Shopkeepers and restaurant owners in Bengaluru’s Commercial Street and Brigade Road share their experiences and expectations around new year festivities.
Bengaluru is all set for a full-fledged New Year’s celebration after two years of COVID-19 restrictions. Preparations for the festival in iconic spots like Brigade Road and Commercial Street have already begun, sending waves of excitement through locals and tourists.The city is decked up to welcome the new year in many extravagant ways and shopkeepers are expecting an increase in business this season.
Commercial Street, Bengaluru’s famed street shopping location, is gearing up for New Year’s sales. People visit Commercial Street to purchase a wide range of items at affordable prices, including trendy clothing, accessories, cosmetics, and sweets. Shopkeepers say that the place is packed with people throughout the year, and this hasn’t changed for New Year’s week. TNM spoke to owners of clothing stores located in the area who said that they normally do well throughout the year, and that this year has been no exception. “There is typically a large crowd on weekends on Commercial Street, and we expect the same on New Year’s weekend as well,” said Shiva, an employee at a snacks and beverage shop on the street. Vipin Dadu of Anand Sweets said that sales have increased in comparison to the past year and there are takers for all kinds of sweets.
Celebrations on Brigade Road have been one of Bengaluru’s long-standing traditions. Every year, on December 31, people gather in large numbers on Brigade Road to celebrate with their loved ones, visit clubs or just roam around, taking pictures of the New Year’s Eve josh in the city. It is a ritual that every Bengalurean would have done at some point in their life. The city is lit up with festive lights each year during this season. Due to the pandemic, Brigade Road had not witnessed any frolic on New Year’s Eve in the last two years. However, Bengaluru City police have permitted New Year’s celebration this year. The news has sparked excitement among the public.
The shopkeepers and eatery owners said that their sales had doubled around Christmas. They added that they expect a similar turn out on New Year’s Eve too. Sohail Yusuf, the Secretary of Brigade Shops and Establishments Association (BSEA) told TNM, “The association has put up festive lights on Brigade Road. Ensuring safety and security is the responsibility of the police and they are working on it.” The crowd on Brigade Road and Church Street have increased on weekdays as well on account of Christmas vacation. Families are clicking pictures on the sidewalks, making last minute New Year’s purchases and taking a stroll down the road to enjoy the festivities.
New Year’s Eve in Bengaluru is incomplete without packed bars, long queues, and loud music on Brigade Road and Church Street. Several pubs and bars on Brigade Road are set for New Year’s Eve. “We will be operating under specified terms and conditions on December 31. We are going to have male and female bouncers at the entry and a bag-check will be done in order to ensure that illegal drugs are not brought into the bar. We will also accommodate a limited crowd based on our seating capacity and no more,” said Subash, the manager of Chin Lung Resto-bar. The management of Pecos Classic Pub, on the other hand, stated that owing to the large crowds, the pub will close at 6.30 pm on New Year’s Eve.
When the madness of Black Friday shopping simmers down, consumers are often encouraged to “shop small” on Saturday, which is also known as Small Business Saturday.
Small Business Saturday is an initiative started by the American Express credit card company in 2010 to encourage local shopping during the holiday season. The day is celebrated each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
In 2011, the Small Business Administration cosponsored the event and has each year since.
According to the 2021 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey by American Express, reported projected spending among U.S. consumers who shopped at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday reached an estimated $23.3 billion.
Consumers can find a list of small businesses to shop locally on the American Express website.
The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Danville Area Community College has had a hand in helping people in Vermilion County who are interested in creating their own small businesses.
Director Earle Steiner said he brings his past experience as a small business owner in the restaurant industry to his current role and works with people from different areas of the county who want to start their own businesses.
“I really love when people reach out and say (they want to start a food business),” Steiner said. “That’s what I did for so many years (and) it’s really easy for me to pivot into that.”
However, he said he loves helping each person who wants to start a small business, no matter what type of business it is. While he may have the experience with food businesses, he said there are more than 30 Small Business Development Centers throughout Illinois and he can reach out to someone who may specialize in another industry for guidance if needed.
The normal calls he gets are from someone who is wants to start their own business, but they want to know where and how to start.
“We can help them with all of those details, because there’s a lot,” he said. “I mean, there’s nothing here that’s totally complex, but by the same token there’s a lot coming at you at one time.”
The SBDC essentially helps those people get their ducks in a row. Steiner said they talk about the legal designation of the business, financial management and developing a business plan, among other things.
Each year, the SBDC also recognizes standout small businesses with the Small Business Awards. In 2022, AWEBCO won Entrepreneur of the Year, Newtons Cleaning and Restoration LLC won Legacy Small Business, Owens Excavating and Trucking LLC won Small Business of the Year and It’s In Your Head won Small Business Start-Up.
Steiner said the awards help recognize the businesses for their work and motivate them to continue.
As for Small Business Saturday, Steiner encouraged local consumers to participate because it helps the community they live in.
“If you give back to the area, give back to the community, give back to these small businesses … that’s what Small Business Saturday’s all about,” Steiner said. “It’s a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities … and realize that they’ve had a tough time.”
The pandemic hit small businesses especially hard in 2020, and since then, owners have had to navigate, retool and pivot from their prior business practices, Steiner said.
Steiner also suggested consumers keep the “shop small” mindset not only through the holiday season, but throughout the year.
