers earn up to 50 percent MORE than the average in-store Wal-Mart shopper, who makes roughly $40,000 a year. It's no wonder the Metro 7 line tanked so quickly. If customers are used to paying $5.88 or less for clothes, it will definitely take them longer to come around to paying more. So, it makes sense to launch a new clothing line, on-line, where Wal-Mart's money-making consumers reside.

I never thought I would say this, but Wal-Mart is actually setting a great example for all of us. Learning from our mistakes in life and in business is critical to on-going success. And that's what makes individuals and retailers billionaires. People, take note.

Now, if I could just find some more of those pixy stix...

Tried the new z.b.d line? Let us know if it's as hot as it looks!

--Heather Strang

Shut the Door

I hate it more than a mirror-less fitting room. I even hate it more than an inappropriate sales associate manning the fitting room area. I hate it more than the super-unflattering lighting of an A&F fitting room; more than the fitting room with the awkward, too-short door; or the one equipped with only a flimsy curtain; or the communal dressing room area at the local tennis store. I'm talking about the fitting rooms in the junior's department of Macy's at North Point Mall in Alpharetta, Ga. Barf.

Maybe it's just me, but I like to have a fitting room with some sort of functioning door. Oh, and preferably one that locks (although in many cases that's asking too much). What is so complicated about creating a pleasant fitting room? This is an area that I've found is sometimes overlooked by retailers--a mere afterthought. Don't get me wrong though; there are definitely retailers out there who have taken pride in their fitting rooms, equipping them with stylish furnishings and spacious quarters.

But the fitting rooms at Macy's North Point Mall are not exactly up to par. I frequent North Point Mall for the fact that it's quite close to my office and on the way home. It's definitely not my favorite mall in Atlanta--I'd much rather shop at Perimeter or Lenox, which have a far superior store selection. North Point has steadily been getting better stores, but it still has a way to go. For the past couple of years, a former Lord & Taylor department store sat uninhabited. A few months ago it was finally occupied--unfortunately it was by Belk, much to the dismay of local shoppers who were hoping for a Nordstrom or Bloomie's or anything else really besides Belk. What's even more upsetting is that the Parisian store (which Belk took over) is now closed. So another empty anchor shall waste space. But back to the fitting rooms at Macy's...

In the past 13 years that I've lived in Atlanta, I can only remember the junior's department fitting rooms being updated one or two times--and most of those "updates" just involved switching the location from one side of the department to another. The current state of the fitting rooms is sad. They look worn and dirty; they have those angled slats on the doors that let you sort of see passersby and make you wonder if they can see you; they have doors with handles that don't turn; they have doors that don't stay shut unless you barricade them with a huge purse (I knew I was carrying a big ole purse for a good reason!).

I wonder why this department's fitting rooms are neglected? Some of the other ladies' departments have nicer dressing rooms--nothing spectacular, but at least they have three-way mirrors and doors that shut. Is the teen demographic really not that important to Macy's? What about those of us in older demographics who still wear junior's sizes? Are our dollars less valuable? Is our shopping experience less important?

This fitting room situation also presents a problem for sales associates. Refusing to use the ragged junior's fitting rooms, I haul my pile of prospective purchases to other departments to try them on. When they don't fit, I hang them up on the rolling rack of rejects set up outside the dressing room area. Surely this can't be very productive for sales associates who are now tasked with deciphering which departments clothing should be returned to. And don't expect me to do it after you've already insulted me with the fitting room choices.

Macy's I love you, but your fitting rooms are in desperate need of a makeover.

--Jessie Bove

P.S. This particular Macy's is undergoing some nice renovations--bigger accessories department, etc.--hopefully this means the fitting rooms are next.

Lawsuit Anyone?

Is it just me or are there too many strange lawsuits going on? It started with McD’s losing the case of the lady who drove with coffee in her lap and spilled it. After her large settlement, it seems like everyone started suing everyone over everything. Lawsuits because of fast food making someone fat; lawsuits over swimming pools being too wet; lawsuits over using an outdoor fireplace indoors and burning the house down. But the recent granting of class action status to a lawsuit against Target is starting to strike too close to home.

The suit was brought last December claiming that Target is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) because its Web site is not user-friendly for blind people. Yesterday a federal judge in California gave the case class action status. And this has some disturbing implications for our industry.

If Target is forced to make the Internet friendly to blind people, what’s next? Will the store displays have to have Braille descriptions or vocal interpretations playing to describe the products? How about store windows? Will we have to texture the glass in store window displays in bas relief so that the holiday scenes (if they are even legal anymore) can be felt instead of being seen? And no, I’m not trying to be cold, cruel, or even heartless to persons with visual difficulties (or what ever the PC term is nowadays), but what is going on here? It’s like having Braille instructions on the ATM machine in a drive-through lane at my bank--if you can’t see to run the ATM, how could you be driving into the drive-through?

