Similar to the preparation of pizza toppings, just about anything will work together if done right. If a pizza place is only serving pizza, the obvious choice would be a salad, soup, or pasta restaurant. Pair a salad bar, conscious of food sourcing next to your pizza joint mindful of community outreach.

A pizza place serving prime gluten free crust could be co-located with pasta place also serving gluten free options. Various cafes serve only soup and salad. The natural combinations of pizza, pasta, salad, and soup are endless. Glean inspiration for appetizing soups and salads below: 

Sweetgreen

https://www.sweetgreen.com/

Salad and Go

Zoup

https://www.zoup.com

Beer and pizza is about as common as food/alcohol pairings go, making a bar a great co location for a pizza place. For non-alcoholics or for a more family friendly vibe, root beer and pizza is just as classic. Consider discovering and placing near your pizza place one of the multitude of soda shops popping up around the country.

Built on the simple idea that sometimes we just need to go out for a drink…but as a whole family! Soda mixologists create hundreds of combinations of sodas and flavorings proven to please a crowd. Here are a few places with oodles of locations: 

Sodalicious

https://www.mysodalicious.com

Swig

Fiiz

If that sweet tooth is not satisfied, dessert is always welcome after a pizza feast. There are multitudes of categories of dessert, and businesses have taken up every single concept imaginable. Keep it simple, and find a well-loved bakery. Cannolis and brownies and pastries all would be great to pick up after an awesome pizza meal or even grab a bag to go with the pizza take out. 

A pie shop also would be a perfectly fitting co location. Grab a savory slice of pizza and a sweet slice of pie for dessert. Gourmet cookie shops are making their way around, and they are divine. A box of pizza stacked with a box of cookies. Cupcakes have claimed their fame, keeping cupcake only shops busy. Make it interesting and find a vegan cupcake shop to pair with the pizza shop offering vegan options. 

An ice cream treat would also satisfy the sugar craving post dinner. There are the classic, hand scooped ice cream shops, self serve frozen yogurt by the ounce, and unique ice cream concepts. Take a look at a few unique dessert options: 

Sweet Rolled Tacos

https://www.sweetrolledtacos.com

Four & Twenty Blackbirds

https://birdsblack.com

Crumbl Cookies

https://crumblcookies.com

Always a savvy co-location to pizza joints are grocery stores. Essential items, and the stores that sell them, boomed amidst the very worst of the pandemic. We all now recognize grocery stores' importance and necessity. It makes sense to pair pizza with grocery. While picking up groceries, why not pick up a pizza? Grocery shopping is exhausting, especially in our new normal. 

Lastly, if customers are going to go out for pizza, they are out for a reason. They want a good time. Pizza is a good time, but maximize that fun with an experience next door. Virtual Reality games, escape rooms, family fun centers, interactive or children museums, comedy clubs... the potential for fun experiences is limitless. 

Discovering the perfect tenant to co locate with a pizza place can be a weary process, particularly in time with retail and restaurant closures on the rise. Begin your search for your next tenant with support from the professionals at Retailsphere. Find the businesses that are thriving and expanding along with all other relevant information, such as required demographics, preferred co-locations, and more. Book a 20 minute virtual meeting to start constructing your prosperous tenant mix. 

The post Pairing Pizza with the Perfect Retail Tenant appeared first on Retailsphere.

A basic database should, at minimum, offer C-Suite members, headquarters locations and the number of operating O&O or franchisee units. However, a high-quality retail database will provide enough information for precise insights into your potential tenants. When it comes to selecting the right database, you need to be sure that database offers two components: accuracy and timeliness.

Retailsphere’s database offers an array of information; facts and figures that are both accurate and timely.

Pinpoint Accuracy

Every retail database company will say they are accurate and that they offer the best, most complete data. They have to say that -- they wouldn’t be in business, otherwise. A quality database will go the extra mile to ensure accuracy. Retailsphere ensures the integrity of its information through the following:

Original data attribution/source links. Data doesn’t come out of thin air. There is always an original source backing that data, such as a document, website or information from a phone call or email contact. Knowing the original source of information is important in a quality retail database; it tells you that the information has reliable backing. Retailsphere obtains its vast array of facts and figures through data mining, web crawlers, crowdsourcing and researcher phone calls. All sources are clearly indicated on the Retailsphere platform, many with links to the original content,  just like the fee information below.

Ample, complete information. When you log on to the Retailsphere platform to research a national brand, franchisor or real estate company, you have immediate access to plenty of intelligence, statistics and analysis. Each home page offers contacts to the real estate decision makers (including direct phone numbers and email addresses), along with unit locations, space preferences, target demographics -- and more. Additionally, that information can be cross-referenced to customer relationship management software for tracking, follow-up and analysis. You have the option of either using Retailsphere’s CRM platform linking to your own.

