I just learnt this morning that a conference I was to speak at next month has been cancelled. It made me pause for a moment to consider how people’s attitudes towards conferences and seminars have changed in today’s recessionary market.

I heard a story recently that those working in the area of training and development are advised not to describe their work this way any more. Courses and conferences are seen as an added extra, even a perk, as opposed to something that will seriously and immediately further a business.

The advice was that they reframe their courses as business development.

The sad thing about my conference cancellation was that my offering was about direct ways that commercial tenants can save money on their leases. No theories, no speculation, no one day maybe, but practical solutions that directly impact the bottom line.

One session I was to deliver was about reassessing and predicting space requirements. This is an area right now where Parallel Directions is most in demand. The other session was about reviewing and negotiating commercial leases.

I completely understand why people want to cut to the chase in today’s economic climate, and very closely look at any ways to trim excess.

The systems and strategies we use do just that. In the past few weeks we have combed over leases for several clients that in one case is leading to savings of $40,000 to $60,000 in a property portfolio of 12 leases.

In another negotiation over the “make good” clause at the end of a lease, we are on track to shift the landlord’s claim that over $50,000 was required from the tenant to “make good” the property to the far more realistic sum of around $7,000.

We hear it often enough that actions speak louder than words. Now more than ever before we need to live to that mantra.

Tags: make good clause, recession property strategies

This entry was posted on Tuesday 4th August 2009 and is filed under Recession Strategies. Both comments and pings are currently closed.