Retail People Magazine – Issue 22

Circulated in 45 Countries

ISSUE 22 | JANUARY – MARCH 2020

M AGAZI N E

RETAIL IN

2020

ONTO NEW DISCOVERY

A Path to Success

Featuring Eng. Wail M. Balkhair (Retail Professional of the Year)

CEO, Sahat Property Management Co. P.16: Purpose of Brands Beyond 2020 P.46: Marketing Strategies for Retailers P.51: Future of Food is Exciting

Magazine Curated By:

Our Clients:

CONTENTS

CONTENTS The Middle East Council of Shopping Centres & Retailers

Unit 507, 5th Floor, Arenco Tower Media City, Sheikh Zayed Road PO Box 43972, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 359 7909 Fax: +971 4 355 8818 www.mecsc.org

David Macadam Chief Executive Officer david@mecsc.org

Lea Venezuela Director lea@mecsc.org

Khaye Comanda Associate Director khaye@mecsc.org

Mariz Matocdo Marketing Officer customercare@mecsc.org

Christian Baldonanza Registration / Digital Content Executive connect@mecsc.org

Justin Espiritu Publishing & Database Manager publishing@mecsc.org

Angelo Dominic Lunas Membership Executive membership@mecsc.org

24

26

44 04 WELCOME NOTE 06 NEWS BRIEF & WHAT’S NEW?

ON THE COVER 10 From Humble Beginnings to

Media One Tower, Dubai Media City PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE T: +971 4 427 3000 F: +971 4 428 2261 motivatepublishing.com connect@motivate.ae

RCM SHOPPING CENTRE & RETAILER AWARD WINNERS 34 Shopping Centres & Retail Industry’s Finest

Honored at the RCM 2019

FEATURE – HEALTH & WELLNESS 42 Wellness as a Value Driver for Brands 43 Plankpad – Get Fit While Playing Games

INSIGHTS

FEATURED ARTICLE

14 How the New UAE Tourist Visa Rules

44 Yas Bay, Abu Dhabi’s Dynamic

A Motivate Connect Publication

Retail Professional of the Year

51

will Affect the Retail Sector

Waterfront Destination

16 The Purpose of Brands Beyond 2020

45 2020 Implementation of Retail Technology

18 What Role Should Malls Take in the

46 5 Digitial Marketing Strategies Retailers

Digital Ecosytem?

SNEAK PEEK INTO 2020 20 What to Look Forward to in the UAE for 2020?

Should Be Using

48 Leisure: The Value of Great Emotional

Experience 49 Intelligent Choices for a New World

LET’S HEAR OUT WHAT INDUSTRY LEADERS

50 Food & Beverage – No Playground for

HAVE TO SAY FOR 2020

21 Industry Leaders Insights for the New Decade

ALL ABOUT F&B

COUNTRY FOCUS

51 The Future of Food is Exciting: Trends for 2020

24 Why the UAE is key to unlocking Uzbekistan’s

52 Food for Thought: Gulfood, DFF & Latest

Senior Projects Manager

Rouf Majid

SHOPPING CENTRE UPDATE

MECS+R MEMBER’S SEGMENT

26 Something Exciting is Coming Your Way,

54 Members on Board & Corporate Members

Greg Wilson Publishing Director - Connect

Ingrid Valles

Art Director

Sunil Kumar

Retail Potential

General Manager - Production

Exclusively at BurJuman

Binu Purandaran

EVENTS GALLERY

Assistant Production Manager

29 Highlights of the Retail Congress MENA 2019

Lucky Losers

Openings in the UAE

FEATURED MEMBER 58 One-on-One with Amit Dhamani,

Dhamani Jewels

Printed by Emirates Printing Press, Dubai RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020 .03

WELCOME

Circulated in 45 Countries

ISSUE 22 | JANUARY – MARCH 2020

MAGA ZI NE

RETAIL IN

WELCOME “If you want to be successful, it’s just this simple. Know what you are doing. Love what you are doing. And believe in what you are doing.”

2020

ONTO NEW DISCOVERY

Will Rogers (American author, actor, humorist)

A Path to Success

Featuring Eng. Wail M. Balkhair (Retail Professional of the Year)

CEO, Sahat Property Management Co. Magazine Curated By:

P.16: Purpose of Brands Beyond 2020 P.46: Marketing Strategies for Retailers P.51: Future of Food is Exciting

ON THE COVER:

Will Rogers is famous for his simple, true to life quotes which have a dramatic impact. With this quote, our role comes to life at the MECS+R. Our team is successful because we know what we are doing, we love what we are doing and we believe in what we are doing. Bringing people together, sharing knowledge and promoting your business is our job.

Eng. Wail M. Balkhair

CEO, Sahat Property Management Co.

Thank you to

Younus Al Mulla MECS+R Chairman

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 Shebani Managing Director The Retail Agency

Our team at MECS+R helps you to build networks and build your knowledge base. Nothing is better and more effective for your business than building and renewing solid relationships.

Through us, your knowledge base in the retail industry continues to grow. Our team works tirelessly to ensure you have every opportunity to build and maintain your profile. 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 held throughout the year.

Our team at the Retail People Magazine continues to receive fantastic support from our contributing authors. We thank you for your time to write these articles. Thank you also for allowing your work to be published with us.

Our February 2020 issue of Retail People Magazine features many new topics of relevance.

Food & Beverage, insights from industry leaders, new products which are now available in the market, digital ecosystem, branding strategy, wellness branding, growth of specialty retail in Abu Dhabi, the new digital strategy and Uzbekistan are all showcased in this issue.

Our team at the MECS+R again would like to thank our authors, our advertisers and you, our readership, we thank you 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. The clear vision is the only way to connect with our audience who are our members, customers, partners and employees. Our Retail People Magazine inspires trust and loyalty.

The MECS+R organization is founded on these values of trust and loyalty for over twenty-six years. Knowing your vision and keeping that vision in focus is essential for enduring success.

An unwavering vision also provides for the ability to rise above the others.

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.

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 CEO SAHAT Property Management Co.

04. RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020

DAVID MACADAM Chief Executive Officer MECS+R

MAZEN HAMZA QANDEEL MECS+R Board President Executive Director – Granada Center

NEWS BRIEF

News Brief

LIFE Pharmacy opened in your new local In LIFE Pharmacy, the leading Middle East pharmaceutical retail chain just inaugurated its new store on December 18th, 2019 at Festival Plaza, Dubai. The inauguration marked the prestigious launch of its 215th store.

Spanning across an area of 3500 sq. ft., this exquisite store was inaugurated by the Chairman of the Al Futtaim Group, Mr. Omar Al Futtaim. This store aims to redefine the shopping experience by catering to all your shopping needs in beauty and health. This one-stop solution will provide you with an expansive range of high-quality sports nutrition, skin and hair care, make-up, mother and baby care, and other products.

All the customers are greeted warmly with free sampling of delicious products.

You can take your pick from refreshing ice cream topped with Barlean’s Omega 3, Sunshine Nutrition’s effervescent or Cool Gummies, which are a hit amongst the kids. Guests can discover and enjoy LIFE Pharmacy’s meticulous collection of products and bag some amazing deals.

Ramez Shehadi, Managing Director of FACEBOOK MENA Shares Trends Shaping the Consumer Experience in 2020

Inspired by today's beauty and skincare innovations, the store displays a special section of makeup and derma. The store is divided into beauty and body care zone with an array of daily essentials. The Mother and Baby zone allows you to explore avast range of products for your little ones. Pamper yourself at the Tristerzone and experience the Aromatic relaxation services.

The store provides you with an unforgettable retail experience as it is a true reflection of our culture and values.

A delightful and warm welcome as you step into Life Pharmacy’s newly opened store, “your one-stop solution for beauty and health.”

Three Trends to Watch in 2020 In the year and decade ahead, consumer goods companies must go beyond the product to deliver services and experiences that are entirely relevant to the individual consumer when it really matters – while also contributing positively to the world. With that in mind, here are three trends that are set to shape the consumer goods industry this year: 1. Convenience, Redefined: Time-poor consumers will always need quick and easy food options that give them what they want instantly. For years, brands have been focusing on snacks to serve this consumer need. But for how much longer? With the focus increasingly on healthy eating, might 2020 be the year consumers hit the snacking saturation point?

Today’s technologies open up so many more possibilities to give consumers exactly what they need. Convenience today is about doing the small things well, focusing on the detail and using digital technologies to deliver something that’s "just right" for each individual. Home delivery services are already meeting this kind of growing need.

2. Local Goes Hyper-Local: In 2020, more of us will be looking to slim down the intensity and environmental footprint of

06. RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020

modern digital living. We’re seeking more sustainable, hands-on, tangible experiences.

That’s bringing food production ever closer to the home. Local is going hyper-local.

Thanks to huge advances in technology and pervasive digitalization, hyper-local precision horticulture is becoming a viable option for everyone, even on a micro-scale. It opens up the possibility for everyone to grow food with reliable results, no matter how little outside space we have – or time to spare.

3. Tech Takes The Lead: Technology is now the key accelerator for consumer goods companies looking to achieve hyperrelevance at scale. The ability to blend both physical and digital experiences in individually personalized solutions is a big trend to watch for.

Consider how beauty brand Coty is changing the way it interacts with end-user consumers through augmented reality. Its Magic Mirror lets you try out different hair colors and find your preferred shade instantly.

Currently the Magic Mirror is available only in professional hair salons, but it won’t be long before this innovation becomes the norm in retail stores or even at home.

Source: CGT Insider, Laura Gurski (https://bit.ly/2NP1FZa)

Businesses continued to place their customers at the heart of everything they do. Brands that invested in serving relevant and personalized communications, products, and services emerged victorious, with higher brand awareness, higher customer retention, and even higher customer satisfaction ratings. As we enter 2020, we expect trends like messaging, ever-evolving technologies like AR and VR, and personalization to further shape the consumer experience. In order to go the extra mile to meet people, businesses in the MENA region can prepare by adopting new strategies and marketing tools to capture attention, improve customer support and drives business results.

Source: Arabian Business (https://bit.ly/38vWvZR)

Bahrain Mall plans to Open 'first of its kind' Entertainment Hub Dilmunia Mall Development Company has announced that a major new entertainment hub at Mall of Dilmunia in Bahrain is in its final stages of development. Funscape World, the "first of its kind" in Bahrain, will offer a wide range of entertainment spaces which will include various zones. Sheikh Mohammed bin Duaij Al Khalifa, CEO of Mall of Dilmunia, said: “We are delighted to announce that Funscape World will be completed within the next few months.

Funscape World aims to further diversify the existing realm of indoor entertainment and set a new standard for entertainment offerings within the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Source: Arabian Business (https://bit.ly/2RIvHP9)

UAE Banks Offer $13.7bn Financing to the Retail Sector The UAE’s banking system increased the total value of financial support provided to the retail sector during the first nine months of 2019, according to statistics issued by the Central Bank of the UAE. By the end of September, the value of financing to retail companies reached AED50.4 billion ($13.7 billion), up by 5.4% or AED2.6 billion compared to the end of December 2018. The activity witnessed by the sector is in line with figures recently published by the National Economic Registry, which showed that the number of licenses issued in 2019 exceeded 40,000, state news agency WAM reported.

Source: Arabian Business (https://bit.ly/2uvFIar)

Dalma Mall induces nostalgic moments for a gathering of over 15,000 fans with arabic folklore music Dalma Mall was filled with euphoria and merriment as thousands of spectators gathered to attend the performance of the YouTube sensation, TAKKAT band. For their first international debut performance, TAKKAT witnessed an overwhelming gathering of over 15,000 fans who lined up in the mall hours before the concert began.

Originally from Damascus, TAKKAT claimed its global popularity with its most popular song “Yum Alhob” with nearly 50 million views. Known to revive timeless melodies of the Arabic folklore songs, the band made its first international debut in the UAE at Abu Dhabi’s favourite mall – Dalma Mall.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Bhupinder Singh, General Manager & CFO, Dalma Mall said “The concert was absolutely mesmerizing. Apart from the success of the event, Dalma Mall is proud to identify such budding talents from across the globe and bring them to the UAE with an effort to offer something unique to our mall visitors.

The band’s electrifying performance had the mall’s atrium and gallery jampacked with thousands of fans gathered to watch them live. After receiving such

a tremendous response, we at Dalma Mall will continue to offer more of such events and performances throughout the year”.

The grand performance was organized over two days; the first one was hosted at the recently launched Fizz Lounge in Zeal Entertainment Centre on 16th January; followed by a public performance live at the main atrium of the mall on 17th January.

A special meet and greet session was also organized with the band members for the Fizz Lounge customers. The band performed on traditional Arabic folklore revived from the old times, bringing back memories and melodies of the old back

to life. The group performed on a number of chartbusters from the world of Arabic music which included their most popular song “Yum Alhob” which has nearly 50 million views as of date and still growing.

One of the band members while thanking the fans at the mall, said; “On behalf of the entire team, I'm grateful for this love, respect and enthusiasm that you have shown us. This is the first time we are in the UAE and I couldn’t have been more ecstatic to see such an overwhelming response.”

For more information on upcoming events and interesting activation in Dalma Mall, please visit www.dalmamall.ae

DUSOUL by Dhamani launches new boutique at the iconic location – Mall of the Emirates DUSOUL, the affordable luxury brand, celebrated a new step in its expansion by opening its boutique at the iconic Mall of the Emirates.

The new boutique is aimed at serving the discerning fashionista with its enviable line of jewelry designs & celebrity-endorsed international brands.

DUSOUL showcases a unique mix of in-house designed collections, brought to life by the natural elements of sun, sea, sand and the stars which together form the icon of Dusoul.

DUSOUL, a Dhamani Group brand, is strategically positioning itself as the jewelry powerhouse for the aspirational and inspirational millennial generation.

The new Mall of the Emirates outlet reflects this identity, providing a wide variety of handcrafted designs to find the perfect jewelry gift to suit any occasion.

Commenting on the opening, Dhamani Jewels Group CEO and Managing Director, Amit Dhamani, said that the UAE, and Dubai in particular, has been

experiencing a rise in demand in the market for bespoke jewelry and ‘DUSOUL’ was created to meet that demand.

“As the undisputed fashion capital of the region, Dubai has been witnessing a growing need for exquisite and

affordable local and international brands. In particular, jewelry tops the demand list and DUSOUL is poised to meet that demand. We have a collection of carefully selected jewelry pieces at very attractive price points at all DUSOUL stores in Dubai,” said Amit Dhamani.

Rohit Dhamani, CEO, DUSOUL, emphasized the brand’s commitment to giving jewelry enthusiasts in the region, quality products and designs, made available at an attractive price point which is the statement of the brand – Jewelry with Soul.

