topic Re: QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond in Fashion

QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond

golding76 — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 20:20:25 GMT

http://la.racked.com/archives/2014/12/31/qvc_death_of_malls_more_insiders_on_la_retail_in_2015_beyond.php

Criminy! I know I just wrote on another Linea post that I was "tired of the hunt," and yes, I have expressed on this forum before that I might be contributing to the demise of the shopping malls by shopping so heavily at QVC, BUT I REALLY DON'T WANT MY BRICKS-AND-MORTAR STORES TO DISAPPEAR.

Guess I want to eat my cake and have it, too.

Re: QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond

Kathlen — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 20:35:52 GMT

I live in Manhattan ... no malls. Lots of department stores and small shops ... for me that's much more convenient than a mall.

I like shopping at small shops vs. department stores. There are some really nice shops in my area.

Re: QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond

Trix — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 20:56:12 GMT

On 1/1/2015 Kathleen said:
I live in Manhattan ... no malls. Lots of department stores and small shops ... for me that's much more convenient than a mall.

I like shopping at small shops vs. department stores. There are some really nice shops in my area.

We have a similar shopping vibe in Chicago for those who live in the inner city. There are a handful of buildings downtown which house multiple stores in a high rise vertical mall environment, but for the most part our stores are street level. We have many independent local stores doing business alongside branches of national chains in neighborhoods which border the central downtown area. The Lincoln Park/Lake View area is a great example of this for those familiar with Chicago neighborhoods.

Re: QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond

Nonametoday — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 21:02:14 GMT

Death of malls is by design to prevent crime. This was started in the 1980s and has progressed.

Re: QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond

kaydee50 — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 21:03:09 GMT

Having lived in both NYC and downtown Chicago, I don't think the end of b&m shopping malls will happen anytime soon. Kathleen, there is a mall at 33 Street with Sephora, JCP and many other stores and whenever I've been there, it has been crowded. The same can be said for Water Tower Place. It may not be where locals shop but they do draw the tourists.

I personally see the shopping networks as having a more difficult time in the future since there are so many other places to shop on line which wasn't the case when QVC/HSN, et al started decades ago.

Re: QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond

Kathlen — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 21:21:25 GMT

On 1/1/2015 castlenv said:
Having lived in both NYC and downtown Chicago, I don't think the end of b&m shopping malls will happen anytime soon. Kathleen, there is a mall at 33 Street with Sephora, JCP and many other stores and whenever I've been there, it has been crowded. The same can be said for Water Tower Place. It may not be where locals shop but they do draw the tourists.

I personally see the shopping networks as having a more difficult time in the future since there are so many other places to shop on line which wasn't the case when QVC/HSN, et al started decades ago.

I always think of a mall as being one of those spread out suburban setups surrounded by acres of parking ... I went to that JCP on 33rd when they first opened. Underwhelming experience. Never went back. Before that it was Sterns and before that Gimbels.

I prefer to avoid that area ... it's really crowded and touristy.

Re: QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond

Campion — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 21:26:31 GMT

On 1/1/2015 namealreadytaken said:
Death of malls is by design to prevent crime. This was started in the 1980s and has progressed.

What is your source for this assertion?

Don't you think a more likely reason is that prices in malls are high, the selection is geared to the 14-34 yrs old (prime disposable income market), that working people have little time to shop because all of us work longer hours and that the advent of online shopping in the late 90's proved so convenient and enjoyable, and that it's possible with a flick of the computer key, to check prices rather than trudge around town, that malls are dying for this reason? Mall rents are sky-high. Even strip mall rents are insane. Add to it the cost of employing people for stock and cashier, to manage and you are competing with firms that only need a web presence, some buyers and can be in every state at once?

Re: QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond

colliegirls — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 21:26:48 GMT

I love shopping at department stores. There is a large selection, great sales, and the salespeople don't bug you like they do at small shops.

Re: QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond

magicmoodz — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 21:27:23 GMT

On 1/1/2015 Trix said:
On 1/1/2015 Kathleen said:
I live in Manhattan ... no malls. Lots of department stores and small shops ... for me that's much more convenient than a mall.

I like shopping at small shops vs. department stores. There are some really nice shops in my area.

We have a similar shopping vibe in Chicago for those who live in the inner city. There are a handful of buildings downtown which house multiple stores in a high rise vertical mall environment, but for the most part our stores are street level. We have many independent local stores doing business alongside branches of national chains in neighborhoods which border the central downtown area. The Lincoln Park/Lake View area is a great example of this for those familiar with Chicago neighborhoods.

This is how I live and shop also. I live less than 2 miles from a large mall, but I much prefer patronizing shops (especially locally-owned) in my own neighborhood.

