It's Not that the Big Eat the Small, but the Fast Eat the Slow

How Antonio Ruano trains Retailsphere clients to crush previous year deal flow and income

Customer Success Manager Antonio Ruano knows training, SaaS Onboarding, Implementation, and Training. He also focuses on “Change Management and Customer Experience.” And he’s really, really, great at it.

“We are going to take you on a journey of how a user crushes on the Retailsphere platform,” Ruano said smiling in his latest training.

He’s cool, calculated, softspoken, but direct and extremely organized. Ruano is the main reason clients come out of their new user training like a rocket ship. Ruano arms Retailsphere™ users with all the tools necessary to 10x their deal flow. Because that’s what it’s all about…using Retailsphere™ to transform and revolutionize your business.

“Retailsphere is about speed,” said Ruano. “With our Pipeline CRM™ it can be a superpower. And we will teach you to use the platform to your advantage in a variety of ways.”

With Retailsphere’s™ platform and Pipeline CRM™, users can reach out to expanding retailers, leads and potential prospects before anyone else, as they see in real time who clicks on any email they’ve sent. You can call a prospect within seconds of them reading or clicking the email.

Retailsphere™ clients across the board have been raving about how integral to their process the platform is. Once you get Antonio’s training, enjoy the ride. Just ask Bryan Holt, of Southpace, now a veteran Retailsphere™ user:

Ruano’s new client trainings take users from session 1, which introduces users to the platform and all its toys by the process of “Tell me, Show me, Let me try” he says. It’s a process that introduces the user journey, ensure calendar and email connectivity, learning how to do an advanced search and understanding filters like void analysis, and becoming familiar with the tenant profile, finishing with a research request and how to request a verification. And this is just session 1!

Ruano continues the user journey from session 1 through session 4 when clients come out as full-blown rock stars building collections and adding people to cadences, on to deals, and much more with Retailsphere’s Pipeline CRM™ and the “Steady State Journey”.  

In fact, as the final of the four initial trainings end, Ruano makes sure users know how to maximize all the contact information, set up a deals, tasks, take notes in the calendar, and how starting their day from the reach feed is like their morning newspaper where they learn up-to-the-minute details nobody else is learning.

“This is the user journey,” Ruano continues. “It shows the process of the three prongs, and the steps to take.”

The process of the “three prongs” approach for Retailsphere™ is: 1. Our marketing automation suite, 2. The world’s largest contact database of retail CRE decision-makers and 3. A super painless, included (FREE) Pipeline CRM tool.

“If you use CRM, it is the norm to handle 400 to 500 opportunities at one time,” Retailsphere Founder Mike McKean said. “Otherwise, it’s nearly impossible to handle more than 40 opportunities at a time.”

“Retailsphere’s™ whole business model is to help clients 10X their deal flow and income at the minimum, and we believe it they use our tools they will most certainly achieve that potential and more.”

Ruano’s trainings are robust, comprehensive, and interactive. But after the trainings are completed, it’s not the end of the conversation.

“We don’t love you and leave you,” Ruano says with a smile. “Our goal is to give you the tools to crush your competition and of course 10X or more your business. But when there is more learning to be done, I’m here anytime to help our clients…we all are here for our clients at Retailsphere.”

Users who utilize Retailsphere™ to the fullest can do so in a variety of ways, find their favorite of the platform’s many tools or a combination of the following just for starters:

“It’s a lot to learn and we ask our clients to do their homework, jump in and enjoy the Retailsphere™ platform,” Ruano said. “It’s incredible, but we know there will be follow up questions and our entire team is always here.”

A couple of weeks after finishing the training sessions, Ruano reaches back out to clients to make sure he helps with any questions or concerns.

“I hope you are taking full advantage of all the tools that Retailsphere has at your disposal,” said Ruano. “But please know I’m here anytime.”

Reach out to see a demo of Retailsphere.

How our On-demand Research team works

A Peek into the Inner Workings of the RetailSphere™ Research Team

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.

