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The role of shopping center events has changed: So-called “community events” have become increasingly common. They often replace traditional event formats that have dominated the center event scene for many years. André Stromeyer, Managing Director at HBB, and Anita Stampfl, Special Projects Manager at HBB discuss why the situation is the way it is, where the advantages and challenges lie, and why this fact does not make center marketing any easier.

Meeting customer expectations for omnichannel experiences is key to the success of the mall of the future, argues Peter Tonstad in his PropTech column. His company, Placewise, is heavily investing in products in order to address the longer-term expectation that shopping centers will become true omnichannel offerings.

The city of Bamberg has approved the development plan for the LEZ 14 shopping center on the “Am Laubanger” site. Thus the green light has been given to the FIM Group to convert the former retail park into a modern shopping center. The tenant mix of around 7,100 sq m of retail space includes Lidl, Rossmann, TK Maxx, Media Markt and Der Beck. The opening is planned for the first quarter of 2023.

Why should customers visit stores in which they know exactly what to expect? In order to captivate their guests, stationary stores need a network of creative ideas, event plans, a talent for creating narratives, and a considerable amount of boldness. Therefore, some old dogmas have to be thrown overboard.

Despite all challenges, a lot is happening in the retail real estate industry and great projects are in the making. This is best illustrated by the entries for the MAPIC Awards 2022 category “Best performing Shopping Center”. They include assets such as shopping centers, outlets, and retail parks. They show innovation through new technologies, customer loyalty programs, retail mixes and architectural features which come together for the aim of increasing footfall, customer satisfaction, average spending and offering a unique experience in a new shopping destination. All these outstanding projects demonstrate the strength, innovation, and positivity of our industry.

Multi Corporation has refurbished and extended Forum Palermo. The project included an extension of the food court, a reclassification of store space, new anchor stores and an investment in energy savings. These proactive asset management initiatives have resulted in higher rental income and sales, whilst reducing energy consumption, and driving operational efficiency.

It was time, once again, in mid-November, for the annual ACSP Congress. The congress holds a valuable spot in a long tradition, yet much has changed compared to previous years: New topic, new location, new chairman, new, and younger, participants, and a new moderator.

The prospect of getting a slice of UK retail is not without its risks, regardless of whether the bottom of the market has been hit in terms of shopping center investment. For many first-time buyers in this asset class, the time to focus on getting the basics right has come.

After last year’s huge success, the second trade fair for D2C brands will take place from November 14th until December 10th, 2022, at Berlin’s ALEXA shopping and leisure center. 12 Direct Brands will present their products offline at ALEXA. A shopping experience for all the senses that even the best online store cannot offer will be created in the innovatively designed showroom with the help of art installations and a lounge area, food tastings and cosmetics workshops. A win-win-win for the brands, the customers and for ALEXA.

On the 11th of November 2022, another owner-operated store opened in QUARREE with a unique concept: It’s Party Time offers creative accessories for cake and cupcake decorating, party table accessories and personalized gift baskets. Services include gift delivery by comic mascots, custom cakes and event organization.

Braehead, one of the UK’s most popular retail and leisure destinations, owned by property company SGS and managed by Global Mutual, is pleased to announce the opening of a new GAP store this November.

Galeria Dominikanska, owned by ATRIUM European Real Estate, is a 32,600 sq m urban shopping center located in the heart of Wroclaw City, one of Poland’s fastest-growing markets. Partnering with Placewise, the center launched #maszokazje, a new, more comprehensive loyalty program that offered their customers more than just lunchtime food discounts.

Greenman OPEN sets the course for the digital future. Last weekend, the management teamed up with Karlsruhe-based metaverse infrastructure provider Mapstar AG for a Halloween event to show how digitalization can change the retail landscape. With its Metaverse for the real world, Mapstar made it possible for the visitors of the Biesdorf Center to use their own smartphones to merge the boundaries of reality with those of the digital world.

The Inegol Shopping Mall, an investment of Fiba Commercial Properties (Fiba CP), took home the European Property Awards grand prize in the categories of “Retail Development” and “Retail Architecture” within the scope of its renovation projects while its Transformation Story Project carried out during this period was awarded the gold medal by the Association of Marketing Communications Professionals in the category of “Corporate Social Responsibility”.

Never before has the retail sector faced so many challenges at the same time – and shopping center operators alike. Joanna Fisher, CEO at ECE Marketplaces, and Steffen Friedlein, Managing Director Leasing Services at ECE Marketplaces, explain why there are still grounds for optimism, and why flexibility is key – both when setting own priorities and in relation with tenants and investors.

OUT NOW – LATEST ISSUE! +++ RE-THINK! – How to reassess development, invention and communication in retail real estate. The real estate industry has been in a state of change for a few years now: increasing online retail, the move to multi-channel, changing logistics requirements, a strong emphasis on entertainment, a much higher level of diversity in retail, and last but not least, the big issue of ESG. “Re-think” – is the order of the day.

The Spanish fashion company Zara will open a new store with a flagship format in Minto in Mönchengladbach in the first quarter of 2023 on around 3,000 sq m of rental area. Zara will realise the brand’s latest design concept. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, owner and operator of Minto, and Inditex are once again strengthening their strategic partnership in Germany through the new cooperation in Mönchengladbach.

The leading owner-operator that is redefining the outlet shopping experience with a portfolio of eleven premium outlet centers in nine European countries – has had its Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) and senior unsecured rating of BBB+ with a stable outlook affirmed by ratings agency Fitch Ratings.

Despite tough competition in this year’s NCSC Nordic Awards Finale, the winners have now been selected and the candidate taking home the prize for “Best Shopping Center 2022” is Mall of Tripla in Finland. The winners were announced yesterday, October 27th at Sergel Hub in Stockholm.

As Festival Place is due to turn 20 later this year, now seems to be an opportune moment to reflect upon what defines it as a shopping center, a leisure destination, and a community amenity. Neil Churchill, Center Director of Festival Place, one of the UK’s Top 22 shopping centers, shares his view on the importance of community investment.