RETAIL CASE STUDIES
Client success stories
How TradeMark Leased a 43% Vacant Retail Center to 100% Occupancy
OCCUPIED
100%
YEAR TIMELINE
2
Service: Leasing
Location: Goldsboro, NC
Broker: Shelley Bhatia, CCIM
Situation
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The owners of a retail center had been trying to fill their property to 100% for four years. They had worked with three different brokers and still had 43% of the center sitting empty. Every leasing effort had ended without meaningful tenant interest, long-term commitments, and a path forward. The owners were frustrated and running out of patience. They needed a completely different approach, and that is when they called TradeMark.
Strategy
Challenge
Four years of vacancy had left a mark on the property's reputation. It was known in the market as a hard space to lease, and that perception made every new leasing effort harder than the last. Basic marketing was not going to fix this. The property needed a full repositioning strategy that could attract quality tenants, build a tenant mix strong enough to survive economic shifts and changing consumer behavior, and compete for both local and national names in a market that had already moved on from the property before.
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100% occupied retail center in under two years
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Curated mix of local, regional, and national tenants designed to perform through economic and technological shifts
Shelley created a new strategy that changed how the market viewed the property.
Conducted detailed local research to identify and directly engage qualified prospects in the area
Executed targeted digital marketing campaigns paired with proactive cold calling outreach
Attended ICSC conferences to connect with regional and national tenant representatives and expand the prospect pool
Strategically curated a tenant mix of local, regional, and national businesses for long-term stability
Designed an experience-based tenant composition built to withstand technological disruption and shifting consumer behaviors
Shelley did not just fill the space. She rebuilt the property's identity.
The client walked away with:
Coordinated all leasing agreements with attorney oversight to streamline negotiations and protect the owner
Results
Sustainable cash flow and fully repositioned asset for optimal long-term performance
Here is what Shelley executed:
A Nonprofit Listed a Rural Thrift Store As-Is and Received Multiple Offers
VALUE DOUBLED
Service: Investment Sales
Location: Princeton, NC
Broker: Kharmika Alston, CCIM
Situation
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After years of running a thrift store, the nonprofit decided that the store no longer aligned with its mission. The decision was final, but turning it into reality would take more than intention. The store needed to be sold as-is, including every rack, shelf, and donated item, and close before the end of the year. The clock was ticking, and the situation required more than a standard sales approach. They needed a broker who could think creatively and move quickly. That's when they called Kharmika Alston.
Strategy
Challenge
The property was in a rural market with almost no transaction history, making it difficult to price correctly. Additionally, selling a building full of thrift merchandise significantly narrowed potential buyers. Most investors want a clean asset they can step into on their own terms, but this one came with conditions. Finding a buyer who saw those conditions as an opportunity, rather than a problem, required outreach and creativity beyond simply posting a listing and waiting.
Kharmika developed a pricing strategy and developed a multi-channel marketing approach designed to reach the right buyers where they were actually looking.
Built a detailed pricing analysis that gave the seller confidence and positioned the property competitively in a challenging rural market
Executed targeted digital marketing campaigns paired with proactive cold calling outreach
Reframed the as-is condition and included merchandise as an opportunity instead of a liability
Proactively prospected beyond traditional listing platforms to build a qualified buyer network where one barely existed
Generated multiple offers in a market that rarely sees competitive bidding activity
Here’s what Kharmika executed:
Kharmika generated competitive interest in a rural market and exceeded the nonprofit’s expectations.
Here’s what the client walked away with:
Results
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Closed on their desired deadline with zero delays
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Sold the store with all merchandise included, requiring no prep work or cleanout from the organization
Full equity on an asset they had owned for years and clarity in an uncertain market
How TradeMark Saved a 1031 Exchange and Secured a $2.15M Triple Net Investment
VALUE DOUBLED
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED
1031
OFF ASKING PRICE
10%
CAP RATE
7.2%
Service: Buyer representation, 1031 Exchange
Location: Lexington, NC
Broker: Shelley Bhatia, CCIM
Situation
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Strategy
Results
Challenge
Construction delays had pushed back the original lease start dates, and the income projections no longer added up. Her client was now facing a decision that would affect their entire investment. Should they close on a property with numbers that didn't support the investment just to meet the 1031 deadline? Or should they walk away and restart the search with time already running out? There was no easy answer, and the wrong choice could cost them everything.
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A $2.15M acquisition that fits their price point and investment strategy
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A 10% discount off the asking price
Shelley immediately advised the client to abandon the transaction despite the deadline pressure. She knew that rushing into a deal without proper information would create worse long-term issues. The client decided to trust Shelley, and she quickly resumed searching for a property that would meet his acquisition criteria and timeline.
Launched an immediate search for stabilized properties with verified financials
Leveraged her network to find qualified 1031 opportunities
Targeted absolute triple net lease structures with established tenancy
Secured and closed on a new property under contract on time
Managed every detail to ensure 1031 exchange deadline compliance
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A 7.2% cap rate on an absolute triple-net retail property with fully verified financials
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A completed 1031 exchange closed successfully within IRS deadlines
When a 1031 exchange deadline is days away, most brokers want to close quickly for their client. Shelley Bhatia saw a reason to walk away. Shelley represented a buyer seeking a commercial property in Lexington between $1.5M and $3M. She identified a promising opportunity that checked every box for her client, put it under contract, and started due diligence. As she reviewed the seller's financial records and lease agreements, she found gaps that entirely changed her next action.
Here’s what Shelley executed:
Shelley delivered exactly what her client needed when the pressure was highest, refusing to settle for anything less than a deal that truly served his best interests.
Here's what the client walked away with:
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Complete confidence that his broker always priortized his best interest