“It’s our community, so we want to make it better every day,” he said.
Today marks another Small Business Saturday, and it gives area residents an opportunity to show how much they appreciate local businesses.
As the name implies, Small Business Saturday encourages shoppers to spend their money in local shops. With trucks zipping along city streets delivering boxes from online stores, the day helps remind everyone about how valuable local stores are to our communities.
For every $1 spent in a local business, experts say 67 cents of it stays local. That money not only creates jobs and helps pay salaries for workers and business owners, it adds to the quality of life in many ways.
Local businesses support such things as youth sports leagues, arts organizations such as DLO Musical Theatre, Red Mask Players, the Danville Symphony Orchestra and many others.
Local business owners also help organizations such as the United Way of Danville Area, the Festival of Trees, local festivals and fairs, and special events such as the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Men’s National Basketball Tournament at Danville Area Community College.
The dollars spent in local stores also help employees and owners pay local taxes, which spreads the fiscal burden over more people, according to a study by Michigan State University. That lessens the demand for tax dollars on everyone else.
Those tax dollars also allow local government to invest in such things as streets and clearing away blight.
Shopping locally saves time. Customers don’t have to wait even a day to take home their purchase. According to experts, buyers from local businesses also help the environment because fewer of those delivery vehicles will be rolling around emitting toxic fumes.
Local shops also offer shoppers a wide variety of unique items that their big box competitors don’t stock. A trip through Danville’s downtown illustrates the kind of special places people can visit to find just the right holiday gift for that special someone.
And customer service usually is more effective when the customer and the store employee are face to face instead of communicating via email or by phone.
Spending even a few dollars on Small Business Saturday can go a long way in supporting local businesses. Instead of doing any online shopping today, head out and visit some of the area’s great small businesses. They will appreciate your business, and you will appreciate the wonderful things they have to offer.
NEW YORK — Cautious shoppers hunted for the best deals at stores and online as retailers offered new Black Friday discounts to entice consumers eager to start buying holiday gifts but weighed down by inflation.
Due to elevated prices for food, rent, gasoline and other essentials, many people were being more selective, reluctant to spend unless there was a big sale. Some were dipping more into savings, turning to “buy now, pay later” services that allow payment in installments, or running up their credit cards at a time when the Federal Reserve is hiking rates to cool the U.S. economy.
Sheila Diggs, 55, went to a Walmart in Mount Airy, Maryland early Friday looking for a deal on a coffee maker. To save money this year, she said the adults in her family are drawing names and selecting one person to shop for.
“Everything’s going up but your paycheck,” said Diggs, who manages medical records at a local hospital.
This year’s trends are a contrast from a year ago when consumers were buying early for fear of not getting what they needed amid supply-network clogs. Stores didn’t have to discount much because they were struggling to bring in items.
Early shopping turned out to be a fleeting trend, said Rob Garf, vice president and general manager of retail at Salesforce, which tracks online sales. People this year are holding out for the best bargains, and retailers responded this week with more attractive online deals after offering mostly lackluster discounts earlier in the season.
Online discounts rates were 31% on Thanksgiving, up 7% from the previous year, according to Salesforce data. The steepest discounts were in home appliances, general apparel, makeup and luxury handbags.
Macy’s Herald Square in Manhattan, where discounts included 60% off fashion jewelry and 50% off select shoes, was bustling with shoppers early Friday.
The traffic was “significantly larger” on Black Friday compared to the previous two years because shoppers feel more comfortable in crowds, Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette said.
He said that bestsellers from Macy’s online sale, which started last weekend, included 50% off beauty sets. Last year Macy’s, like many other stores, had supply chain issues and some of the gifts didn’t arrive until after Christmas.
“Right now we are set and ready to go, “ he said.
Sophia Rose, 40, a respiratory specialist visiting Manhattan from Albany, New York, was heading into Macy’s with big plans to splurge after scrimping last year when she was still in school. She put herself on a budget for food and gas to cope with inflation but had already spent $2,000 for holiday gifts, and plans to spend a total of $6,000.
“I am going to touch every floor,” she said. “That’s the plan.”
Customer traffic was also higher than last year at Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, according to Jill Renslow, executive vice president of business development of the shopping center. She said 10,000 people were at the sprawling mall during the first hour after the 7 a.m. opening, though inflation prompted many shoppers to figure out what to buy before showing up.
“With the economy, people are planning a little more,” she said.
Delmarie Quinones, 30, went to a Best Buy in Manhattan to pick up a laptop and printer she ordered online at $179, down from $379. Quinones, a health home aide, said that higher prices on food and other expenses are making her reduce her spending from a year ago, when she had money from government child tax-credit payments.
“I can’t get what I used to get,” said the mother of five children, ages 1 to 13. “Even when it was back to school, getting them essentials was difficult.”
Major retailers including Walmart and Target stuck with their pandemic-era decision to close stores on Thanksgiving Day, moving away from doorbusters and instead pushing discounts on their websites.
But people are still shopping on Thanksgiving — online. Garf said Salesforce data showed online sales spiked in the evening during the holiday this year, suggesting people went from feasting to phone shopping. And with holiday travel up, he said a greater share of online shopping occurred on mobile devices this year.
“The mobile phone has become the remote control of our daily lives, and this led to an increase in shopping on the couch as consumers settled in after Thanksgiving dinner,” Garf said.
