Reisterstown Road Plaza’s Post

I’m excited to share some great news—Sapphire has recently expanded its presence by acquiring two new spaces in the Grays Shopping Centre, located at: Thurrock: Unit 4 and Unit 29, Grays Shopping Centre, Clarence Road High Street, Grays, RM17 6QE Our Launch Event RSVP here - https://lnkd.in/eX5RmJxg “Our Goal is simple. Build up a nation of world leaders. Providing the tools marginalised and ethnic minority groups need to not only survive but thrive”. We instill a message of love and self-worth, offering hope to those who may have felt silenced or marginalised. Join Us: Saturday, 31st August 2024, from 12pm - 3pm Location: Thurrock, Unit 4 and Unit 29, Grays Shopping Centre, Clarence Road High Street, Grays, RM17 6QE At Sapphire, we believe in resilience and unity. No matter the challenges, we rise stronger together. Our commitment is unwavering—we're here to bring hope, light, and positivity to our community. Join us as we celebrate this new chapter and strengthen our bonds. Sapphire is hereto stay, bringing hope and light to our world. Objectives: 1. Celebrate the Launch: Officially open the Sapphire Spaces and Community Hub to the public. 2. Raise Awareness: Highlight the mission and vision of Sapphire, focusing on empowering marginalized and ethnic minority groups. 3. Engage the Community: Foster a sense of community and provide a platform for residents to connect and learn about available resources. 4. Inspire and Inform: Share stories of success and hope, encouraging attendees to engage with the programs offered.

How can shopping centres drive community engagement to forge stronger connections Retail's evolving landscape highlights a timeless truth: people crave connection. Picture a bustling shopping centre. It's more than just a place to shop; it's where communities thrive, friendships blossom, and laughter fills the air. Even with the rise of online shopping, these connections remain vital. Embracing a community-centric mindset is key. See residents not just as customers but as valued members of a larger community. Prioritize their well-being and foster inclusivity.   Thoughtful community events are powerful. From barbecues to workshops, they bring people together, sparking conversations and strengthening ties. Cater to diverse interests for broad engagement. Facilitate meaningful connections among residents. Whether through mixers or clubs, create spaces for networking and collaboration. This camaraderie enhances community life. Communication is crucial. Establish channels for feedback and dialogue, ensuring residents feel heard and valued. Actively seek input to tailor initiatives to their needs and preferences. Strategic event development in collaboration with retailers can significantly impact business at shopping centres. By organizing events tailored to the local market, shopping centres experience increased foot traffic and sales boosts for participating tenants. By curating experiences that go beyond mere retail transactions, we have the power to transform shopping centres into vibrant hubs of community life.

It’s not just f&b that’s struggling, stories like this highlight how tough it really is for all brick & mortar retail locations, even in former bustling shopping strips and popular community hubs… https://lnkd.in/gaVUcV_5 Clearly everyone has their own opinions about the causes and reasons, most factors are beyond operators control…not much is being offered up in the form of solutions and out of the box strategies to combat these challenges but to keep doing what they’ve been doing and hoping for a different result is mind boggling… We’re launching a new service at c51 Consulting called SLAM (Smart Local Area Marketing) that’s all about helping local businesses, shine on Google. We’re taking the focus away from Facebook & Instagram likes & shares and for just $99/month, we optimize Google Business Listing, manage reviews, and make sure they stand out locally. https://lnkd.in/g9C3rR2X Forget about over priced social media managers, don’t waste your money on content creators and influencer collabs with your ROI being measured in likes and impressions from people in locations that cannot and will not ever visit your store…switch your focus to local, via the world’s most powerful search engine Google and get your online profile in order…I’m confident most small business owners and retailers will be pleasantly surprised just how many people who may live just around the corner don’t even know that they’re there…

