As discussed in class, the three most important things regarding retailing are "location, location, location," In thinking about the placement of certain stores, restaurants, and service centers, I could not agree more with the importance of location. The correct positioning of a retailer can either make or break business.
One retailer came to mind when thinking of this assignment. This year, Walgreens opened their doors on the corner of Spring Garden St. and Aycock St. in Greensboro. Because pharmacies are among the most trafficked retailers, it is important to investigate the location of the new store. There are several advantages and disadvantages of putting a Walgreens in this particular spot.
Among the advantages is the close proximity to a college campus. This store is definitely within walking distance to UNCG, which is certainly a boost for business. Also, the store falls right along the path for many pedestrians that walk or bike to UNCG's campus. This just goes to show the convenience of the location. Also, The intersection of Spring Garden St. and Aycock St. is among some of the busiest in Greensboro, providing more exposure to potential customers.
While locating at a busy intersection can be seen as an advantage, it may also be just as much of a disadvantage. I have found that this particular is sometimes difficult to navigate in and out of. In most cases it is more difficult to exit this paricular parking lot than it is to enter. This is probably the most noticeable disadvantage of locating here.
Parking at the new store is efficient and plentiful. I have found a decent parking place on each visit I have made to Walgreens. Overall, I feel as though opening a Walgreens on this particular corner has been strategic and prosperous. Anytime I pass the store, I always see several cars in the parking lot. When it comes to location, Walgreens definitely know's where to plant a new store.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Linen's 'N Things
One of the larger named retailer's that recently closed it's doors was Linen's 'N Things. With similar companies, like Bed, Bath & Beyond still operating, one may wonder what forced the retailer to liquidate. According to an article posted in a New York Times online blog, the decline in the housing market, along with the slump in consumer spending undermined the company's ability to pay it's suppliers. ( http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/14/linens-n-things-to-liquidate-after-failing-to-find-a-buyer/ ) The article goes on to say that there was some hope of a buyer purchasing the company however, nothing worked out in the end.
Another article from reuters.com explains that the money that is made in the liquidation sale will go to pay off the company's creditors, but many of its lower tier unsecured creditors are unlikely to receive anything back. ( http://www.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUSN1535213520081015 ) All in all, the company had 371 retail locations in the US and others in Canada. The stores were closed over a span of 11 weeks.
In my opinion, I can definitely see why Linen's 'N Things had to close it's doors. It makes sense that if people are not buying houses, then they do not need items to furnish, decorate, or accessorize them. It is interesting, however, that other stores of the nature, such as the aforementioned Bed, Bath & Beyond are still operating as though nothing has changed. Perhaps, before it's all said and done, other stores will also have to declare bankruptcy and liquidate. It is definitely obvious that the fate of Linen's 'N Things was determined by the economical problems that are plaguing the United States. In perspective, this was just one of many companies having to make similar decisions.
Another article from reuters.com explains that the money that is made in the liquidation sale will go to pay off the company's creditors, but many of its lower tier unsecured creditors are unlikely to receive anything back. ( http://www.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUSN1535213520081015 ) All in all, the company had 371 retail locations in the US and others in Canada. The stores were closed over a span of 11 weeks.
In my opinion, I can definitely see why Linen's 'N Things had to close it's doors. It makes sense that if people are not buying houses, then they do not need items to furnish, decorate, or accessorize them. It is interesting, however, that other stores of the nature, such as the aforementioned Bed, Bath & Beyond are still operating as though nothing has changed. Perhaps, before it's all said and done, other stores will also have to declare bankruptcy and liquidate. It is definitely obvious that the fate of Linen's 'N Things was determined by the economical problems that are plaguing the United States. In perspective, this was just one of many companies having to make similar decisions.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Favorite Retailer
In thinking about it, there really are very few retailers in which I shop. If I had to choose my absolute favorite from these few, it would definitely be Banana Republic. Here are the top five reasons why Banana Republic is my favorite.
1- Banana Republic always seems to have fashionable yet classic clothes. I do not claim to be incredible fashion forward, therefore this classic look always attracts me as a shopper.
2- You can always find something for any occasion. Whether I am looking for an outfit to wear on a date, or a cute dress to wear to a party, I know Banana Republic will have something appropriate.
3- Lasting quality. I have never been disappointed by a purchase from BR. The clothes they sell hold up well and last for years.
