It's A Long Way Back From The Abyss - How To Save Your Shopping Mall

The government ‘Retail Sales’ stats chart (below) tells the overall industry story – actually, it’s worse if you adjust for 12.6% core retail sales currently being diverted from the malls in 2010 via online shopping.  And this online sales drain is projected to grow to 35% by 2020 - who will be left in the malls then?

Given all things, shopping malls have a huge hill to climb.  Truly an industry visionary is needed to turn the tide.... and it literally means 'thinking outside the box'.

Shopping malls are essentially big boxes built beside major vehicle traffic byways and highways and contain (hopefully) all your favorite stores and restaurants...or at least enough to cause you to get out of your easy chair, into your car (on on the bus) and make your way through the traffic and the parking lots to see what's new...and buy something.

Your other choice to shop is online...and that's what is so scary for owners and developers of shopping malls.  The trickle of online shopping in 1998 has turned into a torrent in 2010 - and soon will become a raging tsunami by 2020.  What does this mean for malls?  It means they need to find new ways to lure shoppers into their big boxes - and not just for entertainment - the bottom line for mall owners is on-site retail store sales.

Retailers are happy if you buy in-store and/or online - either way is a sale to their head office.  But only in-store purchases benefit the malls.

Retailers are busily upgrading their e-commerce sites to respond to burgeoning interest in shopping online. Problem is - 30% of all online purchases are returned.  Big cost to retailers and big hassle for customers.  No, it's not a savings to the retailer (or convenient for the customer) to have to go to the store to return the online purchase - although the retailer hopes you will (so you will buy something else while you're there).

How can malls make shopping more convenient, fun, hassle-free and relevant for you - the consumer?  Glad you asked!

What if you could browse local stores online and decide what you want to buy - then place your order online and get it delivered within 30 to 45 minutes (or whenever else you specified) instead of 3 to 10 days?  What if it cost you less delivered this way than if you went to the store yourself to get it?

That's the basis of our ROOF (Rapid Online Order Fulfillment) program now being rolled out across the country by http://www.thenowmall.com/ in partnership with shopping mall owners as a new way to increase in-store sales while accommodating online shoppers.  Participating malls and stores will be distributing FREE Delivery Passes and many will be offering Customer Delivery Discounts + Online Passes you can print and redeem in-store for special deals.

We'll soon be announcing the "ROOF" mall locations via Twitter and on this blog as well as our website. 

You can help get your mall to offer ROOF faster - email your request to We Want ROOF NOW!  Tell us the name of your mall (including city and state).  We'll let you know their scheduled Opening Day.

Register yourself on TheNowMall.com as a Member (it's FREE to join) in your local Area.  We'll send you updates by email about Opening Day of ROOF in your local mall plus a VIP invitation to Opening Day Festivities!  Bonus for Members: When ROOF opens in your mall, you can transition to Advantage Membership that includes a 10% discount on all items you order for delivery via TheNowMall.com site PLUS you can choose your Favorite CyberValet Shoppers.  Membership has its privileges.

Together, we can save your favorite mall from the abyss and your neighborhood store owners will love you for it - including Grocers, Pharmacies, Retailers, Restaurants and Fast Food outlets.

And we promise our CyberValet Shopper Team will look after your local shopping needs with tender loving care - guaranteed!

Cheers !

Gail

Shopping Centers Can Offset Double-Dip Recession With ROOF (Rapid Online Order Fulfillment)

Here's how Shopping Centers can offset the Double-Dip recession with ROOF (Rapid Online Order Fulfillment)....

We continually mention the effect on mall sales by the rapidly growing number of “Internet-Savvy” Shoppers (76.3% of the population) because they are such an obvious problem (12.6% mall sales loss in 2010; growing to 32.6% by 2020), while ROOF (Rapid Online Order Fulfillment) is such an obvious solution (25% mall sales gain - 100% guaranteed). 

Offering your customers our turnkey ROOF service with 1-Hour in-store shopping and delivery from any retailer and restaurant in your mall is a major competitive advantage to attract time-starved, convenience-oriented, cost-conscious consumers.  Especially when you distribute the ROOF FREE Delivery passes throughout your malls.

