Top 5 Things I Learned at the ICSC Southeastern Conference in Atlanta

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Marcus Lambert, our student intern and associate, is taking over CPD’s blog to tell you about his experience at this year’s ICSC Southeastern Conference.

“Being a newcomer to the industry, this conference was my first introduction into the networking and marketing side of the commercial real estate industry. I was able to absorb the experience and all that it had to offer. Here are the Top 5 things I learned at this year’s conference.

  1. In the world of commercial real estate, connections matter. As I browsed around the conference waiting for the next panel discussion to start, I couldn’t help but notice that almost 90 percent of the attendees were all engaged in some sort of conversation with one another. I had the pleasure of making a few connections myself, knowing that they could one day turn into future deals or collaboration efforts.
  2. In the growing industry of e-commerce, there is still a high demand for actual brick and mortar locations for consumers. Retailers are figuring out that the two coincide with each other to bring in more business.
  3. Shopping center owners and developers are turning to experiential marketing tactics to help draw more traffic to their centers and keep consumers in the shopping centers for longer periods of time. Experiential Marketing tactics are strategies used to directly engage the consumer and create a customized experience for the consumer while visiting the shopping center.
  4. In almost all the sessions I attended, I noticed that there is a trend that the target demographic for developers and retailers is the “mother of a family”. Understanding that the mother is the most likely to visit these centers and is the main shopper for the household.
  5. For this being my first conference, I learned that attending these conferences can be very beneficial to any Commercial Real Estate professional’s career. There is an unlimited amount of knowledge and networking opportunities that can be made attending ICSC events.

The conference this year was amazing and such eye-opening learning experience. I look forward to attending more of these events. What did you learn at this year’s ICSC Southeast Conference?”

Corporate Property Dispositions, a leading real estate advisory firm founded in 2003, works in partnership with companies to divest their surplus commercial properties. With over 200 years of combined real estate experience, our skilled professionals provide clients with the knowledge, key information and guidance needed to make informed decisions regarding their real estate portfolio. Our strategic counsel and results-driven approach convert our clients’ potential property value into delivered value.

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Top 5 Things I Learned at the ICSC Florida Conference

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This year’s ICSC Florida Conference had the largest attendance in over a decade with 4,500 professionals, it hasn’t reached this level since prior to the recession.  There were also more exhibitors in the Deal Making hall than ever before.  With the Florida conference as the 3rd largest event that ICSC presents, it’s no surprise there were a few things to learn this year.

 

  1. With the focus on technology across the world, it’s no surprise that the Real Estate industry is evolving with that. We have even talked about it previously on our blog.  This year there will be 2,000 apps dropped on the real estate industry alone.
  2. The shifting demographics in our country mean that the retail industry is changing to appeal to these different generations with different mindsets. One universal focus we should have is that as companies we are in the business of giving consumers reasons to give us their money.
  3. Opportunity zones are a new product designed by the government that is a place for high net worth investors to only pay 85% of capital gains. This can be a great benefit if you own a property in one of these areas or are looking to invest.
  4. The Florida economy has been slower to grow than the rest of the country following the recession, but all statistics and consumer sentiment indicate that the confidence is back.
  5. Industrial real estate is growing leaps and bounds. As the ecommerce division of retail grows, companies need a place to store the products they are delivering to customers.

 

This years’ conference was fantastic and such a learning experience to immerse myself in what is going on throughout Florida and the Southeast.  What did you learn at this years’ conference?

 

Corporate Property Dispositions, a leading real estate advisory firm founded in 2003, works in partnership with companies to divest their surplus commercial properties. With over 200 years of combined real estate experience, our skilled professionals provide clients with the knowledge, key information and guidance needed to make informed decisions regarding their real estate portfolio. Our strategic counsel and results-driven approach converts our clients’ potential property value into delivered value.

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Top 10 Takeaways from RECon 2018

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There was an overall sense of excitement and change in the air at this year’s RECon, the global retail real estate convention. The phenomenal speakers (great job @ICSC!) provided countless insights on a range of topics. Here are several great takeaways:

1. Relationships are an essential part of our industry. Retail CRE is based on business-to-business interactions, and it is likely that you will meet the same associates time and again. Make sure every interaction is a good one.
2. Technology is taking the CRE industry by storm. Over the last few years, there has been increased interest in how we can incorporate different technologies into our daily work.
3. Loyalty is a great quality, according to Michael Strahan, one of the keynote speakers. You should give back and be loyal to the company that gave you your chance. They picked you! Both you and your employer want loyalty and hard work.
4. “Have jobs that you love, and you won’t feel like you are working.” (More  words of wisdom from Mr. Strahan!)
5. Retail is becoming omni-channel. Retailers and retail centers need to adapt and create spaces for consumers so they can see brands both online and offline.
6. Digitally native brands have shifted from becoming anti-brick and mortar to embracing it with key flagship store locations.
7. The retail apocalypse is real, and it makes for great headlines, but it is also exaggerated. Some retailers have been unable to adapt to the shift in retail. For example, Toys-R-Us and Winn-Dixie filed for bankruptcy multiple times prior to Amazon’s ascent.
8. Most spaces being built today are mixed-use, whether they are vertical, horizontal, or proximity to residential with a wrap of retail.
9. The experience sector of CRE is booming! Consumers are spending their money where they can immerse themselves in entertainment or an experience instead of on things.
10. Mash-ups and partnerships with different brands are a trend that is here to stay and expand.

What did you learn at RECon? Did any of these takeaways strike a chord with you?
Please add your comments below. We would love to hear your thoughts.

If you have any questions concerning your property decisions, contact Corporate Property Dispositions where we turn potential property value into delivered value.

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