Stores Within Stores: Retail's Savior?

Everyone from Sears to Target to Wal-Mart is carving out space in their stores for specialty retailers to set up shop.

Most fascinating partnership? Sears and Forever 21. Sears is carving out 15% of their floor space in their Costa Mesa store for a Forever 21 shop-in-shop.

Target is leasing out space to Radio Shack to setup mobile phone shops, run by Radio Shack employees, in 1450 of their stores by June. Kroger already leases out space in 23 of stores to Murray cheeses, staffed by Murray's own cheese experts.

Read the rest here.

Zumiez Keeps Abreast

So, after the ever-popular sillybandz were revoked from school yards, what's the next wrist embellishment to get the boot? The breast-cancer awareness: "I ♥ boobies" bracelets. As we all know, lots of people suffer from various cancers, but boobies are probably the most popular body part to be afflicted, so it's not surprising that the public rallies to their side over, say, colons. The controversial phrase is starting conversations [good!] in schools about sexual harassment [bad!] more than cancer. And just how are these bracelets becoming so prolific in schools? Kids just love to go online and search for boobie-branded products to wear? Not in this case. They're sold at Zumiez and when you make a purchase, the associates ask if you'd also like to make a donation to breast cancer research and receive a bracelet. I guess enough people have to start causing a stir. Blast that clever marketing and its repercussions.

Best quote from the article: "The bracelets "act as an awareness-raising tool, allowing young people to engage and start talking about a subject that is scary and taboo and making it positive and upbeat," the organization said in an e-mailed statement. "We fully understand that the 'I Love Boobies' campaign is not for everyone, but we also feel that the word 'boobies' is not a four letter word."

Here's the full article from aolnews.com.

Jean Shopping Strategy

Here blogger Winona, from humorous fashion blog Daddy Likey, offers her advice on how to have a perfect denim shopping outing. She asks for her readers' strategies as well and offers a pair of embellished jeans as a reward to the winner. It's a nice way to use your promo merch. I wonder if, when the data comes back from PacSun focus groups, any of the girls really fell in love with jeans/washes that don't make it through the fall pitch. It could be cool for PSun to embrace a similar strategy, using denim that truly is one of a kind and won't be mass produced as a prize.

East Coast vs. West Coast style

From X: Fashion Blogger Rumi (fashiontoast) gives her pov on East Coast vs. West Coast fashion and asks her readers what their thoughts are - here.

Zumiez culture shines at 100K party

Each year, Zumiez throws an appreciation party for employees who sell over $100K worth of merch (roughly 1400 people). Shop-Eat-Surf posted a rave review of the event here, with an inspiring slideshow of smiling executives, amped-up employees, A-level athletes, and guests from brands big and small. Think P-Rod, Shepard Fairey and the Tom's founder. This true display of stoke and appreciation blurs the line between the business and the culture it celebrates - a far cry from what we might think of as a "mall" skate shop. As Fairy said, Zumiez supports this culture in a real way and it shows. Is Zumiez vibrant culture the secret to its success?

I’m glad I went to the party, because it helps me understand why Zumiez has outperformed so many mall retailers during the recession. The kids are living what they are selling and Zumiez has found a way to harness and reward all that enthusiasm and passion. After that party, I’m sure everyone there is pumped up to go sell, sell, sell.

WWD has spoken: Skinnies are here to stay

Rare is the radically new look that successfully crosses over from trend to new classic. Yet the survey says such is the moment for one controversial style in particular: skinny pants. Just take it from these three experts per WWD:

“They have become a classic in the wardrobe. Even with wide leg coming back in, they will never disappear. It’s a bit like animal prints — fashion comes and go but they remain forever.” — Sarah Rutson, Lane Crawford

“The skinny jean has transcended trend. It’s just become part of our everyday wardrobe.”
— Ken Downing, Neiman Marcus

“The legging just continues…the legging and the skinny jean have just become wardrobe staples.”
— Colleen Sherin, Saks Fifth Avenue

I pray the Jegging falls short of "new classic" status...