And if Target has to makes its Web site available to blind persons, how about the rest of the Internet? Will Google have to invent flexible screens so that its search results come up in 3-D? Or will everyone have to have sound tracks running to read out loud the search results? And just for giggles (and not being PC at all) what about everyone’s favorite personal adult sites, how will they handle the requirements?

It’s not that I’m against the ADA, I take it into account for store designs every day, sometimes to the point of absurdity (remind me to tell the story of the building inspector who made us move a toilet paper holder 2 in. further away from the toilet so that we were in compliance with the ADA toilet paper distance regulation--yes, there really is one). But sometimes don’t we have to say that enough is enough? As I said, there are some disturbing possibilities here. What if we have to start designing all of our store displays to be friendly to blind people? Okay, sound tracks running descriptions will work for that, but then will the hard-of-hearing sue us because they can’t hear the descriptions being provided to the hard-of-seeing? So then we put up more signs, until the illiterate folks complain that they can’t read them, and English isn’t their native language so they can’t understand the sound tracks either. I don’t know where it’s going to end, but I’m starting to be afraid--very afraid…..

--Scott Caldwell, Guest Blogger

Photo: Christophe Moustier, 2005

Money Talks

Would you like $400 billion? I know I would. In fact, I'm expecting the check any day now. Luckily, upscale retailers could get a piece of this big ole' pie if they successfully tap into the luxury market. Recent reports indicate that this uppity segment is growing by as much as 25 percent above regular, down-home retail, and some even estimate that it will surpass the $1 trillion point by 2010. Now, that's a lot of dollars.

But, guess where these savvy shoppers are doing their shopping? Oh, yeah, they're in the stores. They're perusing Saks and wandering around Neiman Marcus, and they're also spending more than 5 hours a week shopping online. Seems that the good life provides no end to the need for material fulfillment and the Internet has no other choice but to graciously accommodate. Welcome to a retailer's dream.

The challenge then becomes translating a store brand onto the Internet. Giving Web site visitors the same warm and fuzzy feeling online as they experience in your store is tough work. It also has to be so good that they're not only willing to spend hours gazing at your merchandise online, but they must be incited to amiably spill the contents of their wallet into your online store. That takes talent beyond pretty pictures and cool colors.

Retail Web sites for the affluent need to appeal to their demographic in a way that provides convenience, ease of use and the same fabulous, to-die-for merchandise that they'll see in any store. In addition to that, it has to look hot. Beyond Paris Hilton hot. Because, seriously, what else is a girl to do after her third plastic surgery but shop relentlessly online? C'mon, whether it's a starlet, heiress or one of the new rich (see 4-Hour Work Week for more on this), a retailer's site has got to rock.

Here are some of my favorite luxury retail sites. Take note, they get the job done and you'll feel decadent and rich just being on their sites. Now, that's genius.

-Gucci
-Rolex
-Burberry 
-Cartier
-Coach
-Barneys

Retailers, please note: the days of Web sites with tabs along the top and a static picture centered in the middle, are so OVER. Use Flash. Trust me, it's your friend.

And hey, don't get mad at me, if you want $400 billion, you're going to have to work for it.
Nominate your fave luxury retail Web sites in our comments section!

--Heather Strang

Target Is a List-Maker's Dream

I love a list. I make "to-do" lists, grocery lists, what-I-want-for-Christmas lists-- you name it, I list it. And now, with the advent of TargetLists, it looks as though I'll be spending a lot more time creating lists for plenty more random occasions. Only, now, I'll be having more fun. TargetLists allow users to create lists for events, celebrations or simply because they want extra gifts in their life. Sounds like a great idea to me! Target's intention in creating this new service is to make the list creating process, "fun and efficient with easy-to-use, in-store kiosks and online." You mean, I can have fun making a list? Ha! The red bulls-eye strikes again.

As a big Target fan (I swear it's impossible for me to leave that store for under $80), I understand the joys of spending my time and money there. I walk in for floss and walk out with a new outfit, a can opener, shampoo and People magazine. So, if Target can make regular ole' shopping fun, I'm sure they can class up list-making.

And here's something to be happy about--newlyweds no longer have all the scanner fun. Anyone can create a list on-site and go crazy with that scanner gun. Take that marrieds! Or if you wish to be more subtle, pick out your dream gifts online and then casually e-mail the list link to everyone in your address book. I love Target! Finally, I don't have to go through the drama of getting married to get exactly what I want (stainless steel cookware, new socks and an iPod, in case you were wondering).

