Turnip Truck

The Turnip Truck is a local grocery store that has been serving Nashville since 2001. It is a full service, locally owned, natural foods store rooted in providing the highest quality, natural, local and organic foods available. They opened a new 9,000 square foot location just as the COVID-19 pandemic struck, on the heels of a tornado, but have still been able to see a demand in the community. In addition to the extensive grocery selection, they offer hot and cold bars, grab-and-go foods, a deli and juice bar, a bakery, bulk foods department, a growler filling station with kombucha and beer and fresh soup. They currently have 2 locations with their first out of state location opening soon.

Whole Foods Market

With over 500 locations across the US, and currently holding notoriety as the world’s largest natural supermarket in the retail industry, Whole Foods expanded by adding another location in Tennessee. Whole Foods added one new 44,500 square foot marketplace in February just before the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.  As grocery stores continue to be among the most profitable retailers during the pandemic, overall grocery expansion seems to be continuing into 2021.

Aldi 

This 16,400 square foot German grocery chain is planning to open 70 new stores from coast to coast by the end of 2020 with two locations being in the Middle Tennessee (Brentwood) area. With more than 2,000 stores across 36 states, Aldi is on track to become the third-largest grocery retailer by store count by the end of 2022. As a response to the coronavirus pandemic Aldi reserves the first hour of business on Tuesdays and Thursdays for vulnerable shoppers.

Sephora

Sephora announced plans to open as many as 100 new stores across North America in 2020. That included making a bold presence amongst shopping centers instead of shopping malls where foot traffic has died down. Sephora currently has over 450 standalone stores in the US and they expanded to a few high-traffic shopping centers in the Tennessee area to boost their presence. Their current make up includes standalone shops, shop-in-shops that are mixed into anchor stores, and new 4,000 square feet concepts that allow Sephora to have a local presence.

Ross Dress for Less

Now with 20 total locations in the state of Tennessee after opening their second location this year in Clarksville, Ross is continuing to bring customers out who are looking for name brand clothing at a discounted price. This concept typically requires around 30,000 square feet in order to hold all of the home goods, apparel, footwear, furniture, accessories and more that they have in stock. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, customers are required to wear a face covering while in stores, but it hasn’t halted the response of shoppers who enjoy shopping the brand. In this recent opening, it joined the retail complex currently home to Rack Room Shoes, Burkes Outlet, Marshalls and Planet Fitness.

Looking for the perfect concept to bring to a bustling shopping center? Allow Retailsphere to help you locate the best tenet to fill your vacancy with a no-obligation demo today. We can help connect you with site selectors for the brands above, and other similarly expanding brands in Tennessee.

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As we continue to pivot in the retail economy and see an influx in experiences. Consumers continue to become accustomed to pop up retail shops and are craving new experiences. One type of experience that is growing across the US and specifically in the Mid-Atlantic region is Escape Rooms.

Perfect for social gatherings, corporate team building activities, out of the box bonding for families, and birthday parties, Escape rooms are becoming the new go-to entertainment experience. As they experience an increase in popularity, here are the top 5 in the mid-Atlantic region you can visit to amplify your social gatherings.

Clue IQ

Based in Frederick, Maryland, Clue IQ is all about IMMERSION. Frederick, Maryland is a place known mostly for its Civil War-era buildings that stand alongside specialty shops, museums, galleries, and theatres. Diversifying part of downtown Frederick with innovative entertainment, Clue IQ is situated in a fully renovated, old dry good grocer warehouse from the late 1870s. Standing out from your classic escape room experience, and ranked #1 in Fun & Games on Trip Advisor, Clue IQ teleports you into your themed room and that’s what makes the experience different. Each room provides you with a specific objective that goes along with the story, with unique high-tech gaming and set design the game timers, hints and game master interactions are created with the highest immersive experience in mind. With three curated room themes of Blitzkrieg, Conspiracy, and Excalibur, this immersive experience is a guaranteed hit amongst all. A mobile experience built to be brought to your office or event, Ruloco Island, is curated as a perfect team-building and bonding experience to highlight communication, camaraderie and problem-solving.

