The nationwide lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic has left the shopping centre industry in India and the world in the throes of a crisis. The need for hyper sanitization and social distancing has led to shuttering of malls all over the world. In India, the Government has yet to east restrictions on malls, which are reeling under the double impact of both a shutdown and retailers not being able to pay rent.
The fourth of SCAI Mondays, a weekly, custom webinar series, titled ‘Retail & Shopping Centres: Dealing with the New Normal’ took place on May 18, 2020. The discussion focused on global experiences of reopening shopping centres amidst restrictions, implementation of stringent SOPs and stakeholders’ reactions (consumers, staff, partners, tenants).
The panel deliberated on the key takeaways experienced by retailers as they reopened in shopping centers and high streets across India, China, Australia, USA, Europe, the Middle East, SE Asia and USA. A slew of new challenges and scopes for improvement were highlighted so that brands and retailers across India and other parts of the world could work to not only ensure a safe environment but to also create new experiences for consumers as normalcy returns.
Moderated by Yogeshwar Sharma, Select CITYWALK, the panel included industry captains like:
Arjun Gehlot, Director, Ambience Mall
Mukesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Infiniti Malls
Sanjeev Mehra, Vice President, Quest Mall
Shibu Philips, Business Head, LuLu Shopping Mall
The Current Scenario & New Normal
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