Retail Brokers Network
Retail Brokers Network is a private membership organization founded in 1992 that connects 60+ independent commercial retail real estate brokerages and 700+ retail specialists across North America, enabling cross-market referrals and collaboration on tenant representation, investment sales, and leasing transactions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersTacoma, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Retail Brokers Network does
Retail Brokers Network (RBN), founded in 1992 and headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, is a private membership organization that operates the largest network of independent commercial retail real estate brokerage offices in North America. It connects more than 60 member brokerage firms representing over 700 retail specialists across the United States and Canada, enabling cross-market referrals, information sharing, and collaboration on tenant representation, investment sales, landlord representation, and project leasing transactions. End-clients include retailers, restaurant chains, developers, and real estate investors seeking local expertise with national reach.
RBN's product surface consists of a core networking platform (retailbrokersnetwork.com) supplemented by a searchable Members Directory, an interactive Member Map for geographic broker discovery, a Property Listings module for sale and lease inventory, an Industry Partner program with Silver and Bronze sponsorship tiers, and eight specialized councils (Executive Committee, Advisory Board, Regional Leadership, Investment Sales, Landlord Rep, Restaurant, Tenant, and Women's). Technology is built on a standard WordPress stack with a member login portal; no proprietary AI, data, or platform differentiation is disclosed. Cumulative member-broker throughput exceeds 9,970 completed leasing transactions representing more than $6.2 billion in transaction value.
RBN generates revenue through two recurring streams: annual membership dues from member brokerage firms (quote-based, not publicly disclosed) and Industry Partner sponsorship fees from CRE service providers. Go-to-market is community-led — new members join via request, existing members access resources through a login portal, and deal flow is generated through referrals and council activity rather than direct sales. The organization is governed by an Executive Committee led by President Beth Patterson (CCIM) of Bradley Company, with Callie Elmore serving as Executive Director managing day-to-day operations.
Retail Brokers Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Retail Brokers Network
- Legal name
- Retail Brokers Network
- Website
- https://retailbrokersnetwork.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Retail Brokers Network is a private membership organization founded in 1992 that connects 60+ independent commercial retail real estate brokerages and 700+ retail specialists across North America, enabling cross-market referrals and collaboration on tenant representation, investment sales, and leasing transactions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Retail Brokers Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Network
- NAICS
- Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (53121)
- SIC
- Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Retail Brokerage (BPAJABAB)
Keywords
Where Retail Brokers Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tacoma
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Retail Brokers Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: RBN generates revenue through annual membership fees from independent commercial retail real estate brokerage firms that join the network. The membership provides access to the referral network, council participation, and industry partner connections.
- Industry Partner Program: The Industry Partner program is a premium partnership program where companies in commercial real estate invest in RBN each calendar year in exchange for access to RBN decision makers. Partners are categorized as Silver or Bronze tiers.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Retail Brokers Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Retail Brokers Network (RBN) is a membership-based networking organization that connects over 60 independent commercial retail real estate offices and more than 700 retail specialists across North America. The network facilitates business referrals, information sharing, and collaboration among member brokers serving retailers, developers, and investors in tenant representation, investment sales, and project leasing. Revenue is generated through annual membership fees and a tiered Industry Partner program (Silver and Bronze).
Product overview
Retail Brokers Network (RBN) operates as a unified networking platform rather than a modular software product. Founded in 1992, RBN connects over 60 independent commercial retail real estate offices representing more than 700 retail specialists across North America. The core RBN Platform serves as the central hub enabling broker collaboration, information sharing, and business referrals. This platform is complemented by supporting services including the Members Directory for finding and contacting member brokerages, the Member Map for geographic broker discovery, Property Listings for commercial real estate transactions, the Industry Partner Program for strategic partnerships, and RBN Councils providing specialized networking groups. The network has facilitated over 9,970 leasing transactions valued at over $6.2 billion.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- RBN Membership
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 9,970 leasing transactions completed with $6.2 billion+ in transaction value
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Retail Brokers Network
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Retail Brokers Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Retail Brokers Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered bronze and silver.
- Highstreet Milestone Risk ManagementbronzeHighstreet Milestone Risk Management is a Bronze Partner providing risk management services to RBN's commercial real estate network.
