Reading this on a mobile device? Try our optimized mobile version here: http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/eaonCfbwoceTAbwtqnFS

November 21, 2012   Top Story  Morgan Stanley reportedly to buy Moscow retail center in $1B deal Morgan Stanley is poised to acquire a retail shopping center in Moscow, according to sources. The deal to acquire the property, Metropolis, is valued at more than $1 billion. Sources say Morgan Stanley would expand the shopping center once it acquires it. Bloomberg (11/19)   Industry Tracker  India's Cabinet to consider IKEA's 25-store proposal India's Foreign Investment Promotion Board has approved a proposal by IKEA to open 25 stores under new foreign-investor rules, and sent the plan to the country's Cabinet for consideration. The Wall Street Journal (11/20) Retail Opportunity REIT buys Santa Teresa Village for $31.6M Retail Opportunity Investments has acquired a San Jose, Calif., retail center for $31.6 million. The REIT acquired the property, Santa Teresa Village Shopping Center, from a partnership that included San Jose's Barry Swenson Builder. It was an off-market transaction. American City Business Journals/San Jose, Calif./Silicon Valley BizBlog (11/20) Asheville retail center eyed for renovation Edens is planning to rebuild and renovate a retail center in East Asheville, N.C., over the next two years. The retail center, Asheville Mall, is home to a Kmart store that is closing. Preliminary plans call for Edens to regrade the parking lot and reduce the size of the center to 136,000 square feet, from 148,000 square feet. Asheville Citizen-Times (N.C.) (11/19) Hendersonville retail center plans expansion A retailer center in Hendersonville, N.C., has preliminary plans to expand by 10,000 square feet and enlarge the parking lot. Tenants at the shopping center include The Fresh Market, SteinMart and Mountain First Bank. Times-News (Hendersonville, N.C.) (11/21)   Sponsored Poll  In what region do you think shopping centers will perform best in 2013? North America Europe Latin America/South America Asia-Pacific Africa   Retail News  What drives the Black Friday shopper? Consumers who rise before dawn to shop on Black Friday are largely drawn by the thrill of the treasure hunt, along with a need by some to take a break from family togetherness after Thanksgiving, says consultant Paco Underhill. Experts divide Black Friday shoppers into three general categories: young women who enjoy the social aspect of shopping in groups, hard-core bargain hunters and families on a budget. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (11/21)   Finance & Economics  Bernanke backs Fed's move to economic thresholds Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said he supports a proposal that the U.S. central bank announce numerical "thresholds" linking its monetary policies to unemployment and inflation. "It does have the advantage that it would help to distinguish between our anticipation for how the economy is going to evolve, and how we will react to those conditions," he said. Reuters (11/20)   Business Best Practices  Persuade key decision-makers to support your ideas To sell your idea, you need to tie it to a company's "Critical Success Factors," which are things that keep a company in business, Eric Slife of SalesGravy.com says. In a down economy, decision-makers are only interested in talking to those who can help them solve an immediate problem, he says. The Fast Track (11/19) The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS) Amazing Play Sculptures Begin with Large Blocks of Foam While no one at PLAYTIME claims to be the next Michelangelo, you can't blame the company for comparing sculptures made of marble with the ones they carve. Learn how these one-of-a-kind soft foam play areas are made! See video! Download a brochure, or contact David O'Niones (DavidO@Playtime.com, 303-662-0302). Interested in learning more about advertising with SmartBrief? Click here for detailed industry information and media kits.     Editor's Note  SmartBrief will not publish Friday In observance of Thanksgiving in the U.S., ICSC SmartBrief will not be published Friday, Nov. 23. Publication will resume Monday, Nov. 26.   SmartQuote  We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." --Thornton Wilder, American playwright and novelist     Subscriber Tools       Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy Advertise Associate Publisher:  Kathy Dowdy 469-305-7122 Download Media Kit   Read more at SmartBrief.com A powerful website for SmartBrief readers including: Industry Home Readers' Choice Search Archive Get this RSS Feed Publish your Press Release Download a SmartBrief Mobile app today       Recent ICSC SmartBrief Issues: Monday, November 19, 2012 Friday, November 16, 2012 Wednesday, November 14, 2012 Monday, November 12, 2012 Friday, November 09, 2012     Lead Editor:  Liz DeHoff       Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004     © 1999-2012 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information