INSIGHTS Why Retail’s Key to Survival May Be a Hub Model Where the Consumer Is the Pilot By Staff Friday, January 8, 2021 10:03 AM Mall operators may be in for a rude awakening in 2021 and beyond as it’s not just the obvious suspects declaring bankruptcy—on the contrary, some of the healthiest retailers around will be negotiating better real estate deals and shrinking footprints. Forbes contributor Stacey Widlitz, writing recently on the Forbes.com site about “Why Retail’s Key to Survival May Be a Hub Model Where the Consumer Is the Pilot.” Widlitz is an investment professional and recognized consumer expert with 20 years of experience in the North American and European retail sectors.