Blog Posts: Retail Law Advisor
Visit the Full BlogThis blog keeps you connected to timely developments and emerging issues in retail law and covers a wide range of topics related to the retail, restaurant and consumer industry. We invite you to learn more about Goulston & Storrs and our Retail, Restaurant & Consumer Group.
What can Amazon do for you?
Economists and industry experts – and the data – agree on little when it comes to holiday sales. In December, a mere ten days after the National Retail Federation proclaimed that a record 190 million consumers shopped over the five days from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday – up 14...
All Eyes on G-20 as Additional Tariffs Loom
Last week, Bloomberg reported that Toys “R” Us is in the early stages of a comeback, led by former executive and Tru Kids Inc. CEO Richard Barry, with designs on opening about a half-dozen stores in time for the 2019 holiday season. You can bet they’ll be keeping a...
When the Retail Anchor Becomes the Risk… or Opportunity?
Big box stores have recently been large contributors to the “retail apocalypse” facing owners of shopping centers with broad swaths of empty space. Some landlords are discovering that they need to take a more active role at the helm of their centers and find new ways to attract customers...
Four Ways for Leases to Keep Up with Innovative Retail
Industry experts seem to agree that while traditional retailers may be on the decline, innovative stores that focus on “experiential retail” -- interesting, memorable, interactive, multi-sensory shopping experiences -- will continue to thrive. To keep up with developments in the retail sector, landlords and tenants should consider modifying their...
‘Tis Always the Season for a Pop-up
With Tax Day just around the corner, there is a good chance that you find yourself (along with millions of other Americans) scrambling to get your taxes filed at the last minute. You also might notice the temporary tax service shops that seem to pop up at the local...
Recycling the Big Box
Retailers shuttered a record amount of brick-and-mortar store space in 2018, shattering the previous record set in 2017, and big box stores were the largest contributors to the empty space. Iconic brands, such as Sears, Macy’s, J.C. Penney, Toys "R" Us, Inc., Bon Ton and Lord & Taylor all...
Three Trends Driving Consumer Behavior in the Retail Real Estate Business
Goulston & Storrs partners Nancy Davids, Matt Epstein, Karen O’Malley and David Rabinowitz recently sat down with Forbes to discuss how changes in consumer behavior continue to drive evolution in the retail real estate business. The group identified three key trends through a collaborative discussion with Forbes contributor Richard Kestenbaum...
On the Origin of Retail: An Evolutionary Analysis
“Retail Apocalypse!” “Amazon Takeover!” “Goodbye, Brick-and-Mortar!” These reflect the flavor of headlines these past few years: one of a retail Armageddon, or the end as we know it of brick-and-mortar. While several prominent retailers have turned to bankruptcy and store closures, research demonstrates that this doomsday hype is somewhat overblown. Statistics indicate...
Sales Tax Holidays: Serious Savings or Serious Stunt?
This past Friday, consumers across Massachusetts were pleasantly surprised with news of the last-minute approval by the Baker administration of a weekend sales tax holiday. Despite local retailers griping about the eleventh hour prep involved with planning, stocking, staffing and marketing such an event, consumers were rewarded with savings...
The New Dawn of Retail: Apocalypse or Evolution?
Major retailers that once reigned supreme with brick and mortar stores now face unparalleled challenges. Historically, major retailers dominated the retail industry by opening stores in the most desirable locations and offering fetching merchandise at a great value. But, numerous trends – including a dramatic shift in shopping habits...
#Trending: Omnichannel Loyalty and Leveraging Social Media Channels
Technological advancements in the current digital age allow consumers to browse and buy products on smartphones and tablets, bringing an unlimited number of retail options to their fingertips—literally. Thus, in an effort to distinguish themselves, many brands are adopting omnichannel-based customer loyalty programs in favor of more traditional programs...
Foreign Retailers Entering New Markets: Finding A Home Of One’s Own
The first task facing a retailer entering a new market? To find its customer. This chore takes on more significance for foreign retailers venturing into a complex, expansive and heterogeneous market such as the United States. Depending upon the soundness of the choice, the proverbial pot at the end of...
Cannes Brick and Mortar Retail in the United States Make a Comeback?
2017 MAPIC Conference in Cannes, France Last week, a contingent from Goulston & Storrs attended the annual MAPIC conference in Cannes (pronounced “Can”), France for the seventh consecutive year. We expected to field questions about the challenges facing brick and mortar retailers in the United States as well as...
Surprises For International Retailers Coming to the USA
We are all aware that stateside landlords long for that new, fresh idea—something they can show off at their mall or street location and that can’t be found in every mall in every city in the country. Successful international retailers are aware of this potentially lucrative avenue to increase...
Gearing Up for MAPIC 2017
Our Retail Group is once again getting ready for the annual MAPIC Conference (le marché international professionnel de l’implantation commerciale et de la distribution)! For the 7th year in a row, our team is traveling to Cannes, France for the largest annual gathering of European retailers, brokers and developers...