“We are proud to be marking yet another key milestone in our journey to bring to the region the finest jewelry collection that fits the dreams and aspirations of the Dubai fashionista. Our pieces are created with longevity and keeping the individual customer in mind.

This is what separates DUSOUL from the rest - a uniqueness that also enables our customers to stand out from the crowd”.

RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020 .07

NEWS BRIEF

BackLite Media wins exclusive 5-year deal with Novo Cinemas to supply on-screen advertising and branding for customers across the GCC BackLite Media, the region’s premier outof-home (OOH) advertising company, has secured a deal with Novo Cinemas to manage on-screen cinema advertising and branding in UAE, Bahrain and potential new locations in Saudi Arabia.

The exclusive five-year deal, which commenced in January 2020, positions BackLite Media as the go-to media sales agency for all on-screen advertising and branding opportunities across cinemas by one of the region’s largest entertainment providers. The deal underscores BackLite Media’s commitment to expanding it’s offering and bringing its expertise to customers across the region.

With over 20 years’ proven experience in enabling advertisers to reach captive audiences of cinemagoers, BackLite Media will draw on its extensive partnerships with leading tech companies to deliver the most impactful cinema advertising. Through a focus on targeted buying routes for advertisers, the company will provide an excellent platform for brands to engage with their target audience, whilst ensuring a worldclass experience for cinemagoers.

Novo Cinemas is credited with pioneering change and transforming the entertainment experience in the region, consistently pushing boundaries and bringing innovative and evolutionary technologies to the cinema sector. With theatres that serve as ‘cinema experience

Saudi's Muvi Says to Open Flagship Riyadh Cinema in Early 2020

hubs,’ Novo has over 116 screens in 11 locations across the UAE and Bahrain.

Leveraging cutting-edge technology that backs Novo Cinemas, BackLite Media will offer advertisers a diverse choice of on-screen advertising and branding opportunities that will help deliver their message effectively to a wide crosssection of the public across the region.

Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen, CEO, Novo Cinemas, said: “As one of the largest and the most innovative cinema chains in the region, we are focused on providing best-in-class experiences for our viewers. Our cinemas, surging in the number of cinemagoers year-onyear, also serve as the perfect platform for advertisers to engage with their target audience. To continue delivering exceptional value to our advertisers, we are appointing BackLite Media, with its long-standing experience and presence in the region and proven expertise within the advertising sector, serves as a perfect fit for our goals. We look forward to a successful partnership together.”

Vindico Opens Opportunity with 10,000 Days of Education The opening of Waitrose & Partners at The Galleria Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi is the 10,000th time Vindico has coordinated the people and processes to open a retail brand’s store inside a new shopping centre. In celebration, Vindico launched ‘Opening Opportunity’ and has given 10,000 days of schooling to children in India, an opportunity of education for every shop or restaurant that Vindico helps open.

Peter Row, Vindico Co-Founder explains: “As entrepreneurs, we understand the role business can and should play in making a positive impact and as we have expanded internationally, we have always sought to be gracious guests in the countries we operate in. ‘Opening Opportunity’ puts these two values into action by becoming a business for good that gives back to the communities that host us.”

08. RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020

“The next 10,000 brands we open in retail development projects will be very different – who they are, their physical formats and evolving commercial models.

We see most of these being delivered in emerging markets such as India, where we will be launching in 2020, which as they open will also give many more children something we value greatly – the opportunities that come from education.”

About the ‘Opening Opportunity’ launch event, Morne Fourie, General Manager for Marketing at Waitrose UAE said: “Vindico representing our Landlord partner, Gulf Related, made it easy for our team to focus on the design and fitout of our new store by managing the complexity that comes with the opening in a large shopping centre project. We are happy we could celebrate our collective effort in our new Waitrose Al Maryah.”

Muvi Cinemas, Saudi Arabia's first homegrown cinema brand, has expanded its presence to Riyadh, welcoming its first audiences at Al Hamra Mall. The first Muvi cinema in Riyadh accommodates over 500 guests in six screens, and also offers seats for audiences with special needs and has a concession area that hosts Skinny Pizza. Muvi Cinemas said in a statement that it will be opening its flagship location in Riyadh in the first quarter of 2020 at U-Walk.

The openings are part of an aggressive expansion plan to launch 20 locations by end of 2020 across the region, the statement added.

Source: Arabian Business (https://bit.ly/37rPBow)

Dubai-based Mouawad jewellery to expand to Asia Pacific by 2021 Jewellers to the stars, Dubai and Geneva-based Mouawad Group, is planning on expanding to the Asia Pacific starting in 2021 and continue the roll-out of stores over the next decade, according to Pascal Mouawad, co-guardian of the Retail Division. Mouawad is one of three brothers running the fourth-generation family business famous for its A-list celebrity clientele and Guinness World Records. “We have a strategy of continuing our expansion in different markets, specifically Asia Pacific; that’s our target for the next decade, so China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. We want to expand our distribution network in that part of the world.

Source: Arabian Business (https://bit.ly/2GfYmWL)

Nakheel Chairman Ali Rashid Lootah Resigns, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani to Chair New Board Nakheel, the master developer of Palm Jumeirah, has reshuffled its board with Ali Rashid Lootah resigning as Chairman and Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani taking over.

Lootah resigned to join Dubai World Board, which is headed by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. "Nakheel has managed under the stewardship of Lootah and his years of dedication to steady its course and return to profitability. On behalf of the new board, I would like to thank Ali and wish him the best of luck in his new role. He will undoubtedly bring his energy, drive and commitment to his new role and responsibilities," said Al Shaibani.

Source: Khaleej Times (https://bit.ly/2upEygU)

Dubai’s Second ‘Festival’ Mall opens in Jebel Ali The Al-Futtaim Group has opened its second “Festival” branded mall in Dubai, at Jebel Ali, and anchored by the largest Ikea Store in the UAE (at 35,500 square metres). In all, there will be 120 outlets at the “Festival Plaza”.

The Group also owns and operates Dubai Festival City, as well as another in Egypt. Initial forecasts are for the mall to attract 10,000 visitors a day, with the numbers picking up as the residential community being built next door - wasl Gate - gets delivered in phases. The first handover of homes at Wasl Gate are scheduled from next week onwards.

Festival Plaza has an overall area of 648,000 square feet, and as is common in the mall industry these days, F&B options take up quite a significant portion.

Incidentally, the Festival Plaza is the second mall to have opened in Dubai in just over a fortnight’s time. The Nakheel Mall on the Palm delivered 1.1 million square feet of new capacity to the city’s retail and entertainment space. (There’s plenty more to come in the months ahead, at Dubai Hills (by Emaar), Al Khail Avenue and Deira Islands Night Souk (both from Nakheel).

Source: Gulf News (https://bit.ly/2Rw8vFd)

Arada welcomes Spinneys, Starbucks to Nasma Residences Nasma Residences will play host to Starbucks, the worldwide coffee house company, and Spinneys, the Middle Eastern supermarket chain, after both brands signed agreements to lease retail space at the New Sharjah project that is being developed

by Arada. The Spinneys and Starbucks outlets will be based at Nasma Central, the project’s community and retail complex, which overlooks a lushly landscaped 13-acre park. Featuring almost 44,000 square feet of leasable space, Nasma Central will also include a Bright Education preschool, a Health First pharmacy, an Emco Express laundry, the Arada Gym and Clubhouse, an 8,600 square foot centre for health and wellness that will include a swimming pool. Sixty-five percent of Nasma Central has now been leased out.

Source: KBW Investments (https://bit.ly/37wkvvT)

Carrefour opens first store in Uganda The first Carrefour store in Uganda was officially opened by trade, industry and cooperatives minister, Amelia Kyambadde in Kampala recently. “The entry of a global retail brand like Carrefour goes a long way in ensuring that the expanding community is catered to. With rapid urbanization, there is an increased demand for superior and high-quality products offered at great value, and we are very confident that in Majid Al Futtaim, we have the right partner,” she said. Majid Al Futtaim, is the leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Located at the popular Oasis Mall, the store covers 2,800 square metres, catering to the evolving customer needs in Uganda and responding to the growing demand for modern retail in Kampala.

Source: 256 Business News (https://bit.ly/3aL7q3R)

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi approved as UAE’s National Airline The UAE Cabinet on Monday announced that Air Arabia Abu Dhabi would be one of the country's national carriers.

The announcement was part of the Cabinet's first meeting during 2020 the Year of Preparation, chaired

by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The UAE Cabinet approved Air Arabia Abu Dhabi as a national carrier airline for the UAE in order to enhance civil aviation in the country and to allow the aviation sector to keep pace with future development plans and

Lulu to open 20 Hypermarkets in the UAE over 2 years

directions. The resolution reflects the importance the government attaches to the aviation sector.

The UAE government has invested considerable effort to improve this sector and support all the businesses working in it. The government gives the aviation sector all forms of support in line with the comprehensive development plans occurring in the country.

UAE retailer Lulu Group has announced that it will open 20 hypermarkets in the UAE within the next two years which will further dominate its retail threshold in the country, according to Yusuff Ali MA, Chairman and Managing Director of Lulu Group International. Lulu opened 2020’s first hypermarket in Dubai South, Festival Plaza Mall, which is close by a 15-minute drive from the stateof-the-art venue of this year’s most awaited world event, EXPO 2020. Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality inaugurated the new store in the presence of Yusuff Ali M.A, Chairman and Managing Director of LuLu Group and other dignitaries. The hypermarket which is also 186th of the group will feature LuLu’s new design format of world-class layout and aesthetic lighting that mirror the combined contemporary approach and industrial style.

Source: Khaleej Times (https://bit.ly/2RQvtFO)

Source: Zawya (https://bit.ly/2RVO03G)

RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020 .09

COVER STORY

10. RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020

From Humble Beginnings to

Retail Professional of the Year

Eng. Wail Mobarak Balkhair, CEO of Sahat Property Management Co., specializing in the management of shopping centres, received the Gold Award for Retail Professional of the Year 2019 from the Retail Congress Middle East and North Africa Shopping Centre and Retailer Awards which was recently held in Dubai on 29th October 2019. Eng. Wail Balkhair has been praised with distinction by Mr. Younus Al Mulla, Chairman of The Middle East Council of Shopping Centres and Retailers, MECS+R.

RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020 .11

COVER STORY

Eng. Wail Mobarak Balkhair has achieved many successes during his entire career. He started as a maintenance planner in 1999 working on a night shift with minimum wage. He joined the shopping centres industry nine years ago and in a short period of time, he introduced several initiatives to develop and contribute to the Shopping Centre Industry in KSA. He has moved many positions in his career, including some related to the benefit of the industry such as the Chairman of the Shopping Centers Committee and a member of the Entertainment and Tourism Committee in the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce, as well as appointed as a Board Member of The Middle East Council of Shopping Centres & Retailers in Dubai, until he reached his current position as CEO of Sahat Property Company, which was crowned with success and won him the Gold Award for the best CEO "Retail Professional of the Year" showcasing his efforts and passion to the industry and his pursuit for learning and implementing new and innovative ideas in the shopping centre sector.

Commenting on the Award, Eng. Wail Mobarak Balkhair said, “I am honored to receive this prestigious award and this appreciation, following the evaluation conducted by the International Jury of Shopping Centres in the MECS+R, according to criteria that focused on the excellence in the shopping centres sector and contributing with the team to make a difference in the company we work, the outstanding financial factors, and the initiatives that have been put into practice. All these I especially credit to God, then the prayers of my mother, support of my

12. RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020

family and the efforts of my colleagues. I hope that this story will encourage young men and women approaching this field to be inspired that no matter how modest your beginnings may have been, but the summit is not impossible. Hard work, smart decision-making and planned goals will always pay off. It may not happen today, not in the next six months or a year, but keep going. Your hard work will pay off!�

This award is a testament to the great efforts exerted by the team of Sahat Company under the leadership of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Mohamed Iqbal Alawi, to consolidate and develop the future status of the company.

It is worth mentioning the mission set by Sahat Property Management Co. to develop the shopping centre sector in Saudi Arabia, especially in the holy places such as Makkah and Madinah, in order to integrate with the Vision 2030 of Saudi Arabia.

Wail believes in continuous learning, to stay updated in an industry that is constantly evolving from terminology to actionable procedures, and he says that winning this award will help solidify that hard work and lasting love for knowledge in this industry which are integral pieces of what makes a Retail Professional of the Year.

Modest beginnings don't mean the mountains are insurmountable.

INSIGHTS

How the new six month stay for the five-year tourist visa will affect the retail sector in the UAE Which sub-sectors could benefit the most?

Tourism is an ‘export’ industry because goods and services are sold to consumers who generally live outside the community.

The customers arriving as tourists generally have higher disposable incomes to spend on retail items.

Tourism in the UAE is a key component of the country’s economy.

T

ourism is a major contributor to sustainable economic growth in most cities and countries globally. Competition locally, regionally and globally is fierce for tourism dollars because tourists bring new, recurring, clean revenue sources to the communities which attract them. Tourism is an ‘export’ industry because goods and services are sold to consumers who generally live outside the community. The customers arriving as tourists generally have higher disposable incomes to spend on retail items. Tourism in the UAE is a key component of the country’s economy.

The assets of a community are on display when tourists spend time travelling in foreign places. When people enjoy their time as tourists in exciting, safe places it opens up other economic benefits for both the community hosting the tourists and for the tourists themselves seeking business opportunities.

Countries everywhere bring innovative marketing strategies to make the tourist visit easy, seamless and enjoyable. The introduction of the new five year tourist visa in the UAE is a great example of a country inviting more tourists to enjoy

14. RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020

the wonderful sights and lifestyle available to those who visit here. The new five year visa, which is reported to be easier to attain, is an important step for the UAE to increase tourists and the duration of each stay. The new five year visa reaffirms the status of the UAE as a global tourist destination and is in line with the expectations for Expo 2020.

Statistically in the past the average time tourists spent in Dubai is three days. Suggest with the new five year tourist visa the frequency of the stay will be increased and perhaps for increased duration as well.

Advantages to the UAE include the attraction of new tourists to the UAE who have enjoyed Dubai in the past and would like to repeat their experiences. New tourists from countries who have not easily received tourist visas in the past may be encouraged to visit the UAE. The new five-year tourist visa will positively affect the retail sector in the UAE. Early in the past decade tourists accounted for up to forty percent of sales in the Dubai retail industry. On arrival to the

The new five-year tourist visa will positively affect the retail sector in the UAE. Early in the past decade tourists accounted for up to forty percent of sales in the Dubai retail industry. On arrival to the UAE the Dubai Duty Free and the Abu Dhabi Duty Free welcome visitors where statistically each person visiting the UAE spends approximately USD $45 per person on goods and services while transiting through the airport.

