Shopping Centers Today is the news magazine of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
Issue link: https://sct.epubxp.com/i/122387
THE COMMON AREA Continuing education Landlord NewMark Merrill Cos. is teaming with a local college to allow its tenants to take free courses in subjects relevant to retailing and shopping center management. The Woodland Hills, Calif.–based firm has launched a corporate training program with Fremont College to allow store owners, managers, and employees at the landlord's portfolio of more than 70 shopping centers to take practical college courses for free at the college's Los Angeles and Cerritos campuses and online. "With a sampling of various educational opportunities at our sites, we can provide our tenants additional ways to improve their business performance," said Sandy Sigal, CEO of NewMark Merrill. Courses available for free include web development, store management, visual marketing, financial state- 34 SC T / M a y 2 0 1 3 ment analysis, computer literacy or business leadership. The college expects its traditional full-time students will learn a lot from the NewMark Merrill students' real-world work experience, says Sabrina Kay, chancellor of Fremont College. "Fremont College students will benefit from the real-world experience of working professionals by being in the classrooms together," she said. "It's a completely different experience when you're working with real-time problems. In classroom discussions, students can propose solutions, test them, and see what happens in class next week." The program will initially launch at multiple Southern California centers including Anaheim Town Center, Bristol Warner Marketplace and Bristol Warner Village, in Santa Ana; Norwalk Town Center and Park Plaza on Main in Baldwin Park and University Village, in Riverside. Locked up Wal-Mart is following the lead of Amazon.com in using lockers to hold goods ordered online until shoppers pick them up. Starting this summer, the world's largest retailer will test the concept in 12 stores, Neil Ashe, chief executive of Wal-Mart's e-commerce unit, told reporters at a media event. Once a customer places their online order, they have up to two weeks to pick the merchandise up from the designated locker, Ashe said. Amazon.com is installing lockers in the brick-and-mortar stores of partners such as Staples to provide customers a place to pick up online orders securely. Outlet fest The Outlet Marketing Alliance and Shop America Alliance will promote outlet shopping by launching the USA Outlet Shopping Festival this Memorial Day weekend, May 24–27. The organizers say they plan to make the festival an annual event. Shoppers and tourists will be encouraged to shop outlet centers to enjoy promotions and savings. Outlet retailers and landlords are invited to participate and to help market the festival by developing and promoting sales and special events under the festival umbrella. Meanwhile, organizers are working to develop tie-ins with travel sponsors such as hotels, airlines, car rental companies, tour operators and bus companies. Shoppers who spend at least $150 with their MasterCard during the festival will receive a MasterCard tote bag at participating locations, along with discount offers. State and local tourism offices have agreed to provide marketing support. Tax-free shopping programs in Louisiana, Minnesota, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Texas will be promoted. "This festival will serve to underscore the popularity of outlet shopping and the importance of tourism to all our partners," said Lisa Wagner, founder of the Outlet Marketing Alliance, a group of outlet industry retailers and developers, in a press release. Companies involved include AWE Talisman, Craig Realty Group, Destiny USA, EWB Development, Horizon Group Properties, MasterCard, OutletBound. com, The Outlet Shops of Grand River, Puma, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Shop California, TaxFree Shopping Texas and Tommy Hilfiger. For details, visit www.outletfestival.com.