Retailers Share Hopes for the Industry
The ICSC’s 2009 European Conference just wrapped up, and some of the great ideas discussed at the conference are now coming out. The current economic climate has a lot of people scared to spend, but retailers at the conference focused on innovation and growth. Companies that are prepared to take advantage of the opportunities that are opening up in many markets are poised to expand significantly.
Here’s a snippet of some of the conference’s highlights:
Adell urged retailers to continue investing in their staff and service, despite the harsh economy, a sentiment echoed by retiring ICSC European Chairman, Jaap Gillis, who directly challenged directors across the retail real estate industry to invest in their young managers. “They may be reducing staff, but it is dangerous not to develop young people during a recession.”
Adell quoted an old Chinese Proverb: “If you want one year of prosperity, grow grain, if you want 10 years of prosperity, grow trees, if you want 100 years of prosperity, grow people.”
