E-commerce isn’t a zero-sum game. Rather, each of online, in-store, and mobile commerce channels can enhance the others, according to Melina Cordero of CBRE.
Smaller, faster, local — the retail projects of today are starting to resemble the small towns of yesteryear. As centers and downtowns seek to fill vacant spaces, they’re turning to new uses, new concepts and entrepreneurs to reinvent their experiences.
Malls and shopping centers are real, physical places. That’s their advantage versus the internet. Shopping centers can at least aspire to be the third place. Websites cannot.
It’s a turbulent time for many American malls, and several owners and operators have had success reversing the fortunes of underperforming malls by transforming them into mixed-use destinations.
Top retail center developers and executives are all too aware of how the internet has redrawn the playing field, but all are equally convinced that centers fill needs digital experiences can’t begin to address.