However, the new system also allows shoppers and nutty list-makers to access Club Wedd and Target Baby registries, all via the TargetLists system. So, after I purchase yet another baby or "happy wedding" gift, I can reward myself by adding more cool items to my "I got a new cat!" party list. Could they make this any easier for us? I think not.

Sending your TargetLists to family, friends and perfect strangers isn't completely off the mark either. Target actually encourages shoppers to send their lists out to family and friends. Housewarming coming up? Set up your list and e-mail it out into cyberspace. Or, if you're passive-aggressive, like me, you can keep your list open to the public (opps!). Then, if anyone is "curious" about what you'd like for your bar mitzvah or divorce celebration, they can simply browse your TargetList. That way, everyone is happy. Including you.

So, race to your nearest Target and check it out. Report back with your comments on this list-maker's dream come true.

--Heather Strang

Oh You Little Devil, You!

Stocking up for Halloween usually involves buying exorbitant amounts of chocolate bars, lollipops and other sugary candy, and this year you might want to add dog bones to your list. Yes, that’s right, I said dog bones, although other sorts of pet treats will probably do. Apparently, pet owners plan on taking Fido along for the fun this Halloween--costume and all. According to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) 2007 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, 11 percent of celebrants--a whopping 7.4 million households--plan on donning their beloved pet in some sort of costume this year.

The survey, which was conducted by BIGresearch and polled 8,877 consumers, also revealed the most popular pet costumes, with devils (12 percent) and pumpkins (9.2 percent) being the most popular. Witches (4.5 percent), princesses (3.8 percent) and angels (3.3 percent) rounded out the top five. The rest of the top 10 included pirate, hot dog, bat, black cat and clown. Pet owners also plan to involve their pets in all sorts of festivities, from dressing up to trick-or-treating, handing out candy or even celebrating at a party.

Personally, I like the animal-themed costumes, which always seem the most bizarre. While running errands the other day, I had to restrain myself from buying the most adorable moose costume for one of my dogs (whose name happens to also be Moose). While I thought it would be hilarious, I knew it was a bad idea for two reasons: 1) It would only be funny to my immediate family and I’d have to spend Halloween night explaining the joke over and over, only to receive the “I guess I had to be there” look in return; and 2) From previous experience, I already know that Moose becomes paralyzed when wearing clothing--he stands completely still, frozen in time (like one of those creepy pets that was taxidermied post mortem), until said garment is removed. Alas, my pets will be costume-free (unless I can find the Hound of the Baskervilles or Fluffy the three-headed dog from Harry Potter costumes on sale).

But moving on… The survey also ranked top adult and children’s costumes. Sixty percent of consumers plan on celebrating Halloween in some way, with one-third of adults dressing in costume this year, and of those, 74.8 percent already have a costume in mind. In case you want to know what everyone else is planning on wearing, here are the top choices for adults: witch, pirate, vampire, cat, princess, fairy, wench/tart, clown, angel and nurse. For kids, the winners are: princess, Spider-Man, pirate, witch, fairy, Disney princess, Star Wars character, pumpkin, ghost and Power Ranger.

So if you get any non-human trick-or-treaters, remember not to give them chocolate! Oh, and see if maybe they’ll do some tricks for those treats.

--Jessie Bove

P.S. If you really want a good laugh, search for "dog costume" in Google Images (or check out the results here). My favs include Yoda, Batman, the lobster and this one of the dog being eaten by an alligator.   

The Donald--All 300 Pages of Him

We all know that sales of private jets have doubled in the past year; jewels and furs are flying; and multimillion-dollar homes are not yet experiencing the real estate collapse that has descended on the rest of the nation along with the fall frost. The rich have never been better off, or--well, richer.

So here’s a new publication [a catalog for the wealthy] that the rest of us can daydream over: Donald Trump’s new nameplate magazine. Don’t confuse this with the mediocre forerunner [Diva’s opinion], Trump World, published from 2004 through this year. The is an entirely new venture by the Ocean Drive Media Group, known for its stylish magazines targeted at high-society demographic segments. Trump magazine will be distributed throughout Trump’s own properties and will be sold on select newsstands for $5.95. According to the publisher, the first salvos will go to Palm Beach, Fla.; Miami; Chicago; Los Angeles; New York and a few other key locations.

What will the magazine cover? Articles about designing the interior of your new jet, custom-made diamond necklaces, vacations at Lake Como. And of course--The Donald. [According to the magazine, it hasn’t been determined yet if Trump’s face will grace the cover of the launch issue.]

Watch for the first issue in November, just in time for holiday shopping!

