With locations throughout the U.S. Centennial shopping centers are known for their great atmosphere and selection of both retail shops and dining offerings, of course  - but did you know there is actually so much more you can explore when visiting a Centennial property?

Read on for just a few of these non-traditional spaces - beyond just shopping! - you can encounter it on your next visit to a Centennial property. 

Capture your next Instagram-worthy selfie

Stuntin’ Selfie Studio

Location:Vancouver Mall (Vancouver, WA)

Grab a ring light and strike a post! The Stuntin’ Selfie Studio at Vancouver Mall is a unique space featuring over 25 custom-made sets for an entirely new selfie experience. Bring your friends and have fun exploring the different sets - each one providing the perfect backdrop to snap a selfie!Learn More

Adopt a furry friend

Orphans of the Storm

 Location:Hawthorn Mall (Vernon Hills, IL)

Your next trip to Hawthorn Mall could end with a new companion to go home with: Orphans of the Storm Animal Shelter is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping save animals in the local Northern Illinois area and beyond. The Orphans of the Storm location at Hawthorn Mall allows families to meet with and adopt rescued dogs and cats to give them the loving, adoptive homes they so deserve.Learn More

 

Host your next team outing

MISH MASH Adventures

Location:Fox Valley Mall (Aurora, IL)

The first of its kind, MISH MASH is an “urban adventure” space, where teams work together to complete the challenges that are hidden behind every door. Host your next party or team outing here, where you’ll have fun working together to solve a variety of immersive and themed challenge rooms.Learn More

Train like a Ninja Warrior

 American Ninja Warrior Adventure Park

Location:MainPlace Mall (Santa Ana, CA)

Inspired by the hit NBC TV show, The American Ninja Warrior Adventure Park at MainPlace Mall is a fun and inclusive entertainment experience for all ages. Children, teens and adults will all have a blast challenging themselves and each other through a series of courses and obstacles, just like a true Ninja Warrior.Learn More

Let’s Connect

Get creative and think beyond traditional retail spaces! If you have your own unique business idea or experience that you’d like to bring to life, we'd love to find the perfect space to make your dreams a reality at Centennial! Reach out to your Local Leasing &amp; Business Development Representative today to start the conversation.

5 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know You Can Do at Centennial Properties - Besides Just Shopping!

As the owner of a small business or local retail shop, the focus of your attention has likely shifted to planning ahead for the upcoming winter months and the rush of the holiday shopping season at this point in the year. However, don’t ignore the opportunities availablenowto drive business this fall - with the change in season comes a change in consumer habits. Read on for a few marketing ideas that will keep your business feeling fresh (and relevant!) for the fall season: 

Host an End of Summer Sale -Move leftover summer inventory that’s still sitting on your shelves before the cooler temperatures kick in by hosting an End of Summer clearance event. Consumers are always looking out for cost-saving promotions, and savvy shoppers will also be eager to scoop up the best deals to stock up on items to put away for next year. Clearance sales will help your business sell off these excess summer items and free up valuable shelf space for new seasonal merchandise, just in time for the holidays.  

Curate a Seasonal Experience -From outdoor festivals to new fashion trends, seasonal food &amp; flavors to cozy home decor - there is so much about theexperienceof fall that you can tap into as a local business. Think about curating your own seasonal experience within your store’s footprint through in-store events, visual displays, and signage. You can also take advantage of local fall events and activities happening within your own community to get involved and further promote your business throughout the autumn season.

Celebrate Spooky Season -Millions of families enjoy Halloween celebrations each year, with 2021 spending reaching a record-setting$10 billionon candy, costumes and decorations! Get creative to bring the spooky season to life within your own small retail space: highlight Halloween merchandise prominently in your window displays and marketing materials throughout October, and consider hosting your own Hallloween-themed event to drive foot traffic through your doors.

The winter holidays will be here before we know it, but there’s still so much about the fall season that your business can leverage to avoid a lull in sales. Set yourself up for success this fall, and get ready to keep the momentum going through the end of the year!

Fall Marketing Tips for Small Business Owners

It's no secret that the last quarter of the year is a busy time of year for the retail industry, and early preparation and strategic planning are key to your business’ success! 

