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André Stromeyer is the Managing Director at HBB Centermanagement. /// credit: HBB

RETAIL REAL ESTATE IN A STATE OF CHANGE

In order for retailers and retail property operators to inspire and retain customers in the long term, it is essential that they rethink their spaces and develop innovative concepts, according to HBB. Such new approaches include the redefinition of multi-sensory shopping experiences and strategies to enhance the customer experience.

credit: Breuninger

“WE DON’T THINK IN TERMS OF INDIVIDUAL CHANNELS – WE THINK AS A BRAND.”

Breuninger has been pursuing a consistent omnichannel approach since 2008. Ideally, customers should feel no difference between the channels. At the same time, the openings in Munich and Hamburg are a clear statement in favor of brick-and-mortar retail. ACROSS spoke with Alexander Entov, Managing Director of Breuninger’s Department Store in Munich, about what positive experiences “made by Breuninger” look like, why there should be no separation between the offline and online worlds, and why customer feedback is ultimately the most important factor.

credit: ACROSS

ACROSS Retail Talk: Rethinking Brick-And-Mortar Retail — “Continuous, Step-By-Step Improvement Of The Shopping Experience Is Key”

“Change for the sake of change is not a good concept because it just creates extra costs. If a retailer´s concept and strategy work as intended then offering occasional surprises, and introducing smaller changes is more beneficial. Drastic changes must be kept as a last resort for cases where a concept or strategy is not working.” Our latest ACROSS Retail Talk, “Rethinking Brick-and-Mortar Retail By Increasing the Shop Floor Experience,” revealed, among other things, that to avoid predictability and ensure an exciting shopping atmosphere at a location, having the right mix of data and creativity is necessary, as it can turn an average, predictable visit to a location into a memorable experience.

credit: Stratosferica

Utopian Hours Festival Turin: Taking an international look at cities and rethink them.

Utopian Hours, taking place 18-20 October in Turin, Italy, is a three-day international event organized by urban knowledge agency Stratosferica, showcasing and discussing new concepts and inviting guests and audiences to suggest a new way of conceiving human evolution. Starting from the first edition in 2017, the festival aims to give for the eighth time a voice to the people behind these changes: City makers, activists, architects, and innovators share their experiences and stimulate new visions for the future and concepts of cities. ACROSS spoke to Daniele Vaccai, Project Developer at Stratosferica, about the festival, its program, and speakers.

credit: RegioData

RegioData–Analysis: Increase In Purchasing Power In Europe

The annually conducted RegioData purchasing power analysis reveals significant differences in the development of wealth levels among European countries. Despite these disparities, it can be observed that the inhabitants of all European countries on average have more financial resources available today than they did five years ago.

credit: GfK

GfK study: European retail in 2023 and 2024

Consumers in Europe continue to be affected by various crises. After inflation peaked in 2022, 2023 was characterized by an adjustment to the increased cost of living. Additionally, the multiple global crises and the loss of purchasing power caused uncertainty, which led to concerns and a change in consumer behavior.

Sebastian Guth (left), Managing Director of 21Media, and Charlotte Andersen, Marketing Director at Rødovre Centrum in Copenhagen, Denmark. /// credit: 21Media, Charlotte Andersen

Marketing expert discussion: “We want to create asset value together.”

Marketing is under pressure: While customer behavior is constantly changing, new channels are continually being added, and budgets tend to shrink, marketing managers need to be more innovative than ever. Diamonds are created under pressure, but pressure also causes errors. Across brought together two European marketing experts, Sebastian Guth (Managing Director of 21Media) and Charlotte Andersen (Marketing Director at Rødovre Centrum), to discuss the role of marketing, error culture, shrinking budgets, and working with landlords.

Francesco Pupillo is the MAPIC Director

“GOOD SHOPPING CENTERS SEE THEMSELVES AS STAGES”

The most difficult times are behind us and retail has proven to be resilient, states MAPIC Director Francesco Pupillo. As such, this year’s MAPIC will once again be clearly focused on matchmaking and brands – especially dynamic brands that are part of experiential retail.

credit: umdasch The Store Makers

MODERN AIRPORTS ARE BUILT AROUND THE RETAIL OFFERING

The ultimate goal is for travelers to be able to spend their stay as pleasantly and individually as possible. As a result of this prioritization, airports are increasingly becoming destinations themselves, says Michael Ripfl. Ripfl has been working for umdasch The Store Makers in the field of travel retail, for three decades and has recently developed concepts for some of the largest and most innovative airports in the Middle East. In an interview with ACROSS, he elaborates on the lessons learned from the pandemic, current trends, why retail is shaping the design of modern airports, and what the shopping industry can learn from travel retail.