But with more shoppers visiting stores this year, growth in online sales slowed.
Shoppers spent $5.3 billion online on Thanksgiving Day, up 2.9% from the holiday last year, according to Adobe Analytics, which monitors spending across websites. Adobe expects that online buying on Black Friday will hit $9 billion, up just 1% from a year ago.
Black Friday saw some of the labor unrest that has rippled through the retail industry over the past year. A coalition of trade unions and advocacy organizations are coordinating strikes and walkouts at Amazon facilities in more than 30 countries under a campaign called “Make Amazon Pay.” Among other places, hundreds of workers at a facility near the German city of Leipzig staged a protest Friday, calling for better working conditions and higher pay.
And at Walmart stores, some employees had Wednesday’s deadly shooting at a company store in Virginia in the back of their minds.
Jude Anani, a 35-year-old who works at a Walmart store in Columbia, Maryland, said the company offers training on how to react in such circumstances but he would like to see more protection. He was happy to see police officer standing outside the store, as is typical on Black Friday, and wished that was the case “most of the time during the year.”
Against today’s economic backdrop, the National Retail Federation — the largest retail trade group — expects holiday sales growth will slow to a range of 6% to 8%, from the blistering 13.5% growth of a year ago. However, these figures, which include online spending, aren’t adjusted for inflation, so real spending could even be down from a year ago.
Analysts consider the five-day Black Friday weekend, which includes Cyber Monday, a key barometer of shoppers’ willingness to spend. The two-month period between Thanksgiving and Christmas represents about 20% of the retail industry’s annual sales.
Hadero reported from Mount Airy, Maryland. Olson reported from Arlington, Virginia. Associated Press Personal Finance Writer Cora Lewis in New York contributed to this report.
Follow Anne D’Innocenzio: http://twitter.com/ADInnocenzio
A person shops in an Apple store on Black Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
NEW YORK (AP) — Cautious shoppers hunted for the best deals at stores and online as retailers offered new Black Friday discounts to entice consumers eager to start buying holiday gifts but weighed down by inflation.
Due to elevated prices for food, rent, gasoline and other essentials, many people were being more selective, reluctant to spend unless there was a big sale. Some were dipping more into savings, turning to “buy now, pay later” services that allow payment in installments, or running up their credit cards at a time when the Federal Reserve is hiking rates to cool the U.S. economy.
Sheila Diggs, 55, went to a Walmart in Mount Airy, Maryland early Friday looking for a deal on a coffee maker. To save money this year, she said the adults in her family are drawing names and selecting one person to shop for.
“Everything’s going up but your paycheck,” said Diggs, who manages medical records at a local hospital.
This year’s trends are a contrast from a year ago when consumers were buying early for fear of not getting what they needed amid supply-network clogs. Stores didn’t have to discount much because they were struggling to bring in items.
Early shopping turned out to be a fleeting trend, said Rob Garf, vice president and general manager of retail at Salesforce, which tracks online sales. People this year are holding out for the best bargains, and retailers responded this week with more attractive online deals after offering mostly lackluster discounts earlier in the season.
Online discounts rates were 31% on Thanksgiving, up 7% from the previous year, according to Salesforce data. The steepest discounts were in home appliances, general apparel, makeup and luxury handbags.
Macy’s Herald Square in Manhattan, where discounts included 60% off fashion jewelry and 50% off select shoes, was bustling with shoppers early Friday.
The traffic was “significantly larger” on Black Friday compared to the previous two years because shoppers feel more comfortable in crowds, Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette said.
He said that bestsellers from Macy’s online sale, which started last weekend, included 50% off beauty sets. Last year Macy’s, like many other stores, had supply chain issues and some of the gifts didn’t arrive until after Christmas.
“Right now we are set and ready to go, “ he said.
Sophia Rose, 40, a respiratory specialist visiting Manhattan from Albany, New York, was heading into Macy’s with big plans to splurge after scrimping last year when she was still in school. She put herself on a budget for food and gas to cope with inflation but had already spent $2,000 for holiday gifts, and plans to spend a total of $6,000.
“I am going to touch every floor,” she said. “That’s the plan.”
Customer traffic was also higher than last year at Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, according to Jill Renslow, executive vice president of business development of the shopping center. She said 10,000 people were at the sprawling mall during the first hour after the 7 a.m. opening, though inflation prompted many shoppers to figure out what to buy before showing up.
“With the economy, people are planning a little more,” she said.
Delmarie Quinones, 30, went to a Best Buy in Manhattan to pick up a laptop and printer she ordered online at $179, down from $379. Quinones, a health home aide, said that higher prices on food and other expenses are making her reduce her spending from a year ago, when she had money from government child tax-credit payments.
“I can’t get what I used to get,” said the mother of five children, ages 1 to 13. “Even when it was back to school, getting them essentials was difficult.”
Major retailers including Walmart and Target stuck with their pandemic-era decision to close stores on Thanksgiving Day, moving away from doorbusters and instead pushing discounts on their websites.
But people are still shopping on Thanksgiving — online. Garf said Salesforce data showed online sales spiked in the evening during the holiday this year, suggesting people went from feasting to phone shopping. And with holiday travel up, he said a greater share of online shopping occurred on mobile devices this year.
“The mobile phone has become the remote control of our daily lives, and this led to an increase in shopping on the couch as consumers settled in after Thanksgiving dinner,” Garf said.