It’s never too early to start planning for the rush of the holiday season. Read on for a few practical tips to take into consideration as you prepare for the months ahead: 

Staff Up Now

The holiday shopping season is the busiest time of year in the retail world, meaning it is likely inevitable that your small shop will need to hire additional staff to handle the uptick in foot traffic and sales. If you anticipate needing extra help, don’t wait until the last minute. Onboarding new team members now, weeks ahead of the holiday rush, will allow your new staff to have ample time to learn about your store, the products you sell, and your customer service expectations. By the time the holiday season really ramps up, they’ll be fully comfortable in their role and ready to excel. 

 

Make a Decor Plan

Twinkling lights and festive decorations add to the magic of the holiday shopping season! If your small shop is located at a Centennial property, then you already know there is a festive ambiance that goes into making the holiday shopping season special, and that keeps our shoppers coming back year after year to complete their gifting. Join in the fun with your own holiday-themed in-store decor and window displays. It’s all about creating an experience for your shoppers that they can’t get anywhere else. 

Create Your Promotional Calendar

When it comes to predictions for the 2022 holiday shopping season, retail industry experts are anticipating that shoppers will buy even earlier than last year. With this in mind, now is the time to plan out your week by week promotional calendar for the quarter. This also means that you won’t want to wait until Black Friday to start your holiday marketing. Expect to see early-bird shoppers on the hunt for deals even before Halloween! Before the rush kicks in, take the time now to map out your promotional calendar, starting with the early-bird shopping deals in October, to November’s Small Business Saturday, and the last minute rush that happens in December. 

Practical Tips for Small Shop Owners: Preparing for Q4

When it comes to driving sales and retaining a loyal customer base, providing top-notch customer service is important to any business. Read on for 10 ways to level up your own in-store customer service!

Greet every customer:Make a good first impression! Acknowledging and greeting every customer makes them feel welcome and goes a long way in building repeat business.

Consider your non-verbal communication:Your non-verbal communication skills, like listening to your customers and responding to their own non-verbal cues,  can be just as important as the words you say.

Engage in conversation: To truly build relationships with your customers, you need to first break the ice. Don’t be afraid to engage them in conversation, ask questions, and provide feedback when asked to help build a bond.

Demo your products: Get creative and provide “show and tell” opportunities that let your customers get a first-hand look at your products and their benefits.

Solicit feedback:In order to best serve your customers, it's important to encourage honest feedback. This can be done via surveys, online reviews, or simply by asking! 

Be solution-oriented: Chances are, your business can offer a solution to a customer’s need or problem. Addressing and responding to your customers’ needs is how you earn their loyalty.

Create experiences: Shopping in-person provides an experience that e-commerce and online retailers simply can not match. Think of every customer service interaction as anexperiencethat you want to make as positive and memorable as possible.

Provide personalized attention: Providing personalized, one-on-one attention and service makes customers feel valued. Whenever possible, add a personal touch to your customer service. This can be as simple as greeting a repeat customer by their first name, but will go a long way in showing you appreciate their business.

Show appreciation: It may seem insignificant, but a simple “thank you for your business!” to show appreciation can help build a good rapport with your customers. 

End interactions with a fond farewell:How you end a customer service interaction can be just as important as how it started. Similar to making a good first impression, it’s important to leave customers with a positive “fond farewell.” Offering a sincere thank you and goodbye as customers depart your business will leave a lasting impression.

10 Ways to Level Up Your In-Store Customer Service

It may still be the dog days of summer but as a local business owner, it is also never too early to prepare for the upcoming holiday shopping season! As you gear up for the busiest time of the year, it’s important to plan ahead for success. 

Read on for our top 2022 holiday shopping season predictions to help get you started:  

The holiday shopping season will start early

Similar to predictions for this years’ back to school season, you can expect to see shoppers on the hunt for holiday giftsearlythis year. As has been a trend since the start of the pandemic, many retailers are expected to roll out holiday gift guides and even Black Friday-worthy deals as early as mid-October. As a small business owner, it’s important to keep this in mind to be able to compete with the larger national retailers. Chances are, your customers will be looking to stretch out their holiday shopping habits as well, so plan out your own promotional calendar accordingly. Rather than focusing your efforts on one-day only events like Black Friday or Cyber Monday, consider how you can highlight top gift items and offer special discounts starting in October to attract shoppers looking to get that head start on their gifting.

