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Posts Tagged ‘bloomingdale’s’
A look ahead at the reinvented Bloomingdale's wing at MOA
At least four “major international fashion-forward retail stores”–three new to town–will replace Bloomingdale’s at Mall of America, vice president of public relations Dan Jasper announced Wednesday. He was not ready to name names today, but Zara and TopShop are among the likely contenders. (Worth noting: another hot new concept in expansion mode, Joe Fresh, is Canadian. That counts as international!) Expect announcements over the next few months as leases are finalized.
Bloomingdale’s was one of the original MOA anchors, and is the first to leave. The Macy’s Inc.-owned retailer announced plans to close three other stores nationwide. The MOA store will close in March. A sale starts this Sunday.
“We are grateful to Bloomingdale’s for 20 years and wish them the best,” Jasper said. “This gives us an opportunity to be a trendsetter.”
MOA plans to break out of the traditional anchor model and will add a sub-level, turning the larger space into a wing for “luxury retailers and a new upscale restaurant.” One of the yet-to-be-named retailers will occupy a 90,000 square foot space on the new sub-level and first floor (hmm…smells like Top Shop). On the third level of the Bloomingdale’s space, Jasper said, “we will continue to add destination value-priced retail.” Owner Triple Five Worldwide will invest $30 to $50 million for the renovations and new construction, which is scheduled to begin in mid-February.
Tags: bloomingdale's, Mall of America, Triple Five
Posted in Mall of America | 15 Comments »
Bloomingdale’s is closing its Mall of America store. A spokesperson for the Macy’s Inc.-owned department store declined to provide more details until employees have been informed later today. Mall of America is planning a press conference of its own this afternoon to reveal “other news,” which we can hope is a replacement anchor. My money is on JC Penney, with its new focus on amping up the fashion. However, industry experts point out JC Penney’s largest stores are 100,000 square feet, and the Bloomies spot is a whopping 210,000. Perhaps it will be divided. There just aren’t many traditional anchors left to consider.
The news, while a blow to MOA and our MN fashion cred, should come as no surprise to anyone who has set foot in the MOA Bloomingdale’s–particularly, in comparison to Bloomies in other cities. They just didn’t get it. Bloomingdale’s never embraced the power, the appeal, the draw of MOA. They treated that store like a second class citizen–didn’t offer their best brands and made little effort to connect with customers, local or tourists. MOA, with its 40 million-plus annual visitors is the ultimate branding opportunity. Retailers from around the world are clawing to get in…just to be part of it. Bloomingdale’s snoozed through it. This is in sharp contrast to Nordstrom, which has always taken its MOA store seriously and in recent years has stepped up the designer fashion, recognizing the demand–and lack of other options–in town.
Place your bets now. MOA will make an announcement at 3:05 p.m.
Tags: bloomingdale's, Mall of America
Posted in Shopping Tips, store closings, Twin Cities retail | 9 Comments »
In case you were thinking you still had time to swing by a department store to collect your free cosmetics, forget it – or at least, call first. Macy's in St. Paul was down to a couple of remaining products by lunch time. Bloomingdale's at Mall of America is wiped out. "It was a mob scene," a manager said. Amazing how "free" motivates us. Beauty companies ought to keep that in mind.
Tags: Beauty, bloomingdale's, cosmetics giveaway, free cosmetics, macy's, makeup, Mall of America
Posted in Beauty | No Comments »
It's true: on Tuesday, Jan. 20, some of the biggest cosmetics counters at department stores will be giving away $175 million in products. It's part of the settlement in a class action lawsuit in which consumers claimed beauty manufacturers were fixing prices (think about it: makeup virtually never goes on sale). Estee Lauder, L'Oreal, Coty perfumes, Clarins, Chanel and Christian Dior are among the manufacturers named in the suit. They will each give away an allotment of product – such as a 6.7 oz Lovely Sarah Jessica Parker shower gel or a 15 ml Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair – at major department stores across the country including Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Herbeger's, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. All you have to do is walk up and ask. Technically, you are eligible if you made a purchase between May 29, 1994 through July 16, 2003, but no proof is necessary. The products will be given away on a first come first serve basis. Don't expect them to last long! For more details, click here.
Tags: bloomingdale's, clarins, cosmetics giveaway, cosmetics lawsuit, cosmetics settlement, cosmeticsettlement, coty, estee lauder, free cosmetics, free makeup, herberger's, L'oreal, macy's, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom
Posted in Beauty | 1 Comment »
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