Are you sure you're choosing the right tenants for your center? 🧐 Don't Rush: Avoid jumping at the first tenant that sends an LOI, even when times are tight. Check Their Presence: Look at their social media, website, and reviews to understand the experience they create. Understand Impact: Studies show in-store experiences significantly affect customer return rates. Know Your Community: Ensure your tenant roster aligns with community needs and includes top-tier tenants for each category. Make informed decisions to build a tenant mix that elevates your center and enhances the shopping experience. Follow for more expert insights and strategies.📈  #LeasingStrategy #TenantResearch #CommunityBuilding #RetailManagement #InStoreExperience #BusinessGrowth #PropertyManagement #SmartLeasing #RetailSuccess

Ready to See Your Town Flourish? It Starts with Shopping Local What if the key to a thriving, bustling town was right in front of you? Imagine a Main Street filled with life, where local businesses are booming, and every dollar spent circulates within your community. This is the power of shopping local, but it doesn’t stop there. The real magic happens when businesses use strategic marketing tools to capture attention and drive foot traffic. Think about it: What makes you stop and take notice when walking down a street? Is it the bright, colorful banners fluttering in the wind? Or maybe the clever, eye-catching window signage that sparks your curiosity? These aren’t just random decorations; they are powerful marketing tools that can lure people into stores, restaurants, or bars, where they’re more likely to spend their money. Businesses that invest in sidewalk signage, window graphics, flags, and banners aren’t just making their stores more attractive—they’re making an investment in the future of the town. As a real estate agent, I know that a thriving local business scene can increase property values and make neighborhoods more desirable places to live. But this growth doesn’t happen by accident. It starts with you, the local shopper, choosing to support the businesses that make your town unique. And it’s fueled by businesses that understand the importance of capturing attention through effective, real-world marketing. So, the next time you’re out shopping, take a moment to appreciate the efforts local businesses are making to stand out. Support them with your dollars and watch as your community flourishes, one transaction at a time. Our products are for people who believe in the power of real-world marketing. We will focus on people who want to enhance their brand visibility through innovative and eye-catching promotional products, signage, and decorated apparel. We promise that engaging with what we make will help you get noticed and remembered by your target audience, increase foot traffic, and ultimately boost your business's growth. With over 45 Years of Excellence in NYC, Isaacson Associates' Real-World Marketecture has guided over 10,000 clients on their path to prosperity by providing specialized printing services and promotional products that create memorable brands, ignite consumer passion, and boost bottom lines. Isaacson Associates - You Have To Get Noticed To Be Remembered. T / 917.841.9741 • E / steve@isaacsonassociates.com

For my sins, I spend a lot of time looking at shopping centres' social feeds… If you want to increase footfall by 10% over the next 6 months at Vicar Lane Shopping Centre, this is how you have to start. It gets very dull quickly because they’re all basically the same… peddling the same soulless, untargeted messages to everyone (no one). If you want the general public to trust you enough to turn up in person, you’ve got to work for it. Starting with knowing who you are… I made this short video explaining how I would give Vicar Lane Shopping Centre in Chesterfield (managed by MAPP) a digital personality that actually matters. Why? Because most shopping centres are just doing a digital version of what killed our high streets… trying to be the same as everyone else! If you don’t want to watch it, here's the approach: 1. Understand the centre's unique qualities 2. Figure out who actually shops there, who you want to, and why 3. Create content that doesn't make people want to scroll past 4. Test, fail, and try again (because, let's face it, we're all learning) The goal? More footfall, more revenue, and a shopping centre that doesn't feel like a soulless maze of online and IRL consumerism. Would you like me to do the same for your centre? Comment “Engagement” below

Ecommerce isn't killing the high street; it's transforming it into something better. Picture this: bustling high streets, not just with shoppers, but with experiences. Instead of mourning the decline of physical retail, let's celebrate the evolution. Ecommerce has pushed high street businesses to innovate, adapt, and enhance their value propositions. Imagine walking down your local street, where stores are not just selling products, but hosting workshops, events, and pop-ups. The high street is becoming a community hub, a place for social interaction, creativity, and unique experiences. This shift is an opportunity for local businesses to shine brighter than ever. So, let’s embrace this transformation with open arms and open minds. How will you contribute to the high street's inspiring new chapter? #EcommerceEvolution #HighStreetTransformation #RetailRevolution #ShopLocal #CommunityHub #RetailInnovation #ExperienceEconomy #LocalBusiness #HighStreetRevival #RetailExperiences #AdaptAndThrive #CreativeCommerce #RetailFuture #InnovationInRetail #SupportLocal #CommunityEngagement