In-depth, competitive analysis. Just knowing the name of your tenant and what it sells isn’t enough to make a profitable, bottom-line decision about whether to include that retailer in your community center or lifestyle property. An understanding of the tenant’s space requirements is important, as is the competition, expansion plans and even customer perception. Retailsphere provides all of this -- and more. For example, Google maps allow you the opportunity to “place” your potential tenant and nearby competitors within a target demographic, while the proprietary Temporal Sentiment Analysis gathers reviews off Facebook and Google, providing customer interaction and feedback with the tenant’s brand.

Timeliness, Recency and Frequency

Your retail database might offer you access to the most in-depth, granular, competition-focused information available. But if that data was collected in 2017, it won’t do you much good in 2020. Even worse -- you might not even know how old that data actually is. A quality database will go beyond dropping the information into your computer, and will let you know exactly when that information was collected, and logged. Here’s how Retailsphere does it.

Clear timestamps. Retailsphere timestamps all data additions and updates, documenting the information clearly and legibly. If a Retailsphere researcher talks to an AutoZone franchisee in Mobile, Alabama at 2:03 p.m. on Weds., July 8, 2020, that is the information you will see on the AutoZone data platform. You will know, at once, how old that data is. Similarly, if the platform has information pulled from public filings, like the financials below, the date of that filing is clearly indicated on that piece of data. 

Continual refreshes. While Retailsphere’s team of researchers is dedicated to finding up-to-date intelligence, data is also frequently renewed with help from automated methods and searches. The most recent information, and when it was found, is also clearly delineated on Retailsphere’s platform.

Regular contact updates. There is nothing more frustrating than finding the name of a corporate contact on a database and calling the number, only to find that the person no longer works for the company -- and, in fact, left long ago. Retailsphere avoids this dilemma through frequent phone calls to corporate contacts, as well as direct, crowdsourced information from local markets, via the platform’s feedback mechanism.

Proprietary Add-Ons

The above outlines the essential requirements for a quality database. Retailsphere offers all of the above, as well as the following exclusive elements.

Customized research, on demand. If you find Retailsphere’s information incomplete for your purposes, you can click on the “Request Research” button on the page, and type in the data you need. When you press “send,” that request goes directly to a live, trained researcher, who will find the specific data you need and return it to you within 24 hours. Plus, you get access to a full call log, so you can see how the information was gathered.

Easy-to-navigate interface. An important aspect of any database is the ability to easily access and analyze information. Retailsphere’s platform is easy to navigate, while offering clearly categorized intelligence.

Understanding your data's integrity

Before you begin researching potential retail tenants, it’s important to do some due diligence on the company that is supplying the data. Just as important is taking time to study the type of data that is being provided, as well as when it was gathered, and how it is presented.

Most retail databases will offer the basics. But, the end goal of finding the right tenant is to ensure the right fit which, in turn, means a better bottom line. Ultimately, your quality retail database should provide the most accurate and timely information available, to ensure you can make the best, most profitable decisions for your property.

Retailsphere goes above and beyond to provide the most up to date and accurate retailer database. Sign up today for a no-obligation demo and see how much simpler your tenant search can be.

The post How do you know your retail database has accurate data? appeared first on Retailsphere.

Each day, RetailSphere’s on-demand research team speaks to hundreds of site selectors about their expansion plans and demographics. Here are five we talked to this week about their specific plans.

Sally Beauty Supply LLC -  Sally informed our researchers they are open to looking at locations nationwide. They are looking for Population of 3 miles - 50,000, 1,400—1,800 sq. ft. based on population and salon counts, with excellent access and visibility from shopping center. They prefer 100,000 sq. ft. shopping center anchored by at least one major tenant, i.e. major grocer, discount store, clothing or department store chain.

Rural King – After talking to our research team, Rural King said they are growing in the midwest and southeast. They are looking for 90k sq ft, non-urban locations, only purchase. They are still expanding and taking site referrals. 

Loving Hut, Inc – Loving Hut told the team they are looking to expand and are interested in Rhode Island but would like all sites sent to them for potential fit. They prefers about 2000 SF lease locations.

Wienerschnitzel Tastee Freez -  They are expanding everywhere. They are looking for 800-2100 square feet and have land requirements (freestanding & conversions): 16,000 – 45,000sf NEW Construction Freestanding: 800/sf (H1 series) no indoor dining or 1,400/sf (H2 series) with indoor dining. Conversion buildings or End-caps with Drive-Thru: 800-2,100/ sf.

Paris Baguette USA-  Our researchers were told Paris Baguette expand based on the franchisee and if you have someone interested in a particular state they will review it. They prefer 3000+ SF depending upon the Traditional or Non Traditional site preference. The newest locations are focused in NC, IL, NY, NJ, OH, PA, TX, MD, SC and VA.

Reach out to RetailSphere™ to see everything the platform can do.

