SCBlog

— By Gary E. Mozer, Principal/Co-Founder, George Smith Partners — Retail financing, both debt and equity, has become a challenge for many owners, developers and investors throughout the U.S. based on negative press about retail, a perception that the internet will take down many tenants and the weak financial condition of a number of large retailers. Though capital markets are strong, many property owners and investors are finding it difficult to identify lenders willing to provide the type of financing they need for their retail developments, acquisitions and redevelopments. Some …

— By Luanne Carleton, FRCH Design Worldwide — Jan Gehl states: “First life, then spaces, then buildings — the other way around never works.” Placemaking is about creating a space for human experiences. In the simplest form Placemaking is about transforming and activating a space into a Place. It is about crafting elements to support activity and foster social interaction, involving the process of matching the right offerings, experiences, and environment. The goal is to create something of value for the community. As designers we can only create the structure for …

Las Vegas is known for many things, with novel, unique experiences being at the top of the list. It is, after all, the Entertainment Capital of the World. As retail experts the world over descended upon the city to learn about providing more experiences that get people off their couches and into their establishments, they were convening in a city that is the ideal case study. 

By J. Wickham Zimmerman, Chief Executive Officer, Outside the Lines Inc. A new trend is emerging in retail destinations in response to evolving customer expectations: more public spaces. In these spaces, today’s best designers, developers and owners are incorporating immersive experiences and entertainment attractions with the purpose of drawing guests in, increasing their length of stay and inspiring repeat visits. This emerging trend points to an important question for owners and tenants alike: Are public spaces on track to become retail’s new anchor tenant? Four important drivers fueling the reduction of traditional anchor …

By Chris Karl, design specialist for Ambius With e-commerce continuing to eat away at brick-and-mortar retailers’ business, stores need to find new ways to create meaningful experiences shoppers can’t get online. Retailers that are slow to adapt to this trend are finding the current environment difficult to survive — no matter how established their brand or large their footprint. Many are discovering the value of experiential marketing with a growing number of retailers — including Abercrombie & Fitch and Pandora  — incorporating custom scents into their in-store experience. Research backs up …

Yoga studios, like other non-traditional use spaces, can have a positive impact for a center. A popular studio can bring not only revenue from the lease itself, but also increased foot traffic to a center at specific times during the week. However, before yoga customers (or yogis) start their “downward dog” poses, a number of important leases provisions should be reviewed and negotiated first.  

ICSC’s annual RECon Convention in Las Vegas is a great opportunity to get a pulse of the industry. Each May, the trends and themes expressed at RECon are a great way to get a snapshot of the retail and mixed-use industry’s health and collective mindset.

By: Randall Shearin, Editor-in-Chief of Shopping Center Business  

By: Julie Brinkerhoff-Jacobs, President and CFO of Lifescapes International

By: Ryan Hild and Jason Penighetti