LAS VEGAS—Retail real estate landlords have a tough time managing the dynamic of online versus in-store sales. CREModels (RECon booth N1538) is a real estate consulting and advisory firm who knows the challenges that both retailers and landlords have to face. We spoke with the firm's managing director, Mike Harris, about how to get through those issues.

GlobeSt.com: You deal with retailers that sell both in stores and online. Does that ever pose a problem for them?

Mike Harris: The “mobile tsunami” has disrupted all sorts of business, especially brick-and-mortar retail. Customers are increasingly engaging in “showrooming” by walking the store floors while concurrently price-shopping on their mobile device. Brick-and-mortar retailers have had to get creative. Many stores now offer online ordering with in-store pick up as a way to help maintain foot traffic, which is the lifeblood of any shopping center. This phenomenon has trickled into leasing as well. We are starting to see leases where the percentage-rent clauses include online sales. This was previously unheard of, but some landlords are starting to demand it. Not all tenants are willing or able to give this sort of concession, however. Most tenants with a national reach will refuse these provisions simply because they have the leverage, but the logistical headache of attributing these hybrid online/offline transactions to a specific location throughout their chain is daunting.