NORTHBROOK, Ill. (November 5, 2014) – Northbrook-based Pine Tree Commercial Realty, LLC wants to walk in its customers’ shoes. Since creating an omni-channel marketing department in January of this year, the retail real estate developer has been strengthening its focus on elevating its portfolio of shopping centers above the rapidly-blurring line between digital and brick-and-mortar retail. The idea is to enhance a shopper’s “experience” using a blend of the latest retail technologies, marketing trends, social media, event organization, and tenant cross-marketing coordination. To that end, the firm recently expanded its omni-channel marketing team with two new hires, Meredith Kramer and Neeka Armstrong.
Ms. Kramer, 26, of Glenview, Ill., joined Pine Tree as Creative Marketing Coordinator. She will oversee coordination of shopping center events, tenant cross-marketing, and community outreach. Prior to Pine Tree, Meredith was Marketing Supervisor for the Northbrook location of Whole Foods Market where she led an in-store marketing team to curate events, coordinate with neighboring tenants, and build community partnerships. Meredith earned her BFA in Graphic Design from Columbia College in Chicago, Ill.
As Pine Tree’s new Marketing & Graphic Design Coordinator, Ms. Armstrong, 25, of Lith, Ill., will handle the company’s creative projects and social media integration, while developing initiatives to enhance shopping center appearance and promotional platforms. Prior to Pine Tree, Neeka was Digital & Print Ad Coordinator for Shaw Media and interned at The Monogram Group. Neeka earned her BFA in Graphic Design from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, La.
“We’re incredibly excited to have Meredith and Neeka on our team,” said Graham Grochocinski, Creative/Omnichannel Marketing Director. “Their combined backgrounds of tenant and community outreach, advertising, social media and graphic design are hugely beneficial to our continued roll-out of marketing strategies across the Pine Tree portfolio. Their experience is also very much in line with our commitment to stay ahead of the curve as we continue to seek the optimal marketing solutions for our tenants and shopping centers as a community of retailers.”
Pine Tree recently began to roll-out its marketing initiatives for Poplar-Prairie Stone Crossing in Hoffman Estates, Ill., with Wi-Fi installation, pop-up shops, social media overhaul and a new customer focused website, scheduled to launch by Black Friday.
“Pine Tree is looking to the future and beyond,” says Mr. Grochocinski. “We’re not just marketing our properties to shoppers, but instead are seeking to evolve and advance their importance in the digital age. We are exploring how to optimally increase foot traffic to our centers using the best of what technology, social media and changing trends have to offer.”
About Pine Tree Commercial Realty:
Pine Tree Commercial Realty, LLC is a full-service real estate development company based in Northbrook, Ill. Since its founding in 1995, Pine Tree has acquired and developed 73 properties with an aggregate value of over $775 million. The company’s projects are located across the United States.
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