His presentation, entitled 'Another Click in the Wall', will focus on the realities of multi-channel retailing, making a compelling case that the retail property sector needs to embrace the digital future.
"Online shopping is a fact of life. Shopping centres need to acknowledge and take advantage of opportunities created by online shopping and not battle to compete with e-commerce," he argues. "One strategy is to re-invent malls as leisure destinations, with quality entertainment, food and drink offerings."
A retail and retail property journalist for the past 15 years, he also contributes to publications such as The Economist, Retail Week and FTSE, as well as editing the MAPIC publications and the World Retail Congress daily news.
Frank Berkeley, managing executive: Nedbank Corporate Property Finance, concurs with this strategy. "For most consumers, a trip to a large retail complex or mall is as much about entertainment as it is about shopping and, while the primary appeal will always be the opportunity to bag a bargain, most of these trips end up lasting a number of hours and often include meals, movies, banking and various other family activities."
Sponsored by Nedbank Corporate Property Finance, the 17th Annual Congress takes place from 11-13 September 2013 at the Sandton Convention Centre.
For more information, go to www.sacsc.co.za.
