GGP

We're Making It Easier for Entrepreneurs All The Time!

General Growth Properties partners with more than 20,000 specialty retailers a year and can provide you with several tools to assist you in building and evolving your business in one of our shopping centers.

Printable Application Business Plan

Questions or comments about specialty leasing? Please email a business development specialist directly and include the name and/or city and state of the General Growth Properties location(s) you are interested in receiving information about.

FAQ

How do I start?
The steps to starting your own business are very simple:

  • Identify the service or products you want to sell.
  • Develop a business plan. GGP can assist you in this process.
  • Once the business plan is developed, schedule a meeting with the management team at your chosen GGP mall.
  • Upon approval of your business concept, GGP's Specialty Leasing experts will help you set up, merchandise and promote your business.

    What can I expect from the mall?
    GGP offers Specialty Leasing partners a full range of support and services including:

  • Visual merchandising assistance to help you create the most attractive and effective merchandise displays, so that you'll entice more customers to shop and achieve higher sales.
  • A variety of display options, including state-of-the-art retail merchandising units, kiosk locations for your own custom-designed kiosk, and in-line spaces ranging from 200 to 5000 square feet.
  • A simple, three-page license agreement to provide you with low-risk flexibility.
  • On-site and corporate support staff with years of retailing experience.

    What can I sell in a mall?
    In our experience, the most successful retail concepts fall into the following categories:

  • Trendy, innovative, unique products and services (impulse items).
  • Gifts and keepsakes that reflect local culture and the unique character of the community.
  • Handmade arts and crafts.
  • Gifts and merchandise for holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter, Passover, Graduation, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day and Halloween.
  • Seasonal items such as recreational items for summer fun or winter warmth, as well as back-to-school merchandise.
  • Professional and financial services such as retirement planning, home improvement, Internet consulting, financial advice and tax preparation.

    What do I need to open?
    Before you open, you'll need the following:

  • A signed license agreement.
  • A minimum security deposit.
  • The first month's rent in a certified check or money order.
  • Business licenses and tax identification numbers as required by state and local law.
  • A certificate of insurance.
  • Professional printed signs that conform to mall regulations.
  • A cart or store design plan and merchandising plan approved by the Mall Manager.
  • Enough inventory to create a high-quality presentation and fulfill sales demand.

    What will it cost?
    Your actual costs will depend on a number of factors. The GGP Specialty Leasing Program can design a pricing package tailored specifically to your business and your resources. We can also help you create a business plan to determine how much of an investment you'll need to start and support your business. Here is a partial list of the costs you should expect to figure into your business plan:

  • Cost of goods and inventory
  • Employee wages and labor costs
  • City licensing and permit fees
  • An insurance policy covering general comprehensive liability
  • Rents

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