Black Friday, the kickoff to the all-important holiday selling season remains a few days off, but WSLStrategic Retail has been out and about and is reporting from shopping malls around the country.

The news is definitely mixed. The malls at Roosevelt Field, Garden City, NY and St. John’s Town Center, Jacksonville, FL, were surprisingly busy in recent days, according to WSL. Both were filled with people, but not necessarily shoppers. Consumers were trawling the stores, enjoying
the good weather (St. John’s Town Center is an outdoor lifestyle mall), and sticking close to their shopping lists as they studied what’s available, at what price and what’s worth it.

According to WSL, Apple and Aeropostale were were consistently busy. Home store Pottery Barn and beauty retailer Sephora seemed to attract “basics” shoppers who were redecorating their home or themselves with affordable everyday essentials, but not higher ticket items.

Meanwhile, in upscale locations like the Mall at Short Hills, NJ,
it was disturbingly quiet on a recent Saturday. Surprising because the mall caters to a highincome crowd.

"But then again these shoppers have told us throughout the course of the recession that they are not yet willing to spend again -- beyond basics – even though they can afford to," noted WSL.

At Short Hills, Apple was busy with buyers, so too the MAC cosmetics store. A good number of chic Moms were checking out the new Stella McCartney children’s clothing collection exclusive to GAPkids. “Checking out” being the operative words - not necessarily buying.

More info: www.wslstrategicretail.com