When you sign up with Retailsphere, you are getting access to a robust retailer tenant database that is constantly updated by our world-class research team. You also get direct access to these researchers as each subscription comes with custom monthly research requests. We’ve previously taken a look at why you should want a research team, but what value does that team actually bring to your organization? 

A research request allows you or a member of your team to leverage our research team, having them reach out to a specific brand to collect valuable information; ultimately delivering a detailed report to you about that brand. And when our research team contacts a brand, they always use that opportunity to confirm contact information for the proper site selector of that brand, included in your report. 

The ability to access our research team is a game changer for real estate brokers and shopping center managers. Your ability to uniquely customize research requests is endless. Want to ask a national brand’s site selector about their company’s interest in your space with specific anchor tenants? You can do it. Once you get a research request back, not only will you be able to confirm your site meets their requirements, but you also know when you call or email, you’re getting the right person the first time. This level of outreach hasn’t been completed in the retail industry before now, giving your team an unprecedented edge over your competitors.

By using Retailsphere’s research team, the value of your membership instantly grows 10x. We’re adding to your team’s ability to reach out to the right tenants every month, without having to hire any one new. And it is all built into your Retailsphere membership, so you can essentially grow your team without ever having an interview.

Plus, when you leverage our team, you know you are getting the most highly-skilled outreach team in the industry; one that understands the information you need and the necessity of accuracy when contacting a brand. They perform research on retailers every single day and have honed their skill set to understand the best ways to reach out to and connect with brands that may otherwise be unreachable. 

What are you waiting for? You are giving your internal team valuable time back, can keep your team lean, and get a higher level of accuracy without training, but merely by subscribing to Retailsphere. We’re committed to providing retail insights from every angle, and our research team is part of that promise. Ultimately, access to our research team makes your subscription invaluable. 

Interested in hearing more about our research team? Want to see research requests in action? Sign up today for a no-obligation demo and let our team walk you through some ways Retailsphere can help you find new tenants.

The post The real value of having an on-demand research team appeared first on Retailsphere.

You’ve bought a new retail contact list hoping it will include a few critical brands. You finally get a chance to comb through it and you’re missing several of the contacts you needed most, plus the ones that are present seem to be old. Sound familiar?Knowing you have up-to-date and correct information is important when deciding to use a new database. One of the most common complaints of retailer databases is that they are inaccurate and outdated. Retailsphere was created out of a desire to create a database of retailer information that can be trusted. After looking for this information ourselves, it became clear that the old way of collecting data just wasn’t cutting it. 

That's why Retailsphere has a team of researchers, specifically collecting data on retailers old and new, each and every day, all year long. With Retailsphere, the data collection process doesn’t just happen once a year. Data is constantly being added and updated so the Retailsphere system can be relied on by those people using it.

We also understand that the world of retail is a large one. We won’t always have the specific information you want. That’s why when you use Retailsphere, you get direct access to our research team. When you come across a retailer we haven’t populated yet, you can request our team to reach out and gather important metrics like space requirements, traffic count needs, and initial investment expectations.  

And yes, we provide real contact information for the person responsible for that brand’s expansion decisions. When you use Retailsphere, you have a world-class research team at your fingertips, helping you expand the potential brands you have access to every time you use them.

Robby Gal, head of research for Retailsphere, used to work as a reporter. When asked why our team is so successful he said, “our researchers don’t just use readily available online or reported information. When we receive a request from a client, we immediately assess the entity. Once we identify whether it's a National Brand, Franchise or Multi Unit Group, we immediately research the person in charge of site selection. While others might stop there, we systematically call over a few days or weeks, until we touch base with that specific person.”

Because the Retailsphere research team connects directly with a brand’s site selector, the demographic data and expansion plans have been accurately added straight from the employee in charge of their future. We also are able to double check their email and direct dial for future expansion opportunities for our clients.

As a broker or manager, your time is valuable. You don’t want to spend it digging for a retailer’s information and contacts. Let Retailsphere do that leg work for you, saving you time and increasing your efficiency. All you have to do is make the sales call you need to. 

