NEW RETAILER IN SOHO ADDS 40 MINI-BOUTIQUES UNDER ONE ROOF

Shecky's, the media company that publishes beauty and shopping guides and hosts a recurring shopping party "Girls Night Out," has opened its first store at 489 Broome Street in SoHo. The two level shop - that was featured in WWD last week – leases space to different designers much the same way that Fred Segal does in California. There are 40 mini-boutiques in the 10,000 square-foot space. Shecky’s is owned by former derivatives trader Chris Hoffman with Claudia Chan as President. Vendors must sign up for a minimum of three months and can rent space for longer if all goes well.

The store has been called a “turn-key” for young designer. Shecky’s has insurance and sales people to augment the creative wares of its renters. The media end of Shecky’s generates sales of $5 million, which includes the infamous shopping parties. The shopping events called “Girl’s Night Out” are held at the Puck Building In NYC and offer shoppers (mostly from 25 to 45 years-old) five-hours of free cocktails. The events attract over 6,000 women and have been labeled a “raucous group.”

Did I mention that free cocktails are offered for five hours? Someone should have told that to Lord & Taylor…perhaps they wouldn’t have to close all their stores in malls across the country. To think that the exec’s at L&T thought that frozen yogurt would do it.

Merchants at Shecky’s: Accessories by Kudra, Jody Singleton and Staci Schubert; handbags by Marie Elanne and Cammiehill; jewelry by Subversive Jewelry and T. Ross; housewares and gifts by Salontea by Tracy Stern; swimwear by Poko Pano; beauty products by Poshé and Juara; and clothing by David Rodriguez, e.vil, Salt Works and Boiy Krazi. The designers will change continually. At 489 Broome Street, between West Broadway and Wooster Street - (212) 343-0100.

This is a great idea for headwear designers or hat manufacturers looking to test market hats. This is the enviable target market of marketers worldwide. They spend, don’t save and are influencers. Get some celebrities down there and call me in the morning. A few Jennifer Aniston’s and Paris Hilton types could make this an explosive shopping site. We’ll keep you posted.