But with more shoppers visiting stores this year, growth in online sales slowed.
Shoppers spent $5.3 billion online on Thanksgiving Day, up 2.9% from the holiday last year, according to Adobe Analytics, which monitors spending across websites. Adobe expects that online buying on Black Friday will hit $9 billion, up just 1% from a year ago.
Black Friday saw some of the labor unrest that has rippled through the retail industry over the past year. A coalition of trade unions and advocacy organizations are coordinating strikes and walkouts at Amazon facilities in more than 30 countries under a campaign called “Make Amazon Pay.” Among other places, hundreds of workers at a facility near the German city of Leipzig staged a protest Friday, calling for better working conditions and higher pay.
And at Walmart stores, some employees had Wednesday’s deadly shooting at a company store in Virginia in the back of their minds.
Jude Anani, a 35-year-old who works at a Walmart store in Columbia, Maryland, said the company offers training on how to react in such circumstances but he would like to see more protection. He was happy to see police officer standing outside the store, as is typical on Black Friday, and wished that was the case “most of the time during the year.”
Against today’s economic backdrop, the National Retail Federation — the largest retail trade group — expects holiday sales growth will slow to a range of 6% to 8%, from the blistering 13.5% growth of a year ago. However, these figures, which include online spending, aren’t adjusted for inflation, so real spending could even be down from a year ago.
Analysts consider the five-day Black Friday weekend, which includes Cyber Monday, a key barometer of shoppers’ willingness to spend. The two-month period between Thanksgiving and Christmas represents about 20% of the retail industry’s annual sales.
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Hadero reported from Mount Airy, Maryland. Olson reported from Arlington, Virginia. Associated Press Personal Finance Writer Cora Lewis in New York contributed to this report.
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Follow Anne D’Innocenzio: http://twitter.com/ADInnocenzio
The agriculture sector is an evergreen sector of the economy. The world will always need food, and the companies in this sector help ensure the world is fed. In fact, agriculture stocks are typically considered to be in the same category as consumer staples because demand remains constant no matter what is happening in the broader economy.
This is also a diverse sector. And that can get confusing for investors. Investors can buy into pure-play companies that make fertilizer and pesticides. You can choose to look at companies such as Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) that supply the equipment that many farms use.
And as interest in sustainable agriculture is growing, so is this sub-sector which creates another path for investors, particularly those who are focused on ESG (environmental, social, and corporate governance) concerns.
This presentation highlights seven agricultural stocks that offer investors different ways to play the sector.
GREENVILLE, SC (WSPA) – With Thanksgiving and Black Friday just days away, Greenville Police are already taking preventive measures in busy commercial areas.
“We are putting plans in place to help alleviate some of the headache with the traffic, as they’re going to try to shop,” said Lt. Mark Holbrooks, with the Traffic Unit at the Greenville Police Department.
“With the season coming up, we will see an increase of traffic around our major shopping areas – the Haywood Road area, the Woodruff Road area specially,” said Lt. Holbrooks.
Some people told 7NEWS the Woodruff Road area is crazy at times.
“I kind of just come up here to go to the shops, the traffic is really bad,” said Kyler Lum. Lum said she walks in the area when she’s in the city for work.
“Like the traffic lights. I mean, I’m standing at a traffic light for at least 10 to 15 minutes, before I can even run across,” she said.
“Honestly, I just see people trying to like you know, force everybody into the lanes. They’re kind of like turning, even when I walk, people don’t really adhere to me,” Lum said. “They kind of just try to force me to walk faster, because they’re trying to make the light. And sometimes that left turning lane, people are still in the middle of the intersection.”
Lum said a similar situation happened on Tuesday.
“There was a huge truck like in the middle of the intersection blocking it down there, and he wasn’t trying to like beep his horn to move everybody out of the way,” Lum explained. “I had to like walk in between cars, because everyone was on the pedestrian walkway.”
Jackson Sisson said he knows the traffic patterns all too well.
“I come here about close to every day, working at Off Broadway Shoe Store, and I mean the plaza in here isn’t too bad, when it comes to traffic, but once you get out into the main road is when it all goes down,” Sisson said.
“Blocked intersections on red lights. You know, they like to rush and get in, and that can cause people that are turning left, to not be able to go, which just backs up the only road in and out of anywhere here which is Woodruff Road,” Sisson said.
Starting this week, Greenville Police will be out in the area.
Police said that beginning Friday and continuing through the weekend, they will monitor key intersections along Woodruff Road and also maintain high visibility in the popular retail districts.
“Sitting at intersections,” Lt. Holbrooks said. “Watching those that are blocking intersections. If the need arises, and they will direct traffic as well.”
“If you ride down Woodruff Road now, you’ll see some of our digital sign boards out there, reminding people not to block intersections,” said Holbrooks.
The signs will also ask drivers to use Parallel Parkway, which runs from Verdae Boulevard to Woodruff Industrial Lane, as an alternative.
Holbrooks said last year, they did see some accidents in this area.
“It is a heavily traveled area, so we do typically see a good number of collisions on that road. And of course you know the holiday season more traffic, we will see some increase in the traffic collisions that are in those areas,” Holbrooks said.
Officers want to prevent things from getting worse.
“Most of these guys, they are out here too try to educate people more than anything else,” Holbrooks said. “Try to use the Parallel Parkway, because that does alleviate a lot of traffic off of Woodruff Road.”
