Shopper Marketing Fusion Speaker: James Damian, Best Buy

James Damian
SVP, Experience Design Group
Best Buy, Inc.

As senior vice president of the experience development group at Best Buy, James Damian is responsible for reinventing the experience of shopping in a big-box retail store. He is, in his own words, a “right-brain ambassador for the value of design within the left-brain world of consumer electronics.”

In 2004, Damian led the design of Best Buy’s first concept stores—Studio D and Escape in Chicago—and developed the company’s “new store experience” R&D capability. He continues to lead optimization of the big-box design for a shopping experience that not only answers, but anticipates changing customer desires. He names legendary Tiffany’s window designer Gene Moore as his primary source of inspiration.

Prior to joining Best Buy in 1998, Damian held positions with Howard Sant Partnerships, a London architectural firm; Harvey Nichols, a London-based luxury retailer; B. Altman & Co. and R.H. Macy & Co. department stores in New York; and Hindsgaul Mannequins Worldwide of Copenhagen, New York, and Paris. He also served as president of Damian Randd (Resources Advancing New Design Directions).

In 2005, he received the Markopoulos Award for his many contributions to the design industry; in 2006, DDI recognized him as one of the Design Influencers of the Year. He also recently received Best Buy’s Culture of Innovation Award in recognition of his leadership in concept development and execution. A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) in New York City, Damian holds a degree in retail store design, exhibition design and corporate identity.

Damian is a member of the board of directors of NADI, NASFM's visual merchandising division, and serves on the advisory board for DDI magazine. He is also a member of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and the Minnesota Orchestra Board of Directors. At Best Buy, he is executive sponsor of the employee resource group P.R.I.D.E. (People Respecting Individual Differences Equally).

Biography courtesy of A.R.E.

Some Retailers Remain Solid through the Downturn Economy

This post on Retailwire.com discusses how even though many businesses are struggling through the recession, companies like Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Urban Outfitters and GameStop show promise that they will come out of the recession stronger than before.

Best Buy and Bed Bath & Beyond are looking particularly strong because they are avoiding one less competitor, Linens ‘n Things and Circuit City which both have faltered in the last couple of months. Urban Outfitters and GameStop have both seen an increase in total revenue from the previous year, and so seem to be in great shape.

What are other examples of chain stores that are doing well during this troubled state?

Shopping malls having to readjust to new shopper needs

In a recent article at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, they discuss how the malls in Pittsburgh are currently struggling with the current high amount of vacancies. Not only are they facing chains going out of business, such as Boscov's and KB Toys, but they also have less consumers who don't have expendable money for shopping. The article states that as many as 2000 to 3000 malls could go bankrupt this year.

As a result, malls are trying to find new ways to bring customers into their stores. Another potential option for under-performing malls could be a "de-malling," Mr. Ackerman said. That strategy, he said, has worked for North Hills Village, which has transformed itself over the years from a mall into a big box center that includes Best Buy, Target and Kohl's.

Read the article here. What do you think about the current state of malls? Will they find a way to readjust and make it through the current economic downturn?