Industry insights, market outlook reports and commercial real estate
news, and trends from the Coldwell
Banker Commercial brand.
Amazon has been an extremely innovative force. In the past few years, they have totally revolutionized the e-commerce market, how we grocery shop, how we check out and even the shipping industry. Now, they have moved on and targeted airports. No, Amazon is not creating flying stores… However, they are looking into bringing their checkout-less stores to airports in hopes of appealing to travelers who are looking for quick, convenient options in between flights.
Once upon a time, when a sports stadium was built, the focus was on the game. Though builders would include restrooms and eventually concession stands, distractions from the sport at hand were seen as “minor-league.” Fast forward to present years, stadiums are now entertainment experiences and designers have turned to lifestyle centers for inspiration.
If you take a look around, it’s easy to see that online retail has become increasingly competitive. Gaps and niches in the market are filled, and there seems to be a shiny, new brand catering to every market segment out there. In other words, opportunities to really connect with your customers could be disappearing fast.
It comes as no surprise that many brick and mortar retail outlets have reported an overall dip in sales, thanks to the prevalence and mass appeal of online shopping. After all, being able to skip the traffic and parking, as well as the long lines at checkout, is hard to turn down. And, in particular, large indoor malls have really struggled – in fact, many have lost tenants and have been struggling to get shoppers through their doors, leading smart retails to explore new options for increasing foot traffic.
It seems that everywhere you look today, it’s almost impossible to avoid hearing or reading stories about Millennials. We have all heard about how they are making huge strides and taking the lead in business, politics, real estate, philanthropy, and more. But what you might not have heard yet is that Millennials are even shaping your grocery store.
It has been said that it is only a matter of time before blockchain, the proprietary technology that supports cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, will begin to infiltrate industries all around the world. And, believe it or not, even historically traditional industries are not immune to the disruption – commercial real estate included.
According to industry insider Tasting Tables, the industrial fad is fading. Instead of steel beams and concrete slabs, a big restaurant trend taking over the market is the move to more cozy interior designs. That’s just one trend that is reversing or changing.
For decades, large department stores served as the anchor store for malls and shopping centers. The anchor is the main attraction while all of the other retail shops inside of the mall pay the majority of the lease. Without the anchor, the mall dies. With so many big anchor stores closing in malls throughout America, could grocery stores replace department stores as the new “mall” of our era?
Last year, we reported on a trend happening in Asia that is finding its way to the U.S. and that is the shipping container building movement. Now as retail looks for ways to get back into brick-and-mortar and for a reprieve from struggling malls, could U.S. airports be the next big win in retail?
A lot has been made about the in-store shopping trends we are seeing in retail. What has largely been overlooked are the shipping trends shaping the retail landscape this year. Consumers continue to expect faster deliveries for free which is putting enormous stress on the last mile for retailers.