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.

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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

Start Ups:5 Key Questions you should ask suppliers before doing business.

1. What are my payment terms and are they negotiable?
While payments for invoices are often due within 30 days, you can talk to your vendor about getting 60 or 90 days.

2. What will my total costs be?
While a supplier might give you a quote for the cost of a product or materials, be sure to ask about other fees. For example, are there delivery fees, fuel surcharges or restocking charges for returns that you must pay?

3. Can you give me a liability insurance certificate? Your suppliers should provide written proof that they have adequate liability insurance in the event that their products or parts malfunction. Get a new copy of the liability insurance certificate each year.

 

 4. If a product does not sell, are you stuck with it?
You don't want to get stuck with a finished product that flops or the parts and raw materials for a product that doesn't sell. Talk to your suppliers about their return policies. You want to negotiate the opportunity to return unsold products or materials.

 

5. Under what circumstance might prices change?  
Ask what determines a change in price. Is it tied to inflation or an industry index? If prices go up, how much notice will you receive?

For great information and retail locations available for lease contact Sharp Realty or 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

How to Deal With Difficult Customers In Retail?

Having a retail store is both exhilarating and exhausting for the owner. At times this means dealing with difficult customers. Often, the anger expressed at the store or team is related to some external event and simply trigger by the problem in the store.

Below are some tips to help navigate you through dealing with difficult customers.

1. Remember to let your customers communicate how they feel.

People have the need to be “heard” or “vent” and this is often all they need to make things better. After they are finished venting, apologize for their unhappiness in your store – even if you do not feel they have been let down in anyway. It’s simply showing you support them in their role as a customer and value their business.

2. Really listen to your customers and what do they need to correct the problem. 

Even if it is not the way you normally handle things, try and deliver a response that shows you respect the customers opinion. If they are challenging your return policy, for example, you can state why it’s in place and that it had to be enforced. Often the explanation alone can help customers see your position in difficult customer scenarios.

3. Fix the problem at hand. 

Whatever the problem is, find a solution. This may mean breaking your own rules every now and again. As a store owner, you should have boundaries to help keep your business afloat and likewise, as a business owner you should be able to break rules when you feel you need to – or want to.  Use your best judgment!  Whatever you do, find a solution to resolve the problem and ideally, leave the customer feeling satisfied that they have experienced valued customer service.

In business problems will occur, people will complain and life will go on. A successful business means learning lessons from difficult customers. One day you may want to thank them!

For great retail locations available for lease contact Sharp Realty or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Sharp Realty

400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300 Birmingham, Al 35209

205-879-1995

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