Stephanie Jackowiak had an extremely unpleasant experience May 8 at the Venture Store at Elston and Foster avenues. She was trying to exchange a pair of $10 children’s pajamas that she had bought on May 2 for another size.
Instead of being helped, she was escorted from the store by a manager after being told that Venture, which is going out of business, wasn’t doing any more exchanges or returns. It didn’t matter that her receipt said the merchandise could be returned for 90 days.
The store employees weren’t just being jerks, said Ben Nortman, general counsel of Hilco/Great American, the Northbrook-based firm that bought Venture’s inventory and is handling its liquidation.
“Under the contract and order of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware, we’re not allowed to accept returns of merchandise sold by Venture prior to the liquidation sale,” Nortman said.
If the liquidators did accept returns, they would have to ask Venture to pay Hilco for them, which it would refuse to do, he said. Also, now that Venture’s goods are being marked down, the liquidators don’t want people trying to return things they bought a month ago so they can buy them again at 50 percent off.
Still, even-exchanges like the one Jackowiak wanted usually are handled off-the-books without much fuss, he said. After Jackowiak’s husband, a Chicago policeman, went back with her to the store and argued with the manager again, the pajamas were eventually exchanged. And the Jackowiaks were escorted out of the store a second time.
It’s a sad tale, especially considering Venture CEO Robert Wildrick’s plea in March for another chance with the chain’s loyal Chicago customers.
Shoppertunity: Travel and shopping. Anyone doubting the synergies would only have to look at the Mall of America. As Christmas approaches, planeloads of tourists arrive at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, take shuttles to the sprawling shopping mall and later return to the airport. Most shoppers never venture into the nearby Twin Cities to see other sights.
Now, another mall operator, Urban Retail Properties Co., believes it can actually create its own travel business to boost business at its premier properties, which include Water Tower Place, Old Orchard and Oak Brook Mall.
It has created Spree, a free travel planning service for consumers and travel agents that can plot a complete trip–dining, hotels, sight-seeing–around the hot shopping areas in selected cities. The targeted cities are Boston, Chicago, Memphis, Tampa, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
In addition, travelers will receive a Spree card that allows them discounts at selected stores, museums and landmarks. For example, a Spree card will get you 2-for-1 admission at Chicago’s Field Museum or a discount at the John Hancock observatory.
“Shopping is one of the most popular tourism activities. But until now, there was no way for travel planners to access information on key destinations and shopping in one place,” said Cindy Bohde, senior vice president of marketing for Urban, which is based in Chicago.
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Urban is publicizing Spree through national ads in current issues of Bon Appetit and Travel & Leisure magazines. Spree can be reached through its Web site at www.myspree.com.
Skirting the issue: There’s no hemline debate for fall 1998. Designers were showing practically every length at their recent shows, says David Wolfe, creative director of Doneger Design Direction, a fashion consulting firm in New York.
Designer Mark Eisen went for a safe choice–just covering the knee. Celine chose a midcalf length, which Doneger calls “the most cutting-edge length available now.”
And Richard Tyler took the big plunge, dropping hems to the ground. It’s a look certain to be popular with “fashion victims,” Wolfe predicts.