As our work takes me throughout the southeast, I continue to see optimistic signs that commercial markets are on the upswing. Increases for everyone Retail occupancy is improving, apartment rental rates are starting to increase and we are feeling more buzz around our office. More phone calls for opportunities. While these steps might be small, …
While I think our economy continues to heal from what we are seeing the next 12 to 18 months will see more failures of the weak in commercial real estate and the construction industry. 2012 will be a tough year on the sureties and surety credit will even be harder to obtain over the next …
“Necessity is the mother of invention.” I have always believed this as a truth, particularly in these tough times. Some jobs might have vanished in the recent Recession, but to me, creative ideas will always be with us. There are plenty of smart people out there who found themselves unemployed in the past year. Instead …
I say both, but that’s the short answer. Here’s how I got there. For me, Saturdays in the fall often involve at least a little bit of college football. While I was watching last weekend, I thought about how important communication is on the field. A quarterback might be blessed with tremendous athletic ability and …
I read recently in the Wall Street Journal that as of May, retailer Bed Bath & Beyond had $1.64 billion in cash and short-term treasuries, and expects to generate at least another $600 million by February. Nationwide, non-financial businesses had approximately $1.85 trillion in liquid assets as of June. That’s pretty good, I would say. …
There is no denying that the fallout from this Recession has been widespread. Even companies experiencing a level of success are being affected by the financial issues of others. Here’s an example. Hennes & Mauritz is a Swedish-based fashion retailer that appeals to teens and young adults. My daughters love their stores, and apparently they’re …
As I see it, the need for large store platforms is diminishing, for a while at least. The retail community is starting to think outside the box. When the economy was booming and credit was easy to obtain, consumers were buying goods at a record pace. Retailers began building bigger and bigger box stores to …
Thanks to computers, smart phones and the Web, we as a society have never been more connected. I can send detailed information to multiple clients within a matter of seconds, and stay constantly updated on everything that is happening with the company and in the industry. Yet, sometimes I think that we as individuals have …
It’s not surprising that in the U.S., only one new enclosed mall has opened in the last 4 years. In that same time, it has been estimated that nearly 500 of the 2,000+ malls in our country have closed. That translates to a lot of property and structures available for immediate use. But who wants …
Nearly every sizeable city in the United States struggles with clogged arteries. It’s a sea of traffic signals, brake lights and all-around urban sprawl. The roads in and out of town stack up during rush hour with smog-spewing traffic jams. Nobody enjoys sitting in traffic, so there is personal motivation to eliminate tie-ups. It saves …
A friend of mine was just diagnosed with a severe illness this week. Sadly, it was the kind a simple procedure could have detected much earlier, solving the problem without major surgery. I think we are all sometimes guilty of procrastinating matters related to our health. It seems parallel to the way we think of …
No matter how hard we work around here, there are always moments at Stewart Perry when we need to stop and look at the flowers. And the trees. And the lake. One of the wonderful things about our building is how easy it is to do just that. Built with sustainability and green initiatives in …