STORES Magazine

Alphabetically Speaking . . .

From Mar 2010 | By Susan Reda | Tags: STORES Magazine, Trends

Trends

Susan Reda

Remember when nearly every child’s first book read “‘A’ is for apple, ‘B’ is for ball”? For today’s Internet generation, it’s a whole new alphabet.

If you go to Google’s home page or browser toolbar and type a single letter into the search box, the engine will drop down a list of suggestions. As it turns out, “A” is now for Amazon and “B” is for Best Buy.

During a recent search of the 26 letters in the alphabet, retail companies had the distinction of being the first suggestion for 11 of them (note to No. 2 Zappos: surely you can surpass Zillow).

Seeing Green in Red Square?

From Mar 2010 | By Susan Reda | Tags: STORES Magazine, Trends

Trends

Susan Reda

Moscow’s historic Red Square district is rekindling its regal reputation with the debut of toy store CKA3KA.

The interactive store, pronounced “Skazka,” is the brainchild of design firm Chute Gerdeman Retail. By melding innovation, technology and the appeal of Russian fairytales, the store is a perfect fit for Red Square, originally the city’s main marketplace.

Old Is New Again

From Mar 2010 | By Susan Reda | Tags: STORES Magazine, Trends

Trends

Susan Reda

Consumers want the newest, latest and greatest products, right? Not always. While shoppers gravitate toward new items and updated versions of their favorites, several companies are finding out that the next success story may lie in turning back the hands of time.

Body Shop is the latest retailer to learn that lesson.

Rolling Stone Plants Flag

From Mar 2010 | By Susan Reda | Tags: STORES Magazine, Trends

Trends

Susan Reda

Rolling Stone magazine is venturing into retail with plans to open a restaurant/nightclub this summer in Los Angeles.

The 10,000-sq.-ft. multi-level space at Hollywood & Highland Center will feature a restaurant, bar, lounge and upscale event space – though there are no plans to host concerts.

Pouvez-vous Dire le Succès?

From Mar 2010 | By Susan Reda | Tags: STORES Magazine, Trends

Trends

Susan Reda

What better place to experience foreign language software than in the heart of Times Square?

Rosetta Stone, a provider of technology-based language-learning solutions, has opened an experience store at “The Crossroads of the World.” A departure from the retailer’s kiosk format, the 600-sq.-ft. store is designed to provide a complete experience of the Rosetta Stone solutions, allowing consumers to test-drive the software.

The store is adorned with photography used in the interactive software programs.

Product Launches Postponed

From Mar 2010 | By Susan Reda | Tags: STORES Magazine, Trends

Trends

Susan Reda

For years the industry buzzed about the glut of product launches, particularly from U.S. food and drink manufacturers. Last year, however, it appears the recession took a bite out of the rush to get new food and drink items to the shelf.

According to Mintel’s Global New Product Database (GNPD), such launches declined nearly 30 percent in 2009 – the most significant retrenchment in a decade, says Lynn Dornblaser, leading new product expert at Mintel.

Not Ready for Prime Time

From Mar 2010 | By Susan Reda | Tags: STORES Magazine, Trends

Trends

Susan Reda

Shopping a mobile website can be fun, but if you’re a type-A, get-it-done-now kind of shopper, it may not be the best retail channel for you.

Keynote Competitive Research, the analytic arm of San Mateo, Calif.-based Keynote Systems, has released top-line results of its first-ever comprehensive study on the speed and reliability of leading retail mobile websites. Despite some noteworthy findings, researchers deemed the results unimpressive.

Retail Rocks

From Mar 2010 | By Susan Reda | Tags: STORES Magazine, Trends

Trends

Susan Reda

Loehmann's shoppers are sure to be dancing in the aisles this month at the opening of the chain’s newest store. Not only can they score discounts of 30 to 65 percent on the latest name brand designer apparel, but they’ll have the chance to move to the sounds of the “Band From TV.”