About Retailsphere

Founded in 2019, RetailSphere™ is an all-in-one platform that includes the world’s largest contact database of retail commercial real estate decision makers, a robust email and leasing enablement marketing platform and a simple, intuitive and included Pipeline CRM™ tool. RetailSphere™ is modernizing the way the retail industry connects within a single pane of glass.

Increase your deal flow. Improve your network. Empower your career.

The post RetailSphere’s latest Expanding Retailers appeared first on Retailsphere.

Retailers, leasing agents and commercial real estate brokers are finding unique ways to advertise their listings, promote plans and follow trends. Here are some options for opening up your search.

1. Explore Your Options on Instagram

Instagram isn’t all selfies and pictures of brunch, and it can be used for more than bragging about a big sale. Commercial real estate accounts post current listings and upcoming offerings, creating an easy look book for agents. 

Instagram is also a great place to check in on small brands and local businesses. Scrolling their feeds, reading comments, and seeing how they interact with their customer base allows you to get an authentic view of who they are, and if there’s existing demand for expansion. 

Instagram Hack: Don’t discount hashtags! Explore tags like #retailrecon #retailforlease #cre #commercialrealestate #retailrealestate, and zero in on those based on region, neighborhood, and industry niche.

2. Upgrade Your Network on Linkedin

LinkedIn’s environment is positioned specifically around furthering your business. This helps you connect not only with close professional colleagues, but it also lays out the wider network of who they may know in just a few clicks—instead of a long series of calls and small talk.

You can also share content with your network, and widen your net by putting out calls for specific availability and leasing goals. After all, it’s often not what you know but who you know.

LinkedIn Hack: LinkedIn Groups (like Certified Commercial Investment Members (CCIM) or

International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)) can help you target your networking efforts, and similar regional groups can help connect you with even more niche audiences.

3. Retailer Match-Making With Targeted Search

Even if a brand seems like a perfect fit for the spot you’re looking to fill, you can do a lot of wheel spinning before discovering if they’re actually ready or willing to expand into your market. Connecting with a potential retailer often means multiple layers of back and forth communication. 

Using a retail database service like Retailsphere grants you quick access to the most important information about a brand—such as specific requirements around square footage needs and direct contact information for decision making employees within the brand. 

Retailsphere Hack: Retailsphere flags expanding retailers, plus exactly where they’re opening new locations, saving you time and allowing you to focus on other important business data and brand specifications. Find the brands who are already looking for you! 

4. Market Research with Online Reviews

Finding a small business with big potential can be a great way to drum up community support and interest in a new tenant. How can you zero in on local brands that have big potential? Start with what their customers are saying! 

Mining review sites like Yelp and scrolling reviews can show you the extremes in customer appreciation (or frustration) as well as tell you a lot about the excitement around a small business—and how the brand handles the critics!

Review Hack: Searching Yelp for a specific type of business using their map function gives you a birds-eye view of the most popular businesses in the area, even if they aren’t local to you. 

5. Get Strategic with Competitor Audits

Market trends are one thing, but so often regional—and even neighborhood—trends are what you need to focus on in order to stay a step ahead of the competition. Are local shopping centers flooding with froyo? How many cannabis dispensaries are in the area, and what kind of clientele do they serve? Getting important info like this can be a ton of work. 

Using Retailsphere’s shopping location search feature makes it easy for you to search as wide or as narrow as you need. Hone in on a specific address, or cast a wider search by looking at competitors similar to your client... but perhaps across the state.

Retailsphere Hack: Searching for competitors who serve the same audience is easy with options for rural, suburban, city center, or urban areas, as well as other specifications.

Switching up your routine as a leasing agent with the Retailsphere platform saves you time and makes searching for new tenants quick and easy. If you’d like to see exactly how the platform functions for your specific needs, schedule your free demo today. 

The post 5 Effective Hacks for Targeting Retailers to Fill Spaces appeared first on Retailsphere.

Retail has a long history of adapting to changing economic conditions, though profound industry change has never come as quickly as in the past dozen years, as the Great Recession, the rise of Amazon and now the COVID-19 pandemic have rocked physical stores, forcing shopping centers and tenants into a rapid succession of adjustments.Out of the recession sprang a strong value orientation and from the Amazon expansion came new online-proof dining and entertainment experiences, plus an "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" foray into e-commerce from retail tenants.

But what now? The coronavirus, which continues to make consumers cautious of en-masse gatherings, poses a continuing existential threat to physical retail that's likely to reverberate for years to come and force a battery of unprecedented challenges.

"What we see in front of us for a recovery in this case, is unlike anything any of us have had to endure or experience for over 100 years," said Keith Jelinek, managing director in the global retail practice at consulting firm Berkeley Research Group, in an interview with the online publication, Retail Customer Experience.

While the global pandemic threat will eventually pass and business operations will return to normalcy stage by stage, the odds are that retail customer experiences and interactions will be vastly different moving forward, he said. "The current crisis should serve as a reminder to all retailers and consumer-product and service companies that having a worst-case-scenario plan is an important part of critical strategic planning," Jelinek said.

