Khaleej Times: Innovation in retail to drive growth

Retailers in the UAE and in the region need to ensure that innovation is part of their strategy in the coming years, as it will be a key driver of the industry's growth, stressed David Macadam, CEO of the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres (MECSC). Speaking at the RECon Middle East & North Africa 2016 Conference and Exhibition in ... More

The National: BHS plans expansion under new ownership

British Home Stores (BHS) under its new Qatari ownership has revealed a three-year plan to grow the brand, opening up new stores across the region and in Russia and Africa. Qatar’s Al Mana Group is in final discussions with three new franchise partners to open stores in 10 countries. The group is also optimistic about finding a new ... More

Saudi Gazette: Sales volume of KSA & Gulf retail industry hits SR270b

THE Annual Meeting of Retailers and Directors of Shopping Centers, was organized recently in Jeddah by the Middle East Council of Shopping Centers (MECSC) at Park Hyatt Hotel and attended by elite businessmen, top executives and prominent shopping experts in the Middle East. The meeting aimed to enhance, develop and facilitate information ... More

Khaleej Times: Five mantras for retailers to live by today

Businesses must use an omni-channel experience to satisfy customers and ensure repeat visits Our local retail industry in the UAE has now evolved to become a mature market. Less than a decade ago, the exponential growth rate in the retail industry regionally was a world phenomenon. Our shopping centre owners and retailers lived ... More

Khaleej Times: In retail, it’s all about the customer

Brick and mortar shop sales continue to grow thanks to unique shopping experiences now offered to customers Retail sales continue to grow globally. In the US retail market, one of the worlds largest, the annual turnover today is greater than $4.5 trillion. Ecommerce sales accounted for approximately six per cent of the total annual ... More

Khaleej Times: Brick-and-mortar stores need a personal touch

A pleasant sales experience will promote customer loyalty Today, unsurprisingly, a total lack of demand exists for a rotten customer experience. No revelation learned in this statement. Similarly those who believed 'build it and they will come' as a marketing strategy are more than likely to fail in a mature retail environment. ... More

Khaleej Times: Five key steps that can help attract shoppers

Parking during peak periods is always in short supply The purpose of a shopping centre is to ensure that the highest quality traffic is delivered to the retailers over and over. To keep them coming back. When the right segment of customer is attracted to the retailers throughout the retail environment sales happen. The following ... More

Al Arabiya: Franchises flock to Dubai, as demand struggles to keep up

Lululemon, Old Navy, Abercrombie & Fitch, All Saints and Five Guys are just a few of the new faces on Dubai’s ever-expanding retail scene.  With franchise brands projected to double within the next seven years and mall space ballooning, retailers worry whether consumer demand can keep pace.  Retailers are already suffering from such ... More

Khaleej Times: Psychographics, not demographics, will drive retail sales

Interviewing customers and researching website analytics can help understand buyer preferences Psychographics not demographics will drive retail in the future. What does that mean? According to the Google dictionary, psychographics means the study and classification of people according to their attitudes, aspirations and other ... More

Khaleej Times: Retail entertainment and leisure – what’s next?

Leisure and entertainment destinations are key factors in the retail industry in the region, which features a thriving market for family entertainment centres (FECs) and multi entertainment centres (MECs). The young population demographics, hot summer weather and the increasing popularity of the shopping centres in the Mena (Middle ... More