Simon, Shopify, Leap join forces to help online brands enter brick and mortar
Simon Property Group is partnering on a way to bring online brands into its shopping centers.
The nation’s largest developer and operator of shopping centers is teaming up with e-commerce platform Shopify and physical retail platform Leap to offer “comprehensive solutions” for e-commerce brands to speed up their go-to-market strategy and open brick-and-mortar locations across the Simon portfolio.
Ring Concierge, a New York-based fine jewelry company, is one of the first test cases for the partnership between the three companies. As a successful e-commerce brand on the Shopify platform, Ring Concierge sought to expand its physical retail presence.
Using Leap's comprehensive retail as a service (RaaS) solutions, including location sourcing, store design, staffing, technology, and analytics, and Simon's premium retail spaces and marketing support, the company successfully opened locations at two premier Simon centers — The Galleria in Houston and Town Center in Boca Raton, Fla. — within a matter of months.
[READ MORE: Simon to upgrade Smith Haven Mall with new tenants, renovations]
"Simon, Shopify and Leap were instrumental in helping us implement our brick-and-mortar growth strategy," said Nicole Wegman, founder of Ring Concierge. "Their knowledge, expertise, and support saved us valuable time and resources and have helped us scale our physical retail footprint faster than we could have imagined.”
The new locations are part of a broader rollout, bringing Ring Concierge's fleet to five stores (including two in New York City and one in Los Angeles), all powered by Leap. Ring Concierge’s first location on New York City's Bleecker Street proved to be a profitable strategy that enabled the brand’s customer base to experience their jewelry in-person.
"Physical stores are a vital component to a brand's omnichannel strategy and have a proven track record for growing revenue and attracting new customers," said Zach Beloff, VP of leasing at Simon. "We have helped numerous e-commerce brands establish a brick-and-mortar presence and our new collaboration with Shopify and Leap will provide an easy way for e-commerce brands to scale their brick-and-mortar business. We are excited to add Ring Concierge to our portfolio and look forward to their success.”
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Simon operates approximately 196 properties in the United States, and has ownership in 35 properties internationally.
