Mall Operators Seek E-Commerce Options To Help Retailers Stay Open
While many project the days of department stores and malls could be coming to an end, mall operators are doing what they can to stay open. One solution is to help retailers capture e-commerce customers with the enticement of near-instant gratification.
Menlo Park startup Deliv has partnered with large mall operators, including Simon Property Group, Westfield and General Growth Properties to offer same-day delivery services for retailers in big markets, such as San Francisco, Chicago and Boston, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. These mall operators also own a minority stake in the startup.
Instead of shoppers trudging through malls to shop, mall employees will pick up items ordered online from various retailers. On-demand drivers then deliver the items using Deliv’s software. Big-box retailers PetSmart and Best Buy are already using Deliv.
Other solutions include offering brick-and-mortar locations for online retailers. Amazon previously set up a pop-up store in Westfield San Francisco Centre. Amazon has been pushing for physical retail space and opening bookstores. [SFC]