Re: QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond

Pickwickpapers — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 21:33:18 GMT

Did love my malls back in the day..........could spend all of Saturday shopping and having lunch but now in my area most of the indoor malls have been replaced by outdoor malls which are miserably hot in summer, cold in winter, wet anytime it rains and scary after dark. So that's why I rarely shop at my outdoor mall unless it's a beautiful spring or fall day.......not night.

Re: QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond

sashamatthews — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 21:40:54 GMT

Only one large mall has been built in my area - and that was in the 80s. Today, the mall section is a ghost of what it was back then; Sears, Penney, Macy's anchor the place, but it is like a cheap little strip mall now. Also, the food court area is like a kids hang-out.

Re: QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond

Campion — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 21:52:40 GMT

I used to do all my clothes at small stores that had interesting buyers, no matter where I lived (even in college.) I had some great clothes. If you found the right boutique, you could have the buyer keep an eye out for things you might like. I even had one of these in Europe, a place that specialized in clothes for plus sized ladies (I'm tall and XL. Not size 0. Even when I weighed 130, I was big in the shoulders and bust.)

Now I rely on QVC. I miss my boutique shopping but those places don't exist here in a semi rural small town environment and I never find what I want at Macy's, TJ Maxx or even Nordstroms, if I venture up to the mall 40 miles from here.

If I were still in an urban setting and had boutiques AND needed to dress to the nines for work, I'd shop in one.

Re: QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond

stevieb — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 21:55:16 GMT

There are malls in my area but the better ones aren't that convenient to me or for me... I enjoy them, to a point, on the rare occasions I go, but they can also be a hassle... I tend to prefer shops but there aren't so many in the suburbs and again, getting into the city is a hassle. Public transportation isn't practical for shopping and traffic and parking limit my interest. On-line is so much more of a convenience, but does lack both the ability to really see what you're buying and the immediacy... Increasingly though, QVC isn't remotely the resource it once was, not often being in the market for computers, blenders, coffee makers or mattresses... Moreover, when I am, I tend to buy higher ticket items like these 'in person'...

Re: QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond

ValuSkr — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 22:19:00 GMT

The demise of malls is a fascinating topic. I'm sure whole books could be written about it - they probably have been already. Just thinking about the malls near me - the ones that have survived and thrived and the ones that are depressing or have closed - gives some clues as to the reasons.

Re: QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond

Allegedly — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 22:29:23 GMT

Wow. Malls used to be one of my favorite places to go. In high school, I worked at Limited Express. About 15 years ago, I spend nearly every Saturday at the mall shopping.

I can honestly say I have not "shopped" at a mall in about 10 years.

Re: QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond

Nonametoday — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 22:30:54 GMT

On 1/1/2015 Campion said:
On 1/1/2015 namealreadytaken said:
Death of malls is by design to prevent crime. This was started in the 1980s and has progressed.

What is your source for this assertion?

Don't you think a more likely reason is that prices in malls are high, the selection is geared to the 14-34 yrs old (prime disposable income market), that working people have little time to shop because all of us work longer hours and that the advent of online shopping in the late 90's proved so convenient and enjoyable, and that it's possible with a flick of the computer key, to check prices rather than trudge around town, that malls are dying for this reason? Mall rents are sky-high. Even strip mall rents are insane. Add to it the cost of employing people for stock and cashier, to manage and you are competing with firms that only need a web presence, some buyers and can be in every state at once?

My source: Urban designers and the US government.

Re: QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond

sunshine45 — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 22:32:57 GMT

i have a major mall and two towne centers within 2- 10 miles of my home.....and a few more just beyond the 10 mile mark. they all also have major chain restaurants within the mall, attached to the mall, or within walking distance of the towne centers. they were packed throughout the holiday season. i dont think our malls or towne centers are going anywhere anytime soon.

Re: QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond

songbird — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 22:33:18 GMT

If there is going to be the death of malls, it won't be because of QVC, LOL! That is really laughable. If you want good quality and better high end clothing you to go places like Nordstrom, not spend all your money on QVC,

Re: QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond

ROMARY — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 23:22:58 GMT

I love outdoor malls. We have a nice one fairly nearby. Not crazy about indoor malls and only use them very early AM during downpours of rain, etc. Mainly just to walk around and browse before the crowds arrive. Especially during colds and flu season.

Re: QVC, Death of Malls, More: Insiders on L.A. Retail in 2015 and Beyond

Pianomama — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 01:21:15 GMT

There is an outdoor mall close to me built about 6-7 years ago and it is alive and kicking! It is very large and has everything you could want. There is an indoor mall not much further that was built about 17 years ago and they did lose an anchor store, a JC Penney Outlet, but it still seems to be doing pretty well. Still another mall about 8 miles away that's been there a long time. We have a large population-40 or so miles east of L.A. so the malls are definitely not dying at least here.