Escapology  

Located in Garwood, New Jersey this premium real-life escape game experience challenges up to 8 players by working together to find clues, solve puzzles, and pick locks that will free them from the game room. The 400+ acre borough of Garwood had a little over 4,000 residents in the population in the last 2010 Census count, touting attractions in town like recreational parks, arboretums, and an observatory. Providing the perfect new entertainment to a smaller town, Escapology offers more than 4 different rooms ranging in difficulties, it is the perfect team-building exercise for families, friends, and co-workers, and social activity for those looking for something different than what the town has to offer.

Escape Room Level 6

Hyper focused on personalization and attention, Escape Room Level 6, gives you personal attention from the moment you enter into the facility. Designed and built to focus on more than fun and games, there’s an interactive storyline for each room. Situated in Annville, Pennsylvania with a population of just under 5,000 this interactive but thought-provoking puzzle pieced experience is sure to get you thinking outside the box and inside the rooms. Part riddle, part scavenger hunt, part mystery, Escape Room Level 6 provides entertainment for residents looking to travel off the beaten path of parks and museums that the Annville community is touted to offer.

BrainXcape Manhattan

Rated the #1 escape room in New York City by Thrillist, groups of 2 to 10 can journey through history and sift through clues and puzzles as the clock ticks to defeat a Jailhouse Breakout or Haunted Hotel experience. Planted on the 3rd floor of 160 Broadway in New York City in the Financial District just blocks from Wall Street, the World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, the escape room environment is created by innovative set designers who worked for haunted houses around NYC and famous Broadway shows. This escape room is sure to bring the thrill for first-timers and repeat escape room visitors alike. With three room experiences: Rikers 1932, Haunted Hotel and, Game of Gold - BrainXcape provides an immersive experience that utilizes your senses without jump scares but still terrifies you.

Axxiom Escape Rooms

The first, and largest escape room experience in Delaware brings the best fun in town with each room enriched with treasure, mystery, and tradition. Located in the Shops of Graylyn center plaza, it provides ample free parking and space for parties and social gatherings. With neighboring businesses like restaurants and banking, Axxiom Escape room provides entertainment in the perfect location for those seeking to break up their day of errand running, to stop in for an impromptu mind-bender. Axxiom Escape rooms have specific escape plans featuring rooms like Criminal Capture - The Zodiac Killer, Pharaoh’s Tomb, Sorcerer’s Quest and more. You must use your grandiose imagination, clue finding skills, problem-solving and most important - teamwork in order to crack the codes to escape the rooms provided in these dynamic historical experiences.

Clearly, the Mid-Atlantic region has a growing number of escape rooms. Think an escape room would be a good fit for your shopping center or empty retail space? Find brands like the ones above using Retailsphere. Sign up for a no-obligation demo today to get started. 

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And while the restaurants and businesses nationwide are getting back to full operations, hundreds of thousands of people are continuing to eat the majority of their meals at home because of safety, convenience, and cost efficiency. All of this makes a grocery store tenant a great choice for your recent vacancy. Plus, its clear that most shopping centers will continue to look for expanding grocers to fill vacancies, based on our recent survey of the best tenants during Covid-19. With this in mind, here is a look at our top 5 grocery brands that are expanding across the country: 

Kroger brands

The epitome of the All-American supermarket, Kroger was recently listed as the best grocery store in Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. The Kroger family of brands run the gamut from specialty to discount, including Harris Teeter and Smith’s Grocery. They currently have stores in 30+ states, and their expansion includes a recently buzzed about $24 million investment in Louisville. 

Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods put natural and organic markets on the map. Since their humble beginnings in 1978, the brand was purchased by Amazon in 2017 and now boasts 500 stores. While known for their pantry items and produce, Whole Foods Markets often include cafes, bakeries, hot food bars, grab-and-go meal options, and coffee and juice bars. The company has plans for large expansions, and they even introduced 2-hr grocery delivery way back in 2017, well before the demand for delivery options this year. Their partnership with shipping-giant Amazon puts them ahead of the game on the delivery front as well. These advantages make them a strong option for a new grocer tenant.  

Aldi

German-brand Aldi has been aggressively opening stores across the United States for the past 4 decades and now has over 2,000 stores. These compact grocery stores are built for speed and savings. The brand’s small square footage and easy to navigate stores are built to quickly and efficiently funnel customers through their stores, making Aldi attractive to landlords looking to fill a tight spot with a grocery brand. Their cost-saving methods—such as the quarter you’ll need to rent a shopping cart—also draw customers looking for both quality and low price. 

