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BCSC 2011...
Written on: 05 October 2011
Now that BCSC has been and gone for another year, many will have reflected on what BCSC has revealed to be the health of the retail market today...
Held in the dominating structure of Manchester Central the
annual British Council of Shopping Centres conference was a little
earlier this year - held at the end of September rather than its
usual November calendar placing.
Whether that worked or not depended on who you talked to - some
felt it was still a little too early with the market still to get
going so close after the summer holiday lull. But for others it was
an exciting change allowing not only a more spread out period of
property trade shows and therefore the chance to actually have
meaningful rather than repeated conversations but also for the more
proactive the chance to actually get deals done - especially with
the exciting prospect that if deals could be done at BCSC there is
the prospect of getting stores open for Christmas.
Despite the pressures of the past couple of years the mood inside
BCSC was upbeat and the exhibitors stands as usual were the hub of
the action within the conference. It is after all one of the main
events of the shopping centre calendar allowing shopping centre
REITs the opportunity to showcase their wares. As a result the hall
thronged with agents and retailers alike flocking to the likes of
Capital Shopping Centres, Land Securities, and Hammerson who all,
as usual had large stands at the show.
Westfield was also hugely popular due to the recent opening of
their much anticipated centre in Stratford. As a Plus Shopper I
felt it my duty to check it out prior to the conference and I was
glad I did, as it appeared half the property world had the same
idea, however they were not the only ones adding to the huge
footfall I experienced on Friday 16th. The place was abuzz
with shoppers, suits and exciting new shop fronts. The retailers
have pulled out the stops to compete in a cleverly designed
shopping environment capitalising on the 2012 games including great
views of the stadiums.
Retailers or should I say supermarkets too were out in force with
the likes of Coop, Tesco, Morrisons and Waitrose taking prominent
stands.
My feel was that yes the retail market may still be tough but it
seems that 2011's BCSC showed there is still appetite out
there.
Emma Lawson.