Ralph Jacobson

Mickey Drexler Takes on Shopping Centers

January 30, 2012

FROM RETAILWIRE:
At Financo's 22nd annual Retail & Consumer Industry Seminar and CEO Event held on the first night of the recent NRF Convention, Mickey Drexler, the legendary apparel merchant, urged shopping malls to "get more creative" to reverse the weak traffic trends amid the increased discounting options at retail and online. What steps should shopping malls be taking to differentiate themselves from heightened discount competition?      [more...]

When I visit the large malls here in the Los Angeles Area, I think to myself, "WHAT recession?!" Of course, this situation varies across the US and internationally. What I find most compelling to drive the traffic in the busy malls are the visual characteristics. Visual merchandising, frequently-refreshed decor, pop-up merchandising and pop-up stores all add to the need to return to the mall to see what's new.