A new generation of advanced-technology hair-styling tools and tricked-out accessories make it easy for women to create a highly sophisticated salon look or a blingy tween do—without paying salon prices. Instead, they're heading to the mall, where specialty retailers are poised to capture their share of the multibillion-dollar hair-care market.
Today's kids aren't afraid to spend money—to the tune of nearly $20 billion a year. And that's not counting what their parents spend on them (about seven times more). That adds up to a lucrative—and growing—market for specialty retailers.
Americans are hooked on the benefits of massage, spending billions on massages and massage products every year. Now excitement is building about the profit potential of common-area massage concepts as consumers react to a slowing economy, turning from pricey spas to less-costly options offered by specialty retailers.
For specialty retailers selling electronic and tech products, opportunity abounds. From sleek cell phones that track children and check email to iPod protectors that hold up under the harshest of conditions, consumers (and retailers) have more choices than ever before.
Psychic kiosk adds a new dimension to the mall shopping experience. With a fresh new product line that appeals to a range of demographics, Flirty Aprons has cooked up a recipe for success. Zippy Rides mean happier—and longer—shopping trips for the family. A healthy snack that curbs the appetite has shoppers licking their lips. High-end chocolates are taking off at The Chocolate Bar, a fresh new inline tenant in Boston's bustling Logan International Airport. A Canadian entrepreneur launches her second successful specialty retail concept: popcorn toppings. In a sleek new inline that exudes high design, customers create their own one-of-a-kind signature scents.
Feel like you're playing employee roulette? Stop hoping for the best and start hiring people who will excel.