4- They have fashionable mens clothing. I know that if I am looking for a gift for a male, I can always find something at Banana Republic that will be perfect. Again, because of the classic look, the style of clothing BR sells is appropriate for a wide age range. I can be confident that whatever I buy for a guy will not make him look like he is fifteen. (Or eighty-five for that matter.)
5- Banana Republic has a good reputation. As a long standing company, BR has been able to provide clothing for decades. Any retailer with a well known reputation for quality items earns extra points in today's economy.
I have shopped at Banana Republic for at least six years, and will definitely continue to shop with them in the months and years to come. I know that when the time comes to purchase clothing items geared more toward the professional woman, I can walk through the doors of a Banana Republic and find exactly what I am looking for. Until then, I will continue to shop with them for "date outfits" and any other time I see fit.
1- Banana Republic always seems to have fashionable yet classic clothes. I do not claim to be incredible fashion forward, therefore this classic look always attracts me as a shopper.
2- You can always find something for any occasion. Whether I am looking for an outfit to wear on a date, or a cute dress to wear to a party, I know Banana Republic will have something appropriate.
3- Lasting quality. I have never been disappointed by a purchase from BR. The clothes they sell hold up well and last for years.
4- They have fashionable mens clothing. I know that if I am looking for a gift for a male, I can always find something at Banana Republic that will be perfect. Again, because of the classic look, the style of clothing BR sells is appropriate for a wide age range. I can be confident that whatever I buy for a guy will not make him look like he is fifteen. (Or eighty-five for that matter.)
5- Banana Republic has a good reputation. As a long standing company, BR has been able to provide clothing for decades. Any retailer with a well known reputation for quality items earns extra points in today's economy.
I have shopped at Banana Republic for at least six years, and will definitely continue to shop with them in the months and years to come. I know that when the time comes to purchase clothing items geared more toward the professional woman, I can walk through the doors of a Banana Republic and find exactly what I am looking for. Until then, I will continue to shop with them for "date outfits" and any other time I see fit.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Home Fashion
By now, we are all well aware of the financial crisis that the US economy is going through. One of the hardest hit areas of our economy is the housing market. The 40% drop in home values, has also directly affected sales of home fashion items. The concept is simple; if people are not buying houses, there is a significantly lower need for home fashion items. Personally, I feel like this issue will be short-lived and the sales of home fashion products will begin to climb once again.
I do think the upcoming holiday season will add a bit of a boost to the home fashion industry. More often than not, people are more elaborate with their home decorating during the Christmas season. As a child, it was almost a day-ling task to decorate the house for Christmas. My mom always said that she wanted the house to look good in case "company comes over." Because the holiday season calls for decorating, I definitely think money will be spent on accessories and other fashions for the home.
Although a holiday will by no means pull the home fashion industry out of this crisis, it is a flicker of light in what seems to be a dark tunnel of recession. Yes, the economy is in the worst shape it has been in my lifetime, I know that it will one day bounce back. When that day comes, it will no longer be nearly impossible to buy a house. For right now, the makers of home fashions just need to be ready to play the cards they are dealt. As it has been said many times in recent months in regard to the economy, "it will probably get worse before it gets better." It is important for all Americans, whether consumer, producer, manufacturer or retailer to remember these words in going about day to day life.
I do think the upcoming holiday season will add a bit of a boost to the home fashion industry. More often than not, people are more elaborate with their home decorating during the Christmas season. As a child, it was almost a day-ling task to decorate the house for Christmas. My mom always said that she wanted the house to look good in case "company comes over." Because the holiday season calls for decorating, I definitely think money will be spent on accessories and other fashions for the home.
Although a holiday will by no means pull the home fashion industry out of this crisis, it is a flicker of light in what seems to be a dark tunnel of recession. Yes, the economy is in the worst shape it has been in my lifetime, I know that it will one day bounce back. When that day comes, it will no longer be nearly impossible to buy a house. For right now, the makers of home fashions just need to be ready to play the cards they are dealt. As it has been said many times in recent months in regard to the economy, "it will probably get worse before it gets better." It is important for all Americans, whether consumer, producer, manufacturer or retailer to remember these words in going about day to day life.
Friday, November 14, 2008
In response to our speaker...
I thoroughly enjoyed the guest speaker in today's CRS-231 class. As I begin to think about the many careers that I may one day pursue, I sometimes become overwhelmed at all the different options I have. It was especially nice to hear about a former CARS student's journey into the "real world." I can definitely relate to her experience as far as finding my passion within the job I have.