A Nation of Shopkeepers
David Rabinowitz and Matt Epstein who, with Nancy Davids , co-chair Goulston’s Retail, Restaurant and Consumer Group , spent some time in London last month surveying the retail landscape. There are both similarities and differences between the US and UK markets. Of course, the impact of ecommerce on bricks and...
Amazon & Wal-Mart: Pinky and The Brain of Retail
In the opening montage of the American animated series, Pinky and The Brain , Pinky asks his best friend, The Brain: “What do you want to do tonight?” To which The Brain replies: “The same thing we do every night; try to take over the world!” Doug McMillon (CEO...
Give Me a Break: Break Me Off a Piece of That…Meal Kit?
Short on time and patience, consumers are jumping on the bandwagon of meal kits and meal kit delivery services, which have taken the retail food industry by storm. Meal kits and meal kit delivery services – such as, Plated , Blue Apron , HelloFresh and Purple Carrot – are...
End Of An Era Or Simply a Moment In Time?
What conclusions can we draw from the increasing vacancy rates in prime NYC retail real estate ? A momentary blip? Something we’ve seen many times before, only to be followed by the inevitable climb in rents to their customary stratospheric levels? Analysts claim that rents in the retail sweet...
The Power of the Melody Pushes Fashion Forward
The many genres of music – particularly, rock, pop, hip-hop and country – have always pushed the needle forward in fashion. Musical icons from today and yesteryear have given a voice to fashion by creating a kinetic experience full of imagery and a visceral aesthetic that retailers long to...
A Tale of Two Conventions: MAPIC and ICSC New York
Autumn has been a busy time for our Retail, Restaurant and Consumer team , with our attendance at two major industry events each attracting thousands of attendees. Interestingly, both events recorded their largest attendance numbers to date, and given Brexit and the results of the U.S. presidential election there...
Black Friday: May You Finally Shop in Peace
Black Friday has traditionally been the day that retailers and consumers gleefully mark on their calendars. Since its inception in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Black Friday has been considered the blast-off point for the holiday season, ushering in bountiful sales as consumers fall for the frenzy of...
Digitizing Brick and Mortar: Geofencing and Geolocation Can Help Retailers Win at Omnichannel
We have blogged previously about the steady rise of e-commerce , the benefits and challenges of creating a cohesive omnichannel experience, and some of the special issues omnichannel creates for the landlord-tenant relationship. Customers may appreciate the convenience of omnichannel, but they do not spend much time thinking about...
The Implications of Trademark Infringement Decisions: Aw “Chucks”
There is a growing population of fashionistas and #sneakerheads skyrocketing the sales of fashion retailers and traditional sneaker companies, such as @Nike and @Converse. Forbes contends that sneakerheads represent approximately 5% of the $22 billion dollar sneaker market in the U.S., which works out to roughly $1.1 billion dollars...
RETAIL 2020: Future Ready – Innovate to Succeed
In late June, members of the local and national retail community convened at Goulston & Storrs’ Boston office to participate in an interactive panel discussion billed as RETAIL 2020: Future Ready. Panelists included Ben Fischman, the Executive Director of M. Gemi, a designer and retailer of Italian hand-made footwear; Nicki...
To Brexit or Not to Brexit? Our Observations on UK Retail
Our Retail team just returned from a week in London where we met with the firm’s UK-based retail clients and other retail industry professionals. The biggest topic of conversation centered around Brexit. On June 23rd, Britain will hold an historic referendum on whether the country will leave the European...
Meet The Jetsons: Fashionable Technology
In the opening montage of the famous American 1980's sitcom, The Jetsons, we see the family zipping through their futuristic utopia donning clothing and accessories that we could only dream of, until today. Coco Chanel once aptly noted that, “Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has...
Retail Shopping Outlets in Emerging Markets: A Shopaholic Box of Chocolate
Despite its universality, the shopping mall, as we know it, is at a pivotal juncture in its existence. A tsunami of torrential trends – in particular, the rise of floundering malls and underwhelming sales for luxury anchor tenants – has spurred mall owners to abandon the notion of commoditized...
The Burgeoning Winds of Retail in Emerging Markets
For those that follow the mantra - “fortune favors the bold” - breaking ground in lesser known international retail frontiers may have significant pay-offs, as evidenced by the first-wave of retailers who made retail investments in BRIC cities . Driven by massive urbanization and an increasing number of middle-class...
Report from MAPIC 2015: US Expansion Still Hot Topic
The Goulston & Storrs’ MAPIC team has returned from the 21st annual MAPIC (le marché international professionnel de l’implantation commerciale et de la distribution) conference in Cannes, France. From November 16-18, MAPIC hosted its international retail conference at the Palais de Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes. Approximately 8,000...
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