The slow and uncertain return of customers to shopping centers is making it very difficult to project staffing and inventory needs for owners, Jelinek said. Moreover, seasonal and trending fashion merchandise, as well as such things as sports-league apparel, have mostly passed their peaks languishing on shelves during COVID-19 shutdowns and will need to be moved at a loss as new product is brought in, Jelinek said. "It will take time, and that time will require the generation of liquidity and access to capital," he added. Moreover, seasonal-buy plans that vendors would typically project for the next year will be much harder to orchestrate, given the possibility of another wave of the coronavirus, Jelinek said.

On the macro level, retailers and other consumer-goods and service companies must now routinely assess potential threats and challenges globally, and do so through "a logical set of steps that build their capability to sustain the impact and then to rebound," Jelinek said.

Technology that will help create completely touch-less stores, including the checkout process, will be on the minds of retailers and consumers alike. That can be achieved, at least in part, "through stronger retailer apps that also create brand loyalty and clarify the value proposition of a brand," said Karly Iacono, who heads the Iacono Retail Group of retail-investment-property specialist Marcus & Millichap, in her video, "Retail Bankruptcies and the Path Forward."

Heat mapping and other store-use surveillance that shows where consumers are most frequently congregating and how long they're staying there, will be critical in creating a safe environment, said Iacono, in the May video. "This could be extremely useful if we have to continue social distancing to see how the flow of the store is working and if there are any bottlenecks," said Iacono.

Smart retailers will be able to use those same processes to streamline their product lines and amplify their value propositions, plus determine what products are of interest, what layout changes needs to be made and what parts of a shop customers aren't getting to from a flow perspective, she said.

As centers reopen, new logistical strategies are being used to make common areas and food courts safer, including spacing of seating to allow social distancing, quicker removal of food trays, repetitive cleaning of high-use areas, addition of hand sanitizing stations and signage that promotes distancing; plus the creation and diplomatic enforcement of new occupancy maximums, among other measures, according to Cushman & Wakefield's Recovery Readiness for Retail Properties guide. Enhanced tenant communications about safety, sanitation, hygiene and disposal practices, as well as crucial information about how both employees and customers can minimize the touching of merchandise, will all need to be issued.

To emerge from the present turmoil and get through the next year to 18 months, retailers will need a lot of extra cash on hand, meaning they'll have to be especially mindful about their budgets and financial statements and any expansion plans, said Iacono. They'd also be well advised to consider strategic innovations that could both make them more competitive and optimize existing real estate, she added.

For example, Gap is moving into furniture and baby product lines, Target is piloting same-day shipping to compete with Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond has turned 25% of its stores into shipping hubs with no retail, Walgreen is expanding into ophthalmological services and Walmart is expanding into health services, Iacono said.

At the small-store level, retailers are surviving the COVID-19 slowdown by doing such things as delivering purchases to customers, making curb-side pickup available, facilitating online payment, and photographing a targeted range of store products to send to customers, according to the National Retail Federation. Those practices should continue when such businesses return to normal hours, the federation said.

It's still too early to tell what shopping centers tenant mixes will look like post-coronavirus, given ongoing tenant financial fallout. Before the widespread closures, the percentage of food tenants in shopping centers had been rising steadily, from the old standard of about 3%, to 10% in 2019, with many newer centers committing up to 15% of property to eateries, according to a JLL survey. Younger patrons in particular, said JLL, were keen on supporting community-based restaurants and merchants, though some of those may not be able to emerge from coronavirus-related shutdowns.

Physical stores, despite the bump given to online retail experiences during the pandemic, will remain the most powerful sales channel, as well as the most measurable and manageable, said Doug Stephens, author of "The Retail Revival: Re-Imagining Business for the New Age of Consumerism" and "Reengineering Retail: The Future of Selling in a Post-Digital World," in an interview with Retail Dive.

Stephens, who also goes by "the Retail Prophet," said physical stores are still the first point of contact between consumers and brands the vast majority of the time. "As consumers become increasingly technologically entrenched, they'll crave far more and better physical retail experiences," he said. "And so brick-and-mortar spaces will (continue to) offer retailers and brands the opportunity to draw the consumer into the brand story, deliver a remarkable and immersive brand and product experience, and ultimately galvanize their relationship with consumers."

Stephens adds that the future of retail will likely "see complete integration of technologies like augmented and virtual reality, the internet of things, sensor-driven packaging and connected appliances." For greater efficiency, chain retailers will probably push forward initiatives allowing them to ship products to customers from any of their stores, Jelinek added.

Store customers returning after COVID-19 shutdowns are more likely to re-adapt quicker to open-air centers than enclosed ones, Jelinek said. Meanwhile, re-opening shopkeepers are faced with the realization that all interfaces between store associates and consumers need to be tweaked to put safety at the forefront, including handling of shopping carts, dressing room usage, handling of cash and credit cards and installation of clear dividers at POS terminals.