Lidl

Another German-export, Lidl is slightly larger in square-footage, but has opened a number of stores under 20,000 square feet. Lidl produces everything from gourmet cheese to canned goods under their own private label, and they offer these and other fresh staples like milk, eggs, and produce at some of the lowest prices on the market. Lidl also offers great deals on name brand and international goods as well as home and fashion items, making them a versatile brand for your latest occupancy. 

Costco

This well-known big box store has devoted customers shopping its aisles for everything from rotisserie chickens to Halloween costumes and home decor. Costco is a great fit for those looking to fill large occupancies, as stores are often 100,000 square feet or more, and their sterling reputation, membership-only entrance, and huge variety keeps customers returning. Not to mention, their $1.50 hot dog meal always brings customers in just for lunch. 

Large or small, the grocery industry is flexible, resilient and currently booming. While grocery delivery and curbside pick-up may be gaining popularity, grocery stores will always need plenty of available square footage for fresh supplies.

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to stretch on, the grocery sector shows no signs of slowing down. If you’d like to see more details of these retailers and many others, schedule your demo with Retailsphere today. Get access to expansion plans, financials, and real site selector contact information and so much more in our constantly updating retailer database.

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Paired with Utah's diverse and stunning natural beauty, the state is quickly becoming a must-visit location for beer enthusiasts. Devoted patrons are known to take long pilgrimages to their favorite spots‚ which makes brewpubs a valuable addition to any retail space. And with over 20 breweries and distilleries in Utah, beer-lovers everywhere will find a match for their tastes. We're listing our top 5 favorite brew pubs, featuring unique retail space, delicious food, and ice cold suds. 

Wasatch Brewery
250 Main St, Park City, UT 84060
2110 Highland Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84106

The classic Utah Brewery, Wasatch was the first of its kind in the state back in the 80's. Check out their locations in Park City and Sugarhouse and you'll find something for everyone. Their beautiful spaces are perfect for gatherings large and small, making this brewpub a hotspot for live events. You'll also find tasty grub from brunch to dinner, making these well-established brewpub a true destination. 

Moab Brewery
686 S Main St, Moab, UT 84532

Moab Brewery is a popular and family friendly oasis in the desert of Utah. Sitting at the center of the food and drink scene in Moab, it's the perfect example of a brewpub bringing patrons from far and away to a brick and mortar.  Travelers can enjoy a frosty pint after a full day of outdoor adventuring, providing reliable traffic. Their handcrafted, award-winning ale is paired with a full menu and a distillery, providing something for everyone at the table.

Strap Tank Brewery
596 S 1750 W Springville, UT 84663
3661 N Outlet Pkwy, Lehi, UT 84043

Strap Tank's gorgeous design and vintage inspired space is a draw in and of itself. Both locations feature classic motorcycles, classic pub food, and classic drafts. Strap Tank brings sophistication to the brewpub scene, and elevates the retail offerings surrounding it. Enjoy live music every week and a mountain view from their covered patio. The family friendly brewery and restaurant pairs incredible ambiance with approachable drinks you're sure to love, making Strap Tank a winner. 

Red Rock Brewery
254 South 200 West Salt Lake City, UT 84101
6227 South State Murray, UT 84107
1640 W. Redstone Center Park City, UT 84098

With several locations throughout the valley, Red Rock Brewery is a hometown chain that showcases the brewpub's ability to fit in just about anywhere. Whether eating lunch downtown, or grabbing a drink in Park City, patrons will find this brewpub conveniently located next to arenas, retail shopping, a convention center, hotels and more. Elegant outdoor and indoor seating, a bottled beer shop, and a full menu make Red Rock high on the list. 

Uinta Brewhouse Pub
1722 South Fremont Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84104

The only adults-only location on our list, Uinta brings a beer forward approach to the brewpub. Their tasty ales inspire a weekly rotating menu that stays fresh, while staple burgers and sandwiches are also available. The Uinta General Store also provides a draw, selling branded gear and apparel, as well as a large sampling of their adult beverages.  You'll also find Uinta beer at certain grocers, spreading brand awareness, and making the pub a must visit for fans who'd like their suds straight from the tap. 