David Macadam, CEO, MECS+R with Younus Al Mulla, Chairman, MECS+R

UAE, the Dubai Duty Free and the Abu Dhabi Duty Free welcome visitors where statistically each person visiting the UAE spends approximately USD $45 per person on goods and services while transiting through the airport. More tourists will equate to greater retail sales for goods and services at the airports. Taxi, limousine and ground transportation benefit from the increased tourist traffic. Hotels and other forms of accommodation will greatly benefit with the increased tourism generated as a result of the new five year tourist visa.

During vacation, time spent looking at new regional products and services, shopping for good bargains and sight-seeing all contribute positively to the retail industry. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are home to some of the most innovative and magnificent retail and entertainment environments globally. With the global marketing programme which the UAE and specifically Dubai enjoy, the novel and prominent retail sector is well known. Part of the travel itinerary will be set aside for retail shopping by many tourists. With more tourists arriving with the implementation of the new five year tourist visa, the retail industry will be a chief beneficiary of the new tourist visa programme.

Retail shopping in the past has been a dominant factor influencing the number of tourists visiting Dubai. We have learned that a key driver for more tourism is repeat shopping visits from home countries. The reasons for tourist shoppers to visit the UAE include personal safety, new and varied brand presence not found in their home country and a retail industry which caters very well to the needs and desires of female shoppers. Dubai also has a retail market availability for every demographic segment of tourist visiting the city.

Retail sub-sectors to benefit dramatically from the new five year tourist visa include virtually all retail destinations across the UAE. The Dubai

Shopping Festival and Dubai Summer Surprises feature substantial price discounting over many months both of which continue to attract large numbers of shoppers seeking low price and bargain shopping.

Retail sub-sectors to benefit include the original tourist driven souks such as the Deira Gold Souk, and the Spice Market. Two of the largest retailers in the region the Dubai Duty Free and Abu Dhabi Duty Free will benefit strongly from the implementation of the new five year tourist visa. Generally the sub-sector Food & Beverage will also be well supported and grow with the increased number of tourists. The largest and most successful shopping centres across the UAE will continue to draw tourist shoppers. With the increased footfall from tourists, these shopping centres will dominate the landscape and be the magnet for these new five year tourist visa shoppers.

David Macadam CEO, MECS+R

RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020 .15

INSIGHTS

The Purpose of Brands Beyond 2020 Ninth Space is a brand strategy and design company with a mission to build brands with purpose – brands that have a positive influence on our world. As a new decade starts, the Retail People Magazine speaks with Habib Beaini, Managing Director of Ninth Space, who shares his insights on what we can predict for the role of brands. How will they find their purpose in a world of hyper-aware, conscious individuals that expect positive contributions to the advancement of society and action that cares for our planet?

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s we move into a new decade we can see many predictions for the future of retail, and chief amongst these global trends is AI and big data – using data to drive better brand experiences, loyalty, value, and market growth. Accurate predictions allow for great efficiency in getting the right product and service to those who want it most. This means that brands are more relevant to and resonate better with their consumers.

However, trust, privacy, and data protection are already becoming major influencing factors for many consumers.

their communities. There are warning signs, however, in terms of the ROI of some of these retailtainment installations; many may draw large crowds, but the conversion into retail sales isn’t clear. Neither is their longevity; technology advances can render them obsolete quicker than anticipated.

Convergence between the real world and online worlds is becoming progressively less segmented; retailers mix all mediums to create more enhanced, customized, and direct experiences. The advent of mixed reality now takes advantage of technology that enables users to touch and feel a real product, yet experience it in an augmented world (sitting in a car in the showroom whilst experiencing it on a racetrack), taking the purchasing experience to a whole new level. With the ability to co-design products, people will also be able to develop their own individual versions.

Dubai Fountain at Dubai Mall attracts crowds from all over the world. A great example of successful retailtainment.

Amazon Go brings together the convenience of online shopping with supermarket pickup.

Retailtainment is another massive buzzword. Enhanced technology, real participation, events, and customization are how brands are resonating with their audiences through brand activation programs. Malls are able to program their spaces and collaborate with retailers to become more vibrant hubs for

16. RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020

5G technology will be a game-changer over the next few years, allowing brands to create an array of valuable and exciting opportunities. Faster data speeds and the cheap cost of data will enable brands to connect technology and people in more meaningful and effective ways.

However, all these are tactical tools used to enhance the shopping experience. Without a doubt, they will help create more engaging, personalized, and augmented methods that consumers can enjoy, yet none of them will address the real challenges brands will face over the next decade.

We live in an age of hyper-awareness, and this acute awareness of our role in the world, its ecology, economies, societies, and cultures have changed the way we think, act, and how we imagine the world we live in.

Today, people know the effects of their purchases on other people and the world’s resources that are evolving the idea of capitalism. Growth for profit will fade as people’s expectations for more personally and socially meaningful products and

We are moving into an era of brand activism, the implications of which are fundamental to the role of retail in tomorrow’s world.

Hyper-aware and conscious people speak out about their causes.

services increase. People will no longer be content that their purchases aren’t having a negative effect on the world; they’ll want to see their purchases actually having a positive effect, socially and environmentally.

Brands have long realized that it’s not only about selling great products or services, and while customer experiences and brand purposes are essential, neither are enough. The whole e-commerce ecosystem is now a given; whether P2P, social or direct, these channels are no longer major advantages. Being environmentally and socially aware is part of the table stakes of any global brand, but it is just a requirement. Individualization is great for more personal expressions, but mass-customization is now easy for most international retailers. Brand activation is expected at all retail touch points.

We are moving into an era of brand activism, the implications of which are fundamental to the role of retail in tomorrow’s world. A meaningful response to activism is an unwavering responsibility of the brands of tomorrow. If the cause is environmentalism, then the development of products made from recycled ocean plastics is not enough. Investment in cleaning the oceans, funding the development of more efficient recycling technologies, and vetoing environmentally unfriendly suppliers is what brand activism is all about.

People expect brands to behave responsibly anyway, but now they expect them to contribute positively and tangibly, otherwise, they won’t buy their products or services. The real value and equity in brands will no longer be in the quality or innovation of their products, nor in the efficiency or professionalism of their service, and not even in the manner in which they inspire their customers; it will be how they create positive change socially and environmentally – how they help improve people’s lives and improve the quality of life on Earth.

Why we shop where we shop will have a completely different meaning. We will still want good quality products but created by brands that make the world a better place. We will still want the convenience of shopping online, but not at the cost of trip generation on the environment. We will still want to be entertained, but not at the cost of anything that will cause a negative effect on the world.

Retailers and mall operators in the Middle East will eventually need to embrace these global shifts, and the sooner they change their business models to capitalize and contribute, the sooner they’ll take a leading role in the economy of the next decade. How shopping malls reconfigure their policies, properties, and services to ensure they’re preparing themselves for this new era will be fundamental to their success. How retailers reconfigure their approach to product development and services to local markets will allow them to become more valuable participants. How mall operators and retailers collaborate to create a more inclusive or holistic approach to new consumer expectations will create the new thriving retail hubs of this new era.

Brands with long-term policies that ensure care for our planet, its people, and the causes that are important to them will become winners. Those that do not will quickly lose loyal customers and, eventually, their credibility.

International retail bank Standard Chartered announcement that they have stopped investing in coal-fired power stations as a key part of their mission “Here for good”.

This now dedicates that the bank will only provide financial services to clients who manage their environmental and social impacts responsibly.

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INSIGHTS

What role should malls take in the Digital Ecosystem?

Emplate is a digital marketing and communications platform for shopping malls. They support approximately 60% of the Danish market, work with a thousand retail stores or chains and are currently rolling out the platform in several European countries. The Retail People Magazine had an opportunity to speak with Simon Staack, Founder of Emplate, to discuss a platform that is designed to serve customers with relevance and convenience.

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he physical retail space is changing but the most important thing for malls is still to increase their footfall and sales in the shops which can be challenging.

Some will say that fighting the growing e-commerce is the single biggest challenge for malls, but I think we look at it the wrong way. The rhetoric is wrong – it’s not a fight.

Instead of fighting e-commerce we should ask ourselves “How can malls create synergies across online and offline worlds?”

Let me give you an example Before we jump into the data and give concrete examples from herningCentret, an award-winning Danish shopping mall, you should understand the background of the mall.

By understanding the mall in question, you will be able to compare herningCentret digitalization and results with your own mall and by that, you will be able to calculate the potential ROI for your mall when creating synergies across on- and offline worlds.

Facts about the mall: 80 shops 3.5 Million annual visitors 44,000 people living in the nearby city 90-100,000 people in their target area The strategic goals in the mall herningCentret had four major cornerstones in their plans for the strategy summarised by the following statements: Increase footfall through the digital presence since 60% of the customers start their buying journey online Be relevant towards the single consumer and let them opt-in, in the communication, to fit their needs Get to know the consumers better by collecting valuable insights on 1:1 level Make sure new solutions doesn’t bring extra workload to management

18. RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020

Start by engaging the tenants in the mall From the beginning, it has been an important task for herningCentret to make sure that tenants participated in the new digital platforms with campaigns and marketing material. There are two main reasons why this is important for herningCentret: To satisfy the tenants and implement solutions that fit their needs To engage tenants so the mall management can save time and resources while maintaining a successful presence online.

Connecting to the consumers the right way With all the content collected every month, the main challenge for having a successful owned media as a shopping mall was solved.

Now, herningCentret has sufficient content to create relevant digital experiences for each individual consumer across online media. But herningCentret still needed to create synergies across on and offline. herningCentret, therefore, launched our white label consumer app to connect the right content to the right consumers. But they also choose to use loyalty modules – A functionality that creates a Pokemon Go effect, rewarding customers for physical behavior while giving the mall some unique insights about their local customers such as frequency of visit, time spent in mall and each customers personal preference.

They used data-driven download acquisition guides to build a user base through the communication channels that they already have.

The results you see in the following section were achieved by herningCentret during the first 12 months of using Emplate Management, Emplate Shop, Emplate Consumer, Emplate Web and Emplate Knowledge Bank.

herningCentret introduced a consumer-facing application Let us start by having a look at what herningCentret achieved with their mobile app within the first 12 months after launching it (Spoiler alert: They influenced +3% increased footfall)

Change the way they use their website Besides launching a herningCentret app with the Emplate platform, the mall also wanted to distribute the content to their existing website which they did in three ways: Integration to the front page of the website in a campaign slider where 4-10 featured news and offers are shown An Integration with a brand new menu tab called “News and Offers” where all news and offers can be found in fitting categories Extending Shop profile pages with trending offers from each shop on their informative subpages After implementing Emplate Mall Web herningCentret’s website evolved from being a place where consumers can check opening hours and events into a place where products could be found. It increased the time consumers were staying on the website significantly.

Weekly effects by using

Emplate Mall Web

Annual effects by using

Emplate Consumer App 18,000+ Downloads

40% App retention

herningCebtret has used our customer acquisition guides to acquire the users and most of the users live within 10km from the shopping mall.

After one year 20.5% of users still actively using the app. This means that our mall apps have 4X higher retention than average retail apps across Europe.

809,605 Campaign views

3,300+ Campaigns uploaded

During the last year in herningCebtret the campaigns have generated 809,605 views in the app newsfeed which have generated 224,510 interactions/clicks – giving a click rate of 28%.

During the last year in herningCebtret more than 3,300 campaigns have been uploaded and sent out to customers who have shown interest in the single shops by following the in the mall app.

94,258 Mall visits

59,907 Campaign visits

During the last year the 18,000 app users used the mall inside the mall 94,25 times which means the average app user used the app inside the mall 5 times a year.

59,907 times a app user visited a shop within 7 days after interacting with a campaign in the newsfeed and stayed there for more than 2 minutes.

6,100+ Weekly website visits During a normal week in the mall 6,100+ customers visit the mall’s website. Before implementing Emplate it was mainly to see events and opening hours, but after implementing Emplate Mall Web something has changed.

43,200+ Weekly campaign views After implementing Emplate Mall Web the mall shows more than 43,200 campaigns every week on their website. This is done through both frontpage integration and with a content universe in its own menu on the site and everything is done by simply integrating Emplate to their existing website.

7 campaigns per visitor The data shows that an average website visitor today sees 7 campaigns when they are visiting. This makes the customers stay longer on the site as well as increases their engagement.

Do you want to learn more?

Read more than 30 different articles and case studies hyper-relevant for shopping malls on our website www.emplate.it/blog

This means that 26% of campaign interactions convert to a physical shop visit or 63.5% of all in mall app opens result in a physical shop visit.

RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020 .19

into ee Sneak P k 2020 As we enter into a new decade, we have so much to look forward to, including much-anticipated new attractions, hotel openings and restaurant offerings, to keep you active and engaged in the UAE.

Expo 2020 The Greatest Show

National Aquarium

Meydan One

The eyes of the world will look to Dubai as the city hosts “The World’s Greatest Show”, Expo 2020 Dubai. Running for 172 days from October 20, 2020, the Expo will welcome a record number of country pavilions, each themed on one of three key pillars, sustainability, mobility and opportunity.

New dining and entertainment destination Al Qana is set to open this year and will be home to The National Aquarium, the largest aquarium in the Middle East, housing 33,000 marine animals. While the main destination will be fully completed by the end of 2020, the aquarium is 70% complete and might open earlier than expected.

Set to become a retail centre, a funfair, a holiday haven and a place to call home is set to open in the second half of 2020. Offering 550+ shops, 180 restaurants and entertainment facilities will include in a 1km indoor ski slope with 12,000 sqm winter village, super-sized crystal lagoon, pulse-racing electric go-karting track and a giant dancing fountain.

Yas Bay

Snow Abu Dhabi

Ain Dubai

One of the biggest attractions to open in Abu Dhabi this year! Developed by Miral, is home to top attractions in entertainment, leisure and business and is expected to attract around 15,000 residents and 10,000 professionals to the island. Yas Bay will be comprised of three distinct areas: Yas Bay Waterfront, Residences at Yas Bay and twofour54.

Reem Island is set to welcome the world’s largest snow park with the opening of Snow Abu Dhabi this year. At four times the size of Ski Dubai, this wintry wonderland will feature 13 rides and attractions and will be kept at –2°C. The project is part of Reem Mall due to open in late 2020. It offers a huge range of retail, dining outlets and entertainment destinations.

The world’s largest observation wheel at over 250 metres high located at the Bluewaters Island. The wheel will be completed in time for the Expo 2020 in October. It can carry up to 1,400 passengers at any one time across 48 double-glazed capsules. Some of the capsules will be private ‘fine-dining’ pods that seat up to 12, available for rent during special occasion. Six will also be licensed with their own bar inside.

