A Breath of Fresh Air at The Arches

I got an early holiday present last week. Not one to miss a grand opening (or dismiss a fistful of 20%-off coupons), I traveled a short distance from my home on Long Island to Tanger Outlet Center at The Arches, Deer Park, N.Y.

Long Island, with its multi-ethnic population of about 3 million, has no shortage of enclosed malls, strip centers or freestanding stores, but this latest entry injected a literal breath of fresh air into our ho-hum retail choices.

A hybrid of sorts, Tanger’s new 800,000-sq.-ft. outdoor center combines premium outlets, retail, discount stores, restaurants and entertainment. Many of the spaces and most of the restaurants are still dark—but about 70 well-stocked, well-staffed shops and one sit-down eatery, Chipotle, are open.


The fall weather was perfect, and serious shoppers and locals were eager to see what the fuss was about. Because no cars or traffic are visible from within the space, visitors feel as if they are strolling in a small village. A feast of European streetscapes, landscaped promenades, piazzas, fountains, Venetian-style street lamps and covered arches delight the eye. Appealing, sherbet-colored, plaster-fronted buildings of varying heights, with red-tile roofs, shutters and balconies, add to the ambience.

Background sound in the form of live or recorded music was another important ingredient. Colorfully outfitted musicians and street performers interacted with passersby. Amenities included well-marked, clean restrooms, comfortable benches for resting with packages or relaxing with friends and family, attractive landscaping, and translucent panels (or “angel wings” as I like to think of them) over some streets to keep sunlight in and bad weather out.

The entire space is barrier-free and wheelchair friendly. The very visible security force keeps thing smooth, and regular police and at least one EMS worker patrol the center and parking lots on bicycles. A few lucky officers were motoring around on Segway Personal Transporters.


Opening bashes need opening acts, and on Friday night I was swept away by a zillion screaming tweens and teens as American Idol Jordin Sparks connected with her fan base. She, like the entire center, turned in a terrific performance, hitting just the right notes. I gave them both a "10."

By Barbara Hagan
senior desk editor

The Art of Scheduling and Market Research

Conference scheduling is an art, choosing time slots that conform to speakers’ availability and that mesh nicely into a cohesive program. Sometimes it can lead to amusing juxtapositions. Take this week’s Argyle Executive Forum 2008 Leadership in Retail and Consumer Products Forum in New York City.

The kickoff retail speaker was Stephen Sadove, chairman and CEO of Saks Inc. Sadove said sales at the luxury department store and off-price retailer reflect how the wealthy view the value of their stock portfolios, so it was no surprise that sales were down.

Sadove was immediately followed by a retailer who appealed to the polar opposite in net worth. David Brandon, chairman and CEO of Domino’s Pizza, said his customers freak out when it cost $80 to fill their gas tanks, that with an average Domino’s ticket of $20, that’s probably the cost of a cup of coffee at Saks.

Throughout the day’s worth of presentations at the New York Athletic Club, at least one theme emerged—the need to understand and meet customer expectations.

Brandon provided perhaps the most universally relatable example. When Domino’s opened in Taiwan, market research indicated it would do well. Children craved pizza, and their parents were eager to please them. But sales did not take off because Domino’s had failed to fully account for all of the decision makers when it came to family dining. In Taiwan, many households contain three generations—children, parents and grandparents. Pizza was approved by the first two groups, but the grandparents cast a “pizza veto.”

Further research discovered that grandparents really liked fried chicken. Once Domino’s added fried chicken to the menu, sales doubled, said Brandon, proving again that local adaptation of a corporate program is often the gateway to success.

By Murray Forseter

Linens ’n Things’ Fate Revisited

… And so another small city says goodbye to a national retailer.

On May 14, I blogged about Lincoln, Nebraska’s narrow escape from losing its sole Linens ’n Things – only to follow up five months later with the news that not only is Lincoln losing the retailer, but so are 370-odd other trade areas around the country.

Today’s Lincoln Journal-Star bemoaned that Nebraska’s capital city was losing “its second national retailer due to bankruptcy in just over a month.” Steve & Barry’s was the first national casualty, having announced in September that it would close its store at Westfield Gateway Mall, one of more than 100 the bankrupt chain’s new owner will shutter. (At this writing, S&B is still open, but the liquidation sale signs around town are abundant.)

Local bloggers aren’t happy about the loss of Linens ’n Things. Bob is wondering where he will “get my ‘And Things’ from now on!” An unnamed shopper was more wordy in her protestations. “I love going to linens and things [sic] because it is much closer to where I live, they would accept the Bed Bath and Beyond coupons, and they were always available to help (as opposed to Bed Bath and Beyond who weren't).”

People here are concerned about the store’s employees, as several bloggers discussed back and forth the fates of favorite associates who would be losing their jobs so close to the holidays.