Jelinek concluded: "Retail always manages to adapt."

Are you looking for innovative retailers to bring to your shopping center in a post-Coronavirus shopping environment? Retailsphere is here to help you not only identify brands that appeal to your audience, but also ones that have been innovating long before Covid-19. Reach out today for a demo and see how easy it can be to find and reach out to national, regional, and local brands who are thriving and expanding in today's retail climate.

The post As Amazon grew, retail focused on food. What will happen after Coronavirus? appeared first on Retailsphere.

Existing physical bookstores have proven their worth over the years, competing with online retail, until a global pandemic shut the world down. Changed and challenged through this past year, brick and mortar bookstores have had to find very creative means to keep customers coming (at a distance). 

One way many have adapted to competing with online retailers is by offering something online cannot offer: food service. A coffee shop is a place to relax with a warm mug and read a good book. Bars are a gathering places for the socially starved. Combining a bookstore with coffee or wine offerings multiplies the uses and desire to gather in these locations. 

Similar to a sports bar, a wine/coffee/book store is a mutual space for people with shared interests. A prosperous bookstore isn’t going to try to collect every book under the sun. Good bookstores curate their collections through choosing books that fit into a collective interest. By being selective in collections, bookstores, bars or coffee shops can create a meeting place for a specific market, such as fandom, rare book collections, cultural ideologies and much more.

A bookstore housing coffee or wine might seem pretty typical or maybe very unusual. Populating the country by the dozens, bookstore/coffee/wine concepts are popping up for a lot of good reasons. Detailed below are some of the ways existing bookstores with coffee shops or wine bars are viable and effective together. 

Event venue

Most retail stores wouldn’t consider renting out store space for an event, but a bookstore doubling as a coffee shop or wine bar could be just the right event venue. For events that usually involve gifts (weddings, bridal or baby showers, birthdays, etc), guests could enjoy the refreshments served in-house while they browse for a gift (or just something for themselves). Author events, which are staple to bookstores, just got added refreshments. Congregated for regular meetings could be a book club’s perfect spot. Imagine a day retreat for the company in a bookstore with artisan coffee or a glass of wine on hand. Poetry readings could be cohabit with wine tastings. The ideas to combine the concept of bookstore, coffee, and wine, are unceasing, wildly creative, and often, very successful. 

One example of a bookstore serving wine by the glass and offering a private venue for events is Battery Park Book Exchange.

Off premises parties

For off-premise parties, bookstore operators don’t need to worry about party goers getting tipsy over all the merchandise. Similar to catering a party, bookstores bring the best sellers and a few favorites and give a quick book review while allowing the partygoers to pick from the curated selection. It’s a win-win situation for bookstore operators who don’t have the space or desire to rent their space for events yet still give them the potential to make sales while the customers get a unique party concept, books to discuss, and wine or coffee to taste. 

Here’s an example of off premise parties offered by BusBoys and Poets

Date night… with a book

For book lovin’ couples, date night at the bookstore and sampling wines or cozying up with a cup of coffee is the ideal date setting. For a solo date night (or just to spice things up), take a step into the unexplored and have a blind date with a book. All wrapped up in paper packaging, title unrevealed, is a book ready to be read all night long. The book may be a new love, or tossed after just a few minutes. The adventure is in the unknown. Capitalizing on book and wine sales, a bottle of wine could be added to the date, wrapped like the book, to extend the date night enjoyment. 

See an example of a blind date with a book at Ada’s

A gathering place for ideas

Bars and coffee shops already exist as gathering places for conversation. Supplement and complement the conversation with literature. Combining the social aspects of a bar or coffee house with the intellectual addition of good books, new ideas form and communities can flourish. The Wild Detectives in Dallas, Texas knew the power in combining a bar and bookstore when they joined their passion for books and booze in their own bookstore/bar. Since then, success has not only been afforded to their establishment, but to the concept of creating a space that becomes a meeting place for ideas and culture. Said well on their website, “We want our space to encourage people to have a drink and talk to one another, to open up and share ideas, to hang out smartly, to engage in a conversation that will open new realities for them.” More than just combining books and booze, a bookstore/bar becomes a gathering place where knowledge and ideas can flow. 

I highly recommend watching Javier Garcia del Moral, co-owner of The Wild Detectives, give a TED talk on why they added a bar to a bookstore. 

Pairing books and wine

Commonly known are food and wine pairings. However, for a book/wine bar, book and wine pairings come more naturally. Essentially, book/wine bundles are a way to suggest books or wine customers may not have tried. Prominence is also given to the fact that some things just go well together, so why keep them apart? Often, book/wine bundles are also offered at a discount, increasing the probability of moving more product at a quicker pace. 

BookBar in Denver is one example, offering book/bar bundles. 