Price will be especially important

While holiday shoppers are always on the lookout for a great bargain, price-conscious shopping is anticipated to be at a high for the 2022 season. Given rising inflation and supply chain concerns, this likely comes as no surprise and is something that you’ve observed throughout the back to school shopping season. As you prepare your business’ holiday inventory and promotions, be sure you are keeping affordability top of mind. Today’s increasingly price-conscious shoppers will be opening their wallets for the shops that can offer the most value this year.

Personalized service will go a long way

While the pandemic has certainly accelerated consumers’ preferences for online shopping and digital conveniences, in-person shopping still accounts for the majority of retail sales during the holiday season. Small shops, even those without any online presence, can take a page from e-commerce’s book to incorporate more personalized services and convenience offerings within physical store spaces. Making that extra effort to ensure shoppers have a pleasant and memorable experience will build a personal connection that keeps shoppers coming back, even after their wish lists have been fulfilled.

Get a Holiday Head Start: Predictions for the Upcoming Shopping Season 

While summer travel accessories, warm weather apparel, and outdoor entertaining items can still be found on display at retail shops everywhere, it’s undeniable that the back-to-school shopping season is also already top of mind. How can small business owners stay ahead of the curve to capture sales during this busy time of year? Read on for a few tips and trends to know as we head into the 2022 back to school shopping season.

It’s Already Here

In the past, late July and August marked the start of the back to school season, when summer clearance sales would make room for inventory of school supplies, fall apparel and accessories. In recent years, however, that’s all changed - with consumers now shopping earlier and earlier to make those necessary back to school purchases. Much of this shift can be attributed to Amazon’s Prime Day each July, when the online retail giant slashes prices on virtually thousands of items, including top picks for students of all ages gearing up to return to the classroom. This trend has impacted physical retailers as well, with many looking to compete with Prime Day by offering their own July discounts. As a small business owner, you too should be prepared for consumers looking for a deal on back to school items this month.

Consumers are Budget-Conscious

A recentsurveyconducted by the National Retail Federation found that 84% of consumers expect to see higher prices this year when shopping for back to school and back to college purchases. With rising inflation and continuing supply chain issues worldwide, the current state of the U.S. economy is certainly having an impact on consumers’ mindset, and their wallets. What this means: you can expect your shoppers to be especially budget-conscious this back to school season. As a small business owner, consider ways you can help your shoppers make the most of their budgets, by highlighting competitive prices, or offering special promotional deals that will resonate with value-focused consumers.

Provide Extra Conveniences

From desk supplies and technology products to apparel and shoes, there is a lot that goes into back to school shopping and it can be overwhelming for families. To really stand out, be sure that your local business is providing extra conveniences that make the experience as quick and easy as possible. You can start by following the lead of national retailers like Target and Walmart, where shoppers can pick up pre-bundled kits of back to school supplies. Curate your own bundles of popular back to school items to be sold together. In doing so, you’ll create an easy “grab and go” option shoppers will appreciate.

Back to School Retail Trends & What They Mean for Small Business Owners

As a small business owner, how are you evolving the in-store experience? As customers' expectations rise, be sure you're keeping up!

 While the pandemic has certainly accelerated the rise of e-commerce and digital convenience services, physical spaces still play a major role in providing customers with a memorable shopping experience. In fact, a recentsurveyfound that more than half of consumers (65%) still want to shop in stores versus online. 

Here are 5 tips to consider when updating your own small shop’s in-store experience to meet the expectations of today’s consumers:

Rethink your layout:While providing a great in-store experience has always been integral to the success of retailers, the priorities of today’s consumers has shifted. Whereas merchandising strategies typically revolved around getting a customer to stay within your physical store for a longer period of time, now, it’s all about enabling quick and convenient shopping. You should still aim to provide the best experience possible, but cleanliness, safety, and facilitating a quick and hassle-free checkout process are now paramount to build and maintain credibility with your customers.

Make your products the experience:The ability to see, touch, and engage with your products will always be a tangible benefit of operating a physical store spaces vs. an e-commerce shop. Pass out samples, host demonstrations, and encourage your shoppers to try out and try on merchandise before they make a purchase. These are all ways to make shopping for your products anexperiencein and of itself.

