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California  + Orange County  + Retail  | 

Get Ready for the Future at Connect Retail West

By Dennis Kaiser

Connect Retail West is set for Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Coast, CA. Leading up to the event, Connect Media asked one of the participants, Greenberg Glusker’s Craig Coan, to share insights on the biggest trends, opportunities and challenges, as well as how companies are adjusting to the changes, in our latest 3 CRE Q&A.

Q: What are some of the big trends you are tracking for retail developers or investors as we move into 2019?

A: Respected and credit-worthy restaurants are the new “anchor tenants,” which means that these highly- desirable restaurants have a lot more leverage in new deals. This is resulting in a lot of private equity funds looking to get into the space and flooding the market with new concepts, and willing to pay up for good locations. Developers and investors have to hitch their cart to the right restaurants and retailers, and not just the ones willing to pay the most. Westfield Century City is flooded with restaurants and retailers that just can’t be busy year-round.

Q: What do you think are the biggest opportunities and challenges for the retail sector?

A: E-commerce sales are now over 10% of total sales, but you now see that the online operators are creating brick and mortar locations (i.e. Amazon). Operators need to have both a robust online presence and provide shoppers with ready access to product in the neighborhood.

Q: What are some ways the retail industry can adjust to the changes it faces and emerge as a thriving sector in the coming 12 months?

A: Focusing on the retail experience, rather than just the pricing and the product. Costco and Walmart are still doing record numbers and most retailers can’t compete on pricing with them. Consumers are looking to get out of the house, and want to be entertained or experience something unique when they are out shopping. Developers are looking to create destinations and experiences for their customers, such as Virtual Reality and other activity spaces.

For comments, questions or concerns, please contact Dennis Kaiser

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About Dennis Kaiser

Dennis Kaiser is Vice President of Public Relations and Communications for Connect Creative. Dennis is a communications leader with more than 40 years of experience including as a journalist and in corporate and agency marketing communications roles. He is responsible for Connect Creative’s agency client services and is involved in a range of initiatives ranging from public relations and content strategy, communications and message development, copywriting, media relations, social media and content marketing services. Prior to joining Connect Media in 2015, his most recent corporate communications roles involved leading a regional public relations effort across Southern California for CBRE, playing a key marketing role on JLL’s national retail team, and directing the global public relations effort at ValleyCrest (BrightView), the nation’s largest commercial landscape services company. He has worked on marketing communications assignments for such CRE companies as Blackstone/Equity Office, Carlyle, Caruso, Disney Resorts, GE Capital, Irvine Company, Hines, Howard Hughes Corp., Jeffries, Lennar, MGM, Marcus & Millichap, Prologis, Raleigh Studios, Simon, Starwood, Trammell Crow Company, Transamerica, UBS and Wynn Resorts. Dennis has also worked on communications and launch strategies for a number of consumer electronic, media and tech brands including SlingMedia, Channel Master, Deluxe Media Entertainment, BeIn Sports, EchoStar and Sprint. Dennis’s agency background included firms such as Off Madison Ave., Idea Hall and Macy + Associates. He has earned an outstanding reputation with organization leaders as a trusted advisor, strategic program implementer, consensus builder and exceptional collaborator. Dennis has developed and managed national communications programs for Fortune 500 companies to start-ups, both public and private. He’s successfully worked with journalists across the globe representing clients involved in major-breaking news stories, product launches, media tours, and company news announcements. Dennis has been involved in a host of charitable and community organizations including the American Cancer Society, Easter Seals, Boy Scouts, Chrysalis Foundation, Freedom For Life, HOLA, L.A.’s BEST, Reach Out and Read, Super Bowl Host Committee, and the Thunderbirds Charities.

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