Brands will begin to know your brokerage as a trustworthy source too. When you use Retailsphere, you have all of the brand information available to make the most of every sales call. By knowing your space is the right fit for a brand, no one wastes time and brands feel more confident that your team is also looking out for their interests. 

It’s time to make a research team part of your team. Sign up for a no-obligation demo today and see how Retailsphere can provide up to date and accurate retailer information to your team.

The post Why do you need a Retail Research Team? appeared first on Retailsphere.

What is big data, and how can you use it to gain a competitive advantage? Read on to discover answers to top questions about the uses of big data in retail real estate.

What Is Big Data?

Real estate brokers, landlords, tenants, buyers, and sellers have always relied on data to make decisions. However, analyzing a handful of data points—such as square footage, vacancy rates, sales per square foot, and traffic scores—is not the same as leveraging big data. 

More than a buzzword, big data is a term that describes a large volume of data from a variety of sources. The interpretation of a wide range of data variables is a valuable tool for real estate professionals and can lead to not only more deals but also better deals done faster.

The information age has made it possible for you to access infinite data about almost any topic. And now, innovators are finding new ways to collect and analyze that infinite data to create business intelligence. Retail real estate is no exception. 

In addition to traditional data used in real estate transactions, such as demographics and comps, a variety of other variables can help you predict the future and make stronger decisions. Non-traditional data might include customer reviews, social media updates, and even shopper movements within buildings. 

Whether you’re a property owner or a broker, big data can create impactful insights. The trick is learning how to harness it. That’s where analytics tools come into play.

What Tools Can Help Real Estate Brokers Make Sense of Big Data?

Conventional methods of analyzing data—like complex Excel spreadsheets—don’t work with big data. Analysts simply can’t bring together and sift through tens of millions of data points quickly enough to deliver real-time, actionable insights. 

That’s where technology solutions come in. Machine learning algorithms make it significantly easier to aggregate and interpret disparate sources of data.

However, collecting the data and building accurate algorithms takes time and skilled talent. That’s why many CRE brokers and landlords subscribe to database solutions to aggregate the data they need.

If you are considering such a solution, it’s important to ensure the company has a robust process for ensuring data accuracy and timeliness. Quality databases pull information from multiple sources, provide transparency on the origination of each data point and go the extra mile to ensure accuracy and timeliness. 

How Can Big Data Empower Retail Real Estate Dealmakers?

When seeking new tenants, retail property landlords and investors want more than a retailer that can pay the rent check next month. They want to attract brands with strong long-term growth prospects. New tenants should complement their existing tenant mix and boost the overall image of the shopping center or mall.

How do you identify the retailers that meet that definition of good tenants? Enter, big data and predictive analytics. 

By analyzing comprehensive data sets, you can narrow down your prospect list to a few retailers that would be a perfect match for your space. You’ll want access to a database of retailers’ site selection criteria so you know what they look for in their space. This involves frontage and size requirements, parking ratios, traffic counts, demographics, and co-tenancy with other businesses. Then, you can compare that with your space to determine if there’s a match. 

Meanwhile, mobility and point of sale data can tell powerful stories about the foot traffic and sales a retailer sees at their other locations. That information, combined with social media conversations and customer reviews, will give you a better understanding of the brand’s strength and the impact it can have on the overall sales per square foot of the property 

Big data can also help you predict when you might have tenants vacating soon. For example, Retailsphere’s closures prediction algorithm scores tenants on their likelihood to close, based on a combination of variables. Equipped with this knowledge, you’ll be better prepared to fill their space if they do need to close the location.

How Are Retail Tenants Using Big Data to Find Space?

Just as you can use big data to find tenants, retailers are using big data to identify the places where they need to have a presence. In fact, retailers allocate millions of dollars to location intelligence to better understand who visits their stores, for how long, and where else they shop – before and after the store visit. 

Mobile devices allow retailers to access a treasure trove of information on consumers’ habits and traffic patterns by “geo-fencing” a property or even an individual store. That data—combined with other information such as demographics, drive times, and proximity to competitors—helps inform site selection decisions with a high degree of precision due to the granular level of trade area information. 