HOWEVER:

We have 4 other major constituents beyond “Internet-Savvy” Shoppers who comprise the full 25% sales gain, including: “Mobility Challenged” Shoppers (60% of population); “Convenience” Shoppers (80% of population); “Bulky Item” Shoppers (almost everyone) and “Extended Reach” Shoppers (everyone outside your normal trading areas).

Our concern, due to this economy, is we may not have emphasized the value of these other constituents enough – particularly “Extended Reach” Shoppers.

The current general anxiety about a possible “Double-Dip” Recession would, beyond the obvious immediate negative effect on mall sales, also extensively lengthen the recovery period.

Therefore, we reach into our “Kit-Bag” and pull out the “Extended Reach” Shoppers as a strong solution to this problem for Regional Shopping Centers.

A well-documented strategy to increase sales in a recession is to aggressively steal sales from your competitors. (Article)

ROOF is the Regional Mall's “Secret Weapon” allowing you to easily reach beyond your regular trading areas to attract customers and sales from competing regional malls and their tenants who now use “distance” to shield them from you.

It’s a wide open “Turkey-Shoot” for you, a marketing match-up that Regional Mall management can’t lose.

The other 4 ROOF shopper groups listed above also offer unique marketing and growth opportunities; most importantly, “Extensive Community Goodwill”.

With all these new constituents, there is a lot we can do together.

Given we start now, based on 3 to 4 weeks to prepare for your first mall's ROOF launch, we would be ready for "Back To School" shoppers.  Then, we would open your second round of malls before Thanksgiving to take advantage of the huge year-end holiday shopping season.

Looking forward to working with you and your Team.

Gail

Shopping Mall Retailers' New Offensive Sales Strategy - Sales Soared 400% - OUT of The Malls

Retail Stores' New Offensive Sales Strategy: Divert in-mall sales off-premises with in-store kiosks. (See Article) Mall owners lose and retailers win.

Shopping Mall Owners’ New Defensive Sales Strategy: Recapture these lost sales quickly + attract an entirely new and growing customer base for your malls….with a 100% guaranteed solution that’s so unique, it is patented.

HERE’S THE CURRENT SITUATION FOR REGIONAL MALL DEVELOPERS: (Click for Article)

“Time-starved consumers are finding it more convenient to browse items online instead of driving to the mall. But growth has been rapid, with online sales soaring nearly 400% since 2000.”

“As e-commerce continues to grow at robust rates — the sector posted a 10% year-over-year sales increase in the first quarter, according to market research firm ComScore Inc. — experts have predicted that online sales could grow to as much as 30% of total retail sales over the next few decades.”

"The entire retail industry, in one way or another, is becoming driven by digital, and the days of just going to the store and shopping are really declining" said ComScore. “We’re really at the tip of this iceberg."

DANGER: To continue to ignore evidence of the massive sales shift to the Internet is a perilous strategy. Sure, malls can try raising base rents to offset reduced overage but with mall sales p.s.f. declining, so go base rents. See Article

GOOD NEWS ! ROOF (Rapid Online Order Fulfillment) is the 100% Guaranteed turnkey patented solution to recapture these lost sales + gain 5 new customer groups. ROOF immediately puts the Internet into mall properties as the highest form of Customer Loyalty and Social Media program. EVERYTHING: Delivered In A Flash®

1. ATTRACT FIVE (5) NEW CUSTOMER GROUPS: ROOF (Rapid Online Order Fulfillment) is needed and desired by all time-starved, convenience-oriented, cost-conscious consumers, including:

a. “Internet Savvy” Shoppers (76% of population): ROOF provides 1 Hour service (in-store shopping and delivery) from shopping malls so customers don’t have to wait 3 to 10 days for online orders from afar.

b. “Mobility Challenged” Shoppers: Can’t easily get to malls: Seniors (12% of population); Caregivers (29% of population); Disabled (19% of population); plus Busy Families and Offices.

c. “Convenience First” Shoppers (80% of population): Local shoppers who prefer strip malls instead of large regional malls due to easier parking, less traffic, less walking, proximity to their homes.

d. “Extended Reach” Shoppers (25% of new local population): Currently outside local malls’ normal trading area (buying from other malls elsewhere).

e. “Bulky Items” Shoppers: They visit the malls often and purchase in its stores – but only what they can carry. They see what else they want, go home to order bulky items online – elsewhere.

