Why are the executives of Department stores surprised sales are down? Why would they be surprised that being a Mall Anchor is not what it used to be?
I have to wonder sometime, if the executive team actually, gets out of the corporate HQ to see how people actually shop. I'm not talking about getting reports from field sales or yet another marketing survey or even a planned visit to the one of your stores.....I mean leave the office....go to a mall or two or three....in fact go to a mall in every state where you have store locations and sit their and observe.

1.The heyday of the enclosed shopping mall with mulitple anchor stores is done, over and never coming back, it peaked in the 80's and went downhill after that, While a few regional malls will remain...no new ones are likely to be constructed.
2.The future of retail shopping is:
*Open mixed use entertainment/shopping districts
*mixed use shopping, commercial and housing
*Downtown shopping revitalization
*Outlet malls
3. Your online shopping options need to include everything that's available in stores, with the option for in-store pick up and be streamlined for mobile devices. If your website looks like it came from 1993...you have some problems
4. You better have private label credit, cobrand credit and a decent rewards programs