Fact: Since 2002 the number of shopping centers has been increasing at just under 2% per annum to reach 48,695 at the end of 2005. Total US shopping center-inclined sales rose by around 6% in both 2004 and 2005.*

The US consumer market remains buoyant with shopping centers showing a very healthy growth over recent years. Correspondingly the amount of shopping centers and leasable retail space has steadily increased. Retail tenants have more space from which to choose.

Fact: Since 2002, the number of adults shopping in centers across the US has been increasing at about 1% per annum to reach 190.8m visits per month in 2005.^*

At the same time the number of customer visits to shopping centers has risen by only half the rate of new developments. People may be spending more, but comparatively they are visiting retail centers less.

This throws down the challenge to the shopping center owner:

• Increased revenue opportunity for retailers
• More space available for retailers
• Comparatively fewer people visiting shopping centers

As a shopping center operator, you are going to have to work even harder to even grow your demographic share

Faced with this issue it becomes more important than ever that an operator or developer understand their locale:

• What are the demographics of your trade area?
• Who are your core shoppers? Who are your primary targets? Who are your secondary targets?
• What are the key center attributes that matter to your ideal shopper?
• How well are you doing at attracting that ideal shopper?
• How does your retail mix fit your core shopper base?
• What is the best way of communicating with your
  target shopper?

Answering these questions will enable you to develop successful strategies for your shopping center or mall. Executing those strategies will mean you can attract the ideal retail tenant. And it puts you in the position of strength when it comes to lease negotiations.

To answer those question you need not only information, you need real insight that suggests positive actions…

Timely, actionable market intelligence

Alexander Babbage helps you understand your competitive performance within your trade area. We work with marketing, leasing, your agency and senior management to design and implement research studies. We analyze and interpret the information we gather. We provide you with the insights that enable you to integrate your leasing and marketing plans. You can then make your real estate assets sweat.

Alexander Babbage has a suite of products specifically designed in conjunction with the shopping center sector including the industry leading CenterMAX^®. We gather information quickly and efficiently. We deliver detailed, actionable insights for marketing and leasing teams alike. It is timely, actionable market intelligence.

The results are:

• Increased center visitor numbers
• More frequent visits
• Attracting ideal retail tenants
• Higher rents
• More profit

* Source: International Council of Shopping Centers