Museum of the Future

Mohammed Bin Rashid Library

Royal Atlantis

First announced in 2015, the Museum of the Future is nothing short of an architectural marvel. Designed in the shape of an eye hollowed out in the middle, the outside will be covered in Arabic calligraphy. The Museum of the Future will explore the future of science, technology and innovation.

The seven-storey Library has been designed to resemble an open book sitting on a rehl – a traditional lectern that holds the Quran.

When complete – sometime this year – it is expected to be the largest cultural centre in the Middle East and North Africa, housing more than 4.5 million books.

The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences is on track to open in the Q3 of 2020. The 43-storey resort comprises 231 luxury apartments, 693 hotel rooms, 102 suites, 13 restaurants and no less than 90 swimming pools, including a stunning rooftop infinity pool suspended 96 metres about the Palm Jumeirah.

20. RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020

Let’s Hear Out

what Industry Leaders have to say for 2020 Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen Chief Executive Officer, Novo Cinemas

As a business, we are in the most exciting times ever, exploring new markets and newer opportunities. Our expectations from 2020 are high, we have built a momentum and pace over the years as a business to move and grow in the right direction.

We belong to a dynamic industry and are constantly channeling our strategies and energy towards bringing the right content to the right audience. Our strategy for Expo 2020 is to ensure that the Novo Flag flies high as we focus on keeping our luxurious experiences in the forefront.

The amazing movie slate for the year 2020 allows us to provide out-of-the-box promotions and campaigns that the region enjoys.

The diverse ethnicities of the region allow our audience to experiment with their movie choices, and our number one goal is to ensure that each one of our customers has a Great time Out!”

Ishwar Chugani Managing Director & CEO, Giordano Middle East

We are all very optimistic about business in 2020 and the future of Retail in the Region.

The region has all the ingredients to support the growing retail market. The UAE’s geographical location will always be an asset and the continued influx of regional and international tourism will keep feeding growth. There will always be opportunities to expand, but we have to be on top of our game and offer value and service to our customers.

To succeed, retailers need to embrace the challenge of relationships by leveraging technology as a means to establish and maintain an omnichannel so as to connect with shoppers effectively. Retailers also need to empower their associates to serve the customers quicker and more efficiently.

We are very confident that the future will offer every business an opportunity for growth provided we prepare for it and have a clear strategy on dealing with today’s fast-changing digital world and knowledgeable consumers.

Phil McArthur, CRX, CDP, CSM Founder and Chairman, McARTHUR + COMPANY

McARTHUR

+ COMPANY SHOPPING CENTRE SPECIALISTS

With overbuilding of retail destinations in some GCC markets and the surge of E-commerce, we believe the shopping centre industry will be under huge pressure to ensure their properties are well managed and fully leased with desirable retailers services and f+b operators.

Mall operators who engage with the retail community and understand the need to motivate sales will be the winners. All retail developers need to take a hard look at whether they are capturing the next generation shopper through their brands, their marketing and social media.

We strongly believe Expo 2020 will be a global epic event, again proving Dubai’s ability to conceive, plan and execute at a world-class level.

RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020 .21

Juby Jose Head of Marketing & Specialty Leasing, Dalma Mall

2020 has come around with lots of optimism and positivity to the entire region and especially to our retail sector. The new residency and tourism laws along with the high influx of guests from around the world for EXPO 2020 is sure to add new dimensions and the much-required thrust to the sector. Dalma Mall already sitting at 99% leased has great hopes and plans for this wonderful 2020 and the new decade which it has brought in with it. Revamping of some stores, adding some more favourite brands and exciting marketing activities for our audiences is all in the pipeline.

We would like to wish all our partners across the industry a Blessed & Fruitful New Year and Decade.

Michael Ellis Founder, Managing Principal, 5+design

In Dubai and elsewhere, I believe 2020 will bring an increased desire for authenticity over spectacle. Throughout its history, Dubai has been masterful at providing spectacle, but it has a great store of authentic experiences and environments as well, and they will become increasingly valuable to the city going forward.

I do think there will be opportunities in retail during the Expo, but the opportunity for real change in the city will occur after Expo is over, as Dubai adjusts its priorities and positioning to capture the imaginations of a new wave of visitors to the city that the Expo will likely provide, while also increasing the amenities and quality of life for its residents.

Damien Singh Marketing Manager, Xpandretail powered by Sàvant Data System (SDS)

The retail industry has been in a constant state of evolution. As we enter in the year 2020, retailers can expect growth in disruptive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics. These technologies will enable in enhancing day to day business operations and providing a more interactive and high-value shopping experience. Furthermore, they will assist firms to manage footfalls better and improve conversion rates. The retail industry will also witness a rise in concepts such as Omni-channel and Experiential Retail. Through the inclusion of the Internet of Things, retailers can provide a seamless and convenient experience across various online and offline platforms.

Expo 2020 will play a significant role in enhancing the retail industry. Our company Xpandretail powered by Sávant Data System (SDS) will benefit from the myriad of opportunities that the event will bring. Expo 2020 will also help in gaining insights to stay relevant and grow in the highly competitive and dynamic industry.

Francis Loughran Managing Director, Future Food

More and more customers are enjoying delivered food because they detect the declining value for money from in-store experiences. Eating at traditional cafés & restaurants has been affected by continual disappointment. The hospitality industry has dulled the interaction of people & food to the point where what is delivered will do. Complacency is the cousin of convenience. Delivery opens the door for customers to reduce friction by “eating out - but in” Expo 2020 allows Dubai hospitality the chance to reset expectations and experiences as the influx of visitors will allow locals and long-time visitors the opportunity to see F&B in a whole new light. Operators know the extent of the issues and I expect they will rise to the occasion.

Amit Dhamani Group Managing Director, Dhamani Jewels

Expo 2020 will certainly be helpful in bringing the footfall of global clientele. We are very positive about Expo and its benefits beyond. Dubai and all of UAE provides a great variety of Retail and Entertainment choices to the visitors.

This will be a very big added benefit for visitors to experience more than the expo site itself".

Nita Odedra GM Sales & Marketing, Blue Rhine Industries

Along with a raft of exciting new mall openings, our customers are also planning store upgrades and launching world-class entertainment concepts in what is set to be a busy 2020. We believe there will be an increasing focus on entertainment within the retail sector this year; we saw Dreamscape open in Mall of the Emirates last year and significant expansion in the number of cinemas in Saudi Arabia.

Retailers are of course still committed to the digital experience within the store and we continue to execute innovative and interactive digital signage across the region, including some ‘never before seen’ digital signage which we are installing in the first half of the year. Our customers are also stepping up their game on the actual content on their screens and in recognition of this Blue Rhine has established a content division to support them in managing and creating this content.

Oliver Morgan Head of Real Estate Development, Deloitte Middle East

The EIU forecasts that UAE retail sales volume growth in 2020 will reflect -1.2%, combined with a significant pipeline of new projects it is likely that in store rents will continue to be under pressure. Our survey with GRMC indicates that consumer’s see a tightening in spending with 21.7% of those surveyed expecting to have less disposable income in 2020 compared to 2019. It is likely that patterns of spend will continue to shift with Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimating that online F&B sales in the UAE grew at a 20.6% CAGR between 2015 and 2018, moving into 2020 this trend is likely to continue with the best performing F&B brands embracing an omni-channel approach.

Expo 2020 is likely to help Dubai retain its place at the top of the Dubai Global Destination Cities Index in terms of visitor spending, benefitting the wider retail sector.

Kamel Shaban General Manager, Capacita General Trading

The retail market is undergoing a major transformation in Ecommerce and retail store, set against a backdrop of heightened economic uncertainty. However, I believe market will grow in 2020 and that’s based on Q4 results in GCC market. Retail stores has already started the shift towards customers experience, innovations and frictionless retail. Retail stores will become more and more automated with focus on supply chain and inventory optimization. The market will see the rise of click and collect stores, easy returns and cashier less checkout. With 192 countries participating in Expo 2020 with expected number of visitors of over 25 million, the retail market will definitely benefit from Expo 2020.

COUNTRY FEATURE FOCUS

Why the UAE is key to unlocking Uzbekistan’s Retail Potential Uzbekistan (part of the former Soviet Republic), is known for its mosques, mausoleums and other sites linked to the Silk Road, the ancient trade route between China and the Mediterranean. Retail People Magazine spoke with Omar Khan, Director of International Offices at Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry who addressed the growing links between Uzbekistan and UAE and new growth opportunities for business.

Dubai Chamber Chairman H.E. Majid Saif Al Ghurair (first row, second right) attends the opening ceremony of the flydubai office in Tashkent.

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s the largest consumer market in Central Asia, Uzbekistan is a country ripe with business opportunities. Government-led reforms have brought positive changes to the nation’s business landscape with the retail sector already seeing growing activity from foreign investors and multinational companies.

Population growth, rising incomes, stronger spending power, increased e-commerce adoption and growing appetite for established brands among consumers are among the key factors reshaping Uzbekistan’s retail space and opening the door to new growth opportunities for the global industry players.

Exploring New Frontiers The UAE’s Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) recently announced its plans to open several Carrefour stores in Uzbekistan. The company’s entry to Uzbekistan is significant for a number of reasons. The strategic

move reflects growing confidence in the country and paves the way for other retailers from the UAE and wider Middle East and North Africa region to enter the market and leverage Tashkent as a regional base to expand their reach into Central Asia.

One of the key strengths of businesses in the UAE is their shared appetite to look outwards and explore growth opportunities in new markets. Several UAE retail heavyweights that expanded their presence across the Middle East, Africa and Eurasia in recent years have seen great success.

Despite heightened interest in the Uzbek market, there are still market gaps that need to be filled before the country can meet consumer demands and ensure long-term economic growth. Scaling up retail and tourism infrastructure, building modern shopping centers and hotels and attracting a wider range of regional and international brands are a few areas where UAE companies can offer valuable expertise and investment.

Expanding Trade Links All of these developments come at a time when UAE-Uzbek relations are going from strength to strength. The UAE remains one of the top foreign investors in Uzbekistan, while Dubai has become a preferred destination for Uzbek companies to re-export their products to markets across the Middle East and Africa.

Following the signing of a strategic agreement in 2018 to establish up a $1 billion investment fund to promote economic cooperation and boost bilateral trade, the two countries are making good on their promise to expand economic cooperation in key areas such as civil aviation, tourism, manufacturing, financial sector and halal industries.

High-level visits, the launch of direct flights between Dubai and Tashkent and the easing of visa restrictions are important recent developments that are expected to boost business exchange.

Dubai’s non-oil trade with Uzbekistan, valued at $231 million in 2018, is currently dominated by re-exports of machinery and electrical and electronic equipment to Uzbekistan.

As Uzbekistan opens its economy to the world, it can certainly look to the UAE as a strategic partner, and a country that has successfully expanded its trade links with emerging markets, diversified its industries and strengthened its value proposition to foreign investors and businesses.

24. RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020

Yet, there is still plenty of scope for companies in the UAE and Uzbekistan to increase bilateral trade and expand commerce in other key sectors and areas of mutual interest such as tourism, hospitality, infrastructure, logistics, real estate and agri-business.

Forging new partnerships Dubai Chamber’s representative office in Azerbaijan is actively identifying market opportunities in Uzbekistan and other promising markets across Central Asia offering the most potential to its members and the wider business community in Dubai. The office continues to focus its efforts on forging partnerships between the UAE businesses and their Uzbek counterparts.

Food security is one area where the UAE and Uzbekistan have increased their cooperation in recent years. Capitalizing on the growing interest in the sector, Dubai Chamber has organized several business delegation visits to Uzbekistan where delegates learned about new opportunities emerging within the country’s agri-business

Mr. Omar Khan (fifth from left), Director – International Offices at Dubai Chamber, with a Dubai Chamber business delegation on a Food Import Mission to Uzbekistan in April of 2017.

sector. The office has also hosted Uzbek companies at Gulfood in Dubai, the largest food industry exhibition in the Middle East, where businessmen were familiarized with requirements for food exports to the UAE. As Uzbekistan opens its economy to the world, it can certainly look to the UAE as a strategic partner and prime example of a country that has successfully expanded its trade links with emerging markets, diversified its industries and strengthened its value proposition to foreign investors and businesses.

The UAE and Uzbekistan are playing a crucial role in supporting China’s Belt and Road initiative with the massive project expected to unlock several economic benefits and trade opportunities for both countries. However, in order for Uzbekistan to fully benefit from an initiative of this scale, it will need to rely on partners like the UAE to improve logistics infrastructure and facilitate the flow of trade through modern free zones.

With Expo 2020 Dubai fast approaching, the time is now for the UAE and Uzbekistan to build new bridges of cooperation, tap into existing synergies and work towards a shared vision for a brighter future. The mega event offers an ideal platform for Uzbekistan to showcase its economic potential and boost its global profile. We look forward to welcoming Uzbekistan and the world to Dubai in 2020.

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SHOPPING CENTRE UPDATE

Something Exciting is Coming Your Way,

Exclusively at BurJuman

Following a major redevelopment programme, BurJuman strengthened its retail portfolio by adding a wide range of new stores. The Retail People Magazine had a great time speaking with Robert Brett, CEO of Al Ghurair Real Estate and BurJuman LLC who shared the details of the newly re-modelled fashion walkway in the mall’s south wing that offers fashion at its best.

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ne of the most established shopping destinations in the UAE ramps up the region’s style stakes with its new fashion walkway. Exclusively at BurJuman, coming your way are some of the world’s most sought-after fashion brands, many for the very first time in the UAE. From classic couture to contemporary cool, from urban edge to bold elegance, this eclectic catwalk of hand-picked brands is reinventing on-trend.

Leading the evolution are: LHU Urban, Thomas Sabo, Charles Jourdan, Rodolfo Zengarini, John Richmond, Gaudi, Cerruti 1881 and Souvenir.

LHU Urban – Contemporary streetwear for a rebel,

young male crew

Created by the Belgian designers and founders of Les Hommes, Tom Notte and Bart Vandebosch, LHU Urban is the ultimate in street cool. Colourful, playful, and with serious attitude, the LHU Urban collection takes its inspiration from the street disciplines of New York, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Seoul; think biker, parkour, rapper, street art and dance. LHU Urban – reinventing metropolitan youth fashion.

Thomas Sabo – Bespoke, versatile jewellery for people who demand individuality

Since 1984, the German brand Thomas Sabo has stood for versatile, innovative, and trendsetting jewellery and watch designs of the highest quality and beauty. Using precious metals, exquisite designs, and positive life energy, Thomas Sabo is the epitome of individuality. With its iconic motifs, the brand’s range of pendants, earrings, chains, rings, beads, and bracelets harmonise and combine to create truly bespoke jewellery pieces.

