Our Mission

Learn who we are and how we serve our community

Leadership

Meet our leaders, trustees and team

Foundation

Developing the next generation of talent

C+CT

Covering the latest news and trends in the marketplaces industry

Industry Insights

Check out wide-ranging resources that educate and inspire

Government Relations & Public Policy

Learn about the governmental initiatives we support

Events

Connect with other professionals at a local, regional or national event

Virtual Series

Find webinars from industry experts on the latest topics and trends

Professional Development

Grow your skills online, in a class or at an event with expert guidance

Find Members

Access our Member Directory and connect with colleagues

ICSC Networking Platform

Get recommended matches for new business partners

Student Resources

Find tools to support your education and professional development

Become a Member

Learn about how to join ICSC and the benefits of membership

Renew Membership

Stay connected with ICSC and continue to receive membership benefits

Industry News

Why web retailers are so keen on physical stores

January 30, 2018

There are lots of solid reasons Amazon.com, Alibaba and other big online retailers are investing in physical stores, notes a Bloomberg report. For a start, people simply like shopping in stores and are far more likely to make a spontaneous purchase if they walk into one than they might while visiting a retailer’s website. In the U.S. 70 percent of Millennials — now the biggest consumer group — prefer stores to web shopping, the article says. A survey cited in the news report found that 69 percent of those who entered a store to pick up an item they had ordered online took that opportunity to make an additional purchase. Moreover, although millions of people have internet access in China and elsewhere, millions of others do not.

Little wonder, then, that such online giants as Amazon (which last year bought Whole Foods) and Alibaba (which acquired a department store chain, 17 malls and a percentage of a hypermarket chain) are scrambling to invest in physical stores.  

By Edmund Mander

Director, Editor-In-Chief/SCT