Credit: MCARTHURGLEN/DANIEL BOINTNER

DESIGNER OUTLET PARNDORF: SUMMER TIME IS SALES TIME

Parndorf is a great example of how tourism is increasingly linked to shopping. This summer, Designer Outlet Parndorf will again come up with special campaigns and attractions to create a special summer vacation feeling for the whole family. Mario Schwann, General Manager of Designer Outlet Parndorf, expects the record year 2023 to be outperformed again, with strong tourism figures from Austria, cross borders and the EU contributing to this – Non-EU-tourism performance is also showing a positive trend.

credit: Kaufland

REVITALIZATION: HOW KAUFLAND IS DEVELOPING A MARKET HALL INTO THE NEW TOURISM MAGNET OF SOFIA

Kaufland is continuing its expansion tour in Europe. Revitalizations are playing an increasingly central role in this. The integration of existing retail locations and modernization has recently increased compared to the construction of new buildings. Furthermore, the latest example in Sofia shows the role that the interaction between tourism and retail can play for a location. With the revitalization of the Central Market Hall in Sofia, Kaufland is not only reviving an architecturally unique location but also a tourist magnet.

Board (left); Arrazuna one of 11 new dining concepts at One&Only One Za’abeel’s The Link in Dubai (right). /// credit: Azzaruna, Will Odwarka

Hotels – More Than Meets The Eye!

In the ever-evolving hotel industry, there is one category that really stands out – hotels, explains Will Odwarka, Founder and CEO of Dubai-based Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting. The hotel landscape is changing on a global scale as hotels seek to attract and cater to a more diverse and international clientele with their F&B and retail offerings. It is a fact: Hotels, gastronomy, and retail go together.

Andrew McVicker is Director, Pragma Consulting. /// credit: Pragma

Commercial Strategy For Mixed-Use Masterplans

The commercial benefits of accommodating multiple uses in one development are clear: If the offer and environment are tailored correctly, footfall – and therefore turnover and rents – can be increased. Nevertheless, there is a great reluctance to create true mixed-use developments due to the inability to truly understand the different requirements of different user groups, according to a joint report by Pragma and Benoy.

credit: Zimpfer_Photography, MK Illumination

Synergies Between Retail And Hospitality: Exploring Shopping Tourism And The Rise Of Retailtainment

In recent years, the intertwining of retail and hospitality has emerged as a crucial factor in the attractiveness of destinations. By integrating shopping opportunities with accommodation options, innovative concepts are created that offer unique experiences for tourists and locals. Thomas Mark, President of MK Illumination, explains how recent developments have set new standards for retailtainment.

credit: ACROSS

ACROSS Retail Talk: “Retail And The Hotel Industry” – A Possible Win-Win-Win Situation For Investors, Developers, And Hoteliers

“Development in the future can only be a win-win-win situation, if you can tighten the building, and make it more profitable on the space per sq m” – Making use of the available space as efficiently as possible is one of the key components of a successful retail-hotel synergy. The latest ACROSS Retail Talk, “Retail and the Hotel industry” sheds light on the relationship between Retail and Hotel, and how they might profit from each other, with the high-caliber panel concluding: Combining the retail and hotel sectors works best if the market and demand for it is clear, and if the best possible partners are sought out, especially on a local level.

Lars Jähnichen, CEO of IPH Group (left); "Das Gerber" center in Stuttgart (right) /// credit: IPH Centermanagement GmbH

Retail And Hospitality: Forced Partnership Or True Synergy?

It is beneficial for real estate developers, investors, retailers and hoteliers alike to explore the potential for collaboration between the retail and hotel sectors, explains Lars Jähnichen, CEO of IPH Group. Some players have already shown how one can benefit from the growth of the other. “Das Gerber” in Stuttgart is an excellent example of the successful revitalization of a former single-use shopping center in the midst of ongoing operations. Today, it features 11 different types of use under one roof – including a hotel.

at ECE Work & Live (left), and Altmarkt-Galerie in Dresda, Germany (right). /// credit: ECE

Shopping Centers & Hotels: Experience As A Common Guiding Principle

Shopping centers and hotels have increasingly become complementary assets that together, particularly in city-center locations, form a mutually reinforcing symbiosis. Both asset classes are characterized by a variety of offers, service qualities, and experience factors. When combined, the result is an even better mix of uses and, therefore, a win-win situation for everyone involved, explains Torsten Kuttig, Director Hotel Development at ECE Work & Live.

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