- Investors Title Exchange CorporationsilverInvestors Title is a Silver Partner in the RBN Industry Partner program. Matt Linville serves as I.P. Captain on the Investment Sales Council. The partnership provides title services and promotes the partnership to RBN's network of retail brokers and their clients.
- CompFoliobronzeCompFolio is a Bronze Partner in the RBN Industry Partner program, providing commercial real estate technology services to the network.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Retail Brokers Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SVN International Corporation: SVN operates a similarly structured franchise/network model for commercial real estate brokers across multiple property types, including retail. Both organizations monetize through member firm relationships and aim to provide independent brokerages with national reach, comparable in scale and GTM approach to RBN.
- NAI Global: NAI Global is a commercial real estate network of independent brokerage firms worldwide, operating on a similar affiliation/membership model. Both RBN and NAI connect independent brokerages to provide multi-market coverage and cross-referral capabilities to retail and commercial clients.
- TCN Worldwide: TCN Worldwide is a global network of independent commercial real estate firms offering a comparable affiliation structure to RBN. Both serve as referral and collaboration networks for independent brokerages covering retail, office, industrial, and investment sales across markets.
Broad incumbents
- ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers): ICSC is the leading industry association for retail real estate globally, providing networking, education, and events. While not a brokerage network per se, ICSC serves overlapping members (retail CRE professionals) and shapes the same retail real estate community in which RBN operates.
- CCIM Institute: CCIM Institute is a leading commercial real estate designation and network serving investment and brokerage professionals. It overlaps with RBN's broker base (Beth Patterson herself holds the CCIM designation) and offers similar networking, education, and credentials within commercial real estate.
- NAIOP (Commercial Real Estate Development Association): NAIOP is a large commercial real estate industry association serving developers, owners, brokers, and investors. While broader in scope than RBN's retail focus, NAIOP addresses overlapping membership (including retail developers served by RBN member brokerages) with similar networking and education offerings.
- Cushman & Wakefield: Cushman & Wakefield is one of the largest global commercial real estate services firms with a significant retail practice. As a broad incumbent, it competes for retail brokerage mandates that RBN member firms also pursue, though from a centralized corporate model versus RBN's federated independent structure.
- JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle): JLL is a major global commercial real estate services firm with a dedicated retail practice serving landlords and retailers. It competes for many of the same retail tenant representation, landlord representation, and investment mandates that flow through RBN's member brokerages.
Others
- CoStar Group: CoStar is the dominant commercial real estate data, analytics, and listings platform (LoopNet, Apartments.com, CoStar). It is a key ecosystem player whose listings and data infrastructure RBN brokers rely on, and could be seen as either a future technology partner or competitive threat to RBN's nascent listing platform.
Emerging players
- Crexi: Crexi is a digital commercial real estate marketplace focused on simplifying CRE transactions through technology. It is comparable to RBN as a transaction-enabling platform for the brokerage community, particularly for retail and investment sales listings that RBN member firms handle.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Retail Brokers Network social profiles
Digital presenceRetail Brokers Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Retail Brokers Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Retail Brokers Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Retail Brokers Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Retail Brokers Network
What does Retail Brokers Network do?
Retail Brokers Network (RBN) is a membership-based networking organization that connects over 60 independent commercial retail real estate offices and more than 700 retail specialists across North America. The network facilitates business referrals, information sharing, and collaboration among member brokers serving retailers, developers, and investors in tenant representation, investment sales, and project leasing. Revenue is generated through annual membership fees and a tiered Industry Partner program (Silver and Bronze).
Is Retail Brokers Network a public or private company?
Retail Brokers Network is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Retail Brokers Network founded?
Retail Brokers Network was founded in 1992. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Retail Brokers Network based?
Retail Brokers Network is headquartered in Tacoma, United States, in the North America region.
How does Retail Brokers Network make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are industry Partner Program.
Who are Retail Brokers Network's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SVN International Corporation, NAI Global and TCN Worldwide. Broad incumbents are ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers), CCIM Institute, NAIOP (Commercial Real Estate Development Association), Cushman & Wakefield and JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle). CoStar Group is listed as an others. Crexi is listed as an emerging player.
Does Retail Brokers Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Retail Brokers Network.
What industry is Retail Brokers Network in?
Retail Brokers Network's product category is Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Network. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAJABAB, Retail Brokerage. Its NAICS code is 53121 and its SIC code is 6531.