Brian Jue’s Post

🎅 Monday Motivation: Last-Minute Shopping Edition! 🦌 Feeling the holiday crunch? 🎁 Last-minute means it's down to Santa, Amazon Prime, or... IN PERSON! Whether you're an Amazon aficionado or a mall maverick, there's still time to snag those perfect gifts. 🛍️ And guess what? The mall might not be the chaotic battleground you expect- we hit the malls on the Saturday- back in the day (seems like yesterday) the Saturday before Christmas was the busiest, and highest grossing sales day. Once upon a time, my side hustle was retail locations at the right malls, all kinds of products, whatever was trending on the high ticket side. When I had galleries at malls, Dec 21-23 and the Saturday before Christmas were the days I made sure I was at our Fashion Island in Newport Beach location to close the big deals. And it was a blast, always busy. Now? I haven't backed a retail or even pop-up location since 2019, when I closed our highest performing Las Vegas retail operation. But, every year for fun, to get a feel for the economy, trends, and more I hit the mall on key days every year to check out the scene. ➡️ Why the malls might be surprisingly manageable this year: 🎁 Retail Apocalypse 🎁 Pandemic Overhang 🎁 Ecommerce Evolution 🎁 Changing Trends Sadly, many brick-and-mortar stores have closed, meaning less competition for those parking spaces (though it's still a challenge! 😅). With the rise of online shopping and evolving consumer habits, smart physical stores have to adapt, offering more personalized experiences and curated selections. Online shopping is king, but many still crave the tangible experience of browsing and discovering gifts in person. And, at the last minute, right now that means you are down to Amazon Prime, or wasting money on expedited shipping and crossing your fingers it shows up (UPS having BIG trouble these days). So if you are running out...it is not that bad. The Big Lesson? 💡 In the business world, trends change faster than Santa's sleigh! 🛷 Time flies, and you need to be ready to pivot and adapt to stay ahead of the game. So, whether you're braving the mall or clicking your way to checkout, remember to stay flexible, embrace the unexpected, and enjoy the thrill of the chase! Happy shopping! 🛍️