Bliss Books and Wine pairs specific wines with specific book titles. 

Book and other subscriptions

Common to our modern age are subscriptions, available for just about any concept imaginable, including books and wine. Subscribers pay a monthly, flat rate fee and receive a new book and wine bottle. Local bookstores can offer curbside or in-store pick up for the regular monthly purchase or ship it out. Since books are a versatile gift, book subscriptions can be gifted to just about anyone. Story & Song bookstore has a BookHugs subscription to include little ones in the love of reading. All they need is something the child is interested in and your budget and they will lovingly pick and ship the book. 

Another example of a book and wine subscription is Kramers.

Have you already imagined the empty space in your portfolio that would be perfect for a book/wine/coffee concept, but no clue how to find the right tenant? Researching all the existing concepts would take a considerable amount of time and not produce the results needed to actually fill the space. Retailsphere has already done the research and found retailers who are looking to expand. Your next productive step will be to set up a virtual meeting with a Retailsphere professional to guide you to your next retail tenant. 

The post Creative Retail Concepts to Fill Vacancies appeared first on Retailsphere.

To say times have changed is an understatement. Upscale dog day cares, boutiques, and hotels have opened around the country. Offering luxury boarding and other amenities, this industry is booming and offers an interesting opportunity as a tenant. We've previously listed our top 5 mid-Atlantic doggie day care brands. Here we take a broader look at the growing nationwide market for pet care concepts.

A $70 Billion Industry

While canine companions have been around for thousands of years, the pet industry has grown by leaps and bounds in the last twenty. Pet related spending reached over $70 billion last year, and those dollars weren't just spent on vaccinations and food. Dogs have truly become part of the family. For many owners, their care and comfort is paramount to that of a child. Dog moms and dads are willing to pay a premium price for the care, lodging, and wellness of their beloved pet. And pet ownership is huge among both millennials and Gen Z. Forbes reported that out of the over 85 million households owning pets, 62% of them belonged to the younger generations. 

Doggy Daycare

A far cry from paying a neighborhood teenager to walk your dog once a day, dog day care provides an absolute puppy paradise. Dogs in day cares, like the Dogtopia franchise, are cared for by animal lovers dedicated to playing fetch, scooping poop, and providing the occasional treat. Breeds are separated by size and temperament, and they are all protected with specially coated walls and floors. All of this provides a safe atmosphere for Rover to romp and wrestle with his friends. 

Time to wind down, nap, and rest is provided in homey, private rooms or comfortable crates, and curious owners can often log in and view their animal having fun via webcam. Dog day cares are outfitted with everything from play equipment to swimming pools. All of these features give owners the peace of mind they're doing the absolute best for their beloved pooch, and since most chains provide care at packaged rates, a doggy day care tenant guarantees returning customers to your retail spaces.

Diverse Amenities

Dog day care chains dot the country, but they're anything but your basic kennel. While they provide fun, safe care and stimulation for pets during the work day, customers rely on these businesses for much more. For example, Camp Bow Wow provides overnight boarding and dog training courses. Image from Camp Bow Wow via SBJ.

They even provide dog waste  removal services for your home. Chains like Pooch Hotel provide grooming services and spa treatments including facials and doggy manicures, complete with polish. Stores often contain boutique retail space where owners can pick up premium dog food, unique pet accessories, and apparel. Some even produce their own specialty dog treats with an in-house bakery. The possibilities are wide ranging, and each amenity provides one more reason for pet owners to visit their local store and your retail space. 

The pet industry provides ample opportunity for repeat customers with brands people trust and rely on. These facilities could be the perfect cornerstone tenant for your space, with some patrons visiting daily. Schedule a demo today and see how Retailsphere helps people find pet care facility brands like the ones noted above.

The post Pet Care Facilities Leave Tails Wagging appeared first on Retailsphere.

But retail sales are on the rise, and the steady roll out of vaccinations is well underway. So what does that mean for our favorite national brands? They won’t be gone for good, but they may no longer be the sure bet for landlords they once were.

Here are trends to watch among national chains in 2021, as well as the takeaways you should know when choosing tenants:

Putting on a Show

Retailers faced massive supply chain disruptions in 2020, on top of closures and limited access to shoppers. But shoppers still crave the experience of shopping. The solution—which may just become the new norm—are curated stores with a smaller inventory, or none at all. 

Retailers like Warby Parker have opened showrooms where customers can preview merchandise they will ultimately purchase online. Ikea, well known for their showrooms, has started opening smaller stores as well, which drop the warehouse portion of square footage. 

Key takeaway: Big brands may cater to the masses—but make sure they have plans for keeping shoppers happy, even when supplies are limited. 

Live Studio Audience
Live streaming brings the private shopping experience to the everyday shopper—and for some brands it’s been a powerful revenue driver. Beauty giant Estee Lauder hosted 1 million virtual try-on sessions with clients last year. 