As its new global brand ambassador, British singer-songwriter Rita Ora embodies the signature Thomas Sabo style: strong personality, passion, creativity, and confident styling skills.

Charles Jourdan – Shoes for women who dare to claim

their femininity

Founded in Paris in 1921, the internationally acclaimed Charles Jourdan brand invented the luxury shoes for women, with its unique French know-how and iconic pump silhouette. Glamour, elegance, and mystery, designed to reveal a personality or style, through collections of shoes and accessories that combine refinement, finesse, and innovation. For women who are ready to flaunt their femininity; free, conquering, and confident.

Rudolfo Zengarini – Beautiful, unique shoes for every

occasion

Boasting its first stand-alone store in the UAE, Rudolfo Zengarini brings the ultimate in exciting, high-end shoe brands to the region. Established in Montegranaro in 1982, the brand is internationally renowned for craftsmanship, quality, and originality, championing the very best in style innovation.

Exclusively at BurJuman, Rudolfo Zengarini is your doorway to some of the most important players of the fashion scene, including; Roberto Cavalli, Blumarine, John Galliano, John Richmond, John Richmond Junior, J.W. Anderson, Les Hommes, LHU Urban, Ungaro, Frankie Morello, and Costume National.

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John Richmond – The only boutique outside of Milan, exclusively at BurJuman

Souvenir – Sophisticated Italian made feminine fashion

Exclusively at BurJuman, John Richmond opens its first boutique in the world outside of Milan. Irresistibly cool, John Richmond continues to add his unique British Avant-Garde to the fashion scene, with his iconic signature mix of ‘rock’n’roll’ influence and street culture energy. The brand challenges the trend and pushes style boundaries; John’s close ties with the music industry have led him to dress stars such as Madonna, Mick Jagger, and Annie Lennox. Available exclusively at BurJuman, get boutique ready to stand out with edgy glam guaranteed to turn heads.

Gaudi – Positivity, freshness, refined sensuality and passion for Italian style

Bringing the best of premium fashion for men and women, the Italian fashion house Gaudi, presents a unique collection of shoes, apparel and accessories at surprisingly affordable prices. Combining classic and contemporary in a blend of bold textures and casual style, the brand welcomes fashionistas to the Gaudi world of “Moda Italia” - redefining confidence, sophistication and style.

Cerruti 1881 – Fashion created for timeless elegance with savoir-faire Cerruti 1881 – the height of sophistication, combining fine fabrics, meticulous craftsmanship, and intelligent design.

Founded in 1967 by the Italian stylist and fashion producer, Nino Cerruti, this Paris Fashion house with Italian roots has become the quintessential contemporary brand. For a beautiful touch of elegance, its collection of accessories for men and women is now available at BurJuman, from shoes, bags, leather goods, to ties, scarves and writing implements.

Souvenir designs high quality, versatile garments suited to the dynamic lifestyle of the modern woman. This beautiful bohochic collection, created with stunning attention to detail using a variety of the finest fabrics, includes unconventional pieces that give signature styles a unique revamp. Every design by Souvenir makes a statement.

“The UAE is an economy with a strong history of international companies and a commitment to innovation; its consumers demand exclusive, high-quality products with a fresh, individual edge. In line with our core philosophy of continuous reinvention, we are very excited to bring these hand-picked, internationally renowned brands to our customers. Some of this unique range will be available to the UAE’s fashion aficionados for the very first time,” said Robert Brett, CEO of Al Ghurair Real Estate and BurJuman LLC.

Exclusively at BurJuman, coming your way are some of the world’s most sought-after fashion brands, many for the very first time in the UAE. From classic couture to contemporary cool, from urban edge to bold elegance, this eclectic catwalk of hand-picked brands is reinventing on-trend.

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THE JunE 15-18, 2020

Dubai, uNiTED aRab EMiRaTES

Delegates will master core concepts, share ideas and identify successful strategies alongside colleagues from around the world to equip yourself to succeed.

For more info, contact the MECS+R Office at +9714 359 7909 / www.mecsc.org

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The Middle East Council of Shopping Centres & Retailers (MECS+R), known as the largest retail industry association, organized the 26th Retail Congress MENA 2019 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel DIFC, Dubai on October 27-29, 2019. The theme for this year’s conference is “The Age of Focus.” Thousands of retail professionals from the Shopping Centre and Retail Industry stepped away from their work to take part in the largest gathering of retail professionals in the region.

The team of the MECS+R was delighted to welcome 3,000+ attendees over the three days event which was enjoyed by the sponsors, exhibitors, attendees and visitors. A big thank you to all who attended and participated in this event. It was truly a remarkable event where various exhibitors showcased their successful companies, delegates were able to interact with the key industry players and learn the latest trends in the industry.

Here’s a glimpse of what happened in the Retail Congress MENA 2019.

MECS+R Team at the 26th Annual Retail Congress MENA Conference

Day 1 – Pre Conference Masterclass, Sunday, 27 October 2019, Samaya Ballroom Six Great Speakers conducted the Masterclass which was attended by over a hundred participants who tackles AI revolution, blockchain technology, leadership training and a lot more.

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EVENTS GALLERY

Highlights of the Retail Congress MENA 2019

EVENTS GALLERY

Day 1 – Cocktail Reception, Sunday, 27 October 2019, The Sunken Garden MECS+R Chairman, Mr. Younus Al Mulla and CEO, Mr. David Macadam, recognized and honoured all major Retail Congress sponsors with award trophies. It was attended by sponsors & partners and VIP guests.

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Day 2 & 3 – Retail Congress MENA Conference, Exhibition & Deal Making Session, Monday & Tuesday, 28-29 October 2019, Samaya Ballroom Over 3000+ attendees participated in the 2 Days Conference, Exhibition, Deal-Making and Networking at the RCM 2019.

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EVENTS GALLERY

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Day 3 – Cocktail Reception & Gala Dinner Awards, Tuesday, 29 October 2019, Samaya Ballroom The Gala Dinner and Awards presentation was enjoyed by everyone who attended the event.

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MENA AWARD WINNERS

Shopping Centres & Retail Industry’s Finest Honored at the Retail Congress MENA 2019 The Retail Congress MENA Awards 2019 is one of the most anticipated events of the conference and over the years played a prominent role in acknowledging the successes and achievements of the Shopping Centres and Retailers in the MENA Region. The Awards night honored the most outstanding achievers in Marketing, NOI Enhancement, Design & Development, Retail Excellence, Best MENA Retail Brand, Retail Professional of the Year and Service Excellence on 29th October 2019. The ballroom of the Ritz Carlton DIFC glittered with the Awards and the Winners taking home the esteemed trophies.

MECS+R would like to congratulate all the Gold and Silver Winners and wish the GOLD Winners the very best of luck at the ICSC Global Best-of-the-Best VIVA Awards Program at RECON in Las Vegas in May 2020.

BEST MENA RETAIL BRAND

is awarded to retailers who have demonstrated overall success and are determined collectively by financial performance, product offerings, marketing initiatives and customer service programmes.

GOLD AWARD

Sparky’s Panorama Mall, Al Hokair Group Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

SILVER AWARD

Snow City

Saffori Land

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

RETAIL EXCELLENCE

SILVER AWARD

SILVER AWARD

Fabyland

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Dubai, UAE

recognizes excellence amongst the region’s many classifications of retailers. Award Winners have implemented innovation and creativity to deliver outstanding performance and commercial success.

GOLD AWARD

Danube Home Dubai, UAE

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GOLD AWARD

Oman Aquarium Tamani Entertainment Muscat, Oman

SILVER AWARD

SILVER AWARD

Saffori Land Rabwa

Sparky’s Panorama Mall

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

SERVICE EXCELLENCE – Property Management Software and Technology & Innovation in Retail

Sky Zone – Al Hokair Time Malqa Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

recognizes service providers who delivered a technology product combined with professional services to resolve a retailer’s particular problem or to deliver an innovative opportunity during a challenging construction or refurbishment phase.

YARDI SYSTEMS

Property Management Software

Yardi Systems Dubai, UAE

SERVICE EXCELLENCE – Décor & Design Installation

Technology & Innovation

SILVER AWARD

Yardi Systems Dubai, UAE

Coniq

London, UK

Aislelabs Dubai, UAE

recognizes service providers who have delivered outstanding décor and design installations to various clients within the retail industry.

SILVER AWARD

Ghesa

Dubai, UAE

CELS Events Dubai, UAE

DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

recognize world class retail properties for their creativity in the renovation and expansion of existing properties and centres, and in the creation of entirely new property developments.

GOLD AWARD

Design & Development – Renovation & Expansion

Mall of Arabia - Marakez Cairo, Egypt

GOLD AWARD

Design & Development – Renovation & Expansion

Unified Real Estate Development Co. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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MENA AWARD WINNERS

GOLD AWARD

GOLD AWARD

Design & Development Snow City Cairo, Egypt New Developments

Design & Development Mall of UAQ Umm Al Quwain, UAE New Developments

GOLD AWARD

Design & Development Xtreme Zone - Mall of Muscat Muscat, Oman New Developments

GOLD AWARD

Design & Development Mall of Muscat Muscat, Oman New Developments

SILVER AWARD

Design & Development Fabyland, Mall of Muscat Muscat, Oman New Developments

DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT – Retail Store Design

SILVER AWARD

Design & Development HOB & Third Avenue – Retail Store Design Dalma Mall Abu Dhabi, UAE

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SILVER AWARD

Design & Development Al Rashid Mall Abha Riyadh, Saudi Arabia New Developments recognizes how professional design contributes to the success of a kiosk, outlet, store or concept in the shopping centre industry.

SILVER AWARD

Design & Development Dusoul Mikyajy Sharjah Cooperative Society/ The Body Shop Dubai, UAE Ajman, UAE Wanzl Middle East FZE Sharjah, UAE Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Retail Store Design

NOI ENHANCEMENT

winners in this category have executed programs and initiatives to directly generate revenue and enhance the net operating income of a single shopping centre, or throughout the company. These initiatives may include sponsorships and alliances, innovative leasing strategies, or the implementation of operational efficiencies and cost saving measures.

GOLD GOLD AWARD AWARD

Dalma Mall

Cairo Festival City Mall

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Al Wahda Mall

Cairo, Egypt

Abu Dhabi, UAE

SILVER AWARD

SILVER AWARD

Hayat Mall

SILVER AWARD

The Galleria Al Maryah Island

Dubai Festival City Mall

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dubai, UAE

TRADITIONAL MARKETING – Advertising

SILVER AWARD

SILVER AWARD

winners in this category employed innovative, creative, and cost-effective strategies to promote their centres to their targeted markets.

GOLD AWARD

The Mall at the World Trade Center

BurJuman Centre LLC

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Cause Related Marketing

SILVER AWARD

Dubai, UAE

winners in this category have implemented events, programmes, and projects to directly benefit charitable organisations or to support a community’s need, interest, or cause.

GOLD AWARD

Deerfields Townsquare Shopping Centre LLC Abu Dhabi, UAE

GOLD SILVER AWARD

Yas Mall & The Mall at the World Trade Centre Abu Dhabi, UAE

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MENA AWARD WINNERS

SILVER AWARD

CEFIC

Bursa, Turkey

Al Wahda Mall

Red Sea Mall

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Customer Service Experience / Engagement

SILVER AWARD

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

recognizes exceptional centre initiatives and services implemented to enhance the customer experience, or to benefit consumers, employees, suppliers, shareholders, or the the community at large.

GOLD AWARD

Dubai Festival City Mall

SILVER AWARD

Dubai Festival City Mall

Dubai, UAE

Dubai, UAE

SILVER AWARD

Dalma Mall

Granada Mall

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Digital Campaigns & Social Media

SILVER AWARD

SILVER AWARD

Packages Mall

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Lahore, Pakistan

Winners in this category have employed social media components and/or digital technology as the primary means to communicate their marketing strategy. Examples of these components include: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Blogs, QR Codes, Mobile Apps, or location-based services.

GOLD AWARD

Dubai Festival City Mall Dubai, UAE

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GOLD AWARD

360 MALL

Kuwait City, Kuwait

SILVER AWARD

Dalma Mall

SILVER AWARD

Doha Festival City

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Grand Opening/Expansion/Renovation

SILVER AWARD

Khalidiyah Mall Abu Dhabi, UAE

executed comprehensive marketing campaigns to introduce a new centre – or to reposition a newly expanded or renovated centre.

SILVER AWARD

Al Jimi Mall Dubai, UAE

New/Emerging Technology

recognizes strategic programmes and plans that incorporate geo-targeting, audience profile management, artificial intelligence, machine learning or virtual reality to achieve brand and marketing communication goals for a shopping centre or its parent company.

GOLD AWARD

Dalma Mall

360 MALL

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Public Relations

GOLD AWARD

Abu Dhabi, UAE

City Centre Bahrain

Kuwait City, Kuwait

Manama, Bahrain

Winners in this category incorporated community or cultural initiatives into their progams to promote good will, whilst generating positive publicity to benefit their centre’s commercial interests.

GOLD AWARD

Dalma Mall

SILVER AWARD

GOLD AWARD

The Galleria Al Maryah Island Abu Dhabi, UAE

SILVER AWARD

The Galleria Al Maryah Island Abu Dhabi, UAE

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MENA AWARD WINNERS

Sales Promotion and Events

winners implemented promotions, programs, or events that had a direct, measurable, and significant impact on retail centre sales and customer traffic.

GOLD AWARD

City Centre Mirdif Dubai, UAE

GOLD AWARD

Mall of the Emirates

Cairo, Egypt

LuckyOne Mall Karachi, Pakistan

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Dubai, UAE

Dalma Mall

Kuwait City, Kuwait

Cairo Festival City Mall

Dubai Festival City Mall

Dubai, UAE

Al Kout Mall

GOLD AWARD

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Mushrif Mall

Mall of the Emirates

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Dubai, UAE

Abdullah Al Othaim Investments Co. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

RETAIL PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

amongst their many accomplishments, our winners have demonstrated innovative leadership and management techniques, have been instrumental in developing talent and skills from within their respective companies, and believe there is a symbiotic relationship between providing the customer with what he needs and the corporate bottom line.

Ishwar Chugani Giordano Dubai, UAE

Wail Balkhair Sahat Property Management Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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FEATURE – HEALTH & WELLNESS

Wellness as a Value Driver for Brands The emergence of the wellness economy has been inspired by today’s consumer – the holistically healthy ones. Retail People Magazine speaks with Juman Sleiman, Brand Strategist at Limelight, about holistic living referring to mental, physical, social and spiritual. Since personal well-being cannot be replicated online, how will brands leverage to a shift in peoples’ lifestyles? What is the future when it comes to delivering aspiration?