Additionally, location analytics gives retailers insights into how their competitors are doing and helps them establish benchmarks for individual stores. Location-based insights can also be used to improve merchandising. That might include offering a better selection of products based on local demographics or changing a store layout. 

What Are Other Uses for Big Data in Retail Real Estate?

Big data has many other uses beyond tenant prospecting and site selection. The use cases continue to expand as more information is collected every day through sensors and other devices connected with Internet of Things (IoT) technology.

For example, complex data sets and predictive analytics can play a powerful role in forecasting property valuations and lease rates. 

Research by McKinsey found that analyzing non-traditional data, such as proximity to a 4-store hotel or the number of cafes within a mile, can more accurately predict areas with strong potential for price appreciation than traditional data alone.

Big data can also help property managers improve efficiencies and make capital expenditure decisions. Smart building systems generate a constant stream of data about equipment performance, energy consumption, and more. 

Harnessing this data can help you reduce your carbon footprint and avoid capital expenditures by fixing equipment before it breaks down.

Leverage the Power of Big Data

Real estate agents, brokers, and owners have traditionally relied on a combination of intuition and historical data to make decisions. Thanks to big data, you now have the ability to layer on predictive analytics to fuel even greater business intelligence. 

Schedule a demo to discover how Retailsphere can help you tap into the power of big data.

The post How Is Big Data Impacting Retail Real Estate appeared first on Retailsphere.

Retailsphere’s™ research team, aka the best kept secret in retail, gets right to business when reaching out to site selectors, tenant reps, brokers, and landlords, amongst others. And in most cases, the team is on a first name basis with the contacts.

The on-demand research team are available to all Retailsphere™ users to help verify company information, contacts, and expansion plans of your prospects. Whether it’s regional multi-unit groups or a local mom & pop retailer you're looking for, the research team will work until they get the information you've requested.

The research team will get in touch with the decision-makers and give you the tools you need to reach out to someone with the power to make leasing decisions and how they prefer to be contacted. Then you have the tools to determine if a brand's expansion strategy is a good fit for your retail space and land a long-term commercial tenant.

Ken Brown, vice president of sales for Retailsphere™, knows first-hand how valuable the research team and the research request button inside the powerful Pipeline CRM™ is to deal flow.

“Our researchers are indispensable,” Brown said. “They can get any actionable information your need, and they find the most difficult contact information and verify expansion details, all in as little as one phone call and as little as 24 hours. But if it does take longer than one day and requires multiple calls or a marketing automation email cadence, they’ll go that route as well.

“Persistence and precision are key assets you have in your back pocket with our research team.”

Retailsphere's™ research team is here to help. When you use them, you'll get access to customized reports including:

-All expansion plans and timelines for planned growth.

-Details on any co-tenant needs and site requirements.

-Verified contact information for site selectors.

-Answers to any custom questions submitted with your research request.

Request a report, get notified at completion, and access it within Pipeline Management™.

Brian Coughlin, advisor for SVN, on using Retailsphere's tools:

"As developers and brokers, Retailsphere™ has been an outstanding tool to help us identify and communicate with the most suitable tenants for our properties," said Coughlin. "The database of national and regional retailers is constantly updated to ensure that the right people are contacted.

"This tool is a must-have and a time-saver for anyone working in the retail real estate industry."

Completed research requests are automatically added to your pipeline management tool, which allows you to increase outreach and automate tasks like:

-Automatically create a deal when a research request returns with an expanding retailer.

-Create a task to call the site selector when you get your research request back.

-Or remove the retailer from your prospect list if they aren't interested in expanding at that time.

Reach out to see a demo of the Retailsphere's Pipeline CRM™.

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 Are you Expanding? The Best Kept Secret in Retail appeared first on Retailsphere.

There are two types of research requests: (1) a research request for information on the retailer or company and (2) putting a contact verification request to, as it sounds, verify a contact.

The beauty of either a research request or a contact verification request is they both go to the same place: our on-demand research team. And in both cases contacts are verified, but with a research request, the team goes far more in depth rather than confirming simply a contact’s status.

The main difference between the two requests is the type of research you will get.

