Leasing Tip of the Day: Lease Faster by Creating a Busy Center

Strong tenant revenues are key to a center’s success. When tenants do well, they drive traffic, benefiting everyone. A busy center where everyone makes money is easier to lease. Here’s how you can help:

1. Coordinate Charity Events: Ask your boss if you can organize events for charity organizations. These events, like “American Idol”-style contests, Halloween costume events, or food and wine festivals, draw huge crowds. Schedule them during slow traffic times to boost foot traffic during weak periods.
2. Host Business Events: Collaborate with Chambers of Commerce and civic groups. Monthly breakfasts and business-after-hours events can be hosted at your center. Consider scavenger hunts to encourage attendees to visit each tenant. One patio store hosted a Chamber breakfast and brought 80 local business owners in at 7:30 a.m.
3. Engage Waiting Parents: If your center has child-focused tenants like tutoring or dance studios, engage the waiting parents. Partner with your coffee shop tenant to offer incentives for parents to shop instead of waiting in their cars.
4. Orchestrate a Cash Mob: Work with tenants to organize a cash mob. Use social media to prompt customers to shop a specific retailer en masse on a certain day. This can boost sales and engage their followers, especially for small businesses.

By driving foot traffic and creating a bustling center, you make leasing easier and more attractive to potential tenants.