Top Story

• U.K., Germany receiving most of European real estate investor interest
  London is receiving more global real estate capital investment than New York, Tokyo and Moscow combined, according to comments made by Joseph Kelly, director of market analysis at Real Capital Analytics, at the ICSC-Thomson Reuters Global Retail Real Estate Forum in London. Another popular market in Europe is Germany, according to Robert Bonwell, CEO of EMEA retail at Jones Lang LaSalle. The U.K. and Germany are receiving the majority of investment funds in Europe. SCT Newswire (1/25)

Are you using AI to its fullest potential? The right technology can change the entire shopping experience in-store and online. Take advantage of advancements in AI personalization and data. Learn from industry leaders how to harness the power of technology in retail. ADVERTISEMENT

Industry Tracker

• Kimco sells four Ohio retail centers
  Kimco Realty has sold four retail centers in the Dayton, Ohio, area for $15.3 million. The buyer is a private equity firm. American City Business Journals/Dayton, Ohio (1/24)

• Planning under way for 130,000 SF retail center in Dickson, Tenn.
  Plans are under way to build a 130,000-square-foot retail center in Dickson, Tenn. No tenant names have been released yet. The center will be located across from a Wal-Mart. The Tennessean (Nashville) (tiered subscription model) (1/26)

• Eminent domain fight at D.C.'s Skyland nearing end
  The planned redevelopment of Skyland Shopping Center in the District of Columbia has come at a price -- city officials spent at least $1 million in legal costs on its use of eminent domain to force out business owners that did not want to sell. The city is within weeks of having control over all the necessary parcels at Skyland. The Washington Post (1/28)

• Jacksonville retail center tenants focus on services, not goods
  Retail centers in the Jacksonville, Fla., area are learning to attract non-retail tenants to fill their space. There are 43 businesses in three area retail centers, but only four actually sell products such as sportswear or jewelry. The rest are service providers. The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville) (1/26)

	Auction.com to auction $20+ MM in Retail Properties Auction.com, the Nation's Leading Online Real Estate Marketplace, are pleased to auction 12 retail properties nationwide. This auction will take place February 12 thru 14 on auction.com. See More info about the auction.

Retail News

• Detroit-area Target stores will get larger grocery section
  Nine Target stores in the Detroit area are being remodeled to include a larger grocery section, which includes fresh food. "It's about convenience, saving time, getting more things done with just one stop," said Annette Miller, senior vice president of grocery. The retailer has been adding or expanding grocery sections nationwide. Detroit Free Press (1/27)

• Study: Shoppers are turning to retail apps more often
  Consumers spent more than 500% more time using retailers' mobile applications in December than they spent in the same month in 2011, according to analytics provider Flurry. Apps from retailers including Wal-Mart, Target, Macy's and Saks saw the biggest jump in usage and comprised the largest share of overall app use in the month, the survey found. TechCrunch (1/25)

• Kmart tops Lampert's priority list
  Kmart is working to combat declining same-store sales as sister chain Sears starts to see improvements, a challenge for investor Edward Lampert as he takes on the CEO role. Lampert acquired Kmart in 2003, combining it with Sears two years later in a $12.3 billion deal. The Wall Street Journal (1/24)

• Other News

• Permit shows TJ Maxx may land in downtown Seattle
  The Seattle Times (1/25)

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by ICSC SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Kimco buys stake in San Diego retail for $98M (San Diego Business Journal)

• Retail REIT acquires 6 grocery-anchored centers for $60.5M (American City Business Journals)

• Control your stress with these powerful techniques (Lifehack.org)

• If they build it, will Brazilians spend? (Reuters)

• Glimcher reportedly eyes Ohio retail development project (SNL Financial (free content))

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Business Best Practices

• Use the principle of subtraction to boost your career
  Create a list of all your goals and projects, then eliminate the bottom 20%, suggests Matthew May, author of "The Laws of Subtraction." Also, "ask those who matter to you most -- clients, colleagues, family members and friends -- what they would like you to stop doing," he writes. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (1/19)

	The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS) Grade School Kid Reports: "My favorite part was… EVERYTHING!" A group of children recently visited PLAYTIME and learned how the soft indoor play elements are made. "I wish I had that many toys in my room!" They even said it was fun to watch PLAYTIME's paint dry! Download a brochure or contact David O'Niones (DavidO@Playtime.com, 303-662-0302). More hilarious quotes. Interested in learning more about advertising with SmartBrief? Click here for detailed industry information and media kits.

News from ICSC

• ICSC University of Shopping Centers
  The ICSC University of Shopping Centers is the most complete retail real estate educational program available. Held on the campus of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia March 4 to 6, 2013, this is the largest annual educational event offered by the ICSC. A distinguished faculty of over 80 industry leaders and experienced practitioners, including a cadre of distinguished Wharton School Professors. Courses in three levels of study: Executive, Advanced, and Fundamental. Numerous networking opportunities. Sixty courses in subjects including Asset Management, Property Management; General Studies; Marketing; Leasing; Development, Design and Construction; Law; Finance; Retailing. Real-world examples and practical solutions make this a must-attend event.
  
  Participants can personalize their University experience. Attend as few as one class or as many as six. Attend any six courses for as little as $140 per class. For more information, go to www.icsc.org/2013UV or contact ICSC's Madison Gross at (646) 728-3461 or mgross@icsc.org.

SmartQuote

There's much to be said for challenging fate instead of ducking behind it." --Diana Trilling, American literary critic and author