That’s the part that mustn’t be overlooked by any of us. There are people in those stores and in those headquarters offices—people with families and bills and responsibilities who now have to find a way to survive without a Linens ’n Things paycheck. As a journalist, I write about the company’s bankruptcy. But as a human being, I regret the loss of a neighborhood store, and I feel for the people most directly impacted—the employees.

In May, I wrote that “the topic of store closures will likely be keeping bloggers busy for the rest of the year.” Who knew just how busy?

By Katherine Field

My TV Debut on Fox

My first impulse was to say no when Fox Business News called yesterday and asked if I wanted to come on this morning and discuss retailers’ September sales results and prospects for the upcoming holiday season. The show (“Money for Breakfast”) is done live. What if I clammed up and flubbed things? What if I suddenly went blank? What if my bus was late? After all, I commute into the city from New Jersey and with the traffic being what it is there was no guarantee I would make it to the Fox studio the time they wanted me there (7:15 a.m.), even if I left my house at 6. No problem there, the perky young Fox rep said, we’ll send a car to your house to pick you up. She assured me I would have plenty of time go into hair and makeup before my appearance. Hair and makeup? My own private car? It was beginning to sound better all the time, and it didn’t take long before my desire to become one of those talking heads that dominate the airwaves these days got the better of me.

Looking back, I’m glad it did. It was a fun experience. I was a bit nervous when I walked onto the set (this was live TV after all). There were monitors all around turned on to stock tickers and I worried the moderator would throw something out of left field based on the latest results—results I hadn’t seen yet. But the sliding fortunes of retailers worked to my advantage in that there were no surprises in the results this morning—only more bad news. The segment went by in a blur. I surprised myself by remembering two different predictions for holiday sales, and getting them both right.

After it was over, I worried that I talked too much—and that my hair looked flat. Why did I gesture with my hands so much? And was I seeing things, or did I catch a glimpse of lipstick on my teeth?

To see the clip, please visit the Chain Store Age home page at www.chainstoreage.com.

- Marianne Wilson

Fill ’er Up—With Food and Fuel

Buying gas at a grocery store has never been my modus operandi. But fuel prices are forcing a lot of us to rethink our usual patterns.

In the upcoming November issue of Chain Store Age, we’re running a brief on Price Chopper’s loyalty plan that provides its shoppers with significant gas discounts at partnering fuel stations. Called AdvantEdge, the program gives shoppers a 10-cents per gallon gas discount in exchange for purchasing $50 worth of groceries. The fuel limit is 20 gallons.

Des Moines, Iowa-based HyVee is going Price Chopper one better. The regional grocer has rolled out a loyalty program at all stores with on-site HyVee gas stations. I’ve been told that the program varies from store to store, or market to market, but I know at least one store in one market that has brought gas prices to new lows.

I shopped a new HyVee near my home in Lincoln, Neb., last night, foregoing my customary trip to discount grocer Super Saver in favor of convenience. After purchasing about $200 worth of groceries, the cashier handed over my receipt with a tip: Take the receipt across the parking lot to the new HyVee convenience store/gas station, fill up, and get 15 cents per gallon off the listed gas price.

Had the food and fuel both been higher than I normally paid, HyVee’s deal wouldn’t have been so newsworthy. But I shopped carefully inside the food store, buying store brands and specials, and am convinced my HyVee grocery total didn’t exceed my usual Super Saver tally. And the regular price of the HyVee gas was $3.12/gallon—a penny lower than any other station on my side of town. So I filled up my car—and paid $2.97/gallon.

Though I ruefully shared a chuckle with the convenience store cashier about being excited over a gas price that approached $3, I still couldn’t help but feel elated, and a little smug, about the whole experience as I drove away.

I called HyVee this morning to confirm that the program is ongoing—and was told it is.

I do believe that I will establish a new pattern, one that involves pairing grocery shopping with a fill-up at my local HyVee.

By Katherine Field

Future Speak

Most people have never heard of Li Edelkoort or her firm Trend Union. But among those in the know the Dutch-born Edlelkoort is widely regarded as one of the leading forecasters of the coming trends in a host of industries, including fashion, retail, beauty and interior design. A well-placed friend told me about her several years back, saying her presentations were fascinating for her ability to seemingly pull all kinds of disparate and percolating ideas, concepts, etc., together.


Edelkoort’s forecasting abilities are on display in the October 2008 edition of Fast Company, where, in a Q&A, she comes off as a slightly quirky, slightly abstract (and a little bit eccentric) one-woman think tank. The article (“Fashion Sorceress”) also contains some of her insights as to what’s coming down the pike. Here are a few gems:

On the “Hot” list, Edelkoort believes that rural will rule, androgyny will be hot and that covering up (with layers and veils and such) wil be cool. She also believes that eccentricity will be cultivated.

On the “What’s Not” list, she contends that the pumped-up look for guys is passé, and that gaudy logos and labels are out (“Incognito is the new luxury.”). And while excessive bling is over, sparkle will remain part of the picture.

For more on Edelkoort, including what she thinks Americans could learn from the Dutch, pick up Fast Company.

By Marianne Wilson