Why Cold Calling Isn’t Enough for Leasing | EP 71: I Own A Shopping Center Now What?

In Episode 71 of I Own A Shopping Center. Now What?, Beth Azor shares a powerful lesson from the field: when brokers and cold calls fall flat, in-person canvassing still wins.After consulting for a client struggling to lease retail space in a mixed-use development, Beth flew in, walked the neighborhood, and landed a showing—all within two hours. In this episode, she breaks down why canvassing is still critical, even after 30+ years in the business, and how brokers who avoid it may be costing their clients deals.This isn’t theory—it’s real-world advice from someone who’s still in the trenches. Beth reveals her go-to steps for getting results fast, how to identify myths and misinformation in a market, and why walking the block gives landlords a competitive edge.🔑 Key Takeaways Walk the property before canvassing.Use face-to-face canvassing for deeper insights.Don’t rely solely on cold calls or broker reports.Talk directly to business owners, not just reps.Canvassing exposes neighborhood misinformation.Vacant space hurts everyone—fill it fast.Encourage local brokers to walk the market weekly.Neighborhood alliances can improve property appeal.A strong presence leads to quicker lease activity.Whether you're working with brokers or leasing yourself, this episode will help you revive a dead listing and protect your NOI.BECOME A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE ROCKSTAR: https://www.bethazor.com/https://www.azoracademy.com/For more commercial real estate training: https://www.bethazor.com/training/