2. GUARANTEED to Increase Mall Sales by 25% and Profits by 50% (or more).

3. GUARANTEED No Set-Up Cost Risk: 100% guaranteed refund of the one-time nominal ROOF set-up fee over 12 months from our ongoing 15% Rebate program.

4. ENORMOUS GOODWILL from Tenants and Community: Increase Customer Loyalty + in-store inventory turns + virtually eliminate the normal 30% return rate of online orders.

We’re seasoned professionals ready to work with you to install ROOF quickly and successfully in your malls. Various performance testimonials and references are available upon request.

Click Here for the entire brief ROOF for Shopping Centers slide presentation. Insure your properties against ongoing Internet losses with ROOF. And, gain a new customer base you’ve never been able to attract before.

The Problem is Clear. The Opportunity is Clear. To Start is Easy. Call or email us today !

Gail

P.S. We’re delighted to report that 8 of the Top 100 Shopping Center developers are in various stages of joining the Regional Mall ‘Internet Revolution’ with ROOF – the “Holy Grail” of Local Search & Shopping.

As our e-Newsletters can only provide a brief overview, we suggest you at least start your due diligence now…get that part behind you so you can see the other advantages we bring you prior to your making a ‘go-ahead’ decision. Please contact us for an in-depth analysis and strategy for your malls.

Gail W. Nichols - Vice Chair

The Awakening of the Shopping Center Industry

The Shopping Center Industry Internet Revolution Is Beginning.

For years, the Internet has been skimming off larger and larger portions of shopping center sales and revenues starting with 0.6% in 1998, rising to 12.6% today and reaching 32.6% by 2020. (See Government Stats above)

This article dated May 27, 2010 tells what’s coming next: Brick-and-mortar retailers kick up sales with (In-Store Online) kiosks: It states that for the first quarter of this year, Kohl's online sales jumped by 50%, better than expectations. Nordstrom's Internet sales were up 38.7%; Macy's, 34%; Urban Outfitters, 40%. Shoppers are more comfortable using the Internet after more than a decade of online shopping, but none of these sales are from your malls – and this trend is picking up speed.

These visionary industry leaders are now sounding the alarm based on their unique position in the industry:

In their Annual Report dated 5/24/2010; Adam Metz, CEO of General Growth Properties, says:

"In addition to bricks and mortar competition, we are increasingly facing competition from the internet. Many of our retailers have adopted multi-pronged strategies that include internet sales . . . . . . . whose main attributes are price and convenience."

"In the long run, we believe physical stores and on-line sales will be more closely integrated ….as this trend evolves, we are confident that GGP will remain at the forefront of serving the needs of our tenants and providing value to them and their customers." Full Report Click Here

In a report dated 5/24/2010: Greg Maloney, President and CEO of Jones Lang LaSalle retail division says:

Social and digital media (The Internet) is essential to the new retail environment. In the global real estate services firm's report, “Get Connected -- How to Harness the Power of Digital Media” social media has changed how consumers behave, communicate, gather information, socialize and shop . . . . . The overwhelming reality is that social media is increasing across all generations and the rules have changed . . . . . . The report found that 92% of consumer respondents rely on the Web to research and browse for products. Full Report Click Here

In their 2009 Annual Report dated 3/19/2010: David Simon, Chairman & CEO of Simon Property Group says:

Despite our success, we face challenges including Internet retailing – online retailers have an advantage because in many instances they aren’t required to collect sales tax from the consumer . . . Internet retailing sites also provide retailers with distribution options beyond existing brick and mortar retail properties. The existence of competitive alternatives could have a material adverse effect on our ability to lease space and on the level of rents we can obtain. Full Articles Here & Here

These industry leaders clearly outlined the need for shopping center owners to harness the Internet as an integral part of their future growth. Most others agree the Internet is here to stay and will be embraced by the industry as a new means of promoting in-mall sales. Today, very few owners or managers believe that strategic placement or redesign of their brick and mortar properties is all they need to do.

