2012 Retail Outlook is Conservative

Neil Victor, CCIM and Terri Dean of Sperry Van Ness Huntsville, Alabama office would like to share this article from CCIM.com:

Economic uncertainty is causing retailers to be cautious as they plan for 2012, according to Colliers International’s 3Q11 Retail Highlights report. Colliers expects many companies to re-evaluate and raise estimates at least once next year. Muted expectations for holiday sales, especially compared with last year’s unexpectedly strong numbers, are also contributing to retailers’ wait-and-see attitude.

In the meantime, the report notes, retailers are hinting at cuts in capital expenditures for new store locations, although very few have revealed their plans. Year-over-year growth in 2010 and 2011 resulted from real­ized operational efficiencies and improved inventory management, so options for 2012 are limited. Thus, reducing capital expenditures to preserve liquidity still appears to be a good solution, according to the report.

Through year-end, net retail absorption is expected to decline following a strong third quarter, while operating metrics should stay relatively flat. Intense competition for high-profile tenants among landlords also may cause retail rents to fall in some markets.

Sperry Van Ness International, an Irvine-based commercial real estate firm, has completed several investments in new technology. Some of these include improvements to its online tracking system (OTS) and the integration of consumer relationship management (CRM) and social media applications. Earlier this year, Realcomm recognized these and other innovations with a 2011 Digie Award for “Best Use of Automation – Brokerage” for it use of Web 2.0 technology.

“[We have] embraced cloud computing for the past decade,” said Kevin Maggiacomo, chief executive officer and president of Sperry Van Ness. “We pioneered OTS, our single-point-of-entry tracking system, years before the technology caught on within the industry. Today … we continue to invest in new technology to enhance its value for our advisors and clients.

“We are committed to delivering leading-edge solutions that bring efficiency and value to our advisors and clients,” added Maggiacomo. “Integrating new technology into OTS was an opportunity to take our culture of innovation, collaboration and transparency a step further.”

Sperry Van Ness has also added new upgrades to its iPhone and iPad application. The enhancements will allow consumers to more easily search for property listings, find office locations and connect with advisors.

"Sperry Van Ness is unique in that they offer all their advisors free access to a complete suite of technology tools, including our [consumer relationship management] system,” said Michael Griffin, chief executive officer of ClientLook. “This is an incredible benefit that definitely helps differentiate Sperry Van Ness' quality of service."

The Sperry Van Ness office in Huntsville, AL  Broker: Ava Terry  Uses the latest technology furnished by Sperry Van Ness Corporate.  Neil Victor is currently the President of NALCOM (North Alabama Commercial Brokers Assoc.)