Company: Retail Specialists, LLC
Company Description: Retail Specialists, LLC is the premier retail real estate services firm in the south. We are committed to long-term relationships in property management, retail representation, development, leasing, and brokerage. Founded in 2005, we’ve thrived through tough times and shine under pressure. A unique mix of experience, technology, and data have proven successful in a business we love.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Company of the Year - Real Estate - Small
 Nomination Title: Company of the Year - Real Estate - Small
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the achievements of the nominated organization since January 1 2021, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: Briefly describe the nominated organization: its history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 129 words used.
Retail Specialists is a retail-focused commercial real estate firm that was founded in 2005 with headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama. Since then, the company has grown to become the regional leader throughout the Southeast in retail real estate services including leasing and brokerage, property management, tenant representation, development, and outsourced real estate services for emerging retail brands.
Over the years Retail Specialists has represented brands such as Cabela’s, Starbucks, GuitarCenter, AutoZone, Kay Jewelers, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and Krispy Kreme Donuts as they expand in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and the panhandle of Florida.
Hollywood Feed, a pet retail store focusing on natural and holistic pet products, has completely outsourced its real estate department to the company. Retail Specialists works on strategic market development to lease negotiations to remodels of existing stores.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Outline the organization's achievements since the beginning of 2021 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 255 words used. If the word count is more than 25 words over the limit, please deduct one (1) point from your score.
Since 2021, Retail Specialists has grown its reach from Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana to focus on a greater region of DC to Dallas, opening two new offices in Atlanta, Georgia and Fort Worth, Texas.
There have been numerous accolades won over the last 24 months including:
Best Places to Work (Birmingham Business Journal – 2022)
2nd Largest Commercial Real Estate Firm in Birmingham – (Book of Lists – 2022)
CEO of the Year for Small to Medium Sized Business – (Birmingham Business Journal – 2021)
CFO of the Year Finalist – (Birmingham Business Journal – 2021)
Who’s Who in Birmingham Real Estate 2021- CEO, Robert Jolly
NextGEN Real Estate – (Individual Award from the Birmingham Business Journal – 2022 Sid Knight)
NextGEN Real Estate – (Individual Award from the Birmingham Business Journal – 2021 Jason Clark)
CoStar Power Broker Awards – (Multiple brokers have received this accolade over the last 24 months)
Employees at Retail Specialists have purchased two value-add shopping centers in Alabama to create wealth beyond salaries and commissions, raising 100% of funding needed to purchase the centers from the Retail Specialists team. Robert Jolly, Founder and CEO of Retail Specialists, sees this as the vision for the company. Find undervalued shopping centers that others see as blight, purchase the real estate and enhance the quality of the physical center itself and the tenants that occupy the center. This creates long-term wealth for employees of the company. Expanding our footprint from commercial real estate development into residential development, eight communities currently under construction.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 150 words used.
Retail Specialists works with its sister company, Retail Strategies, to find real estate deals in small markets that many traditional CRE firms won’t work on. Retail Strategies is a municipal consulting firm working for city leaders in rural markets throughout the country to actively recruit new retail brands to the client cities to enhance the quality of life in the town and to increase sales and property tax revenues.
These rural markets are often overlooked by traditional real estate firms, but Retail Specialists sees this as a competitive advantage. Having local market knowledge of these communities allows for our team to pick up leasing assignments and buy undervalued properties in order to create more value for not only employees but the community itself.
Working in markets that other companies overlook is our unique and competitive advantage. We are currently working in 200 markets across the United States in this capacity.
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 196 words used.
The easiest way to get a glimpse into the impact Retail Specialists has left in the Southeast is to hear from our clients, read articles written about us within our community, and watch our "About Us" video linked below. We are passionate about Real Estate but we are driven by our wonderful clients.
A quote from a client testimonial: Dr. Grecko, regional developer for The Joint Chiropractic, speaks highly of tenant representative Alex McCauley. "His guidance positions The Joint Chiropractic brand for success and empowers us to grow and progress our mission of boosting the quality of life through routine, affordable chiropractic care!"
Link to "About Us" company video: https://vimeo.com/658656316
2022 Best Places to Work Award: https://www.retailspecialists.com/retail-specialists-selected-as-2022-best-places-to-work-honoree/
Who’s Who in Birmingham- Commercial Real Estate- Robert Jolly CEO: https://www.retailspecialists.com/robert-jolly-ccim-named-whos-who-in-birmingham-commercial-real-estate/
2021 CFO of the Year Finalist
https://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/news/2021/11/01/cfo-nominees-for-2021-2022.html
Link to Next Generation Award for Real Estate and Construction 2022 Sid Knight: https://www.retailspecialists.com/nextgen-bhm-real-estate-and-construction-sidney-knight/
Link to Next Generation Award for Real Estate and Construction 2021 Jason Clark: https://www.retailspecialists.com/nextgen-real-estate-and-construction-jason-clark-retail-specialists/
Retail Specialists Named Largest Commercial Real Estate Firm in Birmingham: https://www.retailspecialists.com/retail-specialists-named-largest-birmingham-commercial-real-estate-firm-by-the-birmingham-business-journal/
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