text: Real estate chiefs assess lay of the land in 2017 - HBS Dealer
  BY Al Urbanski January 12, 2017
  The winds are turbulent in physical retail, and gusting in from several directions. Department store anchors in place for decades are closing shop. The sons and daughters of the suburbs are fleeing to cities or, if not, are demanding more cosmopolitan experiences at traditional malls. Online sellers, though still accounting for less than 10% of total sales, continue to advance and re-adjust shoppers' visions of what retail is. What's a retailer to do? Chain Store Age real estate editor Al Urbanski approached top retail real estate executives and asked, "If you met a retailer at a cocktail party, and he or she asked you to name the single biggest challenge they'd face in brick-and-mortar in 2017, what would you say?"
  Readers Respond: No rest for the weary
  What's new for 2017? Among other things, France is taking some steps to enforce a greater sense of work/life balance for its citizens, enacting a ban on after-hours work emails.
  We decided to ask our readers whether they thought something like that could fly in the U.S.
  However, it seems the majority of the respondents so far don't believe in this lenient formula: 58% said "no way; business never sleeps."
  Another 23% believed a similar ban could work in the U.S., and 19% took the middle road by voting "Sure, but only if we also limit personal e-mails during working hours."
  Do you have thoughts on this matter? There's still time to vote.
  Boral launches TruExterior 8-inch and 10-inch Bevel Siding
  Boral launched an 8-inch and 10-inch Bevel Siding product for its TruExterior line, offering a true taper and deep shadow lines that mimic the look of real wood.
  The offering provides the same low maintenance, durability and dimensional stability, reducing the moisture- and thermal movement-related issues commonly seen with natural materials.
  Boral's proprietary blend of polymers and fly ash enables reduced expansion and contraction, and durability for resistance to warping, cracking, and splitting. As a result, the material requires no sealing of ends or cuts in the field, it can be used in ground-contact applications, and it can be painted any color, including dark hues.
  The siding can be installed with standard woodworking tools, is made in the USA, contains a minimum of 70% recycled content, and carries a 20-year limited warranty.