America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning • Hacker News Board

Re: America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

#101

Post by timthelion » Wed, Nov 08, 2017, 5:36 PM UTC

fhood wrote: post #79

pascalxus wrote: post #60

Malls hold no interest for me whatsoever. There's nothing there worthwhile, other than employment. Malls have nothing: no libraries, no Good Cafes, no places to hang out, no parks, no museums, no zoos, limited live music, no outdoors. And the few things it does have: like some book stores and places to eat, are all engineered to get you in and out and back to the Mall's singular focus: Spend, spend, spend: shop till…

I agree with you 95%. But 5% of me recognizes that certain items require a test run before purchase. In my case those would be Audio equipment, instruments and tennis rackets. None of those can be confidently purchased solely on the impressions of others.

If only stores would let you test audio equipment! I've yet to see an electronics store where most headphones/earbuds could be tested.

Re: America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

#102

Post by samsolomon » Wed, Nov 08, 2017, 5:36 PM UTC

I live near Lenox Mall and Phipps Plaza in Atlanta, and they could not be any busier. It's packed at 2pm on a Tuesday when I'm going to an eye doctor appointment. On the weekends there are often traffic issues in from people entering and leaving.

I feel like it's not that malls or retailers are dying, but instead all the revenue is going to a few places with wealthy, urban locations. Perhaps this has to do with the influx of people moving from the suburbs into cities?

Re: America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

#103

Post by athenot » Wed, Nov 08, 2017, 5:36 PM UTC

ewheeler wrote: post #13

The 'Retail jobs growth by state' chart in this article (approx 2/3 down the page) is lovely: one square line chart for each US state, positioned roughly according to geography, all equal in size. I find it very easy to grok compared to choropleth maps and similar charts that attempt to stay true to geography. Unlike other non-map presentations of US state data, this layout preserves ability to spot regional similari…

I find the hexagon version slightly more visually pleasing since it breaks up the straight lines—see the link for comparison. But either way, both are a huge improvement over the surface-based shapes when conveying data that is totally unrelated to the geographical surface of states.

http://blog.apps.npr.org/2015/05/11/hex-tile-maps.html

Re: America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

#104

Post by wil421 » Wed, Nov 08, 2017, 5:36 PM UTC

Feniks wrote: post #34

Fuck retail. For decades they have been fleecing customers. Now I'm no longer forced by stores to buy what they happen to have in their inventory. Want that obscure JPN VN? Done, delivered next day. I do feel bad about people losing their jobs. But the discounters and upmarket stores will always survive.

How are online retailers any different? They are “fleecing” customers just as much. In fact, Jeff Bezos is currently the worlds richest man.

Re: America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

#105

Post by bsenftner » Wed, Nov 08, 2017, 5:37 PM UTC

pascalxus wrote: post #60

Malls hold no interest for me whatsoever. There's nothing there worthwhile, other than employment. Malls have nothing: no libraries, no Good Cafes, no places to hang out, no parks, no museums, no zoos, limited live music, no outdoors. And the few things it does have: like some book stores and places to eat, are all engineered to get you in and out and back to the Mall's singular focus: Spend, spend, spend: shop till…

I've noticed when traveling, in smaller to medium sized cities there may be a failed mall; sometimes these failed malls become great community centers, until the owners noticed they have traffic and wreak it. So stupid.

Re: America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

#106

Post by debt » Wed, Nov 08, 2017, 5:38 PM UTC

pascalxus wrote: post #60

Malls hold no interest for me whatsoever. There's nothing there worthwhile, other than employment. Malls have nothing: no libraries, no Good Cafes, no places to hang out, no parks, no museums, no zoos, limited live music, no outdoors. And the few things it does have: like some book stores and places to eat, are all engineered to get you in and out and back to the Mall's singular focus: Spend, spend, spend: shop till…

Malls are super fun. I loved hanging out with friends at the food courts and just walking around the mall going into Wizards of the Coast or Spencer gifts.

When you're 13 it's like one of the few places that large where you can hang out without parents around.

But yeah that was when I was 13. They haven't really innovated much. It's a great place for kids but no so much for adults. I thought almost everyone had a great childhood mall experiences haha, but I guess not.

Re: America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

#107

Post by anaheim_ducks » Wed, Nov 08, 2017, 5:38 PM UTC

pascalxus wrote: post #60

Malls hold no interest for me whatsoever. There's nothing there worthwhile, other than employment. Malls have nothing: no libraries, no Good Cafes, no places to hang out, no parks, no museums, no zoos, limited live music, no outdoors. And the few things it does have: like some book stores and places to eat, are all engineered to get you in and out and back to the Mall's singular focus: Spend, spend, spend: shop till…

This is true of whole cities as well, and gentrified areas of cities.

Re: America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

#108

Post by allenbrunson » Wed, Nov 08, 2017, 5:38 PM UTC

irrational wrote: post #12

Retric wrote: post #3

Retail is dependent on consumer spending. As more stores close the remainder should be more profitable, which should minimize ripple effects.

Do you still shop in brick and mortar stores? Other than food (groceries and restaurants) and sometimes clothing, I haven't shopped in a brick and mortar store in so long that I can't even remember when was the last time. It's just so easy to buy things online, even small one off purchases. The other day I needed some AAA batteries so I just hopped on Amazon and ordered them and they showed up a day later. I probably…

competing anecdata: if i just needed some batteries, i wouldn't use amazon for that. i already get too many boxes from them, which accumulate as unwanted guests in every corner of my house, so i try to consolidate small orders. and there is some additional friction there: making sure all my orders have been delivered, not allowing boxes to hang out on the porch too long in case they might get stolen, etc.

far more likely, i'll just put the batteries on my shopping list for the next time i am at the grocery.

Re: America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

#109

Post by bashcoder » Wed, Nov 08, 2017, 5:39 PM UTC

The author misses one key point: it’s not only about debt coming due on their scheduled dates. It’s that much of this debt is also saddled with covenants that can cause a debt to be collectible at any time if the terms are not met. Things like a company's loan-to-value ratio, leveraged inventory through high accounts payable, and other financial metrics. In short, market troubles can force long-term lines of credit to abruptly come due.

Re: America’s ‘Retail Apocalypse’ Is Really Just Beginning

#110

Post by unabst » Wed, Nov 08, 2017, 5:39 PM UTC

Cidan wrote: post #87

pascalxus wrote: post #60

Malls hold no interest for me whatsoever. There's nothing there worthwhile, other than employment. Malls have nothing: no libraries, no Good Cafes, no places to hang out, no parks, no museums, no zoos, limited live music, no outdoors. And the few things it does have: like some book stores and places to eat, are all engineered to get you in and out and back to the Mall's singular focus: Spend, spend, spend: shop till…

> Let's make towns have downtowns, with beautiful brick roads, scenic ponds with some ducks, perhaps a waterfall, some nice cafes, a lawn with benches, some parks, some nature, trees, live music, a library and museums. You would think! I live in Santa Monica, California, and we have exactly that in our downtown area. The retail shop turnover is insane -- a large amount of shops come and go from the area, despite the…

No... SM is a bit wack. The prices are so high, only big businesses can afford to be there. So most stores are big franchises. And it's too touristy for any culture. Main St is better, and towards Venice.

I would also nominate DTLA. Downtown is lit. Parking is wack though.

Consumers are no longer interested in old retail chains. They follow influencers and their original brands, but they're mostly direct to consumer, and everything arrives in two days anyway.