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LAS VEGAS—While out and about at the many networking events in Las Vegas, we caught up with a few key players to get their take on the market. Many of the national retailers attending the ICSC 2014 ReCon in Las Vegas said social interaction and community involvement were a priority in improving customer services. That is according to Jaime Weiss, president of Moonachie-based Weiss Realty.
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Over at the Faris Lee party, Lisa Brady, managing director in Las Vegas, said that during the first quarter of 2014 “we saw more transactions as compared to the past several quarters, which is testimony that investment sales are gaining momentum.”
And over at the JLL party, Peter Belisle, southwest market director, told GlobeSt.com that a reflection of how much the economy has picked up can be seen in how busy ICSC is this year.
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According to Belisle, “It's great to see a number of development and redevelopment projects in the retail space teed up for launch this year and next.”
One of the big themes this year, he said, is around creative urban infill retail projects. “All of this 'downtown' housing expansion is driving a need for better retail in these dense multi-use urban cores.
As GlobeSt.com previously reported—also from the JLL party—there has never been a more empowered and connected consumer. As such, retailers have been forced to raise their "game" in an effort to stay relevant in the eyes of their existing and prospective customers. According to Lew Kornberg, national practice lead of retail tenant representation at JLL, differentiation has become a "must" among retailers who want to remain competitive, but rather differentiation has to be thoughtful and meaningful to the consumer in order to work.
"For retailers to remain relevant and competitive, their point of differentiation has to provide value—be it real or perceived, service-based or tied to its product." he said. "The difference needs to matter and if it does not, shoppers can and will take their business elsewhere."
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Natalie Dolce
Natalie Dolce, editor-in-chief of GlobeSt.com, is responsible for working with editorial staff, freelancers and senior management to help plan the overarching vision that encompasses GlobeSt.com, including short-term and long-term goals for the website, how content integrates through the company’s other product lines and the overall quality of content. Previously she served as national executive editor and editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, and was responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, she was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt.com. Her background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats for M magazine, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, FashionLedge.com, and Co-Ed magazine. Dolce has also freelanced for a number of publications, including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine.