They want you to do your part, as well.
“First of all, plan ahead,” Holbrooks said. “There’s going to be heavier traffic, so go ahead and plan on leaving earlier if you plan on getting somewhere, so this way you know, you’re not stressing trying to get there.”
“Be mindful of others who are on the roadway and everything else. Don’t block the intersections,” he said.
The police department sent these tips for drivers:
- Don’t block intersections
- Don’t drive aggressively
- Drive at a safe speed
- Plan your route before heading to your destination
- Don’t drive distracted
“Don’t block the intersections,” Holbrooks said. “A blocked intersection, essentially trying to beat the traffic light, what you end up doing is blocking those coming off of side streets, coming out into the roadway, as well. Which sends congestion in all directions and it just makes for a typically, you know–headache.”
Those who frequent the area gave tips to drivers too.
“Drive safe. Use the turn signal, don’t block traffic,” Lum said.
“Be patient. We’re all going somewhere,” Sisson said.
Holbrooks said officers will be assigned in the area every weekend between now and Christmas.
“We will be having officers that are assigned out there on the weekends to help deal with some of those issues that will be coming up,” Holbrooks said.
He also said officers will be out during the week at heavy times.
A recent survey of Shanghai”s retail property sector suggested the city’s retail vacancy rate has reached as high as 34 percent, but data and analyses from various real estate research organizations told a different story.
For instance, China Real Estate Information Corp conducted its own survey and said more than 20 shopping malls across the city reported an average vacancy rate of 9 percent, which is still much higher than that in any other major Chinese city.
Among the malls, the Super Brand Mall located in Shanghai Pudong New Area’s Lujiazui has a high vacancy of 34 percent, CRIC research indicated.
The truth, however, may be different from external appearances. According to a Shanghai Observer report, the Super Brand Mall launched a large-scale upgrade project in 2019, and during the three-year upgrade, the rest of the mall operated normally.
However, due to the COVID-19 outbreaks, the upgrade procedure got prolonged, said the report, citing sources in Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group), the developer of the mall.
As of August, 75 percent of the mall’s retail space was leased out, and the figure will likely reach 90 percent by the end of this year as 99 new brands will be available in the shopping center, the report stated.
Data on Shanghai retail properties’ vacancy rate from commercial real estate services and investment firm CBRE suggested the sector is comparatively stable. Vacancy rate of Shanghai’s retail space was 7.2 percent in the first half, while that a year ago was 6.9 percent, and 8.2 percent in the same period of 2020.
Owing to factors like location, project positioning and the mixture of businesses in a facility, the vacancy rate of different malls can be quite different, said Zhang Baoyu, research analyst of CBRE Eastern China.
For example, non-central shopping malls with a high proportion of food and beverage (F&B) retailers and service brands may see their vacancy rate rise, while shopping centers located in downtown areas usually recover at a faster pace as the city’s business vitality regains at an accelerated pace, Zhang said.
Shaun Brodie, senior director and head of occupier research of China at Cushman & Wakefield (C&W), said the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated a reshuffle in Shanghai’s retail market.
“Midrange to high-end shopping center projects owned by large enterprises remain popular with retailers as they have offered concessions recently, like rent waivers to tenants. However, retailers leasing space in low-end shopping centers and street front shops have largely not been so fortunate, with a number of them vacating their leased space,” said Brodie.
This has not gone unnoticed. The authorities concerned in the Shanghai government introduced a package of consumer stimulus measures to restore residents’ consumer confidence and help the retail market to recover.
As a result, the customer traffic flow in Shanghai’s midrange to high-end shopping centers picked up in September, especially in the suburban areas, Brodie said citing C&W data.
Indeed, Shanghai saw total retail sales recover over the third quarter as subway passenger traffic and shopping mall foot falls returned to normal, said experts at JLL, a global real estate advisor.
“Although leasing is recovering at a low pace, we still saw certain categories remain resilient and continue expanding,” said Paige Chuang, head of retail agency for JLL Shanghai. “For example, luxury brands, skincare, perfume, new energy vehicle brands and community supermarkets did well.”
The F&B sector recovered quickly following a sharp contraction amid the outbreak, contributing 45 percent of the third quarter’s newly leased space, said Chuang, adding that premium F&B brands saw a particularly rapid rebound in leasing.
Amid the market recovery, a few prime retail projects including the Shanghai Suhewan Mixc World and JC Plaza were launched recently, boasting a number of debut stores and brands, according to C&W.
Located near the Suzhou Creek, the Shanghai Suhewan Mixc World is jointly developed by China Resources Land Ltd and Shun Tak Holdings Ltd. The mall has had more than 95 percent of its 60,000-square-meter retail space occupied by mid-October.
Among the 140-odd retail brands, 70 percent are “first” stores of various kinds — China debut, Shanghai debut, first store in Jing’an district, debut stores in the Suhewan region or the Jing’an district section of the Suzhou Creek area.
Along the city’s bustling West Nanjing Road, JC Plaza is a mixed-use project renovated from a hotel that features many brands’ debut stores. It is expected to extend the city’s luxury retail landscape.
Overall, Shanghai’s commercial real estate market has seen a relatively stable performance under the circumstances, industry experts agreed.
