Voice on Demand - Retail Podcast by MECS+R

We bring you an exclusive keynote speech by Ted Souder at The Retail Congress MENA Event. Ted is a former head of industry for retail at Google, given at the retail Congress MENA event. In his speech titled "Embrace the Digital Change," Souder delves into the importance of embracing digital transformation in the retail industry and shares valuable insights on how businesses can adapt and thrive in the ever-changing digital world. From the early days of the internet to the recent pandemic, Souder takes us on a journey through the evolution of technology and its impact on the retail industry. He also highlights the success stories of businesses that invested in digital before or during the pandemic and how they are accelerating out of it. With the Middle East retail sector experiencing positive growth in both retail sales and e-commerce, Souder praises the region's ability to think big and create remarkable retail experiences. Tune in to be inspired and learn actionable strategies that will help you stay ahead of the curve in the retail industry.

In this episode we are joined by Seb Ingram (www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-m-ingram), a digital marketing consultant and former content creator with a wealth of experience in SEO and backlink creation. Seb has produced hundreds of high-quality SEO blogs and created content that was used for outreach to create backlinks, helping his company rank for industry terminology and generate inbound leads. As a digital marketing consultant, he attends networking events and uses his expertise to offer criticism on digital marketing campaigns and create business proposals. Seb also provides advice to individuals looking to generate leads and grow their businesses. Throughout the episode, Seb shares his unique perspective on the role of AI software in digital marketing and SEO. He explains how AI can be used to enhance the effectiveness of SEO and content marketing campaigns, allowing businesses to generate more leads and increase their online visibility. Seb also provides practical advice on how to integrate AI software into your digital marketing strategy, including how to choose the right tools and platforms for your specific needs. With his extensive experience in digital marketing and his passion for AI, Seb offers valuable insights and practical advice for anyone looking to unlock their full potential using AI software.

A Shopping Center to be proud of! Join us with Nancy Nese Ozbek, General Manager of Times Square Center. Lets dive into the benefits and significance of shopping mall and how it is important to the community, sustaining family bond, and child development.

How do you plan for a rebound that may or may not come? How do you drive your corporate strategy going forward? Technology, changing business models, adapting quickly to pandemics, and updates to services and offerings in the evolving market conditions. The role of a CEO has never been as complicated as it is today. Making strategic decisions based on evolving conditions in the retail industry and consumer behaviors requires a steady vision and faith.

Learn in depth of what is Omnichannel Retailing. How the evolution of Omnichannel Retailing impact the retail industry. What are the opportunity / benefits of Omnichannel Retailing from some of the case studies of brands with a brilliant omnichannel strategy. Member Guest: Venkat Nott, Founder CEO, Vinculum Group

Learn about today's business model challenge, building a resilient enterprise, why resilience is important and how to become a more resilient company. Let's hear from Mohammad Alawi, CEO and partner of REDS Real Estate Development Solutions in Jeddah. REDS thrives to help fill the gaps in the kingdom’s real estate market by introducing unique commercial/mixed-use real estate products that are interlaced with the end user’s day to day life.

FOOD+DESIGN+SERVICE (Excellence) = SALES + MANAGEMENT = ASSET GROWTH Francis Loughran, founding director of Future Food, specialising in Food, Restaurant and Hospitality Consultancy shares his insights on the importance of hospitality mindset to reinvigorate the hospitality industry. -Using solid and relevant data and personal experience to master planning a customer-centric food and hospitality mix -Calculating sustainable volumes of food and hospitality to ensure MAT maximization, a balanced mix and future proofing order to reduce risk -Develop a mix that reflects a range of authentic and passionate-food operators - local, national and international -Proven food and hospitality operators that understand the values and vision of the mall project and implement the business of food approach to the business case and creativity of passionate foodies. Food and design are inseparable – design to succeed and budget accordingly