Turn your small shop into a hub for community connection: The pandemic interrupted virtually all relationships, as we were forced to connect digitally rather than in-person, and remain apart from friends and family. Now that we can safely get together again, drive foot traffic by turning your own small shop into a hub for the personal human connection we all so crave. Partnering with other local businesses, area non profits, or even local social media influencers and inviting them to host events for the community within your space is a great way to bring people together, while simultaneously spreading brand awareness for your business.

Prioritize relationship-building:As a local shop owner, you likely focus on sales and the “numbers side” of your business above all, but don’t forget that shopping is about much more than just a transaction; it is also a very emotional experience. As consumers, we often make purchases based on our own mood, stress level, or simply because of how a staff member treated us and made us feel when we entered their store that day. Keep this personal and human connection you have with your guests at the core of everything you do as a business owner. Remembering a repeat customer’s name and offering a friendly greeting each and everytime they visit your business can go a long way in building relationships and earning their loyalty.

Don’t shy away from digital technology: While the digital world may seem like the antithesis of brick and mortar retail, it’s important to embrace what technology has to offer in providing your customers with a more personalized in-store experience. From emailing one-of-a-kind offers to providing the ability to purchase items online then pick in store, there are so many digital opportunities to embrace as ways that online can truly help (and not hinder) your business. 

In Conclusion 

Creating a personalized in-store experience to meet consumers’ expectations can be both challenging and exciting for a small business owner today.  Those that win will be the ones that remain agile and willing to adapt to evolving expectations!

5 Tips for Local Business Owners to Evolve Your In-Store Experience

Summer is here! The new season means that days are longer, kids are off from school, and there are plenty of new trends that small business owners should take advantage of.

#1.  The Return of a Busy Travel Season

According to travel experts, we can expect a super busy vacation season this year, largely thanks to easing Covid restrictions and a shift in consumers’ priorities after two years of limited travel. In fact, according to theU.S. Travel Association, 6 in 10 Americans are planning to take a vacation this summer, and 35% expect to travel more this summer than they did in 2021.

What it means for local businesses:if your located in a tourist destination, be sure you’re taking advantage of the season by tailoring your marketing efforts and promotions to vacationers. Not in a travel spot? From flip flops and bathing suits to luggage and tech gadgets, there are still plenty of purchases that go along with travel season. Be sure your small shop is highlighting the products and services you offer to help consumers maximize their summer trips to capture their attention (and wallets!) before they head out to a vacation destination. 

#2. Consumers are Seeking Shared Experiences

Whether traveling or just having an at-home staycation, another trend you can expect to notice this summer is consumers seeking out shared experiences. Particularly after spending the past two years socially distanced, we are all valuing the ability to spend more time together - with friends, family, and our local communities.

What is means for local businesses:think beyond just the goods and services you offer, and focus on creating a trueexperiencewithin your retail space (and beyond!) this summer. Hosting in-store shopping events and getting involved with larger community or property-wide initiatives are easy ways to tap into the power of shared experiences. Your customers will appreciate your brand’s effort to take part in these mood-boosting activities, and will be all the more likely to turn into loyal, repeat shoppers as well.  

3. Get Ready for Back to School in July

The busy back to school shopping season has traditionally been a huge driver for annual retail sales in August. However, in recent years, that has all changed thanks to Amazon. Now going into its eighth year, Amazon Prime Day (scheduled for July 12-13, 2022) has become the biggest day of shopping in the U.S.! And with deals on school supplies, tech products, apparel and more, it has also ushered in a new era in which consumer habits have shifted. Thanks to July’s annual Prime Day, consumers now purchase the majority of items needed for the upcoming back to school season in July instead of August.

What it means for local businesses:Rather than letting Amazon’s Prime Day hinder your local business’ sales, you should use the day to your advantage. Prime Day now marks the kick-off to the back-to-school sales season; capitalize on this knowledge to run your own deals relative to Prime Day. You can target shoppers by promoting your local advantage over shopping a retail giant like Amazon, and even keep the momentum going to capture sales from customers after July 13th once Prime Day is over, and customers are seeking out the deals they may have missed out on. 

In conclusion

From spending time outdoors to taking much-needed vacations, there is so much fun to be had (and related sales to be made!) during the summer season. It doesn’t have to be a slow time of year for you as a small business owner. Tap into these key seasonal trends for a successful summer!

3 Summer Retail Trends For Local Business Owners 

Whether you just opened your first clothing boutique, seasonal kiosk, eatery, or other small retail business, congratulations! We love working with our local community to bring new businesses to life at Centennial. 

