Gap Inc.’s Post

Oh no! My passionate San Francisco cheerleading is hitting a big bump. Macy's has announced that they will be closing their iconic Union Square store in the next two years. I saw the headline and immediately cringed in anticipation of the onslaught of snide remarks from the San Francisco cynics and naysayers. I will confess that I did have a moment of "what the heck?". Yet if we read the entire article and other similar articles the story is clearly not so much about the woes of downtown San Francisco, thought that is a part of the story. It is primarily another chapter in the story of the evolution of retail in America. I use that term "evolution" literally. It is perfect evidence of our friend Charles Darwin, survivial of the fittest. Macy's has struggled for decades to find their legs as a mass retailer. At one point they were going upscale, then focus on designers, then a push to middle America as the surviving national department store and more recently expansion into off price. The bottom line is that they have never figured out how to truly adapt and move beyond the 20th century (maybe even 19th century) department store legacy. If there have been recent questions, these announcement prove it, Macy's is essentially going out of business. They will continue to cut costs, save investment, tweak and try new ideas, but the future value is primarily in their real estate and to a minor amount tied to their brand. So, yes it is another bruise to downtown San Francisco, but we are in no way on the ropes, or even stunned. Who is going to bet against the ability of the San Francisco market to adapt? Really, the modern day captital of innovation and resilience? Lots of work ahead for sure, but Macy's departure is another opportunity for The City by the Bay to come back even stronger. Chris Wilson Garrick Brown James Cook John T Chang Bryan Ley #sanfrancisco #cre #retailrealestate #trustedadvisor

Another article for us!

Great interview of Lorie Rault by Emily Moore. Many people make the mistake of thinking that retail is all about having the best products at the best prices in the best locations with the best branding. Now of course these need to be good, but retail is all about the experience. And your retail experience is delivered by your people. So the difference that makes a difference for our retail clients is all about the people. How to hire the right people How to train them with the right skills How to lead them to perform to the right standard How to deal with problems in the right way How to create the right working atmosphere Get the people side of business right and your people will deliver a great customer experience. Get the customer experience right and they will spend more with you, come back to you again and again, and tell all their friends about you. #Retail_is_detail If you have people you need People.je ❤️

We have just designed our 200th t-shirt! 👕 NO, we are not an apparel company; we sell and market new homes. It's crazy to state, but it's central to our company culture. It's not just 6.75 million fibers — it's a way to recognize professional excellence. For every contest, event, and milestone, we reward our team with a new design. This allows us to strategically promote the themes that are most important to our collective success and unlocks the competitive spirit in top performers. During our events and on our portal, all of this comes to life when our employees show off their accomplishments — creating a currency that has been coveted over the years. #CompanyCulture #TeamRecognition #EmployeeEngagement #TShirtDesign #MilestoneAchievement #CorporateCulture #EmployeeMotivation #InnovativeRewards #TeamBuilding #WorkplaceInspiration #CustomApparel #ProfessionalExcellence #BrandIdentity #CompetitiveSpirit #CorporateEvents #CompanyMilestones #EmployeeAppreciation #CreativeRewards #TeamSuccess #BusinessInnovation

Check out our article below from the Triangle Business Journal!

Gather your team for an extraordinary adventure beyond the confines of everyday tasks!   Imagine a day when the usual is set aside, and your team comes together not just to work, but to create. At Cocoblu Retail, we embraced this spirit wholeheartedly in a one-of-a-kind team-building event. The vibrant team of 60 from Cocoblu paused their routine to dive into a world of colours, creativity, and collaboration. Together, we transformed a plain wall within their office into a masterpiece of dynamic hues and patterns. This wasn't just about painting a wall; it was an engaging activity that bonded them, brought out their creative best, and demonstrated the incredible things we can achieve when we come together. Let this private commission by Creatibeeti inspire you to create soulful experiences that engage and unite your employees.  At Cocoblu Retail, we've seen firsthand the power of creativity in fostering teamwork and achieving new heights.  #TeamBuilding #Collaboration #Creativity #EmployeeEngagement #Cocoblu #Creatibeeti

A Greenville doughnut shop will be opening a second location this spring. The brand has teamed up with Run In’s new location in downtown Anderson at — where it will be operating at the front half of the store come April. Story by Krys Merryman below. #doughnuts #greenvillesc #yeahthatgreenville #andersonsc #upstatesc #growthanddevelopment #smallbusinesses #businessnews