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he wellness economy has spread rapidly across diverse categories such as beauty, food, hospitality, travel and retail. Around 37% of consumers worldwide are interested in the emerging trend, with those in the Middle East region qualifying as the highest in comparison to the other markets.

There are many players in the industry that have affected the emergence of well-being, however, digital transformation and the cravings for authenticity and experiences still play the biggest role. There is no debate that the need for such experiences particularly has been existent for years. Although people are still in search of this, there is now an additional layer of greater value dedicated to their personal wellness: brands that are lifestyle-focused.

Gone are the days of shopping as a form of retail therapy. Rather, brickand-mortar retail stores have been responding to this shift in demand by expanding their offerings and delivering a holistic lifestyle.

The Global Wellness Institute had announced a while back that the wellness market is worth $4.3 trillion. Upon such a reveal, Saks Fifth Avenue was one of the first to initiate experiences that would embrace the shift. A salt room was introduced where visitors were given the opportunity to relax in a room which would purify the body as salty vapors were inhaled. They could even schedule ‘Breathe’ sessions as a form of detoxing and relieving stress. Naturally, this drove sales and increased dwell time.

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More recently, Lululemon established a permanent approach to the new self-focused economy by creating memories, lifestyle-oriented memories.

Their new store in Chicago manifested this brand vision by using the 20,000 square foot space as a hub for meditation, mindfulness, and personal development. Customers were given the choice to test products before purchasing them. In addition to this, the location offers daily studio classes and relaxing lounges or workstations for personal use.

Personal well-being is not something that can be replicated online as it begins by being present in a physical space. While technology disruption has become the value driver for many industries, brands need to also embrace wellness and understand that it is reshaping customer expectations today.

The future of all sectors is shifting towards selling a holistic living lifestyle which retailers and marketers need to consider as part of their brand messaging, product offering and in-store experiences. Personal well-being is one of the most intimate and delicate matters, and for that reason brands need to leverage the wellness economy by taking care of their customers. They need to convey a lifestyle characterised by mental, physical, social and spiritual well-being because after all, consumers today do not dream of owning something but rather becoming someone. So, to foster brand trust and build loyalty, how will your brand deliver this aspiration?

Plankpad – Get Fit While Playing Games Fitness personality Richard Simmons once said in an interview, “You can’t buy it, you can’t rent it. You have to earn it. My formula has always been love yourself, move your body, watch your portions.” It’s the beginning of 2020 and it’s always good to start the year with the proper perspective and that includes our health. The Retail People Magazine, sit down with David Cervenka, COO and responsible for the Brand and Business Strategy of Plankpad, shares the innovative and enjoyable way of getting into fit.

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lankpad is the first app connected core trainer that puts you in shape with ease.

It combines a high-quality training device for the very efficient plank exercise with interactive games and workouts with a fitness app. Plankpad is versatile, suitable and fun for every age and gender, skill and fitness level and even for the whole family.

Mostly it improves training motivation and leads to results much faster. Dynamic planking and balancing with Plankpad combined with the app is offering a complete new level of opportunities for home and professional users.

The path to come into shape, having a healthy and strong core, back and body are often associated with exhausting training.

Now this workout turns into interactive fun.

The Plankpad is designed for safety comfort and durability made of high-quality maple wood with a walnut finishing and a soft mat.

Originally the inventor André Reinegger designed Plankpad as a solution to get rid of his back pain. Very soon the Plankpad team realized that it developed a fun game and workout station for the entire family. It turned into furniture in their living room.

From there on the mission was clear that every household should have one says David Cervenka, responsible for Brand and Business Strategy at Plankpad.

In general, the plank exercise is one of the most effective workouts you can do, but it can also be the most boring one.

Now with Plankpad, the time passes by really fast because your focus is more on the games or workouts. And when you move left and right to steer the game, your body turns into a joystick and even more muscles are attracted. You build muscles, burn fat and improve your overall posture by just a few minutes a day.

The focus on the games during planking automatically leads to holding the exercise longer and reaching the goals faster. At the same time, the app offers the possibility to monitor the correct position of your plank via the workout section of the app.

Plankpad can be used in a variety of ways: it can also be used as a balance board to focus the workout on leg muscles, body balance and motor coordination. With specially developed games for standing and the possibility to connect the app to the TV, the Plankpad turns into a snowboard or a surfboard. This way the workout is combined with the necessary portion of fun and variety, which also attracts every age and fitness level.

The Plankpad comes with the balance board, a mat to protect your floor, the app including many games and workouts, a 30-day challenge and a printed exercise poster and manual.

The Plankpad App is available for Apple IOS and Android.

More information visit www.plankpad.com

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FEATURE

Yas Bay, Abu Dhabi’s Dynamic Waterfront Destination Set to Transform Island Living

Miral is Abu Dhabi's creator of destinations, uniting people and places through unique, immersive and exciting experiences. Responsible for the destination management of Yas Island, Miral's assets encompass entertainment, hospitality, leisure, marina, theme parks, dining, retail and real estate. The Retail People Magazine speaks with Clement Bontemps, Director of Asset Management, Miral to discuss Yas Bay, a one-of-a-kind unique destination that offers a wide arrays of leisure and entertainment experiences.

Aerial view of Yas Bay Pier Waterside

Hilton and Beach Sandbox

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et to become Abu Dhabi’s new iconic destination and home to top attractions in entertainment, leisure and business, Yas Bay will be welcoming visitors, residents and professionals alike. Developed by Miral and located south of Yas Island, the 14 million square feet Yas Bay, is expected to attract around 15,000 residents and 10,000 professionals to the Island.

Miral's USD 1.1 billion investment into the USD 3.3 billion projects, includes developing the public realm, the infrastructure, the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island, the pier and Etihad Arena. Yas Bay will be comprised of three distinct areas: Yas Bay Waterfront, Residences at Yas Bay and twofour54.

Yas Bay Waterfront, which overlooks the sparkling blue waters of the Arabian Gulf, is a vibrant leisure and entertainment district and the epicentre of the development. One of the most striking components of the waterfront is Etihad Arena, a multi-purpose indoor venue with flexible capacity from 200 to 18,000 people. The new Arena, which was named Sustainable Building Design of the Year at the MENA Green Building Awards 2018, is set to become a major addition to Abu Dhabi’s entertainment and culture offering, hosting world-class concerts, sporting competitions and cultural performances, all whilst occupying an easily accessible, iconic space on Yas Island’s skyline.

Masterplan of Yas Bay

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Additionally, Yas Bay Waterfront will be home to the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island, a beach club, a pier boasting 12 licensed restaurants and cafes, and a number of entertainments, retail and leisure outlets.

Residences at Yas Bay is an urban island community with a capacity for 15,000 residents through 35 low-to-mid-rise residential plots, 19 recreational parks, three Mosques and two schools, all impeccably connected to the waterfront.

twofour54, the globally renowned creative hub for Abu Dhabi’s media and entertainment industry is expected to attract and host around 10,000 professionals and will offer world-class media and production facilities in an innovative working environment, helping support the continued growth of the media sector in Abu Dhabi.

The vibrant, multi-purpose development with a mixture of attractions, residences, a creative hub, parks and public green spaces aims to greatly attribute to making Yas Island, a truly unique destination. The development is set to be an exciting addition to the island’s attractions, enhancing the diverse and unique leisure and entertainment experiences already on offer.

To explore an immersive 360 experience of Yas Bay visit www.yasbay.ae/360/

Etihad Arena

2020 Implementation of Retail Technology As the new decade enters, people are curious about what lies ahead particularly in retail. The Retail People Magazine had an exciting and great conversation with Vic Bageria, Chief Visionary Officer at Xpandretail powered by Sávant Data System (SDS) LLC. Here, he briefly shared his views how technology is changing the retail industry.

O

such as People Counting Sensors. According to experts, AI ver the years, retailers witnessed a rise in technological boosts data accuracy by over 25 percent, and thus, assisting advancements that have enabled businesses to evolve retailers to understand market trends and customer preferences in the highly dynamic industry. Artificial Intelligence, machine better. AI also improves in-store infrastructure to maintain learning, big data and other disruptive technologies have optimal footfalls and boost conversion rates. played a significant role in improving day-to-day business operations and building core competencies. Therefore, A market trend that is currently gaining immense popularity over 50 percent of the businesses are expected to increase is omnichannel retail. Customers prefer retailers who are present investments in such advancements to boost productivity and on both online and offline channels. Digital developments enable enhance corporate infrastructure. businesses to provide a seamless experience on multiple channels The year 2020 is expected to witness a rise in the widespread and gain accurate and real-time information to offer more adoption of the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” technologies personalized services. Statically, over 60 percent of shoppers prefer to generate immersive shopping experiences and improve companies that offer product recommendations based on buying customer satisfaction. The industry will also witness a surge habits. Analytics and IoT assist retailers to gather data on shopping in E-Commerce sales, and thus, retailers must invest in behavior from sources such as online queries and purchase history advancements to better tackle this ever-growing market threat. to provide more interactive experiences and satisfy customers.

Currently, one of the significant challenges in the industry is According to research, technological solutions in retail will Our Clients: the lack of brand loyalty. Over 55 percent of the customers improve profits by over 30 percent. They also promote the switch brands if they are not satisfied with their current ones. effective and efficient use of corporate resources to maintain Therefore, businesses must rely on developments such as productivity and offer high-value products and services. The analytics, virtual and augmented reality and the Internet of industry is unpredictable — continually evolving shopping Things to attract and retain shoppers. patterns and market trends urge firms to invest in technology AI assists firms to gather, store and process data to introduce to stay relevant. And, disruptive technologies such as AI and robust strategies to attract potential customers. Advancements analytics assist in achieving the “Store of the Future” and gaining in AI-based software enhances other technological solutions an advantage in the competitive sector.

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FEATURE

Digital Marketing Strategies Retailers should be using As a retailer who wants to stay competitive and present in the market, digital knowledge and expertise is needed. The Retail People Magazine is privilege to have a chat with Christian Farioli, CEO & Digital Marketing Lecturer and Strategic Advisor of ESD FZC. He gave some helpful tips on what are the best strategies retailers should use to target today’s generation.

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et’s suppose you already have a marketing strategy; if this is not the case, I invite you to jump to the end of the article, where you can find a really simple shortcut to follow.

1. Customer Data: The new challenge Now, we can all agree that today, the amount of data at our disposal is enormous; the possibilities and ways of gathering data from social media, web sites and POS (physical point of sales) are growing and evolving every single day. The real challenge is no longer collecting data, but analyzing it correctly.

To gain a full insight means understanding people’s behavior and being able to track activities on timing and ways they interact on social media; sign up for newsletters or make a purchase, so we can reach them accordingly and, as a final goal, tailor the communication to them.

Retailers are becoming increasing aware of the urgency in using and analyzing data to target potential customers, optimize the experience and shorten the distance between online and in-store approach. We are talking about 69% of retailers who are aware of analyzing data to target potential customers. The percentage is set to grow consistently moving forward.

2. Data to Enhance Customer Experience. So what are specialists aiming to when analyzing data?

The number one priority is to enhance customer experience and differentiate from other brands and competitors. Being able to understand how, when and where to communicate to each potential customer is the most powerful and effective solution to optimize a ‘call to action’ in making a purchase or choosing the brand instead of another.

In retail it is all about the experience; a joined-up approach to data is part of Omni-channel marketing that can really make the difference.

3. Retail is about the experience. Why don’t you enhance it with digital?

Artificial Intelligence Technology: The reason why the popularity of Chatbot is growing is linked to a 24h service, an instant response and a quick answer to simple questions.

Voice technology is also a great tool and it has made great steps in the home market, but only 6% of retailers recognize the opportunity for the sector. We could say a great opportunity!

Looking at the latest research on customers’ behavior, we see a good 40% of people using a Virtual Assistant enabled-device to make a purchase, and this number is expected to grow to 48% by the end of 2020.

4. Proximity Marketing can hit close to home

Proximity Marketing is our chance to utilize mobile devices, WiFi, RFID technology to help retailers connecting directly with customers, the right ones.

Malls and retailers can attract people from the neighborhood, with geo-targeted campaigns that can increase footfall by 300%. The results are extraordinary.

Let’s think about what certain stores are doing with push notifications: they draw customers in the area by alerting them to deals or promotions.

5. Time for Action: Investing in Digital Skills As a retailer, to make sure he is communicating to targeted customers the right way using the best tools to be competitive and present in the market, digital knowledge and expertise are needed.

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McKinsey's research shows that Digital Leaders outperform their peers by 5X in revenues and 8X in operating profits.

Sadly, research run by Adobe has discovered that only 29% of businesses invest in digital skills training, the others make little or no investment.

In a troubling sector such as Retail, hiring an expert is a great choice. However, the best can be extremely rare and even more difficult to measure their expertise level. Professional development is the key to succeed in the long run; it can be an investment made on internal staff or external specialists, but someone aware of the ever-changing market needs to be in charge of the retailer’s marketing and communication. Are you ready for this?

When in need of a Digital Strategy‌ Ask yourself: Do I have a written, solid Digital Marketing strategy for at least three years ahead?

Retailers and Shopping Malls are now facing a Titanic dilemma: are we risking to fully disrupt and steer the direction towards digital? Many of them already crashed against their iceberg. It is almost too late, what is your plan?

I believe every company needs a great Digital Marketing Strategy to succeed nowadays.

CHRISTIAN FARIOLI Digital Marketing Lecturer, Strategic Advisor & Book Author. Pioneer since 2003, Trained 5000+ executives from startups to Fortune 500 and Spoken at 30+ International Conferences, including Google and NASA.

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FEATURE

Leisure: The value of great Emotional Experience The game has changed. Society today demands more user-friendly, dynamic and sustainable environments. Here, Retail People Magazine, sits with Gaston Gaitan, Founder of theleisureway, and describe their commitment to design unique destinations where people will have fun and create innovative places where emotions come alive.

Project Name: Mar Shopping Algarve - 2017 Location: Loulé, Portugal Client’s need: Establish synergies between “restaurants +retail + outlet + leisure” theleisureway solution: Developed an outdoor concept to bring a natural and playful atmosphere into the overall asset.

Project Name: Mall of Switzerland - 2017 Location: Luzern, Switzerland Client’s need: Activate an entire floor for FEC to generate profit and increase traffic for the tenants theleisureway solution: Created an indoor paid FEC that gives that “Swiss Feeling” to visitors, managed by a recommended operator of theleisureway

W

e are ruled by EMOTIONS – They dictate the ups and downs of our daily lives and determine the well being of our communities; they can construct or even destroy civilizations, changing the course of human history.