--Diva

Never Leave Your Hotel Room...Ever

Going to a spa is SUCH a pain. Last time I went on vacation I couldn't even bring myself to traipse all the way to the spa, so I ordered an in-room massage. Now, don't roll your eyes and act like you have no idea what I'm talking about. Apparently, there are a lot of people like me, at least in the Westin Hotels & Resorts focus groups. The mega-hotel-leader has taken our laziness and desire for relaxation to a whole new level with the design of its custom in-room spa experience. Now, when you visit a Westin Resort, you'll find two beds in your room: the one you sleep in and a massage bed. Forget about a massage table--table, schmable--at Westin it's a big, heavenly bed.

Aptly titled, the Heavenly Spa by Westin Nova is a 31-inch, all-white spa bed, designed by Oakworks, which includes heated AeroCel padding with double fleecing and a fully padded face cradle. While typically your face is unattractively smashed into said cradle and blankly staring at the floor, you won't have to worry about that at the Westin. Well, your face will still be unattractively scrunched, but, below you'll be delightfully staring at a shelf that holds aromatherapy oil and flowers, making your relaxation experience complete. Ahh...they think of everything.

To prove that they really are the best hotel in the world, they also include a spa basket filled with aromatherapy scents, a CD with relaxation music and "healthful treats" like dark chocolate (okay, I'm in love!). Westin is truly a pioneer in the industry, completely redesigning the hotel spa experience by adding it right into their rooms. How incredible is that?!

But, it gets better. They take this relax/recharge thing very seriously, which is why Westin developed the Westin Renewal Council, made up of six lifestyle experts. I know, it seems preposterous, but it is actually a real job title. The panel includes trainer for the stars David Kirsch, psychologist Dale Atkins, style guru Vern Vip, organizational expert Donna Smallin, futurist (whatever that means) Jane Buckingham, and celebrity chef Akasha Richmond. Wow! I want to know if I can hire this team, they could completely makeover anyone's life. Wait, you know what that means--a reality TV show is just around the corner. And if it's not, it needs to be in the works. Now.

Westin also encourages its guests to participate in evening rituals that involve everything from relaxation lessons to tastings and art installments--all with the intent of helping "guests connect with each other and the culture of their surroundings."

Okay, seriously, where do I sign up?
Westin is completely innovative in their consistent, upscale client offerings, design and overall care for their guests. Where else can you find that?

The program is rather new and is only featured at 64 Westin properties, so if you've experienced their spa bed and renewal services, do tell! Meanwhile, I'm searching to find which Westin properties offer these goods and I'm booking a trip today...

--Heather Strang

Talk to Your Daughter

I have been eagerly anticipating today, October 1st; I have a big red circle on my calendar. If your thinking, hey Ron, isn’t that Nigerian Independence Day, or isn’t that the Peoples Republic National Day in China, you’d be absolutely right--but it’s not why it’s circled. Those of you who know me better might dig deeper, and ask, isn’t that the beginning of the harvest moon, or the day that Barbra Streisand signed her first recording contract with Columbia? Again you would be right, but it doesn’t account for the red circle on my calendar.

It’s not my birthday, but it may be more anticipated, and I’m turning 50 this year! Oct. 1 marks the launch for the newest ad campaign for Dove (aka Unilever) Soap products. The commercial will begin to air on www.youtube.com. There were no glimpses yet, but the industry is all abuzz. Not since “The Da Vinci’s Code’s” trailers has there been so much hype and anticipation. Dove’s latest commercial promises to be this year's most talked about ad campaign, which speaks volumes given Dove's phenomenally successful “Real Beauty" and “Evolution” campaigns. The Evolution campaign won top honors at the Academy Award version of TV commercials, the Cannes Grand Prix. Both commercials are available on Youtube.com, each with so many millions of hits as not to be imagined. If you aren’t familiar, then you must have been raised in outer space.

The commercial titled “Onslaught” is the brainchild of advertising monolith Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, in which, out of the darkness we hear a voice warning “Here it comes”... cue Hitchcockian staccato-like music, then in a concise 60 seconds a seemingly Rockwellian 7-year-old girl is bombarded with all the body image advertising she, (let me say it again for emphasis, a S-E-V-E-N-year-old) will see in a year, followed by the tag line “Talk to your daughter before the beauty industry does." It sounds more ominous than the opening credits for Jodie Foster’s latest vigilante film. It sounds frightening, alarming, and so insightful, that I hope every mother and daughter will discuss it. If I could get a daughter by October 1st I would.

The Dove advertising is unique among controversially based ads, as it actually sells product, enhances the corporate identity and helps to contribute the cultural debate about self-images. Kudos for Dove for knowing who their customers are; for not being afraid to take a stand; for having confidence in their product and the American public. Dove is authentic, honest and relevant. Doves’ advertising is so cleverly covert, in as much as it makes you feel like you're doing something good for the world by washing your face. I’m switching brands.

--Ron Knoth, Guest Blogger