Northpark becomes first “searchable shopping center” in the Southeast through ShareRails break-through technology RIDGELAND, Miss. (August 14, 2018)— Starting this month, Northpark will be the first Southeast shopping center to feature searchable inventory utilizing ShareRails, a
technology used to digitize Northpark’s inventory making products sold at the retail center searchable via the Northpark website and Google. ShareRails will offer Northpark tenants a clear online-to-offline path to compete with global online retailers. With Google’s location-based search results, this technology offers a new way to help drive consumers back to traditional shopping centers and offer a convenient alternative to e-commerce shopping.
Pacific Retail Capital Partners, Northpark’s managing partner, chose to implement ShareRails as part of the Ridgeland shopping destination’s current multimillion-dollar renovation along with additional innovative digital technologies. “We are thrilled to collaborate with ShareRails at Northpark and other Pacific Retail assets around the country,” said Najla Kayyem, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Pacific Retail. “We look forward to the success that ShareRails will create for Northpark’s retailers and to the convenience it will offer our shoppers.”
The ShareRails program recently garnered Pacific Retail a 2018 Silver MAXI award in New/Emerging Technology and the 2018 Special Distinction for Marketing Innovation award (most innovative submission overall). The ICSC MAXI Awards showcase the retail real estate industry’s most innovative events, programs and technologies that add value to shopping centers and companies across the country. This break-through innovation allows people to search for products online and then make a purchase immediately at Northpark. “We are able to enhance our customer’s satisfaction by making our physical retail inventory available online,” said Christy Pender, Northpark’s Marketing and Business Development Manager. “This technology will be a first for the region, and we are thrilled to lead off with this new searchable platform.” ShareRails is only one of the innovative technologies rounding out the interactive experience at Northpark as part of the current renovation. The new Eatery will house a large, high-resolution digital display that will provide entertainment and targeted messaging for customers. There will also be touchscreen directories and a children’s interactive wall complete with gaming and motion-activated content all designed to create a connective and unique shopping experience for families. This engaging technology allows Northpark to provide a value-added service for their merchants and the community they serve.
Other renovations now underway to the 958,000-square-foot center include a modern children’s play area, new public entrances and corridors, common area updates and amenities, a family restroom and lounge, and common-area gathering spaces including a complete transformation of the current food court to a spacious café-style Eatery. Fresh interior and exterior landscaping and a total resurfacing of the parking lot will complete Phase 1 in time for holiday shopping this November.