If my life were a movie divided into three parts, the first section would probably be titled Lady and the Lamp. Like a moth to a flame, I find myself naturally drawn to glowing orbs of all shapes and sizes. At this precise moment I own nine lamps—one of which turned into a DIY project that requires rewiring, among other cosmetic surgeries that I have been actively avoiding for months. The gate into this dangerous portal opened up when I purchased my first vintage mushroom lamp at the end of 2020 and proceeded to start collecting more of these vessels of illumination.
Hear me out: Lighting is one of the most important features in a home, so isn’t it worth investing in lamps that put the fun in functional? These are the little things that really stand out when I’m carefully scanning the interiors of a space. There’s never a lamp that goes unnoticed on my watch. Here are seven fixtures from a few of my favorite home tours that are currently living in my head rent-free. (To enhance your scrolling experience, I highly recommend streaming Ellie Goulding’s 2010 bop “Lights,” completely unrelated to the viral TikTok trend.) Light up your life!
Vintage Italian Sconces, 1950s
When most people peer into the sage bedroom inside Martha Hunt’s condo in New York City, their focus probably shifts toward the mohair-wrapped bed or the Mario Bellini sofa. But my eyes were glued to these vintage sconces on the limewashed wall that AD100 designer Giancarlo Valle sourced from Jordan McDonald. If you, like me, have been waiting for a sign to buy some sconces, then this is it! There’s something so charming about them, no? From the window to the wall, a sconce adds a touch of elegance to any room. It’s time to stop excluding them from the lighting lineup!
Vintage Monumental Undulating Wood Parquetry Lamp, 1970s
There are a lot of things to love about Elaine Welteroth’s house in the Hollywood Hills, but the one thing that immediately caught my attention was a wavy checkered lamp in the style of Pitsilkas waiting in the entryway. Positioned on top of a vintage faux goatskin–covered credenza, this is a statement piece that beckons to be called. It’s a real wow moment. (Switching out the lamp shade was a very smart choice; somebody give designer Tiffany Howell a raise!) During her AD Visits episode, Elaine revealed that she sourced the Vintage Monumental Undulating Wood Parquetry Lamp from the store Port•man•teau in New York for $998. “I am absolutely obsessed with this sexy lamp,” she gushes. “It’s literally the talking point of the house. When people walk in, they basically want to walk out with this thing—I’ve had people try.”
Mads Caprani Floor Lamp, 1970s
True story: I’ve never met a Danish lamp that I didn’t like. Is there anything sexier than the curve of a bent beechwood or teak floor lamp paired with a pleated lampshade? I think not! Looking back, I feel like Mads Caprani is responsible for getting me in sync with pleats in fashion from Issey Mayake to Julia Heuer. This particular midcentury masterpiece from the ’70s has had a grip on Instagram influencers since 2018—the owners of Home Union once told me that the vintage Caprani lamps usually sell out within a day as soon as they’re restocked, and are now priced between $1,850 and $2,200. For Miami-based interior designer Carla Lores, it was the perfect conversation piece beside the book-filled fireplace in her bedroom. “Once I find a shape that I like, I repeat it over and over unintentionally,” she says.
Tube Floor Lamp, 1970s
Julio Torres really snapped with the creative process that went into curating his Brooklyn apartment. The entire space is a burst of funky shapes and loud colors, and, in addition to collecting an abundance of tiny tables and chairs, he told us that he’s “at capacity with lamps and with clocks that don’t work.” My personal favorite piece is this midcentury modern floor lamp designed by Anders Pehrson for Ateljé Lyktan that walked so Big Bird could run. Given that Julio’s mom is an architect and his sister is a designer, it makes sense that he would opt for outsourcing the lighting. 1stDibs currently has a Tube lamp on auction with bids starting at $570.
Tahiti Table Lamp, 1981
When in Memphis (Milano), am I right? The Tribeca apartment of collector Raquel Cayre is practically a gallery for Ettore Sottsass—I don’t have enough hands to count how many pieces she owns, but this personal collection obviously includes the Tahiti lamp. “Every time I come in here, I can’t believe it’s real,” she told AD. “I do have days where I wish I lived in a Philip Johnson house in New Canaan with a Donald Judd daybed, one lamp and one book at a time. Sometimes I dream about that, but I can’t fight it. I’m a collector, and I like stuff.” (Not to be creepy, but if I were ever invited over, I would spend hours exploring every inch of her house.) Now you can find Tahiti lamps on the shelves of your local Nordstrom thanks to Olivia Kim, the brand’s VP of creative projects. Keith Johnson of Urban Architecture remains the sole Memphis distributor in the US, but Bi-Rite Studio started reproducing the lamp along with other iconic postmodern pieces from the Italian design studio in 2021, so now you can pay $1,380 instead of bidding an obscene amount of money at auction.
Toucan Table Lamp, 1980s
I can’t remember when I first started seeing toucan lamps around, but however I was exposed it definitely happened on Instagram. So, imagine my surprise when I casually spotted one on the desk of AD100 designer Rodman Primack inside the moody green office of his Mexico City residence. I’m not familiar with the backstory of the design by H.T. Huang for Huangslite, but they seem to have originated in the ’80s and typically resell between $110 and $600 on eBay, Etsy, and 1stDibs. Not only is it AD-approved, but senior design editor Hannah Martin has one in her home, in case you needed some extra convincing. “I feel like it’s become a little ubiquitous now but I really love it,” she notes.
