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WITH ROB SAMTMANN

Rob Samtmann | Oct 27, 2025 |
Retail News

Why Physical Stores Still Matter

The digital shopping experience has improved a lot over the years, providing convenience and personalization that shoppers appreciate. But even the most sophisticated online tools can’t replace the human connection, the “feel” of in-store shopping, particularly in specialty retail. Stores remain essential for product discovery, new launches, and services that strengthen customer loyalty. Physical locations […]
Rob Samtmann | Oct 13, 2025 |
Retail News

Who's Winning Halloween 2025?

Halloween 2025 is shaping up to be another record-breaking year for spending. In a recent article, RetailDive.com reported that the National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts consumers will spend $13.1 billion on the holiday, a nearly 13% increase from last year. While economic uncertainty and price concerns are still on consumers’ minds, shoppers continue to invest […]
Rob Samtmann | Sep 24, 2025 |
Retail News

Holiday Shopping 2025

Holiday retail sales are projected to grow between 2.9% and 3.4% this year, reaching $1.61 trillion to $1.62 trillion, according to Deloitte’s 2025 holiday forecast reported in Forbes.com recently. That’s about $40 to $45 billion more in spending than last year. Deloitte says the bump will likely come from steady gains in disposable income and […]
Rob Samtmann | Sep 09, 2025 |
Retail News

Winning the Algorithm

Showing up where shoppers look has always been difficult, and today it’s even more complex. Search doesn’t work the way it once did, and retailers can’t rely solely on keywords, links, or banner clutter to rise in visibility. Discovery now moves across search engines, social feeds, retail media networks, marketplaces, and AI assistants that connect […]
Rob Samtmann | Aug 27, 2025 |
Retail News

Retail Gets Leaner

Why Store Closures Signal Strength, Not Weakness The headlines may sound alarming. Thousands of store closings, shrinking head counts, and retail job cuts are making news. Yet the real story unfolding in 2025 is one of reinvention and efficiency, not collapse. AS a recent article in Forbes points out, so far this year nearly 6,000 […]
Rob Samtmann | Aug 12, 2025 |
Retail News

Retail's Top 5 Power Moves in 2025

The first half of 2025 has delivered a wave of retail deal-making, with five standout transactions setting the tone for the rest of the year. From high-profile brand sales to aggressive acquisition strategies, these moves are redefining competitive landscapes and creating ripple effects across store portfolios. For commercial real estate professionals, staying ahead of these […]
Rob Samtmann | Jul 14, 2025 |
Retail News

Philly Hiring Reaches New Heights

The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metropolitan area posted impressive employment growth in May 2025, reinforcing confidence in the region’s economic resilience. According to a recent CoStar article by Brenda Nguyen, preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that total nonfarm employment rose to 3,154,100 jobs – an increase of 15,800 from April. This monthly gain far […]
Rob Samtmann | May 27, 2025 |
Retail News

From Doggy Day Care to Ethnic Grocers

A recent CoStar article after the annual ICSC Conference in Las Vegas reported the dramatic transformation that shopping centers across the US are undergoing as legacy retailers like Bed Bath & Beyond, Party City, and Forever 21 exit the scene. In their place, a more eclectic mix of tenants is emerging—ranging from wellness clinics to […]
Rob Samtmann | Apr 21, 2025 |
Retail News

Grocery Is Still A Winning Bet

A recent Forbes.com article laid out the case for how the grocery sector continues to outperform as one of retail’s most resilient and dynamic categories. While overall spend remains strong, shoppers are becoming more intentional – trading brand loyalty for better value and efficiency. Today’s consumers are no longer sticking to a single store. Instead, […]
Rob Samtmann | Mar 25, 2025 |
Retail News

Gen Z Still Prefers In-Person Shopping

As a recent article from RetailDive.com reports, the lines between online and in-store shopping continue to blur. However, one generation appears to be leading the charge in redefining how we shop: Generation Z. According to recent research by Adyen, Gen Z is eager to make the most of their physical shopping experiences, favoring brick-and-mortar stores […]

Rob Samtmann

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

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