2020 began with the, one might almost say, usual highs of the European retail real estate industry. Hardly anyone thought that a virus, which was already rampant in China at the time, would bring about a paradigm shift. But this what happened. Because of Covid-19, the year will go down in the annals as an extremely difficult one. The lockdowns hit the global economy and with it the placemaking industry in Europe hard. The term “crisis” was used in an inflationary way.
But as we all know every crisis contains an opportunity. The pandemic, for example, threw over numerous industry rules and habits that already had an expiration date. Now, innovation, a spirit of the future, and flexibility are the order of the day. After all, it is pointless to lament the supposedly good times. Rather, it is necessary to face up to the new challenges.
This online special of ACROSS reflect this spirit, this optimistic mood. Joanna Fisher, the CEO-designate of ECE Marketplaces, explains in her interview that online versus offline ceased being about competition a long time ago, and now the issue revolves more around working together and connecting the channels. And Joost Koomen, Secretary General of the recently launched European Council of Shopping Centers (ECSP), emphasizes the need for a single European voice to represent the interests of the industry.
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Top-quality industry information is very important, especially in challenging times. Therefore, ACROSS will further expand its reporting, particularly in the online sector. You will find our publication dates for 2021 here. Benefit from our strong presence to further improve the positioning of your company.
