ICSC: International Council of Shopping Centers

ICSC 2009 Hot Retailer Awards announced

This year’s ICSC Hot Retailer Awards went to two apparel concepts, a frozen yogurt bar and a luxury eyewear store.

The winners, announced Tuesday at ICSC’s RECon conference in Las Vegas, went to Edward Beiner, a growing eyeglasses chain that serves celebrities and others who can afford to buy highly designed eyewear; Blues Jean Bar, a California-based store that encourages customers to hang around awhile as they choose their ideal pair of jeans; Fashionology, which lets children design and adorn their clothing; and OrangeCup, which is striving to do for yogurt what Starbucks has done for coffee.

The Hot Retailers Award is conferred on concepts considered particularly innovative by ICSC’s members worldwide, who are surveyed as part of the selection process. Past winners have included Coach, J Crew, Hot Topic and H&M. Television celebrity Carson Kressley played host to the ceremony.

“These four retailers created exciting and interesting shopping experiences that contribute to the success of the shopping centers that have them as tenants,” Michael P. Kercheval, ICSC’s president and CEO, said. “They have worked hard to create products and services that drive customers to shopping centers around the world.”