As you can see, Utah is full of tasty craft beer, and it's brew boom follows in the footsteps of a nationwide trend that's diversifying retail and restaurant space. As brewpubs continue to establish themselves across the country, there's no doubt these watering holes offer an exciting and innovative opportunity for retail. Brewpubs are the perfect tenants for attracting repeat customers, as well as beer tourists. Boost your foot traffic by anchoring your retail space with a brewpub, and discover their mass appeal.

Are you looking for a new way to track down the next big brew pub? Retailsphere can help you identify and attract these types of tenants to your shopping center. Sign up for a no-obligation demo today and see how we can help!

The post Top 5 Brewpubs in Utah (and why they make great tenants) appeared first on Retailsphere.

Top New York City Grab and Go Concept : Vodega

All vegan, plant based veggie bodega, Vodega, takes the vegan cake. No, it’s not all salads. Vegans and non vegans alike, say hello to Vodega sandwiches. Who said vegan food couldn’t look heck-a-tempting to non vegans? 

Located in Brooklyn, this spot is a must try for a refreshing grab and go meal. Vodega has embraced the simplicity during the pandemic by offering a minimalistic menu online for deliveries.

Honorable mention: Summer Salt

Top Philadelphia Grab and Go Concept : Middle Child

Middle Child’s signature Breakfast Sandwich is a perfect choice to settle that morning appetite to grab, go, and be full all morning. Check back for lunch because one scroll through their sandwich menu will leave you salivating for more. 

To make sure their customers are able to have full access to food, they ask diners to order online, and either grab and go or ask about delivery.

Honorable mention: Sampan

Top Washington D.C. Grab and Go Concept: Shouk

Shouk: Modern, Isreali street food that is chik chak (Hebrew slang for quick and easy). Did I also mention it is all plant-based and kosher? The grab and go concept at Shouk pronounces in the form of your choice, either a pita or a bowl. 

If the two Shouk locations are not in your neighborhood, Shouk provides hood drops. Check out the hood drop locations posted weekly on their website and have your order delivered near you. 

Honorable mention: Immigrant Food

Top Baltimore Grab and Go Concept: Golden West Cafe

Golden West Cafe is the whole package when it comes to grab and go options. Serving Southwest inspired comfort food including sandwiches, burgers, burritos, and a pre made panini box lunch. Tons of vegan options. A grab and go that is Instagram worthy. 

Golden West has continued to thrive by hosting socially distanced events, like Vegan Restaurant Week and Curbside Drag Bingo. 

Honorable mention:  Annoula’s Greek Kitchen

Top Virginia Beach Grab and Go Concept: Aloha Snacks

Aloha Snacks: If your idea of a snack is a full menu of aloha-inspired burgers, sammies, wraps, and poke bowls, you have arrived at snack heaven. I can’t think of another perfect grab and go option in Virginia Beach that allows you to take your beach cruiser through the pick up line.

The owner, Jesse Wykle, translated his 19 years of fine dining experience to a fast casual environment. Aloha Snacks pre-COVID pumped about 80% inside dining and 20% through the pick up window. They flipped those numbers in the midst of the pandemic to 80% via pick up window and 20% inside dining with social distancing. 

Honorable Mention:  The Green Cat Juice Bar & Market

Are you looking to fill a vacancy in the Mid-Atlantic? Are you interested in bringing one of these grab and go concepts to your shopping center? With Retailsphere, you can research and reach out to these and other restaurant concepts in your area. Sign up for a no-obligation demo today and see how simple finding data and site selector contact information can be. 

The post Top 5 Grab and Go Concepts for the Mid-Atlantic appeared first on Retailsphere.

Onyx Coffee Lab

In a mere seven years, Onyx Coffee Lab has skyrocketed in popularity from its humble beginnings in Springdale, Arkansas, and it’s not hard to understand why. Founders Jon and Andrea Allen have won countless awards for their barista skills and creative brews. They are one of the first roasters to play with lactic-acid-processed micro-lot coffees, which is a very fancy way of saying they live on the cutting edge. After catching the attention of dozens of national wholesalers, the obvious next step was for the Allens to open a new headquarters location. Slightly less obvious was their decision to do so in a massive, 110-year old building. Five other businesses call The 1907 home, but Onyx clearly dominates the space with its gorgeous coffee bar, roastery, and training lab. Whether you’re purchasing a bag of their honey-processed Tres Milagros beans, stopping in for a quick sip of espresso, or luxuriating over their coffee milkshake, you’re surely in for a treat.

Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters

Celebrated as one of the best brews in Cape Cod, Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters is well known for its ethically sourced and deliciously roasted coffee. Its popularity quickly outpaced its small grab-and-go café and founders Shayna Ferullo and Manue Ainzuain had to find a new location to call home. Now, they operate their roastery out of a barn-like building formerly known as The Herb Shop. The cozy little cabin makes every visit feel like a Christmas getaway. Although Snowy Owl has grown, the team maintains close partnerships with small growers that prioritize quality and environmental sustainability. Their commitment to farmers runs deep: Subscribe to their coffee club and a dollar from every shipment will be donated to Grounds for Health, a nonprofit that provides cervical cancer screenings to coffee-growing communities.

Mostra Coffee

When Beverly Magtanong and Jelynn Malone volunteered in the Philippines ten years ago, they witnessed both the country‚Äôs beauty and intense poverty. After speaking with representatives from the government, they realized that the best thing they could do to help was to provide better job opportunities to those who were struggling. Their decision to invest in the country‚Äôs coffee would lead them to found an award-winning roastery and a flourishing business that knows no bounds. Mostra Coffee not only creates high-quality micro-roasts, but also collaborates with other businesses around San Diego to brew delicious coffee beers, blend flavored cold brews, promote fitness classes, and host pop-up shops. Although their shop is only open two days a week, it is still nationally acclaimed and, of course, locally loved. Image from Mostra Coffee.

Treeline Coffee Roasters

Natalie Van Dusen founded Treeline Coffee Roasters after a Colombian farmer taught her how to roast coffee. She spent years roasting out of a food truck, until she was finally able to open a roastery and a standalone café in Bozeman, Montana. Entirely run by women, the warm and inviting shops were designed with the founder’s love of the outdoors in mind. The second location, for example, is built out of sustainably sourced timber and is framed by an open-air entrance. Van Dusen continues to visit and work with farmers all around the world in order to learn and maintain a tight-knit connection with her suppliers. For all her effort, Food & Wine named Treeline Coffee the best place for coffee in Montana.

Rise Up Coffee Roasters

Since 2005 when Tim Cureton opened his company out of a drive-thru trailer, Rise Up quickly grew into a nine-café chain that sells roasts all across the country. With its creative menu and commitment to ethics, it makes sense that Rise Up Coffee Roasters was named Maryland’s Best Coffee. Each and every bean is Certified Organic and Certified Fair Trade, so you know that your cup of joe won’t just taste good, but it will feel good, too. Even if you’re not a coffee drinker, you’ll surely still find something to love from the food arm of the company: the Mad Eggs menu features a diverse range of delicious bites that’ll help you get your morning started.

Think a coffee brand would be a good fit for your shopping center? Don't let innovative coffee brands like the ones listed above pass you by. Reach out to Retailsphere today for a demo and see how easy it is to find brands like these. We give you access to local brands you can't find on any other retail data platform. 

The post Five Start-Up Roasters Transforming the Coffee Industry appeared first on Retailsphere.

Forage

The local and fresh ingredients are what make Forge known in Los Angeles, and the customers wouldn't have it any other way. Plus, when you donate your home-grown produce, you'll receive credit for your next meal. To get a healthy yet tasty meal, stop on by at 3823 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026-1529.

Farmshop

Farmshop is a go-to place for both LA tourists and locals because of their simple and healthy ingredients, and because of their attached mini-grocery store- allowing guests that are in a hurry to get a salad, sandwich or a pastry to-go. Stop on by the next time you're in Santa Monica (225 26Th Street Ste 25 Santa Monica California 90402) because you won't regret it. 

Kure Kitchen

Did you know that the Kure Kitchen started as a food cart but grew too popular, and so they had to become a Brick-And-Mortar? Well, it's true! Located at 408 SW 12th Ave in Portland, Oregon, you will find endless possibilities for a healthy lunch. Everything from fresh smoothies, cold-pressed juices, oatmeal, salads, and their famous acai bowls, you won't be disappointed.

Pike Place Market

What started as a fish market has grown into being one of the best places with a variety to choose from for a quick bite to eat. Ranging from Sandwiches, Chinese, Philipino, or Yogurt, to name a few, there is something for everyone at the Pike Place Market. Make sure to check it out at 85 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101, the next time you're in Seattle.

