| A Weekly PropTech Newsletter bringing you industry updates from across the real estate spectrum |
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| AI holds immense potential to revolutionize commercial real estate by enhancing decision-making processes, as highlighted in a recent Propmodo article. However, the effectiveness of AI is only as strong as the quality of the data it processes—a principle known as “garbage in, garbage out.” While challenges like slow adoption, conservative legal teams, and evolving use cases persist, poor data quality remains one of the biggest barriers to realizing AI’s full potential in real estate. In fact, David recently discussed these very challenges—and the opportunities AI presents—on a podcast, diving into how property owners can leverage it effectively. As AI continues its gradual integration into the industry, ensuring strong data foundations from the start is critical. Let’s chat if you want to make sure you’re building on solid ground!
This week we learned that in addition to using LinkedIn for professional connections, it is now apparently also a place to watch runway shows. We also caught up on some additional commentary on why Walmart might have bought a mall (something we’ve previously discussed) and what the fate might be of the Palisades Mall seven weeks after the tragic fires. |
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| How the Internet Made In-Store Shopping Miserable [The Wall Street Journal] E-commerce didn’t kill bricks-and-mortar stores, but it made them worse. Much worse. Physical stores today are understaffed and full of inconveniences such as locked shelves and self–checkout lines. Now, add one more gripe to the list: not enough stuff.
Why the Japanese company behind Pac-Man isn’t changing a thing with its first U.S. store [ModernRetail] Tapping into the popularity of anime and video games among younger generations, one of the largest Japanese video game publishers aimed to be as authentic as possible when opening its first store in the U.S. Bandai Namco — which has eight stores in Japan and also recently opened one in London — plans to open its Cross Store in Brooklyn, New York’s Japan Village in Industry City. |
| New Rokt Survey Reveals That Online Shopping Brings Consumers Joy [Forbes] Rokt, a leading e-commerce technology platform, which uses AI and machine learning to make transactions more relevant to individual shoppers, conducted a study, which found that too many ads at checkout is one reason consumers abandon their carts at the last minute. The study also found that consumers ranked shopping as the activity that gave them the most joy when spending time online.
Walmart expands same-day delivery reach [SupplyChainDive] Walmart is now able to reach 93% of U.S. households with same-day delivery after expanding its stores’ delivery reach in Q4. The announcement signals continued growth in the retailer’s store-fulfilled delivery network. In October 2023, Walmart offered same-day delivery to more than 80% of the U.S. |
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| How LinkedIn became luxury fashion’s newest runway [Fast Company] As Fashion Week takes over New York, London, and Milan, designers aren’t just showcasing their collections on the runway—they’re taking over LinkedIn. The job-seeking platform reports a fivefold increase in live fashion show broadcasts over the past three years, with 85% of luxury brands turning to the professional social network to reach those with money to spend. |
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| The Slow Rise of AI in Real Estate Decision Making [Propmodo] In the world of commercial real estate, AI has not become as widely used as other industries. There are three substantial reasons for this: accuracy, granularity, and timeliness. When underwriting a building’s value, accuracy is critical. But the accuracy of AI’s output around this can be called into question due to the data that is fed into it.
AI in Real Estate Season 3, Ep 7 [Podcast] David Blumenfeld, co-founder of NextRivet, discusses the integration of artificial intelligence in the real estate and retail sectors. He shares insights on how AI enhances shopping experiences, predictive analytics for maintenance, and the balance between leveraging AI and addressing privacy concerns. The discussion also touches on the evolution of AI tools, particularly large language models, and their potential applications in physical spaces.
Tanger CEO: ‘We’re in the market’ to acquire more full-price malls [ModernRetail] Fresh off a strong fiscal year, Tanger is looking to add more full-price shopping centers to its portfolio as it branches out beyond outlets, President and CEO Stephen Yalof told Modern Retail. |
| Why does Walmart want a shopping mall? [RetailDive] Walmart recently expanded its real estate portfolio with a $34 million purchase. However, the type of property the retailer bought gave some industry experts and observers pause. That’s because Walmart bought the Monroeville Mall, a more than 50-year-old shopping center near Pittsburgh with over 100 operating businesses.
Dubai to host PropTech Connect 2026 [ArabianBusiness] Dubai will host a major proptech exhibition next year as it looks to boost the property sector in the city.
Palisades Village Mall Is Still Standing After the Fires, but What Comes After? Retailers and Caruso’s CEO Weigh In [WWD] It’s been seven weeks since the Palisades fire erupted, ripping through the Westside neighborhood of Los Angeles, leaving a trail of devastation, loss, and death — and the aftermath is still unfolding. While many businesses were lost, the ones at Rick Caruso’s Palisades Village are still standing. “You’ve probably heard that the Palisades Village survived the fire,” Corinne Verdery, chief executive officer of Caruso, told WWD during an interview. “What comes after that, though?” |
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