Live streaming can be one-on-one or broadcast to a large group, and it typically includes a store associate guiding customers through the store’s inventory, making the sale, and packaging for pickup or delivery. Clean and organic BeautyCounter will open a new store this year with an in-house studio specifically for live streaming events. 

Key takeaway: National chains should have the manpower and financial backing to make live stream events a free amenity for their shoppers. 

Fan Club Upgrade

Loyalty programs are nothing new, but a half-off coupon on a member’s birthday may not cut it anymore. Building strong relationships is paramount to a brand’s success in a marketplace where options are plentiful. 

The famous Nordstrom annual sale now hosts private events for their elite shoppers, as well as first access to discounted merchandise. Nike has upped the game by opening NikePlus, a members-only zone in-store. Members, who can join free of charge, get first looks at new inventory and other experiential perks. 

Key takeaway: Brand loyalty shouldn’t be taken for granted. Look for national brands who go the extra mile for their shoppers with special events and perks. 

Shopping Networks

Small brands have been making big disruptions over the past few years, but for smart chains that’s no problem. Partnerships with small up-and-coming brands, as well as local favorites, can bring fresh air to a chain store. 

Costco is a great example of a big box store with small brand appeal. Their partnership with Casper mattress not only provides a brick-and-mortar experience for an online seller, but it also backs the newer brand with Costco’s stamp of approval. 

Key takeaway: Chains should be thinking outside the big box and looking to connect with smaller brands and local upstarts. 

On Every Channel

Possibly the biggest explosion of growth in 2020 was the need for omnichannel presence. Brands need to be ready for purchase online and on social media, equipped with their own apps, quick with contactless delivery, and of course stocked for in-person shopping as well. 

Customers are looking for frictionless shopping, where they can check availability on an app, hold it for purchase, and arrive for pick-up at their convenience. Target’s Circle app, free membership program, Red card, and easy payment and pickup options are a perfect example of customers’ modern retail expectations being fulfilled well. 

Key takeaway: The importance of technology that facilitates an easy and convenient purchase cannot be understated. Big brands should come equipped with big capabilities for their shoppers.

2020 ushered in a retail revolution, and stores and shoppers will continue to evolve in 2021. Looking for national brands who can keep up with the public's demands? Retailsphere can aid you in finding retailers that are ready to check the boxes. Schedule a no-obligation demo today.

The post 5 Signs that a National Brand Is Poised for Success in 2021 appeared first on Retailsphere.

No matter how easy and innovative online shopping becomes, it can never replace the tactile experience of shopping in person. And when looking for a perfectly balanced fishing pole, the right amount of legroom in a kayak, or the just-right weight of a base layer jacket, nothing beats trying it yourself. 

Outdoor enthusiasts are spending more time and money than ever at stores catering to their favorite hobbies, especially with social distancing in place. Let's take a look at the segment as a whole for insight into what's working and why.
Growing Fast

Outdoor brands are some of the fastest growing in the nation. These three brands, Camping World, Duluth, and Land's End, are doing particularly well. All three earned spots within the top 20 fastest growing brands from NRF! This is indicative of many brands across the outdoor space, which begs the question of how so many brands in the same segment can find such success. 

Outdoor retailers cover a broad range of products including food, vehicles, sporting goods, weapons, and clothing. Some, like Scheels or Cabela's offer a wide variety, while others, such a Camping World with their recreational vehicles, specialize in a particular outdoor niche. With such a wide variety of products, even within a very specific section of the market, these businesses attract customers from miles away who make special pilgrimages for their supplies. 

The great news for shopping centers is that these products often build on and complement each other well. For example, shoppers may stop in to pick up a new jacket at Land's End on the same trip to Camping World to get a new accessory for their pull behind trailer. This means that landlords can choose multiple brands across the outdoor segment to broaden visitors' experience and drive increased foot traffic and sales.

Private Labels

The segment also hits a broad range of price points. National brands like Land's End, L.L. Bean, and Duluth all offer premium sportswear you could also wear casually. Shoppers also take advantage of regular sales and discounts on their in-house brands, making them much more affordable than high-end competitors such as Patagonia or North Face. These private labels attract customers looking for a great deal, but still willing to spend good money for quality items. 

Sheltering in Place and Outside

The outdoor segment is hitting its stride just as social distancing is making the expanse of the outdoors more attractive than ever. With the new normal of COVID-19 settling in, and the immediate future of gyms and other indoor activities placed on hold, customers are turning to hobbies and entertainment they can safely participate in with their families.

Not only does the pandemic make the outdoors the ultimate escape, but curbside pickups for last minute supplies and gear in the age of sometimes slower-than-average delivery make these local outposts more important and top of mind than ever before. 