Emotions are not a stranger to any of us. That pang we feel deep inside when a loved one catches our eye, when we smell freshly mown grass, or when we feel the sun on our skin? It is the physical manifestation of an emotional bond. And it is a powerful trigger that sends messages to our brain, urging us to take decisions, inciting us to actions.

Joy as an emotion: If a friend makes us laugh, we will associate what we feel not just with our friend, but also with the surroundings. Our brain generates a positive memory, which when triggered, will encourage us to return to the lake and, yes, even to the petrol station, again and again.

This is also true when we decide where to shop. Whether we are aware of it or not, as consumers, we will always factor emotional bonds into our decisions. But it is not just laughter or love or human warmth that creates these bonds – It is LEISURE too. If a shopping centre offers leisure options and sensations to cater for all tastes, consumers will feel the glow of emotion that so often results from shared moments with friends or family.

What better marketing strategy than making people feel good. carry out thorough market research and develop an idea right through to the technical design and construction of so-called “leisure ecosystems”— living, breathing, interconnected spaces with fullyintegrated leisure options, made by and for people.

Currently, shopping centres are making great efforts to reinvent experiences and connect with people by creating emotional bonds. What better marketing strategy than making people feel good which can be easily achieved by having an amazing leisure experience.

For more info, visit www.theleisureway.com.

Leisure, before and after We extract positive emotions from everyday life and transfer them to commercial areas, creating a Leisure Ecosystem where those emotions come alive, guiding users on their customer journey.

A new era of commerce has now begun in which consumers purchase goods both on and offline. Though online shopping competes with shopping centres, new technologies offer advantages, too. They are useful and precise tools for gathering consumer data. And shopping centre closures are not caused by the advent of online shopping alternatives, but rather by competition from other shopping centres with the know-how to attract more visitors.

Bringing the emotional value through iconic projects – theleisureway We consider leisure as part of a strategy to surpass all expectations, by incorporating elements of local culture with human and social factors and offering sensations that leave consumers smitten. In order to do so, we

48. RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020

Project Name: The Galaxy - 2019 Location: Varna, Bulgaria Client’s need: Activate vacant spaces until they are leased by some tenants theleisureway solution: Created temporary social hubs and play areas for families that are designed as planets to elevate the leisure experience of the customers. These 3 planets are movable to any space in the mall.

Intelligent Choices for a New World In a world where single-use plastic packaging is rightfully being removed from the supermarket shelves, what solution is there for drinking water? The Retail People Magazine chat with Harry Singh, CEO of NKD Life and shares the years they spent in creating technologically advanced water filtration devices that aim to give us the same endless spring quality water in a single, reusable personal bottle.

n

kd Life is a British Company leading the market in the design, manufacture and sales of technologically advanced water filtration bottles. We launched our first consumer water filter bottle in 2017 offering advanced levels of water filtration.

Our award-winning nkd Pod+ is designed with the consumer in mind. Ergonomic to hold, finished with a soft luxurious silicone sleeve and incorporating a one-touch cap release, keeping the mouthpiece always clean, the bottle is a delight in its ease of use.

The tough BPA free, dishwasher safe Tritan body is designed so it can be taken, anywhere you go.

The heart of the bottle is its unique filter. Using Space programme technology, it removes up to 99.9% of Bacteria, Viruses, Cysts, Chemicals and heavy metals from many water sources, instantly, as you drink, giving you crisp, clean, safe drinking water. The three-stage filter begins with removing chemicals and heavy metals, next microbiological contaminants are removed, and finally, the media core ionizes the water making it taste light and fresh.

The nkd Pod+ is ideal for travelers visiting destinations where it can be filled at airports, hotels or restaurant taps. It’s also perfect for school children, giving parents peace of mind while their children use the school's water system. The stylish design of the Pod+ coming in 6 colours, none of which would look out of place on any executive's work desk, reminding them to stay hydrated throughout the day.

When hiking, camping and out in the wilderness the Pod+ is invaluable, whether you fill from a wadi in the desert, or a river while hiking in the Himalayas.

The Pod+ makes a perfect and thoughtful gift, considering the damage single-use plastics are causing to our environment, this product takes a leap in the right direction.

Millions of people across the world every day take a chance of illness or death just to drink water which is often contaminated.

We want to put an end to this through our nkd life movement.

Each bottle and replacement filter our customer purchases filter 175 litres of water. We, in turn, will provide the same amount of water to those most vulnerable.

The Pod+ is sold across Europe, India, Kenya, USA and UAE. We are proud to have leading retailers such Dubai Duty Free, Virgin Megastore, Jashanmal, and Adventure HQ stock the Pod+ and look forward to adding many more outlets soon.

For more info, please visit: nkdlife.com

RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020 .49

FEATURE

Food and Beverage No Playground for Lucky Losers Will Odwarka, Owner and CEO of Heart At Work Growth Management Consulting talks to Retail People Magazine about why it has never been more important to look for advice to forecast feasible and achievable growth targets in the Food and Beverage Industry.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Originally born and raised in Vienna, Austria, my career started in construction and commercial real estate before I joined McDonald's. In the last 30 years, I supported the growth of new players in this field which today are some of the best-known brands like McDonald's, Burger King and Starbucks. Throughout my career, I have been responsible for over 1,000 openings in over 40 countries.

You’ve had a great background and expertise, how did you come up with the idea of establishing the Heart@Work?

It was a dream since my early days, but I didn't pursue it. Now, I believe I have the expertise and range of knowledge to start something great. In addition, my wife was passionate and keen to jump on board, it was like the cherry on the cake. Heart@Work puts the main protagonists in focus who are the "people."

There are so many great ideas and concepts out there, failing because they just don't see it through. We support them to avoid pitfalls and mistakes on the way or at least to help them to recognize them.

What services do you offer that you think unique to others who are in the same field?

Aside from our vast experience in so many countries and fields, we set ourselves apart from the majority of consultants, we can literally step into a business and look at it not only from a helicopter view, but from within. We also work as a bridge between the Gulf countries and Europe for businesses that are ready to grow and to go to the next level. We also do brandscouting for malls, hotels and investors and advise on market planning and help setup growth strategies.

50. RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020

G ROW T H • M A N AG E M E N T • C O N S U LT I N G

What do you think are the secrets on how to achieve growth plans and retain partners successfully in the F&B industry?

Reach out for advice, don’t pretend you know it all because you don’t. You need to stay savvy but at the same time understand what you would like to accomplish. Success can only be achieved through hard work by consistently satisfying the client's expectations. F&B business demands a lot. When you run a restaurant or café, you need to consider the level of commitment, passion and drive to keep it going. If there is one thing which I would consider a key to success – it is PEOPLE. Bring them along, train them, fill them in your plans and let them grow with you. No lip service but a serious commitment to the individuals that make your concept work. Over the last decades, our industry spent so much on design, look and feel, branding and technology, but so little focus on the people who deliver the very story to the clients who pay for it.

F&B is not an industry for lucky losers. It requires a serious confrontation.

The people should understand what guests need and how to deliver it before they think about their bank account – regardless of whether it is their own concept or a franchise.

Trends are no longer limited to the cuisines on offer or the style of service.

The ‘whole experience’ is what matters.

Future Food is the global leader in food, restaurant and hospitality consulting having partnered with hundreds of clients over six different continents. The Retail People Magazine spoke with Francis Loughran, Managing Director of Future Food, who shares his insights on the exciting food trends in 2020.

FOOD •

Alternative eating is becoming mainstream. The evolution, financial viability and marketability of plant-based menu options. This space is receiving an enormous focus and financial commitment in the field of continuous product development and innovation.

•

The welcoming of the Meat-Free terminology will be used to entice customers; rather than words like Vegetarian and / or Vegan.

THE CUSTOMER

Influencing the vegan pallet – extending plant-based meat replacement flavours and textures beyond “facon” to entice and further encourage the flexitarian movement away from meat. Menu shapers will become seriously experimental with the flexitarian crowd in 2020.

•

Customer Insight will grow in importance as operators will need to have open and reliable channels by which twoway communications with customers can be facilitated.

•

Menu prices do not have to fall, but the perceived value has to rise: Just because your pricing is in line with others around you doesn’t mean that your Biryani is worth it – because it’s not the price point that matters, but what’s on the plate.

•

RE-IMAGINING FOOD & BEVERAGE

Motta, Crumpets and Southern Ocean

THE ENVIRONMENT •

Service-Sustainable-Sales - Accountability of food and hospitality venue design will remain critical in delivering components that continue to drive sales. Beautiful spaces must deliver joy in every aspect. The quality of food, beverage & service must evolve together with an environmentallysustainable perspective - from responsibly sourced materials, compostable packaging, “smart” designed equipment and paperless menus. The future of eating out is greener.

•

More environmentally-focused rewards such as trees planted to help reduce the carbon footprint of the business you are purchasing coffee from, rather than receiving every 10th coffee free.

•

Sustainable food retailing beyond packaging; SMART food establishments, C02 optimized refrigeration and environmental initiatives in construction to reduce the carbon footprint. Large scale food storage technologies extending further into smaller operational setups (cafés & restaurants) in 2020.

Starbucks Shanghai

•

Design-Food-People - This trio of terms will merge to deliver living-spaces that embrace human feelings. The integration of these elements will shape the design briefs of 2020 and beyond. The design will focus heavily on people’s desire to slow-down, to be immersed in space and to feel welcome because holistic food and beverage is more than healthy eating; it’s aligned to feelings of experience and mindfulness through design, food, technologies, marketing, socialization and interconnectedness.

•

Brands will develop their concepts, offer and positioning for greater reach. The Starbucks Reserve is an example of this emerging trend in flagship food stores.

•

The drive to reinvent food is continuing with the development; robots that make pizza, food stores without cashiers.

RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020 .51

ALL ABOUT F&B

The Future of Food is Exciting: Trends for 2020

ALL ABOUT F&B

Food for Thought

The largest and longest running food & beverage show in the world will be celebrating their Silver Anniversary.

The trade show will run from 16-20 February 2020 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The theme for this year is Rethinking Food. Gulfood’s main focus is to drive the food & beverage industry into the next 25 years. The show will demonstrate and answer a critical question: Why do we need to rethink food?

For more information, visit: www.gulfood.com.

52. RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020

The annual city-wide culinary event, Dubai Food Festival (DFF), will return for its seventh edition on February 26, 2020. It will be held for 18 days across the city. According to the organizers, the event will celebrate the gastronomical diversity of the city, and will give residents, visitors, families and foodies insight into the latest tastes and trends from the global food scene. Regular DFF-related events will also return, including Dubai Restaurant Week, Beach Canteen, Hidden Gems and experiences featuring masterclasses, chef tables, appearances by celebrity chefs and promotions at malls, restaurants and hypermarkets. For a full update of activities, go to www.dubaifoodfestival.com.

NEW

F&B Openings in the UAE

Hutong is a contemporary Northern Chinese cuisine that offers amazing dim sum and creative cocktails, all served in a styling setting with a beautiful outdoor terrace. The menu will feature signature dishes from Hong Kong and London, including the Red Lantern; crispy softshelled crab with dried chilli, and the halibut Red Star Noodles, as well as new dishes created exclusively for Dubai. Located at the ground floor of Legatum Plaza, Gate Building 6, DIFC. www.hutong-dubai.com La Mezcaleria is located at The Oberoi Hotel

in Business Bay, Dubai and offers Latino Oriental beats, flamboyant Mezcal beverages and Mexicaninspired cuisine. It promises an innovative gastronomical journey and diverse selection of mezcals along with an extensive shisha menu, live music and entertainment on select nights. The atmosphere is playful yet rustic. The menu includes a variety of appetizers including the special P&B Guacamole which contains fresh peach, crispy bacon and a hint of jalapeno, or try the Mez-callop – a scallop ceviche with a hint of ginger. The Lobster Gobernador, or the Pastel Azteca, a Lasagne with some sweet Latin-American surprises are more for those with a bigger appetite. For the meat lovers, the Parrillada a 740g wagyu rib-eye with guacamole and tortillas to roll. Finish your meal with the Crepe-Adilla or a plate of classic Churros. www.lamezcaleriadxb.com.

Shanghai Me which recently opened in DIFC,

was designed to transport you to the 1930’s, the city’s golden era. A prosperous and indulgent place, filled with glamour, personality, culture and great cuisine. The cuisine was inspired by the culinary traditions of East Asia, paying tribute to the region’s rich heritage, Shanghai Me serves recipes that have been preserved for generation.

Their menu includes a selection of exquisite dishes including Cantonese roast duck, Szechuan style prawns, alongside signature dim sum, bao buns, sushi and sashimi. Due to its prominent location in DIFC, the restaurant has also curated a special lunch menu, providing a great business lunch. www.shanghaime-restaurant.com

Ce La Vi Dubai Is now officially open located

atop the new Address Sky View, marks the sixth opening of the brand, with venues spread across the world including; Singapore, Colombo, Taipei, Shanghai and Tokyo. Drawing inspiration from Southeast Asia, CÉ LA VI celebrates the popular French saying that translated to “This is Life”.

The Asian inspired menu, includes Prat-Au-Coum Oysters, A5 Wagyu striploin nigiri, crab cake with Osetra caviar, pea ravioli with seaweed and cacio pepe sauce, and a long experimental list of eclectic beverages. The restaurant is located at 220 meters above sea level, making it one of the city’s highest rooftops offering an Asian

restaurant, sky bar, club lounge, and pool deck. www.celavi.com/en/dubai/restaurant

Frico Store Dutch cheesemaker, Frico, has opened its first ever store at Dubai’s Global Village located at the European Pavillion and it will ensure to entice the cheese lovers from across the emirate. It offers an exclusive variety of a dozen cheese types, from the soft and creamy gouda to the mild and mellow edam and the bold old dutch master. The Frico store’s official launch was inaugurated by the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Hans Sandee, and the Agricultural Counsellor for the GCC, Mr. Erik Smidt.

Source: HotelNewsMe (https://bit.ly/38M4sKJ) Soul Street This vibrant, bustling restaurant is perched on the fifth floor of the Five Hotels and Resorts. This is a new restaurant for all the street food lovers and culinary explorers. The menu is brimming with street food classics from across the globe. A large tabloid-style menu is handed over to diners, split into sections for salads and cold small bites, hot small plates and big bites, under various countries and regions.