As you prospect, you will find yourself seeing literally 450,000 retailer profiles. Once you find the retailer you are looking for you simply hit the “research request” button at the top right of the retailer profile page which brings up a box where you can enter a variety of need-based questions.

A typical research request might ask “Can you please find out of this retailer is expanding, and where?” Or you might ask the research team to find a specific job-related contact.

Now where a contact verification request differs is you will see a handful of contacts under the retailer profile, and you can click on the three dots and choose to “verify the contact.” Our team will now go in and verify by calling the contact and make sure they are still at their job and retailer, or if not, the contact will be updated with new info, which will be emailed directly to you and also available in your Pipeline.

Research and contact verifications can also very easily be submitted from the “Activity Feed” of the CRM. If you’ve recently reached out to a retailer or contact through a cadence, your activity feed will show that activity. You can click on the retailer or contact (a sidebar pops up) and see all of the activities that have been conducted. You have several options, one of which is submit a research request.

Submitting a research request is also as simple as figuring out the retailer you want to bring to your location. But in addition, you can specify National Brand, Franchisor or Multi-Unit Group, while including qualifiers like square footage, anchor tenants wanted.

If you have a specific brand in mind and/or don’t see the data you need, we’re happy to do some research for you! 

Click the “request research” button wherever you are in the platform and be as general or specific as you want in your requests. 

Our team is constantly updating information on our brand profiles and creating new profiles at your request. 

Reminder: You can request research from a retail profile or within your pipeline:

• Once the research box pops up, enter the information you are looking for and click “Submit Request”

You can view the status of your requests in the CRM under the Research tab. When research is complete, you will receive an email with the new information.

Find out more at RetailSphere.com.

The post How to put in a Research Request with RetailSphere™ appeared first on Retailsphere.

The RetailSphere™ research team operates on a multifaceted approach, blending cutting-edge marketing automation with the human element to delve deep into the intricacies of the retail commercial real estate landscape to get expansion plans and contact information for our clients.

Their goal: To uncover hidden opportunities for clients by finding contact information and reaching out to clients over the phone, via email, marketing automation and more social connections that anyone in the industry to provide clients with the knowledge needed to stay ahead of the curve.

After receiving a research request from a RetailSphere™ client, the on-demand research team immediately hits the phones and works to get the appropriate site selector for the multi-unit group, franchisor, or national brand contact(s). We say contact(s) because in many cases there are multiple contacts that handle expansion and development responsibilities for the retailer.

In some cases, a quick line to the appropriate contact isn’t readily available, and that’s where the team goes to work adding contacts via the website, social media and other RetailSphere™ databases to essentially scrub the internet for information.

Then, using RetailSphere’s™ marketing automation technology, cadences, the team reaches out with a series of crafted emails designed to state the goal, reason for reaching out, and how getting back to the team is a great marketing opportunity for the specific retailer as well.

In the interim, the team spends the time updating the retailer’s profile within RetailSphere™ with the best social, office, cell phone and work history data they can uncover.

But even as all the data is set, verified, and researched, the team will continue to reach out via phone, email, and socials to get the expansion plans verified by the retailer.

The bonus for RetailSphere™ clients, the on-demand research team has built relationships through continued conversations over time with retailers, brokers, tenant reps and shopping center owners, who trust the team and know us by name. But more on that in our next piece.

See more here.

The post How our On-demand Research team works appeared first on Retailsphere.

Our team speaks to hundreds of retail contacts, site selectors and center owners to determine expansion needs and opportunities. Today we put one of them under the microscope and learn about those conversations.

We sit down with Sarah Lang, one of our researchers at RetailSphere.

RetailSphere: What are some of the challenges you face when you call up a retailer or are working on a request for one of our clients?

Sarah: The smaller the retailer is, like a multi-unit group, we are trying to track down the owner. In that case it’s hoping we catch them at one of their locations, or get their cell phone from an employee, which they are often afraid to hand out.

RetailSphere: But you always get it!

Sarah: Not always, but much of the time and we do so by being upfront. We let them know we have clients with ideal spaces for their expansion and trying to reach out. It’s always a conversation starter. That conversation may be “no way I’m expanding,” but it’s also sometimes “Huh, I wouldn’t mind hearing what they have in mind.”

