Save-A-Lot Grocery Store Opens in Midfield, Al. at West Hills Plaza

The community of Midfield welcomes the new Save-A-Lot grocery store. The small close-nit community welcomes not only a new grocery store but the new jobs and opportunities to the community.

Photo courtesy of the Mayor’s assistant

The grand opening was on Oct. 31, 2014, with Mayor Gary Richardson and members of the local chamber of commerce present.

Photo courtesy of the Mayor’s assistant

Midfield is located in Jefferson County, Alabama. It is south of from the Birmingham suburb of Fairfield.

Save-a-Lot is a American hard discount supermarket chain headquartered in Earth City, Missouri, near St. Louis, United States.

Photo courtesy of the Mayor’s assistant

While stores carry most typical grocery products, they feature less variety than conventional supermarkets. A typical Save-A-Lot is 15,000 square feet with items displayed in their cardboard shipping boxes.

Visit Midfield and follow them FaceBook/Midfield.

The West Hills Plaza is managed by Sharp Realty, LLC.

Sharp Realty,LLC

400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300 Birmingham, Al 35209

205-879-1995

www.SharpRealty.com

Save-A-Lot Open in Midfield, Alabama

Save-A-Lot, a full-service grocery store is the new anchor at West Hills Plaza in Midfield.  This brand new corporate store will be a help to the Midfield economy.

Thank you to the Mayor of Midfield, Gary Richardson, one of his assistant and the president of the chamber for attending the Grand Opening of Save-a-Lot on Thursday, October 30, 2014

A subsidiary of SuperValu, the grocery store will occupy 19,000 square feet of space in a West Hills Plaza.  It has great visibility, access and signage.

The store's positioning next to the Bessemer Superhighway will likely see a lot of traffic.

Save-A-Lot will join tenants like Compass Bank, Krispy Kreme, Cit Trends, Fred's, Burger King, Walgreens, Subway, Rally's and Rent-A-Center in the 150,000 square-foot space. 

Owned by Sam Sharp and managed by Sharp Realty.

For this or other commercial leasing locations: 

Sharp Realty, LLC.
400 Union Hill Suite 300
Birmingham, Al. 35209
Phone: 205-879-1995

www.sharprealty.com

______________________________________________________________

Other topics:
How being organized in a multi-tasking world ensures business success? 

Make a Good Impression: 5 Ways To Spruce Up the Office 

3 Basics of Business Branding for Small Business Today 

5 Ways to Reduce Cost the First Few Years of Operating a Retail Business

Keeping cost low is vital for the success of any new business. Here are five ways to reduce cost those first few years.

1.   Consider bartering - Establishing some type of bartering agreements with vendors and friends who can provide goods and services during your first critical months or years of business can result in future success.

2.   Review your resources - The Chamber of Commerce, your local library or YouTube to help with planning, marketing and other information you need to open a small retail business. 

3.   Develop a communications plan for vendors and suppliers. You will benefit from partnerships with those individuals and companies that will help you keep inventory stocked from the day you open your store and beyond.

4.   Lease equipment or purchase used equipment to save money on operating costs. 

5. Use social media like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest as a marketing tool and be seen by customers and potential customers. It is FREE!!

For help with leasing a building or questions about leasing or management contact Sharp Realty. 

Sharp Realty
400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300
Birmingham, Al. 35209
205-879-1995
www.sharprealty.com
Leasing retail locations nationwide.

4 Smarter Time Management Tips for Small Business Owners

In this world of instant gratification time management is something that all small businesses seem to struggle with.  But maximizing your time is vital for businesses to stay successful. Below are a few tips to manage your time better.

1.  Make Time for Training: The biggest time-waster for most retail managers is answering employee's questions about mundane tasks.

If you find yourself getting a lot of routine queries, you probably haven't trained your employees adequately.

When you compile your to-do list, make teaching something new to your people one of your daily priorities. 

2. Take control: Practice not answering the phone just because it's ringing and e-mails just because they show up.

Disconnect instant messaging. Instead, schedule a time to answer email and return phone calls.

3.  Take the first 30 minutes of every day to plan your day. Don't start your day until you complete your time plan. The most important time of your day is the time you schedule to schedule time. 