Adventure Shopping

When some normalcy does return, the outdoor segment provides the ultimate place for browsing. Many outdoor super stores, like Gander Outdoors or The Bass Pro Shop offer interactive experiences where customers can test drive their future purchases. Archery ranges, service stations for boats and ATV's as well as interactive displays of hunting, fishing, and camping supplies turn a casual visit to these stores into much more than window shopping. REI Co-ops even offer community classes on everything from trail hiking to yoga and rock climbing. 

Retailsphere can help you track the exciting success and progress of the outdoor retail segment as well as find important information such as average square footage and how much a customer usually spends in-store. Ready to bring a little bit of the great outdoors to your neck of the woods? Our team can help match you with the perfect tenant. Sign up for your no-obligation demo today and see how simple your search can be.

The post The Outdoor Segment Brings Fresh Attitude to Retail appeared first on Retailsphere.

The pandemic's fatal blow to many retailers was the call to change industry wide. The demand for easier and safer shopping experiences beaconed retailers to move with the winds of change. Some retailers found themselves better prepared than others. In the year 2020, there was one retailer who stood out as exceptional: granting them the title of “2020 Retailer of the Year''.  

Looking like an unlikely or unexpected retailer, Best Buy sells mostly electronics, most of which can be bought at other stores or online. So how exactly did Best Buy seize the retail winds of change and redirect their trajectory into retail success? 

Best Buy’s response to the chaotic beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic

As a retailer that has seen struggle the last few years, the pandemic could have decimated the remainder of Best Buy’s hope. However, Best Buy took the new challenges in swing, adapted, and is came out better than before, even reimagining and recreating the physical retail concept.

Similar to other retailers, Best Buy was not considered “essential” at the onset of the pandemic. As a mandatory measure, all Best Buy stores shut down in March, except for curbside pickup. This was done as a necessity, although Best Buy used the closure as an experiment to collect data on several factors, including consumers preference and behaviors towards e-commerce and curbside pickup and to see if their physical stores could operate with the stripped down purpose of filling online orders. 

Despite restrictions and due to successful e-commerce and curbside pickup, Best Buy continued to report increased sales, citing as high as a 174% year over year growth for online sales.  Demand for electronics was also accelerated by masses of the workforce working remotely as well as a large span of the population bored in quarantine. 

In May, Best Buy announced it would open but only for one-on-one in person shopping experiences with a Best Buy expert. Two months into the pandemic, customers making the trip into the store either couldn’t find what they needed online, or were just ready for the in person shopping experience. This new one-on-one experience was another experiment to see the true demand for in-person shopping. Return to stores without an appointment took place in June. 

Best Buy, as a result of these real time experiments, began taking steps towards the new trend in physical retail by minimizing the sales floor to make room for back room storage space. Physical stores will be more or less like mini fulfillment centers, focused more on filling and shipping out online orders. These new stores formats will be at four locations in Minneapolis. The plan, laid out by CEO Corie Barry, described a sales floor displaying a limited stock of the most popular items, clearing half of the physical selling space to make room for pick up and ship from store. 

Combining the retail test experiments, improving in their e-commerce platform, streamlining curbside pickup, and move toward the mini-warehouse store model, Best Buy earned the title of 2020 Retailer of the Year for embracing the opportunities that a worldwide pandemic offered, proving the retail experience will become better than ever. 

Honorable Mention: Lululemon

Before 2020, much of the general public may never have heard of Lululemon. Thanks to the fashion moving closer to comfort (and also comfy clothes being the everyday wear during an outbreak of a deadly contagion), Lululemon might grant part of its success to increased demand in athleisure wear. Yet, one might ask why Lululemon? For a pair of yoga pants at Lululemon, a customer will easily spend almost $100 (easily 3 times the cost of most yoga pants). 

The reason for success is a mix. Lululemon offers quality products and community. Pre-pandemic era, one may have visited the store for a yoga class. Now, fitness videos are available on their website. Or, as a result of Lululemon’s strategic acquisition of MIRROR, use their home gym to connect with trainers or complete workouts remotely. Further focus on IDEA, Lululemon’s initiative concentrating on inclusion, diversity, equity, and action hopes to yield a positive impact on employees, customers, and communities. As a result, Lululemon built brand loyalty. 

Success may also be granted to Lululemon’s investment in their e-commerce platform, readying themselves for the surge of online sales that skyrocketed last year, resulting in 93% revenue increase from online and direct-to-consumer sales. 

Continuing to expand locations, Lululemon certainly has established a name for itself as the household brand for athleisure and retail success. 

Not every retailer was able to adapt, innovate, and move forward as successfully as others, resulting in thousands of retail store vacancies. Determining and securing the right tenant to occupy an empty space might be a very difficult challenge to tackle on your own. Retailsphere constantly collects data and conducts research on every retailer in the nation, forming an up-to-date database perfect for quickly finding the perfect tenant. Set up a virtual meeting with a  Retailsphere professional for a personalized demo to start filling your vacancies immediately.  

The post Retailsphere's 'Retailer of 2020' Focused on Adapting appeared first on Retailsphere.