The Future of Bellevue Retail + This TikTok Mess
Did you know that The Bellevue Collection is Washington's second most visited location? The first, of course, is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. But 22 million people visit the shopping center every year. I’ve been lucky enough to work in downtown Bellevue for the last few years so I’ve taken advantage of the convenient shopping, dining, and entertainment options.
I learned this fun fact at “The Future of Downtown Retail” panel discussion hosted by the Downtown Bellevue Association on Tuesday, April 23rd at the Meydenbauer Center. The panel, moderated by Monica Wallace, Executive Vice President and Director of Retail at Kidder Mathews, featured Brad Jones, Executive Director of Visit Bellevue; Alesha Shemwell, Director of Retail at Kemper Development Company; Robert Arron, Senior Director of Real Estate at Vulcan Real Estate; and Jesse Canedo, Economic Development Strategist at The City of Bellevue.
Here are a few takeaways:
A shift towards “retail-tainment”: Brad Jones highlighted the concept of "retail-tainment," emphasizing Bellevue's commitment to blending retail with dining, entertainment, arts, and wellness. This trend suggests a move towards more experiential retail spaces rather than traditional shopping centers.
The role of The Bellevue Collection: Alesha Shemwell discussed The Bellevue Collection's significant influence on Bellevue's retail landscape. With new projects on the horizon, The Bellevue Collection is poised to continue evolving as a key tourism hub in the region.
The impact of transportation on retail: With the opening of Sound Transit’s Line 2, Bellevue's light rail expansion promises to stimulate tourism, enhance employee commutes, and increase downtown activity. This transportation infrastructure is a significant factor in driving retail prosperity and transforming Bellevue into a seven-day-a-week community.
Welcome to Weekly Staples! A brief overview of my favorite fashion industry articles from the week related to marketing, retail trends, and events.
TikTok Bill Is Now Law, as Reality of Potential Ban Sinks In via WWD
That’s it. President Biden signed the Divest-or-Ban Bill into law on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, after the bill passed through the House of Representatives the previous Saturday, cleared through the Senate on Tuesday, and passed “by the upper chamber” on Tuesday night. WWD notes that “the app developer now has nine months to strike a deal with new owners and separate from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. President Biden could allow three more months, if he sees progress”.
It doesn’t look like TikTok is eager to comply, however. The company issued a press release stating that “the law would ‘trample’ the rights of the platform’s American user base, which includes 170 million people and 7 million businesses, as it channels $24 billion a year into the U.S. economy”.
According to an article by Business of Fashion, “ByteDance would prefer shutting down its loss-making app rather than sell if the Chinese company exhausts all legal options to fight legislation to ban the platform from app stores in the US” since “the algorithms TikTok relies on for its operations are deemed core to ByteDance overall operations”, which would make a sale unlikely.
As a marketing specialist, I understand how important social media platforms are to a brand’s growth, community, and bottom line. But I’ve always championed building (and owning) your digital footprint via an optimized and engaging website. We’re merely renting the space from these social channels to post content and gain followers. We, as individuals, have no control over the structure, algorithm, and as we’re witnessing now, the existence of these platforms.
If you need to catch up on everything happening with TikTok, read these articles:
TikTok Ready to Fight US Ban With 170 Million Users at Stake via Bloomberg News
TikTok to Challenge US Ban via Business of Fashion
What a TikTok ban would mean for its closest social media competitors via Vogue Business
TikTok’s Chinese Counterpart, Douyin, Is Courting American Designers via Business of Fashion
Speaking of bans, Meta’s out here blocking news publishers in some markets in an attempt to “de-emphasise news” from its platforms. Read more on Vogue Business.
Check out more interesting stories from the week:
The Future of Shopping via Vogue Business
Meeting Consumer Expectations Through Augmented Reality, In-Store and Online via Business of Fashion
Wanted: Customer Loyalty as Penney’s, Target, Others Pump Up Points and Perks via WWD
Fashion’s Golden Opportunity With Older Shoppers via Business of Fashion
New Report Shows Why Fast Fashion Is Worse for Your Wallet, on Top of the Environment via WWD
Conscious Content
Why middle-tier retailers are suffering as high and low-price stores thrive via CBS News on YouTube
In case you haven’t heard, Express filed for bankruptcy recently, which further confirms that middle-tier brands are struggling to keep up. The ones that are surviving are doing so by investing in efficient e-commerce practices and convenient shipping options for customers. According to @Jordyn Holman, Business and Retail Report at @The New York Times, some brands are even improving their retail entertainment (or “retail-tainment) experience for customers who shop in-store. I’m very interested to see how the dwindling category of middle-tier brands continues to fight to compete with luxury and lower-budget brands.
Man Repeller via Rehash
Remember the Girlboss era? I’m still trying to forget it. I was “on the sidelines” of this era witnessing the benefits of women carving out space to build the brands, but also skeptical of who actually benefitted. I was never a Man Repeller girlie, but I do remember hearing about the scandals surrounding the company and its founder. Rehash gives an insight into the rise and fall of the brand.
Diet Prada via Rehash
The Diet Prada episode on Rehash was another one that I enjoyed listening to. It questions how a “news” source can call out brands for unethical practices while also benefitting and/or profiting from those brands.
Retail Rundown
Explore Nordstrom Bellevue’s New Look: Modern Design & Expanded Offerings via Downtown Bellevue Network
Nordstrom’s Bellevue location, anchored in The Bellevue Collection, got a makeover. The remodel includes new design aesthetics and new services, including Beauty Haven on the first floor. Luxury beauty brands also made their debut, including Christian Louboutin Beauty, Gucci Beauty, and Prada Beauty.
The Scene
Saturday, Mary 11th: “Behind the Seams: Fashioning Gender” at Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI)
Saturday, May 11th: Africa Fashion Week Seattle at Vasa Park Resort
Saturday, May 18th: Nordstrom Beauty Trend Show at Nordstrom Downtown Seattle
