Page 59 - December 2020 January 2021

“The golden years when we spent little and
earned a lot are behind us. The past is the
past, now we must look to the future and
change things.”

Already a major factor in retail real estate development, Contrary to what one might think, digitisation ultimately
mixed-use has now become even more prominent for both leads to a more human experience. People are still looking
real estate and retail professionals. Matthijs Storm, CEO of for contact, but their desires have changed. They want
Wereldhave, explained that his company is committed to authenticity and creativity. Leisure is now an integral part
integrating residential, medical, food & beverage and other of the shopping experience.
sectors into its commercial projects, with a target of 25 Digital tools are key to establishing a link between
per cent mixed-use space in its centres, compared with 10 retailers and their customers before, during and after the
per cent to date. purchase. So it is necessary to play on mutual support rather
However, “although single-use spaces are becoming than conflict.
obsolete, we shouldn’t simply pile up different use cases,” Thus for Enrique Martinez, CEO, Fnac Darty: “A brand
says Thierry Cahierre, Redevco’s Managing Director for like ours has the capacity to transform traffic from digital
France. “It is important that any combination of uses must to physical. This is quite rare and we can use this new
share an interest in being together, so as to create a real power to attract customers back into the physical world.”
community of uses.” This is confirmed by e-commerce heavyweight, CK Chan,
American Winston Fisher, CEO of Area15, a Las Vegas- Head of Tmall and Taobao, Hong Kong and Macau, Alibaba
based retail and leisure complex, says: “Don’t focus on what Group, when he says: “In the past, brands needed to open
was, ignore the past, don’t try to fix it, create something stores to create brand experiences for the customer. Now
new.” He was joined in this by Frenchman Philippe Journo, they can do that online and the audience is much wider.”
CEO, Compagnie de Phalsbourg, who claims that: “The “Like the industry, we are learning to be omni-channel
golden years when we spent little and earned a lot are with the MAPIC and LeisurUp Digital platform. It was a
behind us. The past is the past, now we must look to the new challenge for us and we are very proud of its success.
future and change things.” We look forward to seeing you in Cannes next year for
Bricks and mortar retailing today must be able to generate a digitally enhanced edition of MAPIC but also for a first
emotions and even provide meaning for consumers: physical edition of LeisurUp,” concludes Nathalie Depetro,
the customer experience takes centre-stage and in this MAPIC Director.
respect, leisure is key. “Entertainment doesn’t dilute the
retail experience, it intensifies it,” says Jonathan Doughty,
Global Head of Foodservice, Leisure & Placemaking, ECE. “A brand like ours has the capacity to transform
Generally speaking, professionals in the leisure, food traffic from digital to physical. This is quite
& beverage and commercial property sectors stressed
the importance of understanding a local market so as to rare and we can use this new power to attract
choose the mix – spelling the end of standardisation. customers back into the physical world.”

DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL 59