MAPIC 2012
Increasing number of retailers and brands at MAPIC
The booming Russian retail market, coupled with digital developments and the continued demand for prime, centre city retail locations, were the talking points of MAPIC 2012, where representatives from some 70 countries gathered for three days of high-octane business discussions. Under clear Cote d’Azur skies, 8,500 delegates (+6.2%), including 2,400 retail representatives and 850 investors, met in Cannes, with no fewer than 400 retail brands, including the likes of Calvin Klein Jeans, Costa, Tiffany & Co and Dairy Queen, making their first appearance at MAPIC. The biggest attendance surge came from the United States. The US delegation of 113 companies represented a 39% increase on 2011.
One of the territories drawing most attention throughout the week was Russia, the 2012 MAPIC Country of Honour and Europe’s leader in terms of projected retail real estate investment. Russian participation rose 28%, with 294 companies in Cannes. According to the country’s State Statistics Service, retail sales in Russia rose 4.4% in September compared to 12 months ago and overall retail sales for the first half of 2012 increased by 7.3%. “With disposable incomes growing and a growing middle class, Russia is predicted to become Europe’s leading retail market,’ commented Robert Bronwell, CEO EMEA Retail at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL).
One of the hottest subjects for conversation in Cannes was how retailers manage the marriage of physical stores and online retailing. For the first time, MAPIC hosted the inaugural Digital Summit where Pamela Wolf, Partner of Digital Business at consultancy Invalio, urged retailers to move fast to embrace the digital landscape. Clem Constantine, Property Director at Marks & Spencer, which has been praised for its online stores, said that one challenge facing landlords is identifying where revenues are generated, as clients habits vary between shopping online and collecting goods in shops or checking out goods in retail stores before completing purchases via the web.
Time for Success: Calais showcased a new retail park project
At MAPIC 2012, the Calais and region development agency was presenting the ambitious retail park by GAM. On the stand of Calais Promotion, the society GAM, GSE Group has previewed, in the presence of Natacha Bouchard, Senator-Mayor of Calais and President of Calais Promotion, its commercial implementation project: in partnership with REDIM, land development subsidiary of GSE, GAM plans to build a retail park of 10,000 m2 on the area of Les Cailloux in Calais.
Socri, creator of exceptional venues
At MAPIC 2012, the Socri stand was presenting its new shopping center, the Polygone Riviera, that was born during the laying of the foundation stone in Cagnes-sur-Mer last November. This open air shopping center has the ambition of being the one and only in France with such a build configuration and more than 30,000 m2 along the Avenue des Alpes. With its exceptional location, nestled on the shores of the Mediterranean, in the heart of an attractive area with its large 1.5 million population within 30 minutes drive
Marseille's golden triangle
For the 11th consecutive year, Marseille was present at MAPIC. An opportunity for the city to take stock on the major projects in progress and reaffirm its position as an attractive metropolis. Through its various projects, Marseille has developed a golden triangle linking trade, tourism and culture. Marseille has organized a fashion show at Hotel Martinez during the MAPIC Awards on the theme "In Marseille, Fashion Takes to the Streets"
Russia At Honour with Dynamic Tashir Group
Tashir Group is a Russian holding founded by Samvel Karapetyan. Tashir Group incorporates more than 200 companies working in various industries and employs over thirty thousand people and today, the Group has implemented projects in more than 25 regions of Russia and neighboring countries. The primary focus of the Tashir Group enterprise is the development and management of commercial properties.
Shopping Tomorrow at More Pavilion
Making sense of the latest consumer trends and the impact of new technologies on retail property is the central focus of the More VISION by MAPIC programme. With the explosion of online retailing, More VISION by MAPIC was delivering a strategic overview of shopping tomorrow, together with live illustrations in the exhibition area.