Appear Here CEO Ross Bailey on Why Retail Real Estate Needs a New Operating Model

VTS Innovators Spotlight is a VTS blog series that profiles the leading minds in commercial real estate, showcasing how they are transforming their organizations through technology and innovation.

Ross Bailey is founder and CEO of London-based startup Appear Here, which is an online marketplace for short-term retail space. The company offers businesses and retailers the opportunity to rent, or as Bailey says “book,” stores flexibly online. The company has raised more than $20 million and has found space for thousands of retailers in London, Paris, and New York. More than 150,000 global brands and entrepreneurs have signed up to use Appear Here’s platform.

VTS sat down with Ross, who was a speaker at VTS’ global user conference Accelerate, to find out more about his platform, the importance of physical space in the world of e-commerce, and what inspires him as an entrepreneur...

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RSK: Ross nails it here. But I do think retail does want to change and is showing signs of morphing into what it needs to be. Not quite there yet but on its way. And who knows it may never be a stagnant option but an ongoing morph to satisfy retail customers...

Ken Notes: We need to understand retail is in a state of flux, companies we thought would be around forever are boarding up the windows and new companies we thought would never have a chance are growing. We need to provide space for retailers to try new ideas without the risk of failure being the lion at the gate. This is one reason I support a Public Market in Madison, we may need a market for other retail products as well...