Seed & Salt

Made with all-natural and local ingredients, Seed & Salt has made plant-based foods taste delicious, all while on the go. They're located at 2000 Union Street in San Francisco, and so stop on by to check them out because you don't want to miss this.

With restaurants offering healthier to-go options, say good-bye to greasy fast food, and hello to fast, simple, and healthy meal options on the go! 

Plus, with the need to keep more customers out of the restaurant due to Covid-19, grab-and-go concepts have an opportunity to continue to provide customers with great food without packed spaces.

Sign up today for a no-obligation demo and see how Retailsphere can help you identify and reach out to brands like those listed above. 

The post Top 5 Grab-and-Go Concepts on the West Coast appeared first on Retailsphere.

Food halls are trending, and we're here for it. If you're never heard of a food hall, don't be so quick to pass it off as your everyday food court. They're so much more than that. Sure, it's designed in a way that resembles a food court, but you have so many more options than your typical fast-food chains. Food halls are filled with unique, local restaurants with food made from scratch. Some even feature dessert shops, butchers, bakeries, markets, and more.

They've been around for years, but have recently begun gaining more traction. From 2010 to 2017 food halls saw over 700% growth across the US. It's our bet that it'll only be a matter of time before food halls are in every city. Below are a few of our favorites. They are great examples of utilizing retail space in a fun and successful way, especially if you're interested in bringing more local offerings to your retail spaces. 

Chelsea Market (New York City, NY) 

NYC locals and tourists alike can’t get enough of Chelsea Market. This food hall is iconic amongst foodies and there’s a reason for it. It features various local restaurants, dessert spots, coffee stands, and more that keep customers coming again and again. Oh, and let’s not forget the markets, stores, and art attractions.

The Workshop (Charleston, SC)

This unique food hall calls themselves an exploratory food court. It features six rotating kitchens and the chefs experiment with different culinary concepts. Customers are always looking forward to the next restaurant rotation that keeps them coming back for new eats to try.

Faneuil Hall (Boston, MA)

The Faneuil Hall in Boston, Massachusetts has been around for 40 years and is the largest food hall in the United States. The food hall has over 100 restaurants, cafes, bars, and more. Similar to Chelsea Market, it also has shops and is a spot for local events and entertainment.

Grand Central Market (Los Angeles, CA) 

The historic Grand Central Market opened in 1917 and has been a local favorite ever since. Like most food halls, it features a variety of local restaurants, shops, and more that people can’t get enough of. People love meeting up here for coffee or drinks. Part of what makes this food hall so popular is the community events it holds such as rooftop concerts, trivia nights, and more.

Revival Food Hall (Chicago, IL) 

The Revival Food Hall takes pride in featuring all local dining. The food hall includes 15 fast-casual stalls and even has grab-and-go options for well-known sit-down restaurants. The food hall doesn't limit itself to restaurants, either. It also has bakeries, cocktails, coffee, books, and records.

If you can't tell from our list, food halls are a big hit all around the US, but especially in larger metros. If you're looking to fill a vacant retail space, you may want to consider opening one up. They are great ways to attract local food concepts that might not be able to fill a larger traditional space.

Already creating a food hall at your shopping center? Let Retailsphere help you find those new, exciting food and store concepts to bring into your new immersive retail experience. Sign up for a no-obligation demo today!

The post Get Inspired by these 5 Food Halls around the US appeared first on Retailsphere.

What’s a tenant database? It’s a list of expanding retailers and contact information for key decision makers in those organizations. If you work in retail commercial real estate, you’ve undoubtedly used a retail tenant database to help you find and connect with potential tenants.

Retailsphere was created to advance the retail tenant database beyond just a large list of contacts. We are creating a set of constantly updating retailer profiles for national, regional, and even smaller local brands. Additionally, our profiles look at reviews, social profiles, and other information like financials you need to find the right tenant.

As we’ve talked to numerous clients, it has become clear that most of the existing database tools are far from perfect. We’ve asked commercial real estate brokers, managers, and owners around the country what is wrong with existing retail tenant databases, and we heard the same complaints again and again. Here are the top 5: 

1. Retail tenant databases have outdated information.

   It seems many databases were put together years ago (and at the very least months ago) and rarely looked at again. Unfortunately for these lists, the retail market hasn’t stopped changing, updating, growing and innovating. Brands that have ruled for decades can be displaced by newcomers in just a short amount of time. Having the most up-to-date information on potential clients is crucial in making informed decisions about your tenants.