4. Take five minutes before every task to decide what result you want to attain. This will help you know what success looks like before you start. Take five minutes after each task to determine whether your desired result was achieved.

Let us know how you feel about these tips.
Blog by Sharp Realty and Management.


Commercial Real Estate Office and retail location space for lease throughout the United States. Contact us for details.

Sharp Realty

400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300 Birmingham, Al 35209

205-879-1995

www.SharpRealty.com

How To Select A Great Franchise Location?

Most franchisors provide you with specific selection criteria for finding a good site such as:

·    Demographic Characteristics

·    Population Density

·    Traffic and Parking Parameters

·    Site visibility  

·    Anchor Stores in Complex 

Most franchise systems assume you'll do most of the legwork in terms of locating a prospective site.

Many franchisors often provide other helpful information, such as the type of tenant mix that is preferable in a shopping center you are considering.

There is usually a team approach to finding the location and negotiating and finalizing the lease. The team consists of you, the franchisor, a local commercial real estate broker and a good lease attorney.

Sharp Realty currently owns and manages over 2,000,000 square feet of space for lease in over four different states. We provide pro-active marketing of each complex with great anchor stores to help drive foot traffic. Contact us today to discuss the right location for your business.

______________________________________________________________

Blog content by: Sharp Realty.
For more great tips follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

 
Sharp Realty

400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300 Birmingham, Al 35209

205-879-1995

www.SharpRealty.com

How to keep customers coming back as repeat buyers?

As economic times become tougher many consumers are focusing more on only necessary purchases. How do you get them to continue buying your products or services that are beyond essentials?

Creating an emotional bond between the consumer and the products or services they use is a MUST for business owners.  Apple's iPhone is one of the best examples of a company doing this.

When a customer has an emotional connection with a business or product they are more likely to keep coming back!

How can a business that does not have a large marketing budget still create such an emotional bond?  Below are 4 things a businesses can do to establish and maintain a relationship with their customers.

1.  People connection – it seems like the more mobile and social we are getting online the less social and customer friendly we are being offline.
Remind your employees to connect with the customers, ask personal questions like “Did you have a great weekend”? “How’s your week going”?

There is nothing like good old fashioned customer service when customers are buying in your store or online!

2.  Add a personal thank you note of appreciation for their continued business. A thank you goes a long way especially when it is expressed in the written form. In this modern time we seem to have forgotten the emotional attachment that can develop from the written word.

3.  Highlight your business in a human light by presenting the owner and staff on a personal level.  Feature pictures and stories in your store and online about the person or personal event.

Create a “Meet the Staff” or Team Board. Design a board in the store that displays personal pictures, hobbies and interest of your staff. As the customers read and see pictures of your team members they become more connect on a personal level and don’t see them just as a salesperson.

4. Create an experience when they come into your store. Design an atmosphere appropriate to your business. Hand out unique paper and pen to take notes, tea or water in a special cup, cookies, or a special goody bag when they check out.

Consumers buy on emotion! You must develop that emotional experience for them. Use your time wisely by creating an emotional and human connection with consumers.

 

Blog content by: Sharp Realty.
For more great tips follow us on Facebook or Twitter.


Sharp Realty

400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300 Birmingham, Al 35209

205-879-1995

www.SharpRealty.com

6 Smart Tips for Leasing Commercial Real Estate.

Securing your first commercial real estate lease can be scary. Below are six point to consider before signing the lease whether as business owner or franchise owner.

• Evaluate your space needs. Do you plan to grow your business? Your lease term will likely be for many years, so plan accordingly.

• View a lot of properties. Make sure you're comfortable with the price of comparable spaces before making your final decision.
  
• Ask about how active the landlord is with advertising and using social media.
  With todays “social” world, most leasing management companies are using social media as a great form of connecting with the public to drive traffic to malls and shopping centers.
• Look for hidden expenses in the agreement. Charges above your fixed or base rent, like operating expenses, can surprise novices. They may not be in the term sheet, so ask specifically for this information.

• Feeling comfortable with the leasing manager is important.
  Because you are going to be working with this person or team for over a year you will want to be comfortable with the leasing manager.
• Don't review documents on your own. Have a lawyer review the lease.