Source: Jumeirah Village Five Hotels and Resorts (https://bit.ly/2uDuFvV) Fishmarket InterContinental Abu Dhabi’s flagship, has opened after a complete upgrade to continue the success story that started in 1989. The Fishmarket is one of the capital’s most exciting gastronomic experiences. The Fresh new look and feel retains the essence and traditions it is famous for; the freshest fish cooked to your preference. www.icad.ae Fouquet’s Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat

Island is now set to become a dining destination too. The Parisian brasserie Fouquet’s is due to open its first location in the UAE at the museum next year, just as the original Parisian eatery celebrates 120 years in business. The Louvre has partnered with Bariere Group and recruited French Chef, Pierre Gagnaire, to design the menu. www.fouquetsabudhabi.com

Hutong

La Mezcaleria

Shanghai

Me

Frico store

Soul Street

Butcher & Still’s Food Truck is all set to deliver the spirit of the 1920s Chicago Steakhouse at Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi to the UAE. The concept brings an innovative chef-driven concept to the country’s luxury restaurant and bar space.

The shell of the new Butcher & Still Food Truck is a nostalgia-invoking Airstream trailer. This design is enhanced by cues taken from the restaurant’s most recognizable details including a rich leather chef’s table, as well as the infamous AK-47 bullet print skirting the perimeter of the truck. However, a stand out detail is the reinterpretation of the outlet’s signature show kitchen, which breaks down the barrier between chefs and guests, allowing them to connect.

Ce La Vi Dubai

Butcher & Still's Food Truck

RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020 .53

MECS+R MEMBER’S SEGMENT

Look Who’s Joined MECS+R!!!

New and Renewed Individual Members from October to December 2019 AZERBAIJAN Reyhan Guliyeva BAHRAIN Abdulrahman Matar Ammar Mudhafar Amna Ahmadi Divyraj Singh Firas Barakat Ikhlas Raji Isa Al Wazzan Isa Al Zayani Khaled Sulaiman Leanne Lobo Mahmood Ashoor Maria Charles John Chinnaiyan Mark Gravener Mohamed Alhayki Mohamed Alkhelo Mohamed Alraee Mohamed Nader Mudathara Albosta Murtadha Shubbar Nabeel Mashhadi Nada Shiban Noof Alhamadi Rajapandian Varada Pillai Subramanian Prakash CANADA Walter Kleinschmit CRX,CSM CLS EGYPT Ahmed Reyad Emadeldin Abdalla Hany Alkholy Heba Abdallah Menna El Mallawany Mohamed Elaish Mohamed Galal Mohamed Abou Alainain Omar Gaafar GERMANY Alexander Gross Martin Holsher Steffen Schaack IRAQ Mukhalad Al-Assadi Suha Mabrouk IRELAND Giovanni Maria Dolci JORDAN Ghassan Rafayiah Mohammed Al Hawamdeh Mushil Madanat

KUWAIT Adel Marhoum Audrey Fernandes Bader Al Adsani Bahjat Yousfi Christian Wistrom David Boesley, CSMA Fadel Al Mosawi Fay Al Busairi Hawraa Boland Leyla Palmer Lina Abbas Sami Elalami Saud Al Zabin Shaika Alsaleh Sharefah Al Kandari

POLAND Kamil Shbeta Piotr Hopcia RUSSIA John Schreiner

SAUDI ARABIA Abdul Rahman Balaa Abdulaziz Binbelal Abdullah Amin Abdullah A. Al Hamad Ahmad Alshikhi Ala Abu Mahfouz Alanoud Al Omair Ali Al Amari Amin Saeed Anas Fanari LEBANON Essa Alfaifi Eddy Abi Nasr Fahad Al Otaibi Fahad Al-Othaim Firas Albuti NIGERIA Fouad Al Fakhri Mercy Umoren Galal Suliman Oluwaseun Olatubi Ghanem Al Sharaa Sita Banigo Hani Bawazir Utibe Bassey Hassan El Zanfaly Hussain Al Shaikhi OMAN Jason De Guzman Abdul-Rahman Touqan Khaled Al Amoudi Avik Kumar Ghosh Khalid Ali Al Sehaibany Cheatan Koul Lee Talbott David Short Mazen Al Ghamdi Derick Michael Mazen Al Sihman Husam Al Mandhari Mazen Hamza Qandeel Khalil Muhsen Moath Al-Yahya Maimunah Soliman Shebani Mohamed Attia Muneeb Abdul-Rahim Mohammad M Al Fedani Nasser Al Najidi Mohammed Al Farraj Ragesh Manja Purath Mohammed Al Othaim Sheikh Harith Al Ghazali Muhammed Ahmed Fouad Nasser Saud Nasser Sulaiman Ahmed Al Kindi Alsayari Sushruth Gopalkrishna Nizar Bakhurji Peter Castella OTHER ME COUNTRY Saleh Kurdi Ahmed Dessouki Saleh Abdullah Al-Othaim Eliane Kleiany Saud Ammar Emile Sarkis Talal Alruwaished Fahim Matabdin Talat Alam Feroz Moideen Tariq Alaklan Muthukrishnan Thamer Aloudeh Ramaswamy Wail Balkhair Nadim Ziade Walid Ali Alsherif Romy Elie Abdallah Yousf Mohamed Barghouth Rony Mourani Zaher Abdulmajeed Zeeshan Ahmed Ghouse PAKISTAN Feroze Pasha Faisal Nadeem Nadeem Riaz SPAIN Shahzad Hassan Anwar Gaston Gaitan

54. RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020

TURKEY Avi Alkas, CSM, CMD UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Adrian Colin Lee Afrah AL Khatheri Alexis Marcoux-Varvatsoulis Amit Puri Anand Kumar Andrea Varraso Anoop Gopal Anwaar Mahmood Aravind Ravi Ashish Gupta Ashok Ramasamy Ayman Sartawi Banu Tas Barry McGettigan Binas Basheer Carlos Gomes Pissarra Cherrylyn Fauni Dana Andrie Soadermo Debbie Russo Diana Al-Sakka Dixit Pathak Elin Eriksson Esam Hafez Faisal Khan Faraz Haque Greg Vogt Gurpreet Singh Haitham Sleiman, CSM CLS Hana Abu Lughod Hatem Allahham Heba Eiran Hicham Dabbagh Irfan Kundawala Issa Ataya Jaisamira Ebarle Jamil Malek Jean Pierre Nammour John Hadden Kabir Malkani Kacy Abouali Kareem Omar Al Ayat Khaled Sam Hosn Khalid AlJanahi Louisa Thompson Louwrens Marais Margaux Valentine Chane Mayank Pal Mohamad Issa Mohamed Al Hashemi Mohamed Al Jasmi Mohamed Mubarak Raja Nazir Ahmad Mohammad Adnan Siddiqui Mohammed S. R. Mhanna Mohammed Saeed Al Marzouki

Muhammad Atif Altaf Muhammed Meeran Nancy Saade Neha Patel Nipun Kapur Parag Chemburkar Patrick Fallmann Paul Firth Paul Charles Hammond Prem Mohan Pronob Kumar Kerr Raid Ismail Maddah Raja Abdulkader Rania Mahgoub Ratna Dasgupta Retso Varughese Rishad Abdul Rahman PK Ritesh Mohan Riyas Cherichi Rizwan nawab Rodrigo Nisperos Sadiq Ali Khan Afridi Saeed Shaya Salem Mohammed Alsuwaidi Sanjay Mehta Sayeh Kordestani Sergio Novais Shadi Samra Shakeel Hussain Shane Eldstrom, CRX, CDP,

CLS, CSM

Shiraz Ul Haq Khan Shuja Hiro Jashanmal Sineesh Vaikkattil Stephanie Alexandra Chartier, CMD Surender Kumar Tarek Tohamy Thamer Alqarqaz Tony Samaan Usman Khalid Vikram Malkani Wajeb Al Khoury Will Odwarka Yi Chen Zeynep Sarsar Zulfiqar Ali Hamza UNITED KINGDOM Ben Caunter James Brien Nizar Kamouna Phil Atkinson UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Ben Hudson Panos Linardos Shannon Alter Shannon Quilty

MECS+R Corporate Members Newly Signed-Up from October to December 2019

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

WELCOME

HOME

Burj Nahar Mall is situated in one of the most visible and accessible intersections in Deira and is part of a mixed-use development by Al Majid Property Co. member of Juma Al Majid Group. The development has 246,000 sqft of leasable space spread across three floors complimented with 200 residential apartments.

Burj Nahar Mall is poised to become a mass market, outlet driven, brand oriented destination community centre set to attract customers from within Dubai and beyond. Opening Q1 2020.

CONTACT US

Burj Nahar Mall, Al Majid Property T: +971 4 271 5252 M: +971 52 460 2020 M: +971 56 508 5070 amjad.roushdy@almajidproperty.com www.burjnaharmall.com

lea@mecsc.org or call +971 4 359 7909

www.retailcongressmena.com

THE RITZ-CARLTON DIFC, DUBAI, UAE

Al MARYAH CENTRAl Technological Sea Change Approaches the Gulf Page 14

FUTURISTIC Global Retail VR & AR in Future Retail Page 29

ISSUE 22 | JANUARY – MARCH 2020

BAHRAIN Continued Development in the Retail Sector Page 18

MODA MAll Bahrain’s Luxury Retail Shopping Destination Page 40

CENTRAL ASIA The Emerging Retail Frontier Page 44

MAGAZINE

RETAIL IN

2020

Circulated in 45 countries

Circulated in 45 countries

THE FUTURE OF ENTERTAINMENT

ONTO NEW DISCOVERY

Education and tEchnology in REtail

A Path to Success

Maimunah Shebani

Featuring Eng. Wail M. Balkhair

Managing Director of The Retail Agency

(Retail Professional of the Year)

Addressing the Employment Gap in Oman through Retail Training

CEO, Sahat Property Management Co. P.16: Purpose of Brands Beyond 2020

FESTIVAL CITY MALL Redefining Entertainment Page 22

ISSUE 19 MAY – JULY 2019

ISSUE 12 JUL-SEP 2017

Circulated in 45 Countries

Magazine Curated By:

Shaikh Mohammed bin Duaij Al Khalifa CEO, Mall of Dilmunia

“Mall of Dilmunia will be redefining the dream mall experience with the vision to be a unique retail and entertainment destination.”

P.46: Marketing Strategies for Retailers P.51: Future of Food is Exciting A

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• Are you looking for help to build solid business relationships and networks?

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The Retail People Magazine is your partner in building solid relationships to further your career and your business.

Take advantage to be featured in our Front Cover to leverage your profile and create awareness for your business. Highlight your brands or services.

To book advertisement or article contribution contact Mariz Matocdo, Marketing Officer, at +971 55 5517605, e-mail: customercare @mecsc.org Shopping Centre and Retail Industry in this region has evolved from corner shops to now becoming the shopping hub of the world and even more and better offering in the pipeline. RPM is indeed one of the best initiatives by MECS+R and its so enriching to be associated to it both as an audience and as a contributor. And it has so much more coming. All we need to do is Stay Tuned.

Juby Jose, Head of Marketing & Specialty Leasing, Dalma Mall MECS+R Regional Representative in Abu Dhabi, UAE

he sweetest treasu re o f A rab ia.

FIRST AND FINEST CAMEL MILK CHOCOLATE.

www.al-nassma.com

FEATURED MEMBER

One-on-One with...

Amit Dhamani is the Managing Director of Dhamani Jewels Group. He started his career by setting up an office for the Group in Bangkok in 1989. During these 30 years, the Dhamani Group has evolved from gem and diamond wholesale business to having notable fine jewelry brands as Dhamani 1969, Dhamani Jewels, Dusoul and Laviere with Dubai as Headquarters.

Amit is a Harvard Business School Alumni and one of the Board of Directors at the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) and The Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group and in the Board of Governors of GIA (Gemological Institute of America). Here, the Retail People Magazine has a quick chat with Amit and shares his story, thoughts and experience being in the business for decades.

Full Name: Amit Dhamani Short Name: Amit Nationality: Indian Job Title: Group Managing Director Company: Dhamani Jewels School: Harvard Business School Birthday: 16th October Hobbies: Traveling Education: Bachelor of Commerce Place of Birth: Jaipur Life’s Quote:

Life is a journey

Can you share a brief story about how Dhamani Jewel Group started?

Dhamani Jewels was started by my father as a loose gemstone dealer in 1969 in Jaipur, India.

By 2000s, it was headquartered in Dubai and expanded into diamonds and retail. The family business is now in its second generation of leadership and aimed to become a top global jewelry brand. Currently, the group is actively managed by me as Group Managing Director alongside my brothers Rohit as CEO of Dusoul and Manish as CEO Dhamani 1969. The family-owned Dhamani Jewels Group (DJG) has operations across the UAE, Thailand, Lebanon, Switzerland and India.

Last year, DJG added a new brand to its portfolio, Dusoul, which encompasses the modern, aspirational millennials.

How and when did you felt the interest and passion in this business?

Being the second generation, I was naturally inclined from an early age. I started learning and admiring gemstones in my early teens.

Seeing my father traveling around the world for business intrigued me to follow the passion for fine jewels.

What is the most memorable time or experience in running your family business? What lesson have you learned from this experience?

The most memorable time and experience I had was during my executive education programme at Harvard. It was a session on how to transform a family run business to be more brand-centric and to continue for many generations.

I made sure that the business continuity was there irrespective of the current generation and I was strongly supported by my brothers who helped make it happen on an ongoing basis by putting proper processes and systems at every step.

58. RETAIL PEOPLE . JAN-MAR 2020

In the Retail Congress MENA Shopping Centres & Retailer Awards, Dusoul received the Design & Development – Retail Store Design Award category.

Following this success, are there new brands that you will introduce in 2020?

DUSOUL is a deeply thought and studied brand introduced by Dhamani to cater to affordable luxury and millennial segments addressing the market developments including Expo 2020 and beyond. We will be focusing on Dhamani 1969 in the ultraluxury segment and Dusoul in the affordable luxury segment for years to come.

Can you share a secret on how to keep on top despite the new brands that coming up in the retail sector?

Focus is the key according to my learning and experience. Giving the customer clarity on the brand ethos and brand delivery makes us relevant in the era of regular new brands coming in the retail sector.

Being a member of the MECS+R for the past seven (7) years, how does it benefit you?

MECS+R is one of the most amazing platforms for the retail industry. Through various events, networking and activations, we have connected with the retail industry at large. I certainly recommend others to join and avail of the unique benefits it offers.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

I am an avid traveller and I am on my journey to complete my travel to 100 countries in the next 5 years.

What’s your passion in life and what inspires you?

My passion is creating moments to celebrate for everyone around me - family, team, peers and clients. The vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inspires me all the time.

How do you grow revenue?

Centralise your property data to minimise risk and deliver key performance metrics, while using mobile technology to revolutionise interaction with prospects and tenants.

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