“The recession has impacted all sectors and with consumer spending down, shopping centres and retailers are becoming more innovative in order to earn their share of customer spend.

Current, relevant information is a definite need and the congress aims at providing this for delegates,” says Julie Hillary, president of South African Council of Shopping Centres.

“It’s all about engaging and getting the edge on the best information, for the best competitive advantage,” says Hillary.

The congress, which is sponsored by Growthpoint Properties Limited, will get to the nub of both global and local trends, challenges and innovation examples.

From super-shopping centres in Dubai to state-of-the-art retail centres in Delhi, a presentation by Phil McArthur, Senior Vice President of Ivanhoe Cambridge, is but one that will enlighten, entertain and demonstrate solutions and ideas that may benefit the local market.
 
“In the current economic climate, few shopping centres want to try something new if they are not sure it will add value. There is no leeway for expensive experimentation or mistakes. It is vital therefore to learn from the experiences, models and innovation tried and tested by others,” explains Hilary.

Customer engagement is another hot topic, with Woolworths MD, Andrew Jennings, Pick n Pay CEO, Nick Badminton, Edgars CEO, Hugues Witvoet and Fruit & Veg City’s Brian Coppin giving a powerful retailer’s perspective. 

As many South African shopping centres and retailers spruce-up in preparation for an influx of visitors to the 2010 soccer matches, Andrew Ogg, MD of Leslie Jones Architects, UK, will offer some interesting views here design and re-development, as will Jan Loubser, Design Director for Retail Africa.

Not losing sight of the most important element; the customer, Eileen Connolly, Director, DTZ, UK, will discuss the need to invest in marketing which truly reaches shoppers. The power of alternative media and social networking to reach shoppers will also address this with the expertise Mike Stopforth, Principal of Cerebra, a South African social media company.  

A high-level panel that discusses changing retail patterns and how these are driving investment decisions, will feature well-known industry leaders, including Frank Berkeley (Nedbank), Peter Behrman, Angus Mackay (Retail Africa), Sisa Ngebulana (Billion Group), Louis Noval (Parkdev) and Norman Sasse (Growthpoint).

The 13th African Congress of Shopping Centres takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre, from 16 to 18 September 2009. The organizers of the conference - The South African Congress of Shopping Centres - represent the largest association of retail and retail property representatives in South Africa. The conference is also supported by the International Council of Shopping Centres.

Nearly 1,000 delegates are expected to attend, including retailers, shopping centre owners, developers, investors, leasing and marketing agents, associated professions (QS, architectural, engineering), store designers and fitters, facilities managers and other suppliers to the industry.