Oo Floor Lamp, 2020
While there were almost too many lamps to choose from in the home of Ashley Tisdale, I unapologetically stan Eny Lee Parker. In her episode of Open Door, Ashley explains that her vision for the TV room was a casual space with quirky shapes where her daughter Jupiter could safely play with toys. Come for the vibes, stay for the surreal story about how she secured a Noguchi lamp before a colonoscopy. Eny Lee’s Oo floor lamp is made to order and will cost you $12,000. (The table lamp size is priced at $6,000.) As an alternative, might I suggest her latest lighting collaboration with Mitzi? There’s just something about a ceramic lamp that gets me going… Keep me away from the Twist Column Light!
A vintage Dallas streetcar has found a temporary new home: The trolley, once tucked inside the Spaghetti Warehouse in Dallas’ West End, will find a safe and secure berth at Orr Reed Architectural Co., a salvage store located a few miles south of downtown Dallas, which will provide temporary quarters while the vehicle gets renovated in preparation for its final home.
The trolley was one of the original streetcars that ran through East Dallas nearly a century ago. It surged to fame in 2019 when Spaghetti Warehouse closed after 47 years, and the company held a giant auction of its extensive collection of memorabilia.
The streetcar attracted an anonymous buyer, but that buyer bailed once they encountered the difficulties of removing the trolley from the location.
The trolley was then bequeathed to the Junius Heights Historic District, a neighborhood association representing more than 800 homes in Old East Dallas, east of Munger Place, south of Swiss Avenue and southwest of Lakewood.
The organization wanted to save the trolley because of its role in the original streetcar program that was key to the establishment of Junius Heights and East Dallas, says a spokesperson who serves on the Junius Heights’ trolley committee, and who also has a personal connection.
“The streetcar lines were built by the developer who was selling lots in East Dallas,” she says. “Workers could take it to their offices downtown. It operated until the 1950s. My grandfather was a delivery driver for a paper company in Richardson that would deliver paper to offices in downtown Dallas. He could park his truck outside downtown and get on a subway that took him underground into the bottom of the office buildings in Dallas.”
It’s one of the few streetcars from that era that still exists.
“It was of particular interest to our neighborhood since it has ‘Junius Heights’ in that little strip across the front where it shows the next stop,” she says.
The trolley has no wheels or motor parts, so it won’t be mobile. The organization’s goal is to make it an interactive museum attraction.
“We hope that it can continue the purpose it served inside Spaghetti Warehouse where people can experience sitting inside a street car — but back in our neighborhood,” she says. “We still need to determine the best location where it can be secure and have protection from the elements, but the objective is to preserve it and save it from the scrapyard.”
When they were seeking a place where it could stay during renovations, up stepped Hannah Hargrove, owner of Orr Reed, which is dedicated to finding new homes for items of value such as reclaimed hardwood, antique lumber, doors, and wrought iron fences.
“I actually wanted to buy it — it’s a piece of our city’s history,” Hargrove says. “But when I read the fine print on the auction, I knew there was no way I could get it out. It was heartbreaking. Then during the pandemic, I was approached by the Junius Heights Historic District. who had raised enough funds to move it.”
“We determined that we could probably make the room and that our gates were big enough to accommodate its entry,” she says.
The trolley is currently being disassembled in anticipation of the journey, which they’re hoping will take place this fall.
Hargrove and her team spent much of August reconfiguring their warehouse to make space. (They’ve also been hosting sales to make space, check out the vintage sky-blue Frigidaire wall oven.)
“It’s going into a corner where we usually store larger furniture items and really nice windows — nothing that was easy to move,” Hargrove says.
“But we wanted to make sure that this piece of city history was preserved,” she says. “We care about these things. Do I need the space, of course I do — but this is a piece of our history we cannot get back.”
Fritz Jorgensen / Getty Images
Facebook Marketplace has become a go-to for consumers looking to buy and sell everything from vintage clothing to a used bike to furniture, or for those looking to rent an apartment or even buy a car. It’s targeted to your area of choice, giving you access to goods right in your neighborhood. Classified ads in the newspaper and even blurbs offering for-sale items posted to Craigslist have given way to Facebook Marketplace.
A 2022 report from social media management platform Hootsuite says Facebook Marketplace has 1 billion monthly active users worldwide, with its ads reaching 562 million people. One of the reasons it has become so popular is that — unlike paying a fee to sell an item on eBay or placing a newspaper ad — Facebook Marketplace links buyers and sellers at no charge.
While the overwhelming majority of Facebook users are honest, with millions of people using one site, dishonest people will creep in. Here’s a guide to some of the common Facebook Marketplace scams — and how you can protect yourself.
Identifying Facebook Marketplace Scams
Facebook, itself, acknowledges the possibility of scamming on its platform. But how can you tell if someone is scamming on Facebook Marketplace?
“Scams can happen on the buyer and seller side of a transaction. Some listings may also be scams,” Facebook writes in its help section. “Scams come in different forms, so it’s important to know what to look for when buying and selling on Marketplace.”
But just what should be a red flag on Marketplace? Hari Ravichandran, the founder and CEO of consumer cybersecurity company Aura, has some tips.
“Beware of quick responses, fast payments and urgency,” he said. “If you get a response immediately after posting an item for sale on Facebook Marketplace, I recommend that you wait at least 12 to 24 hours before responding to see if you get any other offers. Most legitimate buyers will ask for additional information about the item for sale, the condition of the item, or to see the item in person before agreeing to pay.”
