Hello and welcome to my RECon 2013 Live Blog.

Hopefully this will give you a little insight into what really goes on at RECon 2013.

Now before we even start let me state that my intention is to be a “lite” version of my usual self.

Yea I know I am thinking the same thing. Let’s see how long that lasts.

Let’s have fun. Let’s be open minded. Let’s try and push the positive. Let’s do some deals. But….

Be prepared for ANYTHING!

Hello Vegas!

Wheels down and heading for the Market Place Mall

Be sure to tweet the #hashtag #RECon13

Great job Elena from ICSC. Quality content for the press.

Marketplace Mall getting busy.

Stop by and see my friends at Motionloft.com

Hey also stop by the #iTechLounge and see my other friends at Cohn Marketing.

Do I have fans? Not really but it’s nice when people are friendly.

Like my friends at APTO.

Wow some very nice people out today. Check out Adam Rowe James Bushy and Sid Goswami at

SS&C Technologies.

Well I just ran into my friend Doug Curry the CEO of Xceligent and he was all class!

Awesome site and product www3dwindowdressing.com Go see Eva de Vette Cle van Beurden Dion Pouw and Kevin Schnittker

Marketplace Mall winding down. Invited to “networking” at the Bellagio then dinner at the Wynn Encore.

Monday: The calm before the storm.

Make sure to check out some great sessions today at the #iTechLounge 1.o and 2.o

Just heard the first apology for missing dinner and not finding the hotel room. #Vegas

This is hilarious from Ideal Services Inc. and Ray Salzer

VID_20130520_074315

“So Duke I read your stuff online and I love it but I am curious.” “How do I make the transition from residential to commercial?”

“Is there a seminar I can take?” ” Is there an online course you would recommend?” ” Are there a few YouTube videos that you think might help?” “How about a few websites that will spell it out for me?”

Well first off I wish you good luck in your new career choice and I will try to help you in any way that I can. Thank you so much for thinking of me as a source that may be able to help you.

It’s that time of year once again to head to Las Vegas for ICSC RECon 2013.

For those of you not involved in retail. WOW……. are you missing one hell of a show.

The scale is amazing. The booths are multi million dollar palaces. The (duck breast soup OMG) food is indulgent. The (sorry mom)”drinks are ever flowing and the parties……uh I can’t really say.

Oh and yes the deal making and networking are unprecedented.

Take a quick look at the Prezi from ICSC.

Here is the official description of RECon 2013.

RECon is the global convention for the shopping center industry and provides networking, deal making and educational opportunities for retail real estate professionals from around the world.  With over 30,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors it is the largest industry convention, making it an unparalleled opportunity to do a year’s worth of business in just four days!  If you are looking to meet retailers to discuss new or existing leases in your centers, view the latest industry products and services that are critical to your business, attend over 30 educational sessions or find the next deal, then you need to attend RECon.

It’s all that and so much more.

Yes I will be doing presentations on Sunday and Monday at the #iTechLounge. ( Like I won’t blatantly promote myself …really. )

I will be trying to meet as many people as possible so please don’t be shy and if you feel the need my email is duke@42floors.com

This year is going to be the greatest ever. Can’t Wait!

BTW here is a video of me from last year at ICSC Recon………The irony!

Now you know this is going to be to easy to say but it just plain SUCKS!

There is not even anyone who will argue the other side of this point.

I could show a thousand examples or maybe just give you the link to google commercial real estate photos and…..

Let the pictures speak for themselves.

Ah the symbolism…it’s sad…looking up to the monolith and showing how big someone thinks their”member” really is.

The “real” people in suits shaking hands and looking like they are actually doing something….real.

And of course the number one must go to commercial real estate pic…….

The reflective generic sparkly glittering glass shot.

Why?

That’s it?

That’s how we want to project commercial real estate to the world?

Obviously or we would change that right?

I guess not!

What should we do at the very least.

Simple do what www.airbnb.com does.

They know how to do photography.

They do it professionally and they do it all over the entire world.

Why in the hell commercial real estate does not do this is …..way beyond me.

Oh wait I know it makes way to much sense.

And of course the decision makers of commercial real estate have yet to see the true value of a photograph.

Ridiculous!

The airbnb model is brilliant.

It’s simple.

It creates value.

It shows the property or space in a beautiful and profession form……

To the consumer!

Thoughts opinions comments and points of view are always appreciated.

One of the fantastic things about being involved in a start-up like 42Floors is the day-to-day reality is that There Are No Rules.

There are no defined set of guidelines that I am made to adhere to.

Having stated that I now realize that I am going to be tested here in the next few months. How?

By testing my assumptions and learning that whatever I think about a “tool” or “product” may not always be right.

I am after all the almighty CRE Tech Master am I not?

People from all over the world send me their products and ask me to test opine and post up for all the world to see.

Time To Get Schooled.

I was asked ( OK, I kind of begged) to get involved in the development of some of the tools that 42Floors is developing for commercial real estate.

I have seen some of what has already be developed and it’s without question amazing.

I of course assumed that whatever I would be working on I would bring my CRE broker tech savant tech knowledge to the table.

Well, not so fast my friends.  Time for Duke to get schooled.

The Process.

So I am not going to go into the office check the lunch menu (quinoa) sit in a meeting and start reeling off what I think brokers or potential users will want. Earth shattering I know but there it is in black and white.

We do however have a process that we will follow…..mostly.

Let me give you a few (secret but not all) hints.

Early Adopters.