High Streets aren’t dead, they’re evolving! The future of UK high streets is a topic of much debate, and one that I am heavily involved with, with some arguing that they are dying, while others (like me) believe that they are evolving. There is no denying that UK high streets have faced significant challenges in recent years. The rise of online shopping, changing consumer behaviors, and the COVID-19 pandemic have all contributed to a decline in footfall and sales. Many high street retailers have struggled to adapt to these changes, leading to store closures and job losses. However, I believe that high streets are not dying but evolving. While some traditional high street retailers have struggled, others have embraced new technologies and innovations to adapt to changing consumer behaviors. For example, many retailers have developed online sales channels and omnichannel strategies that integrate online and offline shopping experiences. In addition, high streets are increasingly diversifying, with a range of businesses such as independent retailers, cafes, restaurants, and experiential offerings, creating a more vibrant and varied high street. Moreover, there are many initiatives aimed at revitalizing UK high streets. These include local government programs, business improvement districts, and community-led initiatives that aim to create a sense of place, community, and innovation. In summary, while UK high streets face significant challenges, they are not dying but evolving. The future of high streets will depend on how retailers and communities adapt to changing consumer behaviors and embrace new technologies and innovations. Those that do so are likely to thrive, while those that do not may continue to struggle.

Really looking forward to this panel session as part of Tuesday's Completely Retail Marketplace event. 'Creating Communities in #retail' - such a hot topic and one that is essential to the future success of our #highstreets. I was once accused of being "too nice" to do my job effectively (no regrets moving on from there!). I believe I was mis-judged and that a higher than average degree of "kindness" is an attribute I've been blessed with. It serves me well in life & work. Moreover I find it to be one of the key ingredients to help shape, form, rescue or grow the Groups I'm fortunate enough to support. What does a #community mean to you in a #highstreet, #towncentre or #shoppingcentre context? If you are attending on Tuesday then pop along to Session 2 at 10.05am and join the conversation with: Chris Jukes Diane Shawe Lisa Simmons (nee Pilkington) If you'd like to meet in person to discuss our varied community/engagement/support projects at the event, then come along to the SaveTheHighStreet.org area on the Mezzanine or book an appointment in the meeting scheduler. I'll be joined at the event by the wonderful Alex Schlagman and our asset specialist Andrew McDonald MRICS MIPM FRSA who can both share details of innovative #incubators, #accelerators and much more. If you are not at the event then drop an inbox message and we can arrange a catch up afterwards, or just pop your own observations in the comments below and we can make sure they are fed into the debate. See the full Innovation Studio line up here: https://lnkd.in/eRSRdhJD #placemaking #retailsupport #shoplocal #vacantunits

Have we let the American mall die? Or can we bring it back to life? Walking into a mall this season… it’s not what it used to be. Christmas music echoes (not even Thanksgiving) through empty hallways, stores that once buzzed with life are now “For Lease,” and the smell of pretzels and popcorn… replaced by silence. Some say the mall is dead—a relic of the past. But is that really the future we want? Malls weren’t just about shopping. They were about community. They were a destination, a place where families, teens, and friends gathered to experience American culture at its peak. The question is: How do we bring that experience back? Maybe it’s by rethinking the mall itself: Experiential Spaces: Think more than shopping. Imagine classes, events, interactive exhibits, and pop-ups that bring people back for something they can’t find online. Community Hubs: Malls could be reimagined as spaces for co-working, remote learning, or even health and wellness hubs, offering services that bring people in regularly. Local Vendors: Supporting small businesses and local creators gives shoppers something unique and authentic. The mall was once the backbone of American retail, a true intersection of commerce and community. But if it’s going to survive, it’s going to take bold steps from landlords, retailers, and us—the consumers—to bring back the magic. What do you think? Can the American mall be saved? Or is it time to say goodbye? Let’s talk. 👇Just my thoughts 🤷♂️