National + Retail | April 18, 2017

Neighborhood-Ecommerce Retail Centers Materialize in Unlikely Spaces

The shift to online shopping has introduced a new form of urban consumerism. Fewer trips to the mall or grocery store have created opportunities for online retailers to meet demand by utilizing forgotten urban industrial space.

Pockets of warehouses, often on the fringe of metro markets, are being converted from manufacturing into distribution centers. These “urban retail” facilities don’t come with bright lighting, colorful branding or big parking lots. In fact, they are rather nondescript. But they are efficient in filling the essential household shopping needs of families, and have become economic engines for these industrial zones.

Online retailer Boxed.com moves bulk household items though its NJ fulfillment center that serves customers along the Northeast corridor. Amazon.com operates four facilities in Southern California.

Rents are beginning to tick up, and eventually the growing ecommerce infrastructure network is expected to function much like a utility.

Inside The Story

About Dennis Kaiser

Dennis Kaiser is Vice President of Content and Public Relations for Connect Commercial Real Estate. Dennis is a communications leader with more than 30 years of experience including as a journalist and in corporate and agency marketing communications roles. He is responsible for Connect’s client content operations and is involved in a range of initiatives ranging from content strategy, message development, copywriting, media relations, social media and content marketing services. In his most recent corporate communications roles, he led a regional public relations effort across Southern California for CBRE, played a key marketing role on JLL’s national retail team, and was responsible for directing the global public relations effort at ValleyCrest, the nation’s largest commercial landscape services company. In addition to his vast commercial real estate experience, Dennis has worked on communications and launch strategies for a number of residential projects such as Disney’s Celebration in Florida, Ritter Ranch in Palmdale California (7,200 homes, 22,000 acres), WaterColor in Florida and PremierGarage in Phoenix. Dennis’s agency background included firms such as 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, BoyScouts, Chrysalis Foundation, Freedom For Life, HOLA, L.A.’s BEST, Reach Out and Read, Super Bowl Host Committee, and Thunderbirds Charities.

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