Our patented ROOF solution (Rapid Online Order Fulfillment) immediately puts the Internet into your properties as the highest form of Customer Loyalty and Social Media Program. It also brings an additional series of new business that your properties have been missing for years. Collectively, these new local customers will reverse your Internet losses plus increase sales 25% and profits 50% or more. And it’s guaranteed.

ROOF immediately brings you 4 main customer groups you do NOT currently have and never will have without ROOF.

1. “Internet Savvy” Shoppers who 10 years ago were 1% of the population and 0.6% of sales, but today are 76.3% of the population and 12.6% of your core retail sales – AND growing to 32.6% of sales within 10 years. (See gov’t stats above)

2. “Mobility Challenged” Shoppers who can’t easily get to your shopping centers: Seniors; Caregivers; Disabled (temporary or permanent); Busy Families; Offices.

3. “Extended Reach” Shoppers who are currently outside your normal trading area (buying from competitive shopping centers elsewhere in town).

4. “Regular LOYAL” Shoppers who visit your shopping centers often. They see what they want and go home and order it online – elsewhere. They also order in your stores – but only what they can carry. You can double these sales if you provide ROOF – help them get it home quickly and inexpensively.

ROOF also improves your community goodwill and tenant goodwill as well as increases your sales 25% and profits over 50%.

The Shopping Center industry is awakening to customer demand for fast, convenient and affordable online shopping.

EVERYTHING: Delivered In A Flash®

ROOF’s customer loyalty and social networking program is so much more effective than the sum total of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Foursquare… and ROOF has real, verifiable, immediate results. ROOF has been called the “Holy Grail” of Local Search & Shopping.

We do it all. There is nothing for you, your tenants or your staff to do. ROOF is 100% turnkey – a Dream Come True.

The Shopping Center Internet Revolution Is Beginning:

As most shoppng center executives know, when we first brought the looming Internet sales threat to your attention almost a year ago, it was a complete surprise to many. You were blaming your lost sales on the then raging 2008 / 2009 economic collapse. However, it was this collapse that finally sparked the Internet’s explosive growth that, at first, was denied. But the significant ongoing growth of your tenants’ online sales by up to 50% last quarter caused everyone to begin reassessing the Internet’s real impact on mall sales and methods of defense. (See Gov’t stats above). There’s nothing fast or easy about innovation.

Today, virtually all shopping center executives we speak with are waiting for the first Major Industry Leader to show the way, vowing to join us when this Leader arrives. Who will this Industry Leader be ? For now, what we can say is we are well into due diligence with this Leader who has referred to our ROOF solution as “The Holy Grail” and also said, “we were waiting for someone to arrive with the solution”.

You are invited to join this Leader now to also gain significant Charter Member benefits including a ‘Mutual Win-Win Pricing & Rebate Plan” with an optional “Step-Up” Guarantee which repays your initial set-up and rebate cost in 12 months. Multi-center discounts apply. ROOF can increase your sales 25% and profits 50% or more. And it’s guaranteed.

We’re seasoned professionals ready to work with you to make it happen quickly. Various performance testimonials and references are available upon request.

Click Here for the entire brief ROOF slide presentation. Insure your properties against ongoing Internet losses with ROOF.

The Problem is Clear. The Opportunity is Clear. To Start is Easy. Call or email us today !

We're standing by to be of service,

Gail

Open Your Shopping Centers' ROOF: Let Higher-Spending E-Commerce Customers In

Just imagine, currently your best customers can’t buy in your shopping centers !

Today, e-commerce is a way of life. 76.3% of all Americans shop online. And, 85% of online shoppers purchase an average order of $180. But none of these online consumers can either shop or purchase online in your shopping centers. Not even your own family members.

Fact: 5% to 35% of your tenants’ sales are now online (and growing fast). These growing online sales are not coming from your malls…and never will – without ROOF.

