FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Matthew Haller, IFA, 202-662-0770
Jenna Weisbord, IFA, 202-662-0766
Jesse Tron, ICSC, 646-728-3814
mhaller@franchise.org
jweisbord@franchise.org
jtron@icsc.org
IFA AND ICSC PARTNER TO CONNECT REAL ESTATE OPENINGS WITH FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT
WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, Dec. 3, 2012 —The International Franchise Association (IFA) and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) have launched a new online matchmaking portal designed to streamline franchise companies seeking real estate and landlords and brokers looking for retailers to fill open space, the groups announced today.
The ICSC/IFA Matchmaking Database ( www.icsc.org/ifa ) can be accessed by thousands of retail and real estate professionals online daily. Retailers can post their need for space and landlords and brokers can post available retail space. The searchable databases contain available retail properties by location, size, ownership/management and demographic information.
“This new tool will help link new franchise developments with available real estate, thereby escalating the pace at which businesses are coming to market and speeding up the creation of new jobs,” said IFA President & CEO Steve Caldeira.
Michael P. Kercheval, ICSC president and CEO, stated, “The new ICSC/IFA matchmaking portal is the perfect blending of each association’s core objectives while providing a strong catalyst for retailer expansion.”
Retailers can list their need for space using common fields including, size of property, scope of business, space needed (type of shopping center), demographics, and other parameters. All active ICSC and IFA members may post all their available properties and space needs for FREE and can use the website at any time.
Listings on the site are secure and members provide continuous updates so they remain timely. The site is located at www.icsc.org/ifa.
###
About the International Franchise Association
The International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. Celebrating over 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising. Through its media awareness campaign highlighting the theme, Franchising: Building Local Businesses, One Opportunity at a Time, IFA promotes the economic impact of the more than 825,000 franchise establishments, which support nearly 18 million jobs and $2.1 trillion of economic output for the U.S. economy. IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development.
About ICSC
Founded in 1957, ICSC is the premier global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its more than 55,000 members in over 90 countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, retailers and brokers, as well as academics and public officials. As the global industry trade association, ICSC links with more than 25 national and regional shopping center councils throughout the world. For more information, visit www.icsc.org.
