by: David Wilson, CCIM

Since the beginning of the century, traditional retailing has survived the dot-com threat and a great recession and all signs point to the sector thriving once again. Many industry analysts believe it will be one of the sectors driving commercial real estate development in 2015.

Physical stores are still the preferred method of shopping, so much so that several Internet only retailers are experimenting with physical storefronts. At the same time, 20th century formats, designs and technology won’t cut it with today’s tech-driven, speed-oriented, lifestyle consumers. Retail, after all, has always been about what’s new.

Here are several trends we’re witnessing in retail development:

Source: Leavitt Digital
Leavitt Digital is conducting a number of “Spotlight Interviews” with industry leaders in the Commercial Real Estate Sector whom we feel lead by example. Leavitt Digital’s first interview is with Dave Wilson, CCIM / Executive Vice President of Development and Brokerage Manager at Lockard.

LD: What career path did you want to take when you were in college?

DW: When I was in college, I was going to school for a Leisure Services degree.  I wanted to go work at a Christian camp and be an Executive Director of a camp someday.  I really liked working at camps growing up and thought this was a great move for me.  I then got married in college and had to work full time while going to school full-time, so I got a job at a bank and went to school full time in the evenings.  I had switched schools my junior year and said, “what degree can get me through the quickest transferring my credits?”  So I left University of Northern Iowa and transferred to Upper Iowa University and went to school for a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services.  This was actually really good because I was able to study what makes people do the things they do, which really helps with sales.

LD: What events in your career path brought you to Executive Vice President of Lockard Development?