Virtual reality (“VR”) will create opportunities for everyone. In an excellent article on the topic by The Counselors of Real Estate (read it here), they explain how the use of virtual reality could change every aspect of deal making. “One of the main uses of VR for real estate is marketing. While the cost of a virtual model may seem high to some, the cost can be offset through the reduction of other marketing spend, a reduction of holding costs by compressing the transaction cycle and accelerating cash flow, which…

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Small format stores may not be the next “big thing,” as much as they are a natural step in retail’s revolution, given you understand the role physical retail will play in the future. Mega-retailers like Macy’s, WalMart, Whole Foods, Best Buy, Nordstrom, Kohl’s and Target are among the few making headlines for their downsizing efforts. A lot of these smaller format retailers are downsized by over half the size of their traditional store formats, and are common in more urban neighborhoods. While other retailers like Sephora have launched smaller format…

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International retailers are drooling over the opportunity in American retail. We’ve seen many fast-casual chains and grocery stores make headlines for making their way across the pond, and now retailers are following suit. Here are three retailers we’re betting are bound for disruption. KidZania Self-described as an “experimental learning center” the retailer is “capitalizing on the global trend of educational entertainment, KidZania will establish new ventures in Dallas and Chicago, building on an existing network of locations in 24 major cities worldwide,” according to their press release. “‘At KidZania, we…

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NAI Martens is proud to announce the sale of the former Days Inn Motel in Pratt, KS. Troy Farha, Vice President of Retail and Investment with NAI Martens, represented the seller in the transaction. Farha brokered the sale of three hotel properties in 2017, including the Northrock Suites and Wichita Inn North. Farha has worked on a number of notable hospitality projects recently, including site selection for the new Best Western Plus West Lawrence, opening this fall, and representing the buyer of the site for the new Avid Hotel planned for…

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Another great quarter is in the books. We’re proud to present our second quarter transactions! Look inside to see all the sales and leases we took part in during the past quarter.   Q2 2018 Transactions Q2-2018 Transactions Report Having trouble viewing? Click here ABOUT NAI MARTENS NAI Martens is the largest full-service commercial real estate firm in Kansas. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Wichita, NAI Martens provides a vast array of commercial real estate services throughout south-central Kansas and Topeka. NAI Martens is led by CEO Steve Martens,…

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The Industrial Revolution truly revolutionized the United States, completely changing the face of the nation. With it, came large scale industrial buildings and warehouses — many of which would eventually become empty, vacated properties. Fast forward a couple hundred years, and whole the processes in those buildings have certainly changed, the buildings themselves are still pretty similar. Industrial spaces are still big and expansive, often making them difficult or nearly impossible for another business to come in behind them and fill the same space. This is where adaptive reuse comes…

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Small businesses continue to thrive across America, acting as the nation’s backbone and supporting countless local economies. Don’t believe us? Take a look at this: Today, there are more than 5,000,000 companies in the United States — and more than three-fourths of them have fewer than 10 employees (U.S. Census Bureau). As such an important part of the American economy, it’s crucial to do everything you can to help ensure that your small business thrives in the face of competition. Part of that is your location. It’s true – some…

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  There have been plenty of stories circulating about how AI chatbots, or bots, are taking over  businesses and possibly even entire industries. But, until now, no one has really thought about how bot technology could impact and transform CRE. Robots, in some form or fashion, have already replaced humans in some jobs, from flipping burgers to assembling cars. But bots have no place in CRE, where human interaction is crucial and necessary… right? Think again. Technology, including bot technology, has found a new niche in the customer service area…

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It’s hard to turn on the news or read an article without seeing a headline about how grim things are for the retail industry right now. Thanks to online shopping and eCommerce giants, such as Amazon, retail sales are down and terms like “retail apocalypse” are being thrown about. But is the future of brick and mortar retail doomed? Are shopping malls really a thing of the past? We don’t think so — at least not entirely. The retail industry is evolving to keep up with consumer demands, and is…

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