PERSONAL COMMENTARIES OF PLACEMAKING EXPERTS
“It will be important for retailers – particularly smaller retailers that do not have their own online platforms – to be connected to a larger, joint partnership-oriented platform and to utilize their own stores as warehouses as well to make deliveries to buyers from the stores.”
“Many of the key trends that were driving our business before Covid-19, such as the digitalization of retail, sustainability, urbanization, community engagement, and social trends are here to stay.”
“The technology exists to offer tenants a way to contact their customers with safety messages and special offers when they arrive on site, as well as new Coronavirus safety innovations, such as in-car queuing systems.”
Despite the pandemic and nearly two months of lockdown, Westgate Shopping City has continued to open new stores and attract visitors. The shopping center in Zagreb is prepared to face the realities of the near future, which are sure to be challenging.
“Building and system behavior is automatically learned and provided with forecasts. After all, weather, customer footfall, opening hours, etc. have a strong impact on individual energy requirements.”
“With trillions of euros to spend, the European Green Deal and Covid-19 recovery plan want to retrofit the continent’s building stock. Retail brands should get ready.”
Chapman Taylor Director Jens Siegfried believes that the Covid-19 emergency has highlighted the pressing need for mixed-use urban regeneration, as the trend towards online shopping accelerates. Drawing on Chapman Taylor’s experience, he writes about the way forward for urban regeneration, with a particular emphasis on a well-considered mix of functions and context-sensitive design.
“In times of crisis we must adapt or die, while taking care of our employees and the communities that we serve.”
“We from HyperIn partnered with Helsinki-based retail placemaking agency Propdea Oy to contribute a more holistic approach to serve the industry decision makers.”
„The reopening showcased our strength as a pan-European platform, as we shared the experiences of each country reopening, starting with Germany in mid-May, followed by all of the countries we are operating in.“
“We created a whole series of protocols aimed at returning the shopping center to normal.”
“It is evident that digital reach for malls will be more important than ever before as the world emerges from Covid-19.”
“Although it is still too early to determine changes in customer behavior, our preliminary assessment after the first few weeks of the reopening is optimistic in terms of sales and inflows.”
“Now, ULI Europe’s latest report, ‘Reshaping Retail–Accelerating Change’, forecasts that the impact of Covid-19 will accelerate the restructuring of the retail property sector, even more so in the United Kingdom.”
“The economic model of the outlet store is ideal in this period of uncertainty, as it is based on balanced and virtuous relations between brand retailers and property companies, by indexing income to results achieved by the points of sale.”
An attempt to explain the current situation faced by retail tenants.
However, according to Otto Ambagtsheer, CEO of VIA Outlets, the way in which customers shop will change, at least on a temporary basis. For example, in some of the company’s markets, they will not be able to let guests try on clothes before they buy them, and clothes that are returned will need to be quarantined for three days.
At the end of 2020, we intended to celebrate the opening of Nivy Station and welcome our first customers. We planned to change the face of Bratislava by working together and presenting a unique public space designed for travelling, shopping and relaxation. Due to the effects of the pandemic and state implemented measures, the possible opening date has become Spring 2021, when the project will be in construction readiness.
The reign of retail is over. The Covid-19 crisis is not a black swan for the shopping mall industry.
The Covid-19 pandemic will cause lasting change in the way that we live, work, play, and particularly in the way we shop.
