There’s just no stopping the madness. From Hooters restaurants to businesses selling books for homeschooled children to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, everyone seems to be pursuing a marketing tie-in to March Madness, a.k.a. the NCAA basketball tournament.
malls
Hey Kid, Where’s Your Mom? Malls Ratchet Up Restrictions on Unsupervised Teens
Generally speaking, it’s unwise to kick customers — any customers — out of a shopping center. But what if kicking out certain customers increases the likelihood that other, wealthier customers will come to the mall and spend?
Why Santa Claus Is a No-Show at Many Malls This Year
The imagery of the Christmas season overwhelms every shopping center at this time of year, with candy canes, snowmen, wreaths, holly, and red, green, and gold accents everywhere you look. And while the image of Santa Claus is …
Why Holiday Season ‘Self-Gifting’ Is Such a Huge Retail Trend
We’ve all heard that it is better to give than receive. During the holiday shopping period, there’s a new twist to this old adage: With the rise of “self-gifting,” many consumers are clearly big fans of the idea of “giving” — …
‘Sandy Sales’: After a Tragedy, How Soon Is Too Soon to Go Shopping?
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, we’ll be greatly in need of consumers to get back to their free-spending ways to put the economy back on track. But while millions are still coping with destruction, death, and power outages, the idea of hosting a hurricane-themed sale is perhaps in bad taste.
Is Grilled Cheese the Next Big Thing in Fast Casual Restaurants?
Say cheese! The formula of speedy service, customization, and high quality practiced by fast-casual restaurant leaders Chipotle and Panera Bread is already being widely applied to better burger chains and
Why Black Friday Will Be Subdued, and Cyber Monday Will Break Records
Black Friday has widely been called “the busiest shopping day of the year.” Often, this just isn’t true—the Saturday before Christmas usually yields the most holiday purchases. Quibbles aside, this year, Black Friday is being …
Even the Economy Can’t Escape the ‘Zombie Apocalypse’
Braaains — as in, have we collectively lost ours? Yes, the recent instances of drug- or psychosis-fueled cannibalism are horrific, but suddenly everyone seems to be obsessed with the reanimated dead. The buzz got so loud that …
How Much Do You Actually Save Shopping at Outlet Malls?
This past weekend’s monumental $52 billion shopping binge notwithstanding, that most American of retail institutions—the mall—hasn’t fared particularly well in recent times. Especially not when compared to their low-budget …
As Regular Malls Struggle, Outlet Malls Are Booming
Roughly one out of every 11 store sites is empty at traditional malls around the country. That’s the highest mall vacancy rate in over a decade, even though rents at these properties are likely to have decreased or leveled off …
60 Money Tips: Cheap Dates She’ll Love, Spending Sins, Smart Tips for Saving at the Mall
One suggestion that may make financial sense, but that’ll probably make for a seriously uncomfortable conversation around the dinner table, will begin with you asking: “Hey dad, I was thinking of taking a life insurance policy on …
Mall Wonder: To Attract Shoppers, Stores Host Aerial Performers and Window Displays Kids Can Crawl Inside
Apparently, some flashy entertainment and interactive fun are likely to put shoppers in the mood to buy.