Ocean Terminal has managed to carve out an entertainment niche for itself by playing up its amenities. The event that truly put Ocean Terminal in the big league, however, was the 2003 MTV European Music Awards.

Service is the new marketing culture in leading shopping centres.

The ‘build it and they will come’ approach to shopping centre development doesn’t seem to work anymore; there are simply too many players vying for the same consumer dollars. However, when new development concepts are at the core of community regeneration, they have a much better chance of breaking rank from the mall clones and offering a unique destination to shop, play and live.

BCSC president Bob De Barr aims to steer the industry toward higher customer service standards.

Stand at any Western petrol station these days and, if you listen carefully, you can almost hear the echo of Middle Eastern economies clicking as fast as the pump. With oil prices trading high, indicators across the Gulf region are pointing to one thing: a continued boom in all sectors, including retail.

New technology finding its place within the shopping center environment is not only an absolute given, it’s a burgeoning fact. From fantastical digital display to wireless hot zones to interactive retailers, the future is definitely here at a shopping center near you.

From a kid’s perspective, going shopping at the mall can sometimes be boring. Dalton Park is a prime example of making things right for kids.

Richmond Centre’s advertising campaign,  “The Hunt”, aims to identify with anyone who’s bagged the ultimate shopping trophy.

Very often, wayfinding and security fall under the operational umbrella. If your mall’s signage isn’t helping drive traffic, and your security lacks perception, then it’s likely affecting your marketing initiatives.

Alan Jones of Bluewater brings a fresh approach to shopping centre marketing.