Posted by: Paul.Christ
on Oct 20, 2009
Shopping-Center Kiosks Are a Way to Try Retail Ownership (Los Angeles Times)
If you have ever had the inkling to be a retailer and either did not have enough start-up cash needed to open a store or you were not confident you could be successful, then this story is worth reading. The option of operating a kiosk cart may be just the type of retail outlet a would-be entrepreneur needs. These opportunities seem to be growing rapidly especially within shopping malls.
But for those who want to get a toehold into retail ownership, it can be a good opportunity. Business owners typically lease their kiosks from property management companies. They might sell their own products, such as the stuffed animal pillows, or agree to hawk items that mall operators want sold. Hundreds of companies pitch kiosk concepts to mall owners and directly to kiosk owners at trade fairs.
What are the key skills needed for someone to be successful selling from a kiosk cart?
Posted by: Paul.Christ
on Oct 18, 2009
Pop-Up Stores are Becoming an Overnight Sensation (Los Angeles Times)
While the recession in the U.S. is forcing many retailers to scale back or close down, others are seeing opportunity in the misfortune of their fallen rivals. For example, as discussed in this story, some retailers are seeing the opportunity to test a retail approach where stores exist only for a short period of time. While this concept has been used in the past for stores selling time-sensitive products, such as Halloween products, major retailers have not ventured down this path until now.
Toys R Us Inc. is setting up about 80 temporary toy shops nationwide, including several at upscale malls previously unavailable to the chain. J.C. Penney Co. touted its back-to-school offerings through interactive pop-up displays in half a dozen Southern California malls.
For the commercial real estate companies running shopping centers in which these pop-up store are located, is there any way they can take advantage of the pop-up store concept even after the recession has ended?
Posted by: Paul.Christ
on Oct 18, 2009
Book Wars! Wal-Mart, Amazon Slash Costs (MSNBC)
Wal-Mart’s troubles in the international market are not slowing down what it is doing in the U.S. as the big retailer is now taking on Amazon in what on the surface seems like loss leader pricing but in reality is much more. Loss leader pricing is a strategy that is primarily intended to drive traffic to retail stores either to its physical location or online. But this battle between Amazon and Wal-Mart has all the makings of something much more. It appears the two are about to go down a road that could test Amazon’s role as the Internet's bookselling king. And this battle is likely to expand beyond the book market.
In the past seven weeks, Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart has ratcheted up the competition in several retail arenas, beginning with an Amazon.com-like announcement in late August that it would allow outside retailers to sell nearly 1 million items — from baby products to sports memorabilia — through its Walmart.com site.
Amazon and Wal-Mart can probably handle heavy price competition but who else are likely victims of this battle?