Vogue editor, Anna Wintour has been sought out by NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg to help turn the declining retail sales back around:

CALLING ALL CUSTOMERS: Details of a far-reaching consumer initiative to take place this fall are expected to be unveiled sometime next week with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Vogue’s Anna Wintour, designers and retail executives providing a united front in an attempt to jump-start business. The initiative is believed to have the participation of top city retailers and will come at a time when stores have been hard-hit by recession. Vacant storefronts are cropping up, tourism is off and layoffs have plagued several industries, from publishing to Wall Street. Activities will likely include various special events, from personal appearances to extended shopping hours, to lure customers back into the stores.

Although I think its a great idea to consult the industry authority, and I can't wait to see what creative marketing Anna comes up with, I think that extending shopping hours is a failed idea waiting to happen. Accessibility to stores has never been the problem. Hello??? We can get to the store, we just aren't BUYING anything!!! Not to mention the increased overhead costs (read: more debt) that it would take to do so.

Source: WWD