Key facts
- JLL has launched a new business unit focused on retail rebranding and concept development.
- The unit will offer integrated services covering strategy, design, architecture, and project management.
- Mark Bateman, an industry veteran with over 17 years of consulting experience, will lead the new group.
- Retailers are increasingly using physical store footprints to offer customer experiences alongside products.
- The retail sector is projected to see a 1.8% increase in store counts this year.
Commercial real estate services firm JLL has established a new business unit dedicated to helping retailers navigate rebranding efforts and the development of new store concepts. This move addresses the evolving retail landscape, where brick-and-mortar stores are increasingly integrated with e-commerce and technology to provide customer experiences.
The unit, named JLL Retail Solutions, will offer comprehensive, end-to-end services, guiding clients from initial strategy and design through to execution. This integrated approach aims to streamline the process for retailers, who are under pressure to deliver new concepts faster, more consistently, and cost-effectively. By providing a single point of contact, JLL seeks to eliminate the inefficiencies and finger-pointing that can occur when retailers manage multiple vendors for different aspects of store development.
Industry veteran Mark Bateman, who previously spent over 17 years at consulting firm WD Partners, will lead the new unit as executive managing director. Kevin Songer, with more than two decades of experience at Gensler, has been appointed managing director of architecture. JLL is already collaborating with athletic shoe retailer Brooks Sports, assisting in the design of new stores tailored to specific customer demographics and local environments.
Industry reports indicate a positive outlook for new store growth, with off-price, discount, and beauty retailers expected to lead the expansion. The time storefronts remain vacant on the market is also decreasing, with the median lease-up time projected to drop below seven months in 2025. JLL has also appointed specific leaders for retail design, branding, architecture, and project management within the new unit to bolster its capabilities.