Any chance you are still in the ‘brick-n-mortar-only’ frame of mind ? Modernize your properties to gain these E-Commerce customers and revenue plus improve relations with your tenants and local community. E-Commerce Is ‘Today’s World’ and your shopping centers need to be there. With ROOF: It’s Fast. It’s Easy. It’s Inexpensive.

ROOF (Rapid Online Order Fulfillment) immediately brings you 5 main customer groups you do NOT currently have and never will have without ROOF.

1.  “Mobility Challenged” Shoppers who can’t easily get to your malls: Seniors; Caregivers; Disabled (temporary or permanent); Busy Families; Offices.

2.  “Convenience First” Shoppers who are the 80% of locals who prefer strip malls due to easier parking, less walking, proximity to their homes.

3.   “Extended Reach” Shoppers who are currently outside your normal trading area (buying from competitive shopping centers elsewhere in town).

4.  “Internet Savvy” Shoppers who 10 years ago were 1% of the population and 0.7% of sales, but today are 76.3% of the population and 12.6% of your core retail sales – AND growing to 35% of sales within 10 years.

5.  “Regular LOYAL” Shoppers who are in your malls every day. They see what they want and go home and order it online – elsewhere. They also order in your stores – but only what they can carry. You can double these sales if you provide ROOF – help them get it home quickly and inexpensively. ROOF also improves your community goodwill and tenant goodwill as well as increasing your sales 25% and profits over 50%.

ROOF is your insurance and hedge against recessionary downturns as well as greater e-commerce sales upticks: Thrifty shoppers always need ROOF since it saves them money and time.

Open your ROOF program today and let these new, higher-spending, e-commerce (and phone-order) customers in.

ROOF has been called the “Holy Grail” for shopping centers – but your customers who really NEED it still don’t have it ! Your innovative dynamic leadership is required.

FACTS YOU CANNOT IGNORE – INTERNET SALES ARE WAY UP & GROWING

Retailers Report Online Sales Growing:

1. JCPenney: Article “it's counting on Internet sales, now just 9% of its $17.5 billion in annual revenue, to deliver $1 billion in sales growth over the next five years.”

2. Sears Holdings: Article  Sears is pouring money into beefing up its online business in an effort to become relevant to a new generation of shoppers. “Sears and Kmart stores aren't going away, but they could be a hybrid of what they are today”, said Edward Lampert.

3. Macy’s: Article “Internet customers carry growing value. Having already passed the $1 billion mark in annual online sales, Macy’s is now shooting for $2 billion, with plans to reach digital audiences by spending, for the first time, a double-digit percentage of its marketing budget on search, display, social and other online media this year.

4. Kohl’s: Article  Annual web sales increased 38.1% Comparable-store sales increased year over year 0.4%. “We're making a major new investment in capital and infrastructure in our e-commerce business to fuel future growth,” CEO Kevin Mansell “Based on our research and our own results, it appears that our opportunity in this business is substantially larger than we originally envisioned.”

5. Chico’s: Article Direct-to-consumer sales, not included in comparable store sales, increased 42% Comparable store sales increased 14.6%.

6. Williams Sonoma: Article  “It hopes that new economy e-commerce, not traditional stores, will pave the way to growth.” “E-commerce is our fastest growing and most profitable channel,” Lester concluded. It also keeps shoppers engaged with the retailer even if they are shy about stopping by the store and tripping their frugality up with temptation.

7. Ann Taylor: Article  Internet sales up by more than 50% comparable-store sales should grow 15%.

AND THAT’S JUST FOR STARTERS !

DANGER: To continue to ignore the evidence of the massive sales shift to the Internet is a perilous strategy.

GOOD NEWS ! We have a time-proven patented solution to recapture lost sales and gain new sales – and it’s 100% turnkey. Plus, it has a 6 month payback.

We’re seasoned professionals ready to work with you to make it happen quickly. Various performance testimonials and references are available upon request.

Here’s The Deal: Make it happen in your shopping centers today to earn special rebates on ROOF orders in your shopping centers. We do it all. There is nothing for you, your tenants or your staff to do. Multi-center discounts apply.

More info is in our brief ROOF slide presentation.

The Problem is Clear. The Opportunity is Clear. To Start is Easy. Call or email us today !

Looking forward to working with you,

Gail