Industrial leasing has become a central operating issue for occupiers and owners navigating changing space requirements, particularly in the short-term market. In a new podcast conversation, James Holbrook, founder of Warehub and Payson Smith Holbrook, examines why he believes established leasing practices require reform.
Holbrook brings experience from both industrial real estate brokerage and technology. He serves as executive chairman of Warehub, a company focused on industrial leasing, while also leading Payson Smith Holbrook. Over more than five years, his team has completed over $500 million in industrial leasing transactions for landlords and tenants.
Those transactions span millions of square feet of short-term industrial space, placing flexibility at the centre of the discussion. For property owners, shorter commitments can create different leasing, operational and marketing demands than conventional long-term arrangements. For tenants, access to suitable space can be closely tied to shifting distribution, storage and business needs.
The episode frames industrial leasing as an area where market practices and technology need to better respond to those demands. Holbrook’s perspective draws on work representing both sides of the transaction — a position that offers direct exposure to the friction points confronting owners and occupiers.
The full interview is available from Commercial Observer’s podcast coverage.