Retailsphere’s latest Expanding Retailers

RetailSphere has thousands of expanding retailers and the contacts for reaching out

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. Club Pilates - Club Pilates studios can vary in size, but typically are looking for between 1,500 square feet and 2,320 square feet. Currently, Club Pilates is expanding in all states. They have over 900 locations nationwide.
  2. Rapid Fired Pizza – Currently Rapid Fire Pizza has 20 locations and are currently looking to expand in several states. They are currently seeking around 3,000 square feet for new or existing locations.
  3. Verve Coffee Roasters - Verve Coffee Roasters currently has 11 locations in California and are seeking additional locations in the state. Location sizes vary for Verve, ranging from 7,000 square feet to much larger 13,000 square foot locations.
  4. Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill - Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill has locations in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania and South Carolina. They are now seeking nationwide expansion.
  5. Sweetgreen – Sweetgreen is located in several states including California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

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.

Retailsphere’s latest Expanding Retailers

RetailSphere has thousands of expanding retailers and the contacts for reaching out

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. Runnings –  The Runnings story begins on December 5th, 1947, when founder Norman “Red” Running opened the first store in downtown Marshall, Minnesota. Runnings started as an automotive supply store and was deeply rooted in selling farm and fleet supplies until the late 80’s when additional product lines were added.  They are currently expanding into several additional states.
  2. Voodoo Doughnut - Voodoo Doughnut started in Portland Oregon, and now is in Eugene Oregon, Denver Colorado, Austin Texas, and now L.A. California, was the brain child of Kenneth “Cat Daddy” Pogson and Tres Shannon who had been friends for a while. They always wanted to start a business together. Something that would fit into an extraordinary Portland Oregon business climate. They are expanding nationwide.
  3. Fifth Third Bank - At Fifth Third Bank, we are always listening to new ideas so that we can strengthen our commitment to you and the communities we serve. They are currently expanding in Florida and South Carolina.
  4. Pretzelmaker – they are expanding into several states, and are offering the opportunity to become a franchisee to develop and operate Stores which specialize in selling hand-rolled soft pretzels of various flavors, frozen pretzels, pretzel dogs, pretzel bites, and other pretzel-related products and toppings, and related food items and beverages. We offer 2 types of Stores: (a) Traditional Stores; and (b) Non-Traditional Stores. In addition, if you own and operate a Store, in certain circumstances we will offer you the right to offer and sell products at a separate location that we approve (“Satellites”).
  5. Tidal Wave Auto Spa - Tidal Wave Auto Spa’s roots stem all the way back to the year 1999 when Scott and Hope Blackstock decided to add a car wash to their Thomaston, Georgia-based auto service center. We started with a simple, 5 bay self-service wand wash. Soon, we expanded the wash with a newly-designed, specialty mud bay, which proved to be a big hit with ATV and ORV enthusiasts.

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.

Retailsphere’s Latest Expanding Retailers

RetailSphere has thousands of expanding retailers and the contacts for reaching out

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.

Retailsphere’s Latest Expanding Retailers

RetailSphere has thousands of expanding retailers and the contacts for reaching out

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.

Retailsphere’s Latest Expanding Retailers

RetailSphere has thousands of expanding retailers and the contacts for reaching out

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. Spencer’s Gifts - Spencer's, a unique retail brand, has been focused on delivering humor and enjoyment to lives for 60+ years. Founded as a mail-order catalog in 1947, Spencer's sold a vast assortment of innovative, novel merchandise (no one needed, but everyone wanted) that added excitement and laughter to its customers'​ lifestyles. Spencer’s is expanding in New Jersey.
  2. Chapter Aesthetic Studio - Chapter Aesthetic Studio is a leading aesthetics brand offering state-of-the-art, non-surgical skin care and body rejuvenation treatments. We believe that beauty belongs to everybody, which is why we’re here: to empower people to write their own beauty story. They are expanding in Texas.
  3. Sokah Caribbean BBQ - Sokah Caribbean BBQ, where we blend the bold, smoky essence of Texas BBQ with the vibrant, exotic flavors of the Caribbean. Our unique fusion creates an unforgettable culinary experience that transports your taste buds to a place where the deep traditions of southern barbecue meet the rich, diverse spices of the islands.
  4. Puttshack - Get your game face ready A-town. Good vibes only as you navigate our crazy, tech-infused mini golf courses and unique event spaces -located in the bustling Interlock community. All that winning (or losing) will work up an appetite so our passionate chefs & bartenders will tantalise your taste buds with flavours from around the globe.
  5. Camel Premium Express Car Wash - At Camel Express Premium Car Wash, we understand the chaos of everyday life. That’s why Camel created a hassle-free, state-of-the-art express car wash designed to save time and money for our customers in Georgia and Florida.

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.