Ravichandran also notes that potential buyers who push for personal information — like your email address or phone number — or wants to pay you quickly are likely scammers.
Red Flag: A New Account
As you interact with a potential buyer and seller on marketplace, check out that person’s account. Since it is a legacy social media provider, Facebook accounts tend to be well-established.
If you’re interacting with someone with a new account, it could be a scam account. Be very careful and ask all the right questions before conducting business.
A Closer Look at Marketplace Scams
Can you get scammed as a seller on Facebook Marketplace? Yes. As a buyer? Yes.
Buyer scams occur when someone tries to buy or trade for an item without paying. With seller scams, someone offers something for sale but doesn’t come through with an item as promised.
Potential scams, as identified by Facebook and security experts, include these 9 tactics.
1. Send the Item Before Payment Is Received
A prospective buyer might product a fraudulent receipt claiming a payment has been made and ask for the merchandise to be sent right away. Conversely, a legitimate buyer won’t ask a seller to pay in advance.
When you’re buying merchandise sold on Marketplace, Aura recommends using an accepted payment method, such as PayPal, or Facebook Marketplace. If paying with PayPal, don’t state that you are making a payment to someone who is a friend or family member. You’ll lose your protection that way, per Aura.
2. A Deal Too Good to Be True
Did you see a listing for the latest popular Nike shoes, for example, at a fraction of the retail price? The shoes probably are counterfeit.
Ask to see multiple photos of the shoes, a live video or even an original sales receipt before agreeing to buy. Again, pay with PayPal or another method that provides protection in case they are counterfeit.
3. Immediate Interest
A “buyer” wants you to send a text to arrange an immediate pickup of the item. That’s an attempt to get your phone number, at which point the scammer could register quickly for a Google voice number, which will trigger a verification code sent to your phone. The scammer will ask you to send the code — just to verify you are a real person.
In reality, that code will unlock the Google voice number, which can help the scammer to perpetuate more scams, including stealing your identity.
Don’t communicate outside of Marketplace.
4. A Fake Rental Property
The house advertised might be just what you’re looking for, but don’t send a deposit until you, or someone you trust, has had a chance to tour the place to make sure it is as advertised — and it’s available.
Scammers will advertise properties that aren’t even for rent, take a payment and vanish.
5. A Broken Item
That gaming system you just paid $100 for? It doesn’t work, even though the listing might have said it was barely used. You handed over that $200 to the seller at your meeting place in the parking lot of the local McDonald’s without plugging it in. And you’ll never find that seller on Facebook again.
It’s best to turn on and test electronics or other items that might not work before you hand over payment.
6. Bait and Switch
Advertising one item, then seeking to substitute it is the classic bait and switch. You see an item you’ve been searching and searching for, then the seller tells you it isn’t available and offers another, more expensive item in its place.
Don’t be afraid to walk away from a deal if it’s not what you originally wanted.
7. Overpayment
Say the buyer and seller agree on a $20 sales price, but the buyer pays $50, tells the seller it was an error and asks for $30 back. That isn’t a problem until the bank catches up with you. The card that the seller used to pay you could have been stolen or a check was counterfeit. You’re out the original payment — plus the “overpayment” you returned.
It’s best to decline overpayments and ask the buyer to resend payment in the correct amount.
8. Giveaways
If you see an offer for something free or a drawing for a free item, skip it. It likely is a phishing scheme. You hit a link to enter the drawing, and malware or a virus could be downloaded to access your confidential information, according to Aura.
9. The Lost Package
According to Facebook, a marketplace user can claim an item purchased was never received when it was or that the item was shipped to you when it wasn’t. In either case, that user will be seeking a refund from the honest person in the transaction — you.
Make sure you have tracking information for any shipments involved to help fend off this scam.
How To Report a Facebook Marketplace Scam
Can you trust Marketplace on Facebook? The site makes it easy to report a suspected scam, and Aura’s Ravichandran recommended following through.
“If you are scammed, immediately report it to Facebook Marketplace,” he said. “If you spot a seller or buyer trying to pull off a scam, report it to protect other unsuspecting sellers and buyers.”
How To Report a Listing Scam
If you come across a listing for sale that you believe to be a scam:
- With the item listing open on your device screen, click the three dots in the upper right-hand corner.
- Click “report listing.” A menu of action items will pop up.
- Click “scam,” “appears to be counterfeit” or the action you deem appropriate.
- You also will have the option to block the seller.
How To Report a Seller Scam
To report what you think is a scam by a seller on Marketplace:
- With the item listing open on your device screen, tap the name of the seller.
- Tap the three dots below the seller’s name.
- Click “report seller.”
- Follow the prompts.
How To Report a Buyer Scam
To report a perceived scam by a buyer on Marketplace:
- With the item listing open on your device screen, click the box that reads “more options.”
- Then click “report buyer.” You will have a chance to block the buyer. Another option gives you a chance to review the person’s Facebook account, which should help you to determine whether the buyer has a longstanding account or a new one.
Final Take
It’s unfortunate that we have to worry about financial fraud being perpetrated through a scam, but we do, and it even happens on Facebook Marketplace. The key takeaways to remember: be cautious, don’t engage with another party outside of Facebook, stay away from links or other tools that could be phishing for information and report any scams to keep yourself and others safe.
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