ANYTHING RETAIL

WITH ROB SAMTMANN

Rob Samtmann | Jun 03, 2026 |
Retail News

Philly's World Cup Retail Moment

Philadelphia quietly made a smart bet on the FIFA World Cup, and the city’s retail and food-and-beverage scene stands to benefit. While other host cities chased the classic mega-event playbook of high-spending international tourists and premium hotel packages, Philadelphia prepared for a more realistic outcome: shorter domestic trips, regional visitors and deal-conscious fans who still […]
Rob Samtmann | May 21, 2026 |
Retail News

AI Guides. Retailers Win.

Artificial intelligence has changed how consumers research and evaluate products before they ever walk into a store or open a retailer’s app. As outlined in a recent Forbes.com article, nearly a quarter of global consumers now turn to generative AI during their shopping journey, and AI-driven referrals grew more than 300% globally in 2025. For […]
Rob Samtmann | Apr 20, 2026 |
Retail News

Wealthy consumers are heading to dollar stores

The dollar store sector has been pulling off one of retail’s most interesting customer acquisition stories in recent memory. A recent article by RetailDive.com reported that chains like Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and Five Below have all seen real growth among higher-income households, a group that rarely set foot in these stores not long ago. […]
Rob Samtmann | Mar 25, 2026 |
Retail News

Fitness Is Moving In

Retail leasing hit a historic milestone in 2025. As leasing platform Costar recently reported, for the first time on record service-based tenants leased more retail space than traditional goods-based retailers. The margin was narrow, with services accounting for 50.4% of leasing activity compared to 49.6% for goods, but the significance of the crossover goes beyond […]
Rob Samtmann | Mar 17, 2026 |
Retail News

Philly's Economy Is Having a Moment

Philadelphia is emerging as one of the most compelling economic success stories in the United States. As a recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer points out, among the 25 largest metropolitan areas in the country, the Philadelphia region recorded the strongest job growth last year, outpacing high-profile cities such as Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, and Phoenix […]
Rob Samtmann | Feb 17, 2026 |
Retail News

2026 Consumer Playbook

In a recent article in Forbes, Kate Hardcastle reported on several forces currently shaping consumer behavior. Retailers are entering 2026 facing a customer who wants both advanced technology and human reassurance. Shoppers appreciate personalization and convenience, but only when they feel in control. The past few years have trained consumers to question systems that feel […]
Rob Samtmann | Feb 02, 2026 |
Retail News

Inside Holiday Retail 2025

The 2025 holiday season unfolded against a backdrop of cautious optimism. While forecasts pointed to healthy sales growth, shoppers entered the period under significant financial pressure from prolonged inflation, tariff uncertainty and rising anxiety about the economy. Consumers still spent, but often with smaller budgets and greater price sensitivity, frequently turning to buy now, pay […]
Rob Samtmann | Dec 20, 2025 |
Retail News

Retail’s Strongest Markets Revealed

According to a recent article by CoStar, the U.S. retail real estate delivered another year of resilience in 2025, supported by a generally balanced relationship between supply and demand. This stability persisted even as the sector absorbed the impact of elevated store closings, underscoring the durability of well-located retail and the ongoing reset of weaker […]
Rob Samtmann | Dec 12, 2025 |
Retail News

A Merry Start to Holiday Shopping

Early indicators from the long Black Friday weekend suggest a strong opening chapter to the 2025 holiday shopping season. Retailers saw brisk activity both online and in stores. In a recent Forbes.com article, the tone is optimistic and reports that many analysts believe consumers arrived ready to spend. This early lift is helping to set […]
Rob Samtmann | Nov 19, 2025 |
Retail News

Act Early, Use AI, Win Big

With all the focus in recent months about how AI is shaping consumer behavior, a recent Forbes article reported on why it believes retailers need to position themselves this holiday season to take advantage. Black Friday has expanded into a multi-week cycle that now defines how retailers finish the year. With major chains launching promotions […]

Rob Samtmann

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

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1.484.417.2208

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