ANYTHING RETAIL

WITH ROB SAMTMANN

Rob Samtmann | May 28, 2024 |

Fast-Casual's Post-Pandemic Boom

The Resilience and Growth of Fast-Casual Restaurants: A Post-Pandemic Success Story The fast-casual restaurant category has been a dynamic player in the food industry since its inception in the 1990s, marked by the emergence of trailblazers like Chipotle. This segment truly came of age in the 2010s, a period shaped by the aftermath of the […]

Rob Samtmann | May 07, 2024 |

The Latest Blow to Retail Healthcare

Walmart’s Decision to Close Health Centers and the Implications for Retail Healthcare In a recent announcement, Walmart revealed its decision to shutter its Walmart Health centers and virtual care business, citing an unsustainable business model in primary care. This move marks a significant shift in the landscape of retail health clinics and underscores the challenges […]

Rob Samtmann | Mar 04, 2024 |

Spring Is In The Air!

Small Business Owners’ Optimism Reaches 22-Year High As we approach spring, there’s a prevailing sense of optimism. There are many strong indicators, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq marking their best February performance since 2015, and the Dow exhibiting its strongest showing since 2021. Notably, inflation appears to be easing, as reflected in the 2.4% […]

Rob Samtmann | Mar 04, 2024 |

Philly Displays Robust Retail Sector

In the evolving landscape of Philadelphia’s commercial real estate market between the first quarters of 2020 and 2024, distinct trends have emerged in major property sectors—retail, industrial, multifamily, and office. Contrary to expectations, the retail sector displayed remarkable resilience amid the pandemic, benefiting from robust consumer spending and restrained new construction. Strong spending from consumers, […]

Rob Samtmann | Feb 19, 2024 |

US Consumer Confidence Highest Since 2021

In January, there was a noteworthy uptick in US consumer confidence, which hit the highest point since the end of 2021. This surge was underpinned by an increasingly positive outlook on the economy and job market, coupled with a more optimistic perspective on inflation. According to data released on Tuesday, the Conference Board’s sentiment gauge […]

Rob Samtmann | Jan 18, 2024 |

Dynamic Shifts in Philly Real Estate

In a transformative period for the Philadelphia area’s commercial real estate sector, the recent signing of the largest office lease in over a decade by David Werner Real Estate Investments with Dow underscores a significant milestone, spotlighting the strategic growth of the life sciences and office campus in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Simultaneously, in 2023 industrial properties […]

Rob Samtmann | Jan 04, 2024 |

Navigating the 2024 Interest Rate Landscape

The anticipation of interest rate cuts in the coming year has sparked considerable debate among investors, especially as the presidential campaign takes center stage. According to Kiplinger’s recent article, “Interest Rates Outlook: Future Decline in Short-Term Rates Complicated by Politics”, the Federal Reserve’s Summary of Economic Projections suggests the possibility of three rate cuts in […]

Rob Samtmann | Dec 12, 2023 |

Holiday Shopping Pulled In Two Directions

As the echoes of Black Friday weekend fade, the retail realm experiences a temporary lull, with shoppers regrouping and procrastinators feeling the pressure to check off their holiday shopping lists. In this dynamic post-Black Friday landscape, we explore the recent economic indicators, global market shifts, and the evolving relationship between online and in-store retail. Consumer […]

Rob Samtmann | Nov 21, 2023 |

Retail Sales (The Week Before Thanksgiving)

This holiday season is pretty hard to predict. Even though there are a lot of signs that things might not be so hot, people are still spending money. We don’t know what will happen – will people run out of money before or after the holidays? Or will they just keep spending forever? Will they […]

Rob Samtmann | Nov 09, 2023 |

2023 Holiday Sales Growth Expected

The National Retail Federation’s annual holiday forecast predicts that holiday retail sales are anticipated to increase between 3% and 4% this year, reaching a record-breaking total of over $957 billion. The NRF suggests that if sales reach the upper end of their forecast, Americans could potentially spend up to $30 billion more than they did […]

Rob Samtmann

Rob is Managing Principal of Equity Retail Brokers and he specializes in tenant representation and leasing.

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