🌟 More things to know about City Apparel Merch 🌟 Promoting a Positive Work Culture! At City Apparel Merch, our culture isn't just a buzzword—it's the heart of everything we do. That's why every week, we dedicate time in our meetings to dig into a different aspect of our work culture, both internally and with our clients. From fostering creativity and collaboration to celebrating diversity and inclusion, each week's focus helps us grow stronger as a team and better serve our clients. Our commitment to a positive work culture isn't just about having fun; it's about creating an environment where everyone feels valued, motivated, and empowered to do their best work. We believe that a strong work culture is the foundation of a successful business. It's what sets us apart and drives us to be better every day. Join us in celebrating the power of a positive work culture! #WorkCulture #Teamwork #EmployeeEngagement #BusinessSuccess #CompanyCulture

I realize I've been posting a lot about San Francisco lately - I would stop if it became less newsworthy. Instead, the hits just keep on coming, with yesterday's BOMBSHELL that MACY'S IS PLANNING TO CLOSE ITS 700,000 SQ FT UNION SQUARE FLAGSHIP IN THE COMING YEARS (link below). This was no doubt a heavy blow, and at the same time, a bit of a headscratcher, given that Macy's owns its building and would be selling into a down market. Moreover, large brands need the visibility generated by flagship stores in major markets - which Macy's presumably understands better than others, seeing as its 34th Street location in Manhattan has effectively carried the company for years. And it needs that visibility especially in a omnichannel model, with the role that brick-and-mortar must play in customer acquisition and retention. Obviously there's a lot we do not know, but to me, this move does not compute, at least at first glance, which suggests a couple of possibilities. One, Macy's and its new CEO are responding to pressure from activist investors eager to monetize its real estate. Two, it is putting the City on notice, as leverage for securing a hoped-for reassessment, a cash subsidy and/or even greater urgency in revitalizing the district. (Note that the store would not be closing until 2025 at the earliest). In any event, Macy's is definitely one of those legacy brands that I discussed in my last article ("What Really Happened to Downtown Retail", posted on 2/21), struggling mightily to stay relevant. Amidst all its flops in recent decades, it has also made some shrewd decisions. This, though, does not seem like one of them. #retailcontrarian #retail #retailleasing #retailrealestate #retailproperty #retailtrends #retaildevelopment #retailmarket #retailbroker #retailspace #retailindustry #retailers #downtown #mainstreet #mainstreets #citycenter #citycentre #highstreet #placer #placerai #urbanretail #icsc #commercialrealestate #ida #adrr #iedc #uli #icma #marketanalysis #futureofretail #siteselection #urbandevelopment #primeurbancorridors #jll #zoning #landuseplanning #landuse #planning #retailvacancy #vacantstorefronts #vacantretail #emptystorefronts #storefrontvacancy #citymanager #cnu #businessimprovementdistrict #communitybenefitdistrict #businessoffashion #wwd #retailbrew #storefront #downtownrevitalization #nyt #wsj #urbanregeneration #sanfrancisco #sanfranciscorealestate #unionsquare #sfbayarea #sanfranciscobusinesstimes #sfbt #sanfranciscochronicle #chron #sfgate #oewd #planetizen #economicdevelopment #cushmanwakefield #colliers #doomloop #urbandoomloop #sfstandard #kevintruong #johnking #londonbreed #boardofsupervisors #aaronpeskin #spur #covidimpact #covidimpacts #flagshipstore #flagships #paullevy #richardflorida #downtownsanfrancisco #downtownsf #dtsf #marketstreet #sanfranciscocentre #unionsquarepartnership #hoodline #SFist #costar #bisnow #TheregistrySF #svedc #kevinnguyen #macys #marisarodriguez #departmentstore #tonyspring #jeffgennette

Macy's might close its big store in San Francisco's Union Square. This could happen in 2025 or later as part of their plan to shut down some stores that aren't doing so great. They want to focus on making the stores they keep even better and opening smaller ones. Macy's has been trying to keep up with shoppers who want different things now and areas where it's tough for stores to do well. They're planning to close about 150 stores by 2026, but they'll keep about 350 open and make them nicer. In the real estate biz, we often see similar challenges and changes. At Cudd Realty, we're all about helping small businesses and our community in North Texas. When big retail stores like Macy's change their plans, it can make new opportunities for local businesses and real estate. That's where we can help figure out what's best for everyone. Thinking about how changes in the retail world could open up new real estate chances? Wanting to get the inside scoop on how it might impact your plans? Reach out and let's have a conversation about what's happening and where you could fit in. Call or text me, Michael Cudd, at 940-595-0138. Let's turn change into an opportunity together. #CuddRealty #NorthTexasRealEstateNews #RetailChanges #CommunityGrowth #RealEstateOpportunities