October 2003 Cover Story Features

Cover Story

The Outlet Zone
Fully 81 percent of outlet retailers surveyed this summer reported that their chains had experienced a decrease in retail sensitivity, according to an exclusive VRN survey.

Features

Outlet Chain Size, Expansion
In 2003 Value Retail News resumed gathering data on the outlet industry's retail chains, whose numbers have dropped by nearly 20 percent in two years.

Bird's-eye View
In many respects, no one has a more balanced view of outlet retailing in America than the industry's long time consultants, whose job advising key decision makers lets them see the array of negotiations, politics, bottom lines, tenant dilemmas and every other aspect of the industry as a whole rather than piecemeal.

Scrapbooking
Low price-points and classrooms that cut into selling area hamper this new category's appeal to developers, despite its proven ability to attract women, diversify tenant mixes and increase cross-shopping among co-tenants.

Nine Tips for Improving Sales
VRN guest columnist R. Eric Reidenbach says becoming a niche leader by doing everything possible to create loyal customers is the only way to be competitive in today's retail environment.

Outlet Center Planned in Vermillion
Heritage Development of Moreland Hills, Ohio, says it hopes to develop an outlet center on a 70-acre parcel near Lake Erie that will serve the western Cleveland market.

Prime Retail Update
Prime Retail shows improved sales performance in its 37-center portfolio as the company prepares for its acquisition by Lightstone Group, scheduled to be completed after - and if - shareholders approve the deal.

2003 Fall Outlet Retail Convention
The trade hall was sold out by the end of August, and teams of developers and retailers were setting up workshops, panels and golfing foursomes in preparation for the outlet industry's most important convention and deal making.

Chelsea's Coup
While all outlet-center grand openings generate press coverage, the deluge of publicity surrounding the opening of Chelsea Property Group's Las Vegas Premium Outlets during the first week of August was nothing short of astonishing.