What is the real story regarding E-Commerce and Bricks and Mortar Real Estate?

Globally, e-commerce is spoken about virtually everywhere. Anywhere that you can find an internet connection can link you to thousands of e-commerce sites.  The press and statistics that one reads from China to Los Angeles and everywhere in between shout loudly about the massive growth of the e-commerce industry. The US retail market in ... More

How Much Retail is too Much?

Part of my role heading up the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres (MECSC) is answering questions from our members and the general public.  One of these questions which is asked frequently is ‘how much retail is too much?’ Let’s begin by studying other western markets and then focus on the GCC retail scene. Michael Lewis and ... 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

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

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 East and ... More

Khaleej Times: Sharing experiences key to retail sector growth

For centuries in the past, the best and most successful traders would pass along skills learned over their lifetime. The retail industry continues to flourish and has been flourishing for centuries. Trading, bartering and paying for goods and services has always been part of a fabric of life since man has been on the planet. For ... More