       For more great tips follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

       Sharp Realty
       Phone: 205-879-1995

       400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300 Birmingham, Al 35209

       www.SharpRealty.com

Due to high unemployment many people are turning to entrepreneurship.

Instead of sitting around waiting to hear back from employers, many of the long term unemployed who have lost hope in the possibility of finding a new job are learning to be creative and proactive in making a living through entrepreneurship.

 

Many new entrepreneurs are now turning their passions such as consignment shops, clock design, pet sitting and writing books into a business. Most importantly, they are creating a business that fits in with their lives, families, personal and professional goals.

  

Starting a new business does come with challenges but the effort is more gratifying when it benefits you and your family.
 

After having the “big idea” contact several successful business owners and ask the following questions.  

1.            Define what sets your brand apart from your competitors?

2.            What type of marketing will be most cost effective?

3.            Where is the best store location? 

Shorten your road to success as an entrepreneur by learning from those who have already successfully traveled it.
 

 

Sharp Realty has a proven track record of success in commercial retail leasing and management.

Contact Rhonda at Sharp Realty

www.SharpRealty.com

205-879-1995

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why many Retail Store owners are moving to Madison, Georgia

Most retail store owners and franchise owners seek locations that will be a successful for their business but they also desire a town that is comfortable for the whole family to grow and thrive.

Madison is truly one of those great small towns. The high standard of the entire community reflects the quality of life they all enjoy, the clean streets, the abundance of seasonal flower beds, and the picturesque residences lining historic streets and surrounding the charming of the downtown area.

According to City Data:

Population in 2010: 3,979.  Population change since 2000: +9.4%

Zip codes: 30650
Estimated median household income in 2009: $45,507
(it was $36,055 in 2000)
Madison:$45,507
Georgia: $47,590

Madison city income, earnings, and wages data
Estimated median house or condo value in 2009: $226,659
(it was $110,300 in 2000)
Madison:$226,659
Georgia:$162,800

Mean prices in 2009: All housing units: $297,685;
Detached houses: $321,414; Townhouses or other attached units: $84,820; Mobile homes: $43,273 

Unemployment in march 2012:
Madison: 7.9%
Georgia: 8.9%

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Madison:

• University of Georgia (about 26 miles; Athens, GA)• Athens Technical College (about 30 miles; Athens, GA)• Georgia College & State University (about 38 miles; Milledgeville, GA)• Georgia Gwinnett College (about 41 miles; Lawrenceville, GA)• Gwinnett Technical College (about 43 miles; Lawrenceville, GA)• Georgia Perimeter College (about 47 miles; Decatur, GA)• DeVry University-Georgia (about 50 miles; Decatur, GA)

A great retail location is the Madison Crossing shopping complex.  It is strategically located on US 129 close to many large stores such as Walmart, Rite Aid, Advanced Auto Parts and Lowe's.

The anchor store: Bi-Lo (41,423 SF)
Other Tenants Include: The Cato Corp. Shoe Show, Hong Kong Restaurant, Fancy Nails, Madison Family Dentistry and Orthodontist Center.

SharpRealty is based in Birmingham, Alabama and currently manages over 1,000,000 square feet of space throughout the southeast.  Sharp Realty specializing in managing and owning office buildings and retail centers.

Other Shopping Centers, Malls and Offices available for lease.

Contact Rhonda at Sharp Realty

www.SharpRealty.com

205-879-1995

Retail Space for Lease in Midfield Alabama

The West Hills Plaza shopping center has 153,000 square foot of retail center with space available for lease. Wal-Mart across the street.

The anchor stores are Citi Trends, Fred’s, Burger King.

Other retail stores include Riviera Fitness, Rally’s, Compass Bank.

Krispy Crème Doughnuts, Rent – A- Center, Shoe Show,

Top Fashions (Men’s Clothing Store).

About the community:

Midfield is a town in Jefferson County, Alabama. It is south of Fairfield and part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 11,312 people.

Midfield’s city school system is good; the Midfield metro provides countless activities and various types of entertainment for everyone, including a wealth of natural resources for outdoor recreation.

West Hills Plaza has High Visibility and High FootTraffic Count!
Out-Parcels are also available for lease.

Contact Sharp Realty for details.
www.SharpRealty.com
205.879.1995