   Many databases include inaccurate, or are altogether missing, key pieces of information. Even worse, generic information like public phone numbers or mass mailing addresses like post office boxes take the place of specific and accurate points of contact at big brands.

   What if you need to get in touch with a brand directly? This is just one of the things Retailsphere offers its users. We have real headquarter addresses, real location selector contact information, real phone numbers and email addresses. Our team of researchers is constantly reaching out to key brands and updating profiles.

2. Retail tenant databases don’t provide valuable data.

   You expect retail tenant databases to have hard to get information you can’t readily get from a simple online search. More often than not, this doesn’t seem to be the case.

   Retail tenant databases tend to focus on low hanging fruit. Aggregating big nationwide brands, chains and franchise data gives the illusion of value. But what if you’re looking for insights into shifts in the marketplace, and up-and-coming brands who can fill a niche? Traditional retail tenant databases just come up lacking in this department.  The majority of data regarding regional trends, local brands and small businesses are untapped and untracked. Unfortunately, this is the information you need to make your retail spaces stand out and draw a crowd.

   Retailsphere has set out to include regional and local brands from day one. We understand that as retail moves towards more localized tastes, your shopping center needs to fill vacant spaces with brands that will attract and keep customers coming back. When we research new geographies, we don’t stop with national names - we look for the brands that make your area unique, and provide accurate data on those people as well.

   We also give you, the user, direct access to our research team. We include custom research requests in every package. If you come across a retailer without populated data, just submit a request to our team and let our world-class researchers do the heavy lifting for you - providing real time information on that brand within just a few days. 

3. Retail tenant databases are hard to use.

   “Databases are difficult to navigate.” We hear this all of the time, and even the most necessary tools will go unused when information can’t be easily accessed. Many retail tenant databases use outdated tech, tons of file space, and provide you with way more data than you really need, making them incredibly cumbersome.

   You’d rather not receive an excel file containing stats on every drive-thru chain in the country when what you’re really looking for is information on pet care brands. This specific instance could be swapped out for many other searches, and landlords everywhere are finding themselves in this very predicament.

   Retailsphere’s retailer profiles are housed in an online system and formatted for quick searches and even quicker filtering. We understand that the longer it takes to parse through lines of data, the less time you have to do more important tasks like making phone calls and performing actual tenant outreach.

4. Retail tenant databases are overly complicated.

   A recurring complaint with current databases is that they lack search parameters that allow you the ability to fully use the data at hand. Without practical search functionality, you’re left awash in data. On top of this, getting help with searches from the creators on these databases, beyond the most basic of training, seems impossible. Without the ability to easily hone in on what you need, you can’t find your perfect tenants. And good luck figuring out how to filter through data in the massive spreadsheet you just downloaded.

   Retailsphere’s entire system is built on the understanding that retailer data and profiles are only as useful as your ability to look for and find the right retailer profile. We offer numerous ways to search for specific brands, or use our advanced filters to browse through types of retailers in the most efficient manner possible. 

5. Retail tenant databases are too expensive.

   When you finally find data that is useful, you end up paying an arm and a leg for a list of national retailers only updated once annually. Plus, custom reports, requests for deep historical data, and customer support always seem to come with extra charges.

   You’re searching for new retailers throughout the year and need to know you have access to the most recent contact information. In the current state of retail, it is also important to know you aren’t reaching out to a brand that has just recently gone out of business.

   Retailsphere understands that your needs eb and flow. Our platform is priced by geography and by number of users to allow the largest amount of flexibility in the market. Only purchase data in the cities you operate within and only purchase the number of seats you need for your office. 

If you’re using a traditional retail tenant database and have found yourself with one or more of the above complaints, we can help! Retailsphere’s founders started working on a new type of retailer database because we have seen the gaps in traditional databases first hand. 

We provide a powerful, easy-to-use interface rich with useful data. When you have a problem, our customer success team is just a simple call away. And our researchers are constantly working to stay on top of the latest regional trends, making sure you can come back to up to date information each time you log in. 

