What India wants – Malls or social spaces – Shopping Centre industry stalwarts to brainstorm on the future India’s biggest shopping centre forum kickstarts on 7th may, 2014
The seventh edition of India Shopping Centre Forum, India’s only knowledge sharing platform for the shopping centre industry, organised by IMAGES Group, kickstarts at The Renaissance, Mumbai, on Wednesday, May 07, 2014.The two-day event will explore two-way synergy between malls and retailers: malls facilitating entry of international brands in India, international brands adding glitter to Indian malls, with due emphasis on the dynamics behind building the right business model for shopping centres and successful mall management strategies by connecting the arteries at the beating heart of a successful shopping centre–the 360° wide view.
Sharing his thoughts on the event, Arjun Sharma, Chairman, ISCF and Director, Select CITYWALK, observed, “As the only dedicated show for Shopping Centres, ISCF 2014 brings together the best minds in the industry with an endeavour to work towards creating the best possible future for retail and retail real estate industry in India. This year, ISCF has an ambitious mission to build the blueprint of success for the Shopping Centre industry for developing world class retail and social spaces. Under the motto of Driving profitable development of Shopping Centre industry for India’s Retail Growth Story, we will witness industry leaders arrive at a new paradigm to have ‘FIVE OF THE WORLD’S TOP MALLS IN INDIA BY 2030. ISCF indeed is a unique opportunity to converge and network,” he added.
Shopping centre development in India began at the turn of the century with a couple of malls in Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi. Today there are close to 500 malls across the country. Actually 600 were built and 100 or so have shut down and some more are expected to close down soon. And while old ones may close, there is no stopping shopping center development in India. In four to five years the number of malls is expected to cross 1000. Interestingly, while even in the early 2000s, India was no stranger to knowledge of sound shopping centre principles and practices, yet in the first phase a lot were ignored by the players. The lessons have since been learnt, says the recently published 660 page research volume titled ‘Malls of India’, under the aegis of ISCF.
Amitabh Taneja, Chief Convener, India Shopping Centre Forum, and Founder Director, Shopping Centre Association of India, said, “The future shopping centres are with a soul… People like to gather, to wander, to experience and to be with one another. It is one of the primary reasons that cities exist. They are places for us–as individuals–to be a community. True, not all shopping centers will survive, but the ones that can create a communal experience, create a social space that transcends the transaction will thrive.”
Given that India is now ready for the much bigger and more critical second phase of Shopping Center development and ISCF is committed to being at the very forefront of promoting excellence in the retail real estate sector. The forum will seek to strengthen the core belief that shopping centers play a key role, not only in driving profitable growth of modern retail, but also by being an integral part in shaping the urban landscape and social fabric of every town and city.
The mega congregation of shopping centre developers and retailers will bring together the brightest brains in the business to talk fresh and green and discuss tangible ideas for positive developments with the investors, developers, project operators, retailers and service providers.
Loaded with business opportunities and rewarding insights and deliberating on challenges and opportunities present in this high-growth sector, it will have focused sessions on areas of research, location, planning, funding, architecture/design, tenant-mix, leasing & marketing, mall management, facility management, events & promotions, support services, staff training and security, amongst others. ISCF 2014 promises to bring 48 hours of exciting high-voltage brainstorming knowledge sharing discussions and industry insights into the world of shopping centre industry.
The conference sessions will cover an array of topics on key issues offering time tested solutions to shopping centre professionals such as the ideal shopping centre in the eyes of tenants, investors and developers, the new mantra: opportunities and challenges in mixed-use development, the mall as a complete family entertainment space.
The two master classes will cover MALL REGENERATION by Chris Mears, Founder & Director, Retail Analysys, Malaysia, and THE ROLE OF THE CENTRE MANAGEMENT TEAM by Christian Olofsson, President, Megabangna and Regional Business Head, Ikano Pte. Ltd. (IKEA’s franchisee in South East Asia)
ISCF boasts of participation of shopping centre visionaries and icons such as Anuj Puri, Chairman and Country Head, JLL; Sanjay Dutt, Executive MD, Cushman & Wakefield; Ajit Joshi, MD, Infiniti Retail (Croma); Sunil Mantri, Chairman, Mantri Realty; Sunil Biyani, Director, Future Group; Sushil Mantri, Chairman & MD, Mantri Developers; Irfan Razack, CMD, Prestige Group; Kamal Khetan, CMD, Sunteck Realty; amongst others.
The exhibition area will bring up latest innovations, showcasing products and services of value to participants and enriching customer experience.
The ISCF grand finale will present an exclusive session on shopping centres in 2030: the future of retail and how the malls need to evolve in the coming retailing environment–retailers & developers conclave.
The highlight of the two-day event will be the much sought after IMAGES Shopping Centre Awards that will celebrate excellence in the Shopping Centre business cheering those who managed to pull off their business plans with aplomb.