For the past three and a half years I have worked in a gift shop in my hometown of Shelby, NC. My experiences at Victoria-Stephen have truly opened my eyes to the retail industry. Just like our guest speaker, I have worked my way up from doing smaller tasks such as gift-wrapping and customer service, to actually going to the Atlanta Gift Market to help my bosses buy for their stores. In these experiences, I feel as if I have made meaningful and concrete contacts in the industry I will one day be a part of.
It is encouraging to hear that a graduate of my department is happy and settled into a job, especially with the current state of the economy. The speaker was so passionate about her job that it almost felt as if she was describing a hobby. I hope to one day be as content and established in a job that I love.
For the past three and a half years I have worked in a gift shop in my hometown of Shelby, NC. My experiences at Victoria-Stephen have truly opened my eyes to the retail industry. Just like our guest speaker, I have worked my way up from doing smaller tasks such as gift-wrapping and customer service, to actually going to the Atlanta Gift Market to help my bosses buy for their stores. In these experiences, I feel as if I have made meaningful and concrete contacts in the industry I will one day be a part of.
It is encouraging to hear that a graduate of my department is happy and settled into a job, especially with the current state of the economy. The speaker was so passionate about her job that it almost felt as if she was describing a hobby. I hope to one day be as content and established in a job that I love.
Friday, October 3, 2008
My Design
The only thing I have ever really thought about designing is my own wedding dress. My aspirations do not delve into the design aspect of the fashion industry, but rather the retailing side. However, even though I am no designer, I know what I want my wedding dress as well as bridesmaids dresses to look like.
First of all, I want my bridal gown to be, classy, timeless, and simple. My ideal dress is a white, floor length, strapless gown with a sweetheart neckline. The gown would be made of satin. I also want an empire waistline sash that ties in the back. As far as a train goes, I think the chapel length looks best. The dress will be form fitting rather than bulky. In order to keep clean simple lines, I prefer no draping or even lace or beading accents.
As far as my bridesmaids go, I have always envisioned a black and white wedding. Keeping this in mind, my attendants would wear classic, strapless tea-length dresses. Like my dress, it would also have an waistline sash, only it would tie in the front of the garment. I would also like for the bridesmaid's dresses to be made of satin. I feel as though this produces a very polished and simplistic look. I'm looking forward to the day in which I hopefully get to put my ideas in action. For now, however, I'll stick to making sure I know what I want when the time comes.
First of all, I want my bridal gown to be, classy, timeless, and simple. My ideal dress is a white, floor length, strapless gown with a sweetheart neckline. The gown would be made of satin. I also want an empire waistline sash that ties in the back. As far as a train goes, I think the chapel length looks best. The dress will be form fitting rather than bulky. In order to keep clean simple lines, I prefer no draping or even lace or beading accents.
As far as my bridesmaids go, I have always envisioned a black and white wedding. Keeping this in mind, my attendants would wear classic, strapless tea-length dresses. Like my dress, it would also have an waistline sash, only it would tie in the front of the garment. I would also like for the bridesmaid's dresses to be made of satin. I feel as though this produces a very polished and simplistic look. I'm looking forward to the day in which I hopefully get to put my ideas in action. For now, however, I'll stick to making sure I know what I want when the time comes.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Ethnic Influence on Apparel Design
Looking at clothing today, it is quite obvious that designs are greatly influenced by different ethnicities. In researching this ethnic influence, I decided to take a look at the popular retailer, Forever 21, and observe just how much these styles have integrated into clothing lines. 
photos courtesy of forever21.com
When visiting the Forever 21 website (http://www.forever21.com/) I noticed, first off, that ethnic patterns and designs are very apparent. Just by looking at the first page of shirts alone, there were two that immediately stood out as being characteric of a certain culture.
photos courtesy of forever21.com
The first of these shirts is called a Jeweled Asian Flower Shirt. (www.foreve21.com) By looking closely, it is easy to see the ethnic influences in this design. The presence of Chinese lettering and Asian flower go to show just how popular Asian designs are today. The second shirt is called a Cheyenne Knit Tunic (www.forever21.com) Obviously the pattern is a tile design in earthtones, suggestive of a Native American cultural infulence. By looking at just these two articles of clothing, it is easy to see how cultural and ethnic influences are currently being mainstreamed in retail stores.
Personally, I think there are more ethnic influences in fashion than we realize. Designers draw their inspiration from things such as artwork, architecture, etc. Honestly, when you think about it, artwork and architecture are typically specific to a certain ethnicity. Therefore, it is only understandable that fashion has direct cultural influences.
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