From training staff to developing marketing promotions, there are so many things to consider when it comes to managing your business. So, how can you set your small shop up for success right from the start? 

Read on for a few simple tips for new retail business owners like yourself to implement today:

Tip #1: Get To Know Your Customers

Building a loyal customer base is key for any successful business. Don’t overlook the importance of getting to know who your customers are: identify their demographics, preferences, needs and wants. This will help you best cater your business to them to provide the types of products and services that will keep them coming back time and time again. 

Tip #2: Get Involved

Take advantage of your location within a shopping center to get involved in center-wide offerings and promotions. From traffic-driving events to digital marketing opportunities, Centennial’s marketing team is here to help your store succeed. Besides getting involved in these happenings, make sure you also get to know your neighboring businesses - partnering together on cross-promotions is another way to grow awareness for your retail shop.

Tip #3: Get Social

While you’ve likely put a lot of effort into the physical presence of your brick and mortar space, it’s equally important to invest in how your brand shows up online as well. Social media is a great tool for small business owners because it’s free to use, and allows you to connect with your shoppers and potential new customers 24/7. Use your social media accounts to showcase new product arrivals, share sales information, and have an open dialogue with your customers.

Conclusion

Congratulations on opening your first retail business! The team at Centennial is here to help you each step of the way. Take time to get to know your customers, get involved within your shopping center community, and use social media to grow your business’ digital presence. Utilize these tips and you’ll be well on your way to being the owner of a thriving retail business!

3 Tips for New Retail Business Owners

It’s almost summer, which means warm weather, vacations, and outdoor events are right around the corner! While everyone looks forward to having fun in the sun during the upcoming months it can also be a slow time for retailers, as foot traffic and sales tend to cool off as soon as the temperatures rise.

As a small business owner it is important to plan ahead to avoid a summer sales slump. Read on for three marketing ideas you can implement into your upcoming seasonal promotions:  

Bring the Outside In

The summer months are all about getting outdoors and enjoying the sunshine. As a small business owner, get creative by changing up your retail displays or storefront windows: there’s no better time to bring the outdoors in, with fun summer-themed merchandise and displays. Changing up your visual merchandising each season helps to freshen up the overall look of your space, and using bright and cheerful summer colors and themes will also catch the eye of potential new customers.

Package for Parties

From its Memorial Day start through to its Labor Day conclusion, the summer season is chock full of holidays and celebrations that your customers look forward to, and that they also spend money on. Leverage these festivities to market your goods and services as as solution for any upcoming event: pre-package easy “grab &amp; go” gift sets, or host special promotions on must-have decor, entertaining items, fashion or food for backyard barbecues, summer weddings, picnics and more.  

Tap into Tourism

Summer is also vacation season, which means prime time to advertise your business to out-of-towners via social media or cross-promotions with nearby hotels and hot spots. Not located in a travel destination? You can still tap into the travel season by highlighting your vacation-friendly merchandise for customers to shop before they head out on their next trip.

Key Takeaway

While retail sales tend to slow down during the summer months, that doesn’t have to be the case for your small business. Outdoor celebrations and vacations are part of what makes the summer so enjoyable. With a little creativity, they can also be what make this summer a profitable season for your shop!

3 Hot Retail Marketing Ideas for Summer

Saturday, October 15th from 2PM until 5PM

We are excited to announce that  Roggenrola, the Mantle Pokémon, will be featured during September Community Day.

Catch Em' throughout Port Charlotte Town Center!

We are excited to announce that Litwick, the Candle Pokemon, will 
be featured during October's Community Day.

Pokémon GO Community Day

Presented by Charlotte County Sheriff's Office and Port Charlotte Town Center.Featuring: Trick-or-Treating, Agency Vehicle Displays, Face Painting, Bead-Craft Bracelets, Balloon Artistry and MORE!Located near Recreational Warehouse and Regal Cinemas. Inside and Out!

FREE ADMISSION!

Presented by Charlote County Sheriff's Office - FREE Admission!

Cops & Goblins - Halloween Event

Centennial Real Estate

Port Charlotte Town Center promises shopping success! Shop our anchors and more than 100 specialty stores and eateries located in the mall.

The center will be closed until further notice to ensure the safety and security of our shoppers, tenants and employees.

Keep yourself in the know