| A Weekly PropTech Newsletter bringing you industry updates from across the real estate spectrum |
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| We try not to see things in black and white here, as you might have noticed in reading these newsletters. But the headlines will always have us questioning this thinking as they proclaim on one hand that class A malls with luxury wings are the only ones doing well right now, and that on the other hand pawn shops are seeing massive growth, alongside Dollar General and the like. Which kind of reminds us of headlines proclaiming that retailers are either going all in on digital, AI, ecommerce, etc., or doubling down on physical. Now, we certainly realize that we are in polarizing times and extremes seem to be en vogue, but we hold strong to the belief that there’s always a touch of grey. If you need help noticing the nuance, let’s talk.
In other (slightly less polarizing headlines), Las Vegas seems to be a hot spot for experimenting with new store formats, more chatter on digital/air property rights, and Google Gemini gets in the shopping game alongside ChatGPT. We’re over on LinkedIn as usual – please join us there. |
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| Artificial intelligence becomes mainstream shopping tool [Chain Store Age] Using artificial intelligence solutions to aid shopping efforts is no longer the exclusive province of tech-savvy early adopters. More than six in 10 (63%) U.S. consumers now use AI to help perform a variety of shopping tasks, up from 59% in August 2025. And 80% say they are comfortable letting AI handle transactions.
Gap says it will launch checkout within Google’s Gemini [CNBC] Shoppers will soon be able to buy products from Gap’s house of brands directly within Google’s Gemini, making Gap the first major fashion company to offer instant checkout within the AI platform. Gap’s partnership with Gemini and its gains in customer-facing AI tools give it a competitive edge at a time when winning in specialty retail is harder than ever.
Sephora Is Launching Its App in ChatGPT [WWD] As beauty retailers’ and brands’ quest for an ever more personalized shopping experience heats up, Sephora has revealed a new AI-enhanced experience with the launch of its app in ChatGPT. |
| Facebook dives deeper into shopping [Chain Store Age] Meta is making it easier for users to find and buy products across its Facebook platform. The tech giant said that under its new Facebook Affiliate partnerships, creators can now tag affiliate products directly in their Facebook posts and reels, with no link-in-bio, swipe up or looking in comments for a link.
Response to our TikTok shop has been overwhelming, says Ulta Beauty CEO [CNBC] CNBC’s Jim Cramer sits down with Ulta Beauty president and CEO Kecia Steelman to discuss the company’s challenges, outlook and more.
Puma debuts AI concierge at Las Vegas store [RetailDive] Puma has created its first AI Store Concierge, a multilingual AI assistant that provides advice to Puma’s customers. At launch, the tool is focused on performance running products. The company will debut the AI concierge at its Las Vegas flagship store this spring. Puma intends for the tool to work in concert with store associates, who can use the information the concierge gathered to offer customers more personalized advice. |
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| Why Revolve Can’t Stop Talking About AI [Business of Fashion] Revolve is racing ahead of the curve in the fashion AI revolution, embedding the technology across its entire organisation. It developed its own AI tool for on-site search, which has already yielded double-digit increases in conversion compared to its previous third-party service. |
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| Not All Malls Are Struggling [The New York Times] As Gen Z embraces in-person shopping, a handful of real estate firms are, unexpectedly, winning big on a very specific type of mall. Take Simon Property Group, which owns the most class A malls in the country. Its property Roosevelt Field, east of New York City, has a 96.3 percent occupancy rate and hosts coveted luxury tenants like Savage X Fenty, Armani, Hermès and Rolex.
‘First-of-its-kind’ autonomous store to open in Las Vegas [Chain Store Age] VenHub Global and Circa Resort & Casino Inc. are teaming up to open an autonomous, 24-hour store in Las Vegas. Powered by VenHub’s autonomous smart store technology, the “first-of-its-kind” retail attraction is made up of three autonomous stores operating as one seamlessly integrated and continuously operating retail experience.
Digital Property Rights Could Be Real Estate’s Next Billion Dollar Asset Class [Propmodo] As AR becomes ubiquitous, a critical question remains unresolved: who controls the digital space surrounding and above physical property, and who profits when that space becomes commercially valuable? The boundary between physical and digital space is dissolving faster than property law can keep up. |
| David Simon, America’s Mall Giant and Fierce Competitor, Dies at 64 [WWD] David Simon, the formidable and driven billionaire leader of Simon Property Group, the nation’s largest developer and operator of traditional malls and mixed-use, lifestyle and outlet centers, died peacefully after a monthslong battle with pancreatic cancer.
SPECS 2026 puts spotlight on store development, facilities management [Chain Store Age] The spotlight was on physical retail at Chain Store Age’s 62nd annual SPECS Show. The event brought together retail executives and suppliers involved in the planning, design, construction and maintenance of stores, restaurants and non-traditional concepts.
Pawn shops see more business amid consumer cost pressures [ModernRetail] Pawn shops across the U.S. are seeing increased demand as financially strained consumers look for quick cash and lower-cost secondhand goods amid persistent pressure from inflation and economic uncertainty. At EZCorp, which operates about 1,500 pawn stores across 16 countries, pawn loans outstanding — the total value of active pawn loans that customers have not yet repaid — rose 9% year over year in the most recent quarter. |
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