Content about Donald Knuth

By Steven Kramer, steven.kramer@hybris.com

Fashion and apparel retailers are using multichannel retailing to augment the in-store experience for brand conscious shoppers. In the process, they’re delivering a compelling customer-centric expression of the retail brand that elevates the destination status of their physical stores.

On the banks of the Missouri River, in the northwest corner of the greater St. Louis metropolitan area, historic St. Charles is home to more than 65,000 people. At the gateway to this fast-growing area, a “mini-city” is emerging: The Streets of St. Charles, developed by Cullinan Properties of Peoria, Ill., will deliver an enticing 1 million-sq.-ft. mixed-use community.

From Target Corp. and Big Lots to J. Crew and Express, the list of U.S. retailers expanding into Canada or scouting locations north of the border seems to grow longer every day. With its growing population, enthusiasm for U.S. brands, relatively underserved market and stable, resilient economy, Canada has become a land of opportunity— and a potentially important profit center — for American retailers. In fact, more U.S.

New York City -- The nation’s apparel retailers reported mixed results for January as shoppers remain cautious about spending in the uncertain economy.

“It was as tough month as retailers battled holiday hangover, lack of incentive to shop and mild winter that killed outerwear clearance," said Ken Perkins, president of RetailMetrics Inc., in a Reuters report.

As the first month of the year, January accounts for only 20% November-January sales, and 7% of annual sales, according to RetailMetrics.

Mixed-use isn’t news, but it continues to make headlines anyway. After a several-year period when ground-up building has ranged from sluggish to practically non-existent, a number of mixed-use projects are beginning to stir with renewed life as leasing gains traction once again.


Any early skepticism about the longevity of mixed-use has been silenced. The art of combining components to create a live-work-play project has evolved into a science. And those that have become particularly adept at building, leasing and managing mixed-use properties say that the right formula makes for a successful development. 
Chain Store Age talked with three top developers of mixed-use projects and uncovered several trends that are governing, and continuing to evolve, the format.


Trend #1: Adding local flavor 


Plano, Texas -- Inland Western, based in Oak Brook, Ill., said that its Shops at Legacy, in Plano, Texas, has partnered with Smart Choice to launch a mobile personal shopping assistant app. The new app features product information, a customizable shopping experience and a “Men’s Corner,” which includes drink specials, sports game listings and gift ideas.

New York City -- Luxury, e-commerce and apparel enjoyed strong growth in April and the restaurant category surpassed last month’s gains, according to MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse, a macroeconomic report tracking national retail and services sales. Electronics and appliance sales registered declines.

Aéropostale has turned up the retail wattage in Manhattan’s Times Square, opening a global flagship in the heart of the tourist Mecca. The two-level, 19,000-sq.-ft. space — the teen retailer’s largest store yet — is designed to raise the chain’s profile and serve as a platform for its international expansion. The company is on track to have 50 stores in Canada and 10 in Dubai by year’s end.

The nation’s biggest shopping-center convention wasn’t as big this year. But it was better.

In the June/July print edition of Chain Store Age, we provide our own recap of the International Council of Shopping Centers RECon show, held in Las Vegas May 23-25. Following is our continuing online coverage of the annual convention.

Said to be attended by about 30,000 retailers and shopping center developers, compared to upwards of 50,000 in years past, the 2010 iteration of RECon was nevertheless upbeat.