3 minute read
WELCOME REMARKS
RESILIENCE & OPTIMISM
22 24 26
ON THE COVER
Food Central
Perfect Example of Retail Optimism & Resilience
Thank you to
Younus Al Mulla MECS+R Chairman Senior Vice President - Retail International Development, Shopping Malls Procurement & Government Affairs Majid Al Futtaim Retail
Mazen Hamza Qandeel MECS+R Board President Executive Director Granada Center
MECS+R BOARD MEMBERS
Alessandro Gaffuri CEO & Founder CELS Group
Alfred Abi Antoun Head of Retail KSA & Egypt JLL MENA
Maimunah Shabani Managing Director The Retail Agency
Marcello Larizza, CSM, CRX General Manager Line Investments & Property LLC
Nada Abou Saab Director, Marketing, East Region Shopping Malls Majid Al Futtaim Properties
Rony Aoun Founder & CEO SMAG SAL Lebanon
Wail Balkhair Chief Commercial Officer Jabal Omar Development Company
WELCOME
N.N. Taleb – author, scholar, risk analyst, a man who deals with problems of randomness, probability and uncertainty
We all need heroic behavior in our everyday lives these days. Our lives at the MECS+R and everyone’s lives globally have been a struggle in many ways over the past months. What we have learned is heroic behavior shows leadership. With the struggle, we become stronger and more able to successfully manage what we face daily through heroic behavior.
Our team is successful because we are able to move quickly embracing the change. The team at MECS+R is a small dedicated group committed to our members. Our first Virtual Retail Congress is nearing readiness to launch on October 26 & 27. The final details are nearing completion thanks to the support of our speakers and team. We enable our members to facilitate their businesses. More than ever in 2020, we successfully bring people together to share knowledge and to promote your businesses in these ‘new normal’ times. Join us in celebrating the Retail Congress together online for the first time!!!
With newly created digital platforms, the team at MECS+R can now help you to re-establish your networks and assist you to build on your knowledge base. Through us, your knowledge base in the retail industry continues to grow. Our team works tirelessly through our many areas of digital reach including the Retail People Magazine, What’s-Up Retail monthly newsletter and our recently launched E-Learning Platform GVS Global School for all Retail Professionals. Additionally, our Voice on Demand Podcasts, Video on Demand YouTube channel and our recently launched VLOG, all ensure you have every opportunity to build and expand your business. To excel in the retail business, all you have to do is participate, be active in the industry and be present at our many events digitally and physically held throughout the year.
The Retail Congress issue of the Retail People Magazine is always the most popular edition. Other articles in this issue include The Customer Journey, Leisure Way, The Transforming Shopping Experience, LIP and Silicon Central, Organic Cuisine in Dubai, Second Hand Luxury – Gen Z and Millennials and Yardi Aspire expands education opportunities.
Our team at the MECS+R again would like to thank our authors, our advertisers and you, our readers, for your support.
Your success and our success has helped us to understand that creating an organization with a clear vision is the lasting legacy we seek.
We invite you to become more involved and we welcome your articles, views and insights in our Retail People Magazine. Reach out to Mariz at customercare@mecsc.org.
Thank you to our members, advertisers, authors and supporters who make each Retail People Magazine issue better and more meaningful with every quarter we publish.
DAVID MACADAM Chief Executive Officer MECS+R MAZEN HAMZA QANDEEL MECS+R Board Presidentv Executive Director, Granada Center