RetailSphere: Do retailers or business owners ever get annoyed when you call to get expansion details?

Sarah: Quite the contrary. For most of the national brands, franchisors and much of the multi-unit groups, we have established lines of communication…relationships where when I call, they ask me what am I looking for today? That’s what really makes it fun. When a client puts in a request for expansion plans for Starbucks, I know who I’m dealing with.

RetailSphere: So you and the other on-demand researchers call and email for expansion and contacts details, but what are tools are at your disposal?

Sarah: Well, without giving away all our secrets we use a lot of tools within Retailsphere (which clients have access to), including cadences, or marketing automation. It’s a game-changer for reaching and basically setting up a series of touch points and waiting for the responses to come in. We craft emails to retailers, business owners, reps and brokers, asking details in such a way that it’s a conversation they want to have and we get the details our clients need.

But it all starts with the phone. We believe in calling and getting details firsthand. That’s how we build relationships. Sometimes we use social media to get details as well, but more for supplemental details.

RetailSphere: Thanks, Sarah, for letting those unfamiliar with RetailSphere and the on-demand research team behind the curtain of your operations.

The post Closer look: A Q&A with a member of the RetailSphere™ On-demand research department 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.

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

1. Ample Hills Creamery - Every day, we wake up hoping that today will be the day we make the best ice cream ever. We aren’t afraid to think outside of the box, get creative or make a few mistakes along the way. It’s this mindset that has empowered us to imagine the whimsical flavors that we’re known for! We make all of our ice cream from start to finish. They have 10 locations and fast expanding.
2. LaVida Massage - Each LaVida Massage location brings this mission to life as a comfortable Wellness Center offering highly customizable massage services and beneficial products. Likewise, our licensed Massage Therapists and Estheticians can help you better understand what may be appropriate for your healthcare routine. By maintaining a clean, relaxing space, each Center caters to the busy, active lifestyles of our guests. LaVida is expanding in Florida, Georgia and Alabama.
3. T.J.Maxx - T.J. Maxx was founded in 1976, and together with Marshalls, forms The Marmaxx Group, the largest off-price retailer of apparel and home fashions in the U.S. With stores across the U.S., including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, T.J. Maxx also operates an e-commerce site, tjmaxx.com, launched in 2013. T.J. Maxx is expanding in several states nationwide.
4. Daylight Donut - The Daylight Donut Flour Company, LLC, is a privately held enterprise with nearly a thousand retail outlets in 28 states and close to a dozen international markets. Daylight Donut is expanding in Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas.
5. Insomnia Cookies - Insomnia Cookies was born out of the dislike of heavy meals late at night, love of food delivery, and the realization that by the time you get hungry at night, nothing is open. The concept was founded by Seth Berkowitz in 2003 from his dorm room while attending the University of Pennsylvania. Berkowitz started baking and delivering warm cookies to students late-night on campus... and Insomnia Cookies was born. Insomnia Cookies is expanding nationwide with a massive growth strategy.

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.

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.

1. 1.NextGen Fitness Tulsa - Every NexGen Fitness location features the same NexGen personalized fitness experience: private workout suites, state-of-the-art cardio and weight-training equipment, and one-on-one sessions with an expert personal trainer. NextGen is currently expanding in New York.
2. Furniture Row - Furniture Row Companies® is a group of specialty home furnishings, mattress stores, carrying a variety of brand names, all available at one convenient location. We focus on providing a shopping experience that is tailored to your needs. This is just one of the many reasons we're among America's fastest-growing furniture retailers. 
3. Patel. Brothers - At Patel Brothers, our mission is to bring the best ingredients from around the world, right to your doorstep. With a wide variety of authentic regional grocery and spice products, we strive to reconnect people with the familiar flavors of India.
4. Brident Dental and Orthodontics -  We're here to make sure everyone has access to complete dental care of the highest quality. Not just check-ups and fillings: complete dental care including braces, implants and oral surgery. We have everything a healthy smile requires in one place.
5. Storagelocal Co-Op - StoreLocal is a cooperative created by independent self storage operators to lead our industry into an increasingly competitive landscape.

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.