Searching for a retail recovery? Look past 2011
August 06, 2010 | Dan Rafter | Print Article | Email this Article
I’ve been writing a lot lately about the multi-family market. Of the major commercial sectors, it is by far the top performer. Today, though, I chatted a bit about what is probably the weakest of the commercial sectors: retail.
Greg Schuster, senior vice president and principal in the St. Louis office of Cassidy Turley, said that those looking for a traditional recovery in the retail sector need to look far ahead.
When you look at some of the indicators such as rents and vacancy rates, it will be beyond 2011 before you really start to see any significant gains,” Schuster said.
This doesn’t mean, though, that Schuster didn’t have anything positive to say about the retail sector. Retailers that tailor their services and products to consumers looking for value are performing better these days, he said. Chains such as America’s Best, a discount contact lens and eyeglasses retailer, and Carter’s, which sells clothing and accessories for young children at affordable prices, are actually seeing some growth. This shouldn’t be too surprising; consumers may spend money today, but they want to feel as if they are getting a bargain at the same time.
Tags | America's Best, Carter's, Cassidy Turley, Retail, St. Louis
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