Will the Holidays Save Brick and Mortar?

Warner: “Extra incentives like complimentary gift-wrapping and overall great customer service will help brick-and-mortar stores fare well over online competitors.”

COSTA MESA, CA—Retailers are shaking things up for Thanksgiving and the holiday season. According to Matthews Real Estate Investment Services, an increasing number of retailers, from Neiman Marcus to TJ Maxx, are announcing they will shutter their stores on Thanksgiving—minimizing Black Friday sales—and Target and Barney’s rolling out limited-edition “capsule” collections attempting to capitalize on “drop” culture, the holiday shopping season is looming large in the minds of CRE investors. We spoke with Matthews’ EVP and national director of shopping-center business El Warner about whether the holidays—once seen as the saving grace of shopping centers—will provide a much-needed booster shot to an industry that is down over 40%, as well as what might draw shoppers and investors back to brick-and-mortar stores and how the Whole Foods buyout will change the grocery sector.

GlobeSt.com: Given some of the tricks retailers have up their sleeves for the holiday season, how will brick-and-mortar stores compete?