Interested in seeing how Retailsphere can upgrade your retail tenant database experience? Contact us today, and we can show you all the ways we are different.

The post Top Five Complaints About Retail Tenant Databases appeared first on Retailsphere.

Whether you manage properties across town or across the country, using a customer relationship management system (CRM) can help you keep track of all of your data and tie that to tasks and events so you can make the most of the contacts you have. And if you are reading this article, then you may already think a CRM is the right tool for you and your team. 

There are numerous reasons implementing a CRM is a good idea, but we’re outlining 5 common reasons we hear our customers leverage a CRM platform. 

1. See all of your team’s activities in one place.

One of the biggest challenges for any team is keeping track of everything happening, both for yourself and the group. Luckily, a CRM can help you do just this. In fact, you’ll hear many sales and leasing teams say “if it’s not in the CRM, it didn’t happen.” This is because for both individuals and the team, they want to ensure anyone can look at every interaction going on in the organization.

This helps ensure there's no overlap between team members, and helps everyone stay accountable for the things they said they’ll do. In the case of a brokerage or leasing team, this can mean staying on top of a prospect to push them over the line into signing a lease, or making sure two team members aren't reaching out to the same retailer about similar spaces. 

As a bonus, Retailsphere’s CRM is specifically built for CRE—which means the tools are all CRE specific and the activities being tracked are ready for your team to use right out of the box. 

2. Better manage your deal flow with more visibility.

While many people first think of a CRM as a contact management tool, it is really intended to help nurture the relationship between your business and the client. This means you can manage the stages of your deal flow and take specific contacts through the process more effectively.

With Retailsphere, the stages of the CRE deal flow are already built into a highly visual kanban board, allowing you to not only track your progress, but also see where every deal is at a glance. The platform also lets you connect your prospective retailers to specific sites, take notes, and track your commission if the deal closes (don’t worry, only you can see that information.) With all of your deals and information in one place, you can also start to better forecast which deals are soon to close, helping you and your team plan ahead for all spaces and prospects. 

3. See where your day or week is heading with task and calendar management.

Most CRMs let you integrate your Google or Outlook calendar, and link tasks to things like events or actions you need to take like emailing or calling a prospect. And by putting these things within your CRM, you now get a look at the items you need to accomplish each day and a look ahead at what you need to do in the coming days.

Plus, you're not wasting time planning each day when you look at your calendar in the morning. Everything is already set up, letting you hit the ground running with outreach, follow-ups, and ultimately more opportunities to close deals. 

If you use Retailsphere’s CRE specific CRM, we also let you link events and tasks to specific prospects, sites, or team members. This helps you and your team maximize the chances that a prospect isn’t forgotten and your spaces get filled faster. 

4. Advanced reporting helps you better manage your prospects, tenants, and sites.

Aren’t you tired of proving your worth to your boss and to your clients? With reporting, you can easily show the things you’ve done to try to fill vacancies, to retain current tenants, and to help your team stay organized. Once you export these types of reports, you may use it to help your team become more effective, or share it with a landlord so they can see your brokerage is more than on top of their specific space and retailer needs.

And because Retailsphere’s CRM is built for CRE, we also let you pull reports on specific prospects or spaces, giving you and your team more granular information on the types of activities that matter most to your business, right out of the box. 

5. Connect your prospects with specific sites and deals.

Ideally, you want to keep a clear record of all of your spaces - both filled and vacant - and continue to manage those relationships from outreach, to lease, to tenancy. This is even better if you can link your spaces to tenant profiles and track market trends to stay ahead of growth or closures of brands. 

While most CRMs do enable you to track the market over time, the information and data displayed is typically only what YOU are adding to the system. Retailsphere’s CRM is linked to our database, fueled by researchers who keep the information up-to-date, stay on top of trends, and are constantly fact checked. As a result, you'll never have to edit or filter out extraneous information because everything is custom built for CRE landlords and brokers. 

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CRMs exist to help you manage your relationships with both clients and potential tenants. They exist to help you manage daily, weekly and monthly tasks and events, and ensure that nothing is slipping through the cracks. 

Retailsphere’s CRM was built to make your CRE work more strategic, more impactful, and easier. If you’d like to see exactly how the platform functions for your specific needs, schedule your free demo today.

The post 5 Reasons you need a Commercial Real Estate CRM appeared first on Retailsphere.