Segmentation.

Non-Traditional Business Models.

Product Market Fit.

Getting Out of the Building.

Pivot.

Metrics.

Value Chain.

Testing.

This is how it really works.

This may seem pretty basic to some of my more tech advanced friends.

My broker buddies probably may not even care.

They just want a tool that helps them save time money and do more deals.

I could not agree more.

They think they know what they want.

I think they know what they want.

Neither of us may really have a clue.

We both know we need better tools.

I am willing to test my assumptions…to find the right tools for all of us.

Thoughts opinions comments and feedback are always appreciated.

As a co-founder of a startup in the telecom space, I have spent some quality time considering the entrenched market forces of the telecom and cable companies within their stable ecosystem. Sure, there are incrementally better services launched, frequent mergers and massive customer swaps, yet I envision these telecom monoliths as large celestial bodies within a centuries-old solar system, governed by unchanging laws of physics. Until something changes. Something big. Like when a new Gravitational Constant comes along.  

Remember the Gravitational Constant from science class?  G, as it is commonly referenced, is an empirical value that impacts the forces between bodies. It’s been used in numerous equations from Newton to Einstein and I’m pulling it out today to signify the new Gravitational Constant in the telecom universe named G, as in Google. And instead of casually deflecting its arrival as a rogue asteroid of meteor, these huge telcos and cable cos are experiencing a shockwave as it propagates the connected universe…

G is the Google Fiber phenomenon, and the mere announcement of its coming to the residential markets of 3 US cities has already altered the market forces of the entire telecom industry.  So, while the blogosphere muses — on Google’s intentions, when it will happen and how we should feel about it – the rest of us can recognize and enjoy the benefits already upon us.  Business customers will see it first, in the large commercial building districts, with smaller businesses and consumers following close behind.

Current fiber carriers have seen the light

While Google builds, innovation continues

Connectivity is now assumed, and ‘advanced’ connectivity is the differentiator

Another effect of the Google Fiber announcement is to further ratchet up the expectations for connectivity.  While consumers want the ability to connect any device anywhere and move around any amount of data, business customers expect high-speed advanced connectivity in their commercial space.  And from multiple providers, so they can optimize speed, reliability, flexibility and cost, while supporting their ever-increasing appetite for connectivity.  So it’s no surprise that commercial building owners and apartment managers alike are now showcasing advanced connectivity capabilities as a key differentiator when prospective tenants are evaluating space.

I Quit !!

Call me a quitter if you want because I already have.

I have been on the road quite a bit lately and looking at my calendar  I see several more trips upcoming this year.

So what am I quitting?

The Past.

Part of the beauty of being on the road is that I get to meet so many new and amazing people.

All of them and I mean all most all of them are looking to the future.

When I sit down with them and discuss what products they are using and what technologies they want to use they always mention the future.

They see what has been literally and are open and willing to look at what can and should be their future.

It’s exciting it’s refreshing it’s encouraging it’s about fucking time.

So I am done dwelling on the past in part because it serves no purpose what so ever.

The Future.

It is about the reality of where commercial real estate is going.

It is about the reality of the technology available for us to use.

It is about the reality of the willingness to adopt.

It is about the reality of the world commercial real estate has helped create today……and tomorrow.

So I quit. I quit the past for the future of commercial real estate.

Thoughts opinions comments and points of view are always appreciated.

If you read my recent post about JLL and their IntelliCommand Center that may help you reference a little bit where my mind is coming from.

All of this data collection and automation is fascinating. Don’t you see it? I see it!

It has already started.

One of those little Black Swan Moments.

The building data is being aggregated and analysed by the nano second. If you watched any of the videos you may have picked up that JLL does not make any attempt and will tell you straight up that they do not want to own the data.

Soooooo.

Here we have one of the industry leaders creating a product and using emerging technology to serve a growing client need.

WOW…what a radical concept.

Which brings me to my new friend’s at Xceligent.

They post up to the world how they launch a new market.

• Obtain, combine and standardize tax assessor files to create baseline of commercial properties
• Load data into proprietary drive tool application
• Drive teams photograph and conduct a physical site inspection of all commercial structures
• Identify the Broker Company and/or Property Management Company representing each building
• Contact listing companies and property management firms to build out a comprehensive inventory of all properties available for lease or sale
• Verify and match tenant records to each property
• Confirm historical sale transactions completed over the last few years that include the type of structure, true buyer and seller, and any available financial details.

So to make this simple.

On the listing side of commercial real estate we still define “true and accurate data” by the definition and process stated above.

JLL is defining true and accurate data as data collected and analysed and freely given back to the originator without any attempt of ownership.

Yea, ok start the arguments. Whatever!

What I am most interested in is the process. Specifically the Drive Teams. By my definition that is “the street.”

Now this sound like it might have a certain “value” because of the actual physical inspection.

But I have a lot of questions.

Soooooo.

I want to go out with Xceligent”s drive teams and see the process as it happens and see it for myself.

Doug my buddy my friend.

Can you make this happen

Open your process the rest of commercial real estate and let them see how you actually execute this process.

Doug you have my email and phone number. I will open up my calendar.

I Need The Street!

Let’s start out with a big thank you to Leslie Gall, Paige Steers, and Marge Sweeney from JLL for connecting with me and playing it forward. A quick phone call and a look at some commercial real estate cutting edge technology from one of the industry leaders.

IntelliCommand.

24/7 real-time remote monitoring and control of facilities powered by Pacific Controls technology.

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