Weight Watchers holds almost 50,000 meetings each week where members receive group support and learn about healthy eating patterns, behavior modification and physical activity. Schuster tells GlobeSt.com that the firm had been handling the management and leasing of its own centers for these meetings and product sales, each around 2,000 square feet, but decided to take a step further. "They are positioned to enhance their retail presence, and market conditions are to their advantage," Schuster says. "We're going to take a strategic look, market by market, to see if there are opportunities for them to be in better, more convenient spaces." A Weight Watchers spokeswoman was not available for comment.
Retailers that have the cash to make it through the economic downturn recognize that now is the best time for lease negotiation, Schuster says. "Many are figuring out how to rebound, and there's cautious optimism, with emphasis on the 'cautious.' But where they can stabilize, retailers are formulating strategies for the next two-to-five years," he says.
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