Open Your First Physical Store With Confidence.
A practical, real-world course built on 25+ years of UK commercial retail property experience.
Opening a physical retail space can be transformative for a business. It can also be expensive, confusing, and full of hidden risks if you get it wrong. This course exists to remove uncertainty.
Case Study
"Saved £6,000 on first year rent"
"I have been involved in UK commercial retail property for over two decades. Leasing. Negotiation. Deal structures. Landlord strategy. Mistakes. Successes. Recoveries."
This course distils that experience into a clear, structured learning programme designed to help you understand how retail property really works.
NIGEL
Retail Property Expert
From Landlord Agent to Tenant Champion
I have been working in the property industry since 1996 and since then have been involved in leasing some of the largest shopping and leisure centres in the UK, including Bluewater, The MetroCentre, Eldon Square in Newcastle, The Oracle, Reading and Trinity Leeds. I have also advised a number of major UK retailers on acquisitions, disposals, and their store strategy.
With a career spanning over 25 years, I have personally overseen the leasing of over 3 million sq ft of retail space. Having acted as the retained agent for premier destinations including Bluewater and The Metrocentre, I know exactly how landlords think—and exactly how to structure a deal for success. Now, I use that insider knowledge to help independent retailers obtain the same advantages as the big brands.
25+
Years Experience
300+
Lettings Agreed
3m+
Sq Ft Leased
Connect on LinkedInWho This Course Is For
You do not need prior property experience. You do need to be serious about learning how the system works.
Retailers, cafe owners, and restaurateurs planning their first physical store
Small business owners with one or more outlets but who want to expand intelligently
Founders who want to understand leases, rents, incentives, and negotiations before committing
Anyone who wants to speak to agents and landlords from a position of knowledge, not guesswork
What You Will Learn
The focus throughout is understanding. Better understanding leads to better decisions.
How retail locations are assessed from a landlord's perspective
How rents are structured, and what really matters in a deal
How leases work in practice, not just in principle
What incentives exist, when they appear, and how they are framed
How agents think, and how negotiations actually unfold
The common mistakes first-time tenants make, and how to avoid them
Navigating through the lease structure minefield
The difference between a lease and a licence
How to agree a pop-up to test the water
What This Course Is Not
- Personalised advice on your specific property
- A valuation, appraisal, or negotiation service
- Consultancy, surveying, or regulated professional advice
- A guarantee of commercial success
The course gives you knowledge and context, not decisions. You remain in control of how you apply what you learn.
Download My "Real World" Templates
Don't start from scratch. You'll get access to the actual documents I've used to close millions of sq ft of deals. Used hundreds of times, these are proven to be effective.
- Professional Offer Letters
- Heads of Terms (HoT) Checklists
- Landlord Enquiry Templates
Credibility Killer
"Never use a Hotmail or Gmail address for business enquiries. It instantly loses credibility with agents. I'll show you how to set up a professional presence that demands respect."
Nigel Thompson
Retail Property Expert
What's Included In The Course
This isn't just a video course; it's a complete mentorship programme. You get direct access to 25+ years of leasing expertise to help you apply what you've learned.
- 30-Minute Introductory CallStart your journey with a personal 1-on-1 session to understand your goals and set you up for success.
- Weekly Live Mentoring SessionsSubmit your questions and get them answered live in our weekly Q&A sessions. Access included for 6 months from enrolment.
- Lifetime Access to Course DocumentsAll course materials, templates, and resources are yours to keep forever. Reference them whenever you need.
Inside the Masterclass
A complete roadmap from "Dreamer" to "Keys in Hand".
The "Closed Shop": Finding Off-Market Units
Why Rightmove is the graveyard of deals. How to find who actually owns the building and approach them directly.
Valuation & The Offer
Turnover rents, index-linked reviews, and how to calculate a "Zone A" rate so you don't overpay.
Deconstructing Heads of Terms
We go line-by-line through a real document. Spotting the "Trojan Horse" clauses agents hide.
The Hidden Costs: Rates & Service Charge
Service charge caps, sinking funds, and how to appeal your Business Rates valuation.
The Lease: FRI & The 1954 Act
Understanding "Security of Tenure" and your liabilities for repairs (Dilapidations).
The Exit Strategy
Protecting yourself with Break Clauses and assigning the lease if things go wrong.
Be First to Access the Course
Join the waitlist to get notified when we launch.
"From first enquiry to keys in hand."
One-off payment. Coming soon.
What's Included:
Important Information:
• Weekly live mentoring sessions are available for 6 months from the date of enrolment.
• The course is educational only and does not replace independent professional advice.
• Joining the waitlist ensures you are notified first when doors open.
Have any questions?
Send us a message