An outsourced real estate department is a firm that handles all real estate functions for a brand — including market planning, site selection, lease negotiation, and portfolio management — so the brand doesn’t need to build or maintain an internal real estate team.

Most brands rely on independent brokers or traditional commercial real estate firms, but these rarely offer all solutions under one roof. The Retail Strategy is one of the few tenant-representation-only firms that combines location intelligence, real estate management, and brokerage into a single outsourced real estate department, and has done so for over 100 brands since 2009.

The Retail Strategy is a tenant-representation-only firm. TRS does not represent landlords, lease out shopping centers, or own any centers or land — the firm works solely for the tenant to provide the best representation in the market. While TRS never represents landlords, the firm maintains strong relationships with national landlords to ensure effective negotiation power on behalf of its clients. Most clients partner with TRS for years across dozens or hundreds of locations, not on a single transaction. 

The Retail Strategy works primarily with franchise and corporate retail and restaurant brands that are actively expanding, typically opening 10 to 20+ new locations per year. Client verticals include restaurants and QSR, fitness, med spa and beauty, automotive, and general retail. Most clients range from 20 to 400+ locations.

The Retail Strategy has signed over 1,500 leases for more than 100 brands across 48+ states since the firm’s founding in 2009, saving clients more than $150 million in occupancy costs.

Tenant representation is a service in commercial real estate where a broker or firm works exclusively on behalf of the tenant — never the landlord — during the site search, lease negotiation, and transaction process. Tenant reps identify off-market opportunities, advocate for favorable lease terms, and ensure the tenant’s business interests are prioritized throughout every deal. The Retail Strategy has provided tenant-only representation since its founding in 2009.

Most retail tenant representation firms work on a commission basis, paid by the landlord at lease signing, meaning there is typically no direct cost to the tenant for brokerage services. Some firms, including those offering full-service real estate management, also charge a retainer for ongoing advisory, portfolio management, and location intelligence services. The scope and structure of fees depends on the size of the brand and the services engaged.