ICSC vital business tool, retailers say

“We want retailers to know that ICSC truly values them, and we will steer our efforts as an organization to the things that matter most in our ever evolving industry,” said Cohen, founder of Holly Cohen Retail Advisory Services. Cohen, who began her career in operations and real estate at Gap, Inc., has led global real estate development also at Claire’s, J.Crew and Nike. She is a member of the ICSC Board of Trustees and is consulting with the organization to make it as relevant to retailers as it is to the developers, brokers and other professionals it serves.

These efforts are beginning with RECon. Upwards of 3,600 retailers attended the show last year, and at least that many are expected this year. Among these are some first-time exhibitors, including Xponential Fitness, a private-equity-backed company amassing a portfolio of fitness franchise brands; and Speedway, the largest corporate-owned-and-operated convenience-store chain east of the Mississippi. Returning exhibitors include such RECon favorites as Tropical Smoothie Cafe and Jersey Mike’s Subs. Many other retailers that will not be exhibiting are attending RECon as well.

RECon and ICSC’s other events provide professionals with opportunities to keep up with the rapid changes and innovations sweeping through the industry.

“ICSC’s RECon provides retailers a valuable forum to network with key industry leaders and [to] keep a pulse on emerging issues and trends,” said Laurie Mahowald, vice president of real estate at Target Corp. and an ICSC trustee. “It’s one of the key deal-making forums of the year.”

ICSC is critical for professional development, says Jeff Gaul, senior vice president of property development and real estate at Sephora. “ICSC has provided me the foundation and support, from very early in my career, to achieve success in the shopping center industry,” said Gaul, an ICSC trustee. “I have found the relationships I have developed through ICSC to be invaluable.”

John Dolson, Nordstrom’s vice president of real estate, concurs. “ICSC provides my team and me the platform to engage with both our existing landlords [and] potential landlords in an efficient and cost-effective manner,” said Dolson, another ICSC trustee. “We could not manage the portfolio we have nor handle the number of transactions we do with the size of our team without ICSC.”

Meanwhile, retailers — along with others in the retail real estate industry — are gearing up for yet another RECon in May.

“We attend RECon because we believe it is the single-best event of the year in order to increase our brand awareness nationally,” said Charles Watson, Tropical Smoothie’s chief development officer. “At no other event do you have all the key players — brokers, landlords, developers and REITs — in one place at one time.”

Brian Sommers, vice president of franchise development for Jersey Mike’s, extols the benefits of meeting close up with potential franchisees to discuss the chain’s vision, culture and goals. “RECon gives us the perfect opportunity to not only grow professionally by attending invaluable workshops and presentations, but also to connect with landlords, developers and real estate professionals, as well as existing franchisees,” he said. “It’s an exciting time for us, and we very much look forward to attending.”

ICSC will be catering to retailers off the show floor too, through the Retail in Focus Retailer Reception at the Wynn. Cohen says she wants to take that opportunity to poll retailers on how the organization can better serve them.

“This increased focus on retail will create even more opportunities for our retail membership to connect with and benefit from our industry partners,” said Valerie Richardson, CRX, CLS, vice president of real estate at The Container Store, and ICSC’s vice chairman.

Cohen says she is eager also to have more retailer members volunteer at ICSC. “We have a great opportunity to engage with our retail volunteers, hear their ideas and, together, advocate for our sector,” she said. “This is a great way for talent to emerge and be a part of our retail focus.”