Bob Phibbs is an internationally recognized business strategist, customer service expert, sales coach, marketing mentor, author of three books, and motivational business speaker. In 1994, Phibbs started his retail consulting company, The Retail Doctor. His clients include some of the largest retail brands in the world including Bernina, Brother, Caesars Palace, Hunter Douglas, Lego, Omega, Hearts on Fire, Vera Bradley and Yamaha. One of the top retail influencers of 2018 and a Top Voice on LinkedIn, Phibbs is also an American Express merchant advisor, IBM retail futurist, and RetailWire BrainTrust partner. He has appeared on ABC, Fox, MSNBC, PBS and he and his work have been featured in articles in Entrepreneur, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. He performs business makeovers for the Los Angeles Times. With over 30 years experience beginning in the trenches of retail and extending to senior management positions, Phibbs has been a corporate officer, franchisor, and entrepreneur. He received the highest increase in sales from South Coast Plaza, at that time the highest grossing mall in the USA.

This is Part 2 of our episode with Shannon Alter, CPM. On this episode we will talk about what to expect for the Retail Industry globally in the next few years. How should retailers and shopping centres interact with one another and what should be their focus? Brought to you by the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres and Retailers. Shannon Alter, CPM is a Member of the MECS+R, to reach out to her, contact us at publishing@mecsc.org or visit www.mecsc.org

Lets dive into the story of one of the biggest loyalty providers in the world, CONIQ and how they plan to conquer the retail world through loyalty. An exclusive interview with Ben Chesser, CEO of CONIQ and Arnaud de Harenne, one of the newest leaders in the team that will support CONIQ's expansion here in the Middle East and North Africa.

This episode with Albert Correya from Becomap. Know how business can revive and prevail despite the on-going challenges and how omni-channel presence is going to be the future of retail. Understand how proximity marketing is going to be a game changer. And explore why it has an incomparable increase in conversion rate for retail when compared to other model. www.mecsc.org www.retailcongressmena.com

This is Part 2 of our last week's episode on Virtuous Consumption! To promote the well-being for residents, lets explore how shopping centers and small and medium retail centers acts as catalysts to not only increase local economies but participate in shaping a healthy ecosystem. With Garance Choko, CEO & Founder of Coda Societies, Firm based in NYC that specializes in shaping social and economic infrastructures promoting equity worldwide. For more updates, follow us on www.mecsc.org or email us at publishing@mecsc.org

Special Episode recorded live during the webinar series hosted by the MECS+R. Discussion Points ► E-learning launch for the MECS+R augmenting GVS by end of April/May. ► The MECS+R Directory 2020 launch digitally at the end of April. ► The Retail People Magazine digital launch for May edition at the end of April. ► The Voice on Demand Retail Podcast and Video On Demand Retail Channel to feature more episodes related to the shopping centre and retail industry. ► Insights on how landlords should support the retailers and how the retailers can survive during store shutdown. ► Does a retailer have the legal grounds to break out from the lease or renegotiate the terms using the force majeur clause? ► Tenant / Landlord relationship during the current situation and how landlords might address the retailers. ► Insights on how online retail is affected. ► Insights on the effects of COVID-19 and rebound in China retail. ► Request for rebound plan from the government and government assistance. ► Comments on the changes in the habits of consumers resulting to changes in retailer mix. ► Comments on malls going virtually online. ► Comments on rental rebates, commission or percentage rent.

Sustainability will be the only way to do business and those who didn’t incorporate in time are going to be left behind. Small changes matter, and it starts from our behavior as consumers. The access to information and the fact that we are more conscious about our impact is doing its part too. Join us today with Vikram Malkani CEO and Founder of The Albex Group.

Retail Evolution Across The Middle East (Pre-COVID-19) In this episode we have the honor of having a globally acclaimed and highly regarded expert in the retail and real estate industry, Anthony Spary, Director & Head of Retail at CBRE Dubai. We talk about relaxed licensing laws, direct corporate entry, APAC retailers in the Middle East and new franchise opportunities. As a listener and a retail stakeholder, ask yourself, how do you think the retail landscape will be in the next 5 years?