American Dreaming
July’s patriotic themes provide a midsummer reminder of the enduring power of the American Dream.
Doing business in America and benefitting from the opportunities it provides is something none of us should take for granted. Which is why this is the perfect time of year to pause for a moment and reflect about just how fortunate we all are to have those opportunities—and to live and work in a country where hard work and innovation are rewarded. That’s the essence of the American Dream: that if you take initiative and build something of value, there is no limit to what you can accomplish.
That’s also why fostering the American Dream is a part of NewMark Merrill’s professional philosophy and our company values. We believe in community. In opportunity. And in the power of creating spaces, spaces and experiences that will inspire our team, engage our customers, and empower our tenants. We believe that if we invest in great people and great properties, we not only maximize financial performance for NewMark and our tenants, we can unlock lasting civic value that extends well beyond the bottom line.
These are big, bold ideas—which is fitting, because this is a country founded on those ideas. But what do those concepts look like in action? When you visit a NewMark Merrill center, what are the signature elements you see that demonstrate our commitment to helping merchants achieve the American Dream?
- Great spaces: An environment that is safe, clean, and well lit, with landscaping features that complement the architecture and stimulate the senses. Setting the mood starts with appealing to visitors’ senses, and a great center is like a palette where brands and businesses can express themselves in ways that connect with customers.
- Connectivity: Plenty of places and activities for visitors to come together and connect. Whether through special events and social engagement or through captivating community art and eye-catching signage. Our marketing and targeted outreach is all about finding new and creative ways to bring people and communities together.
- Vibrant tenant mix: Our shopping centers have the right mix of tenants to draw people in, keep them interested, and maximize the utility of every customer’s visit. Whether they are here to shop, to take advantage of professional services, or to enjoy a movie and grab a bite to eat, our goal is to provide them with a diverse array of appealing options that will keep them coming back and spending their time and their money with our tenants.
- Surprise and delight: Making sure customers experience our centers in different ways. A quick trip to their favorite restaurant. A cup of coffee and some well-spent time with friends. A civic resource with everything from schools and community events to gyms and spas—and with new décor and new retail that keeps the environment fresh, inviting, and always evolving.
As a commercial real estate owner and operator, we also rely on our tenant partners to do their part to make our centers successful. Fulfilling the American Dream requires not just opportunity, but also enterprise and ingenuity. We look for tenants who share certain characteristics that fulfill that promise:
- They serve their clients with passion and purpose—they love what they do and they do it well.
- They have a reason for being: a mission and a mindset that is uniquely their own.
- They are relational, not transactional: they embrace a culture of service and seek value and long-term relationship-building over fighting for every sale.
- They are relentlessly positive. Retail is hard work and there will always be tough days. Retailers that emerge successful in a competitive landscape are those that maintain that positivity, even during the most difficult moments.
- They are great partners. They recognize that the relationship between landlord and tenant is a partnership, not a competition and that we are always stronger working together.
At NewMark, we love passionate, driven, and authentic merchants. We love watching the connection between a merchant who treats their community with respect and devotion and the visitors who create memories, traditions, and shopping patterns that last generations. We love the energy that comes from the discovery of new places, goods and experiences that inspire and delight. And we are privileged to be able to do our part to help make all of that happen with memorable, engaging centers that are commercially successful and socially engaging. At NewMark Merrill, that’s not just the essence of the American Dream, it’s our everyday reality.
