Voice on Demand - Retail Podcast by MECS+R
75 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 months ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingWelcome to the Voice on Demand Podcast by MECS+R (MECSC)! The Voice on Demand podcast is designed to help advance the Shopping Centre and Retail Industry in the region. Listeners will come to be inspired, motivated, get entertained, and educated by the most promising Retail Professionals in the Industry sharing their Retail Tips, Shopping Mall Strategies, Retail Market Trends and Overview and Retail Industry Related Insights among others.
Should you wish to be featured on our show, send us an email at [email protected].
Happy Listening!
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Episodes
Episode 72 - Fahed Ghanim's journey in fueling Majid Al Futtaim - Lifestyle
January 29, 2024 14:42 - 26 minutes - 36.5 MBTune in to our latest podcast episode of Let’s Talk Retail featuring Fahed Ghanim, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim - Lifestyle, as we bring you behind-the-scenes insights, insider tips, and stories that define MAF's retail success.
Episode 71 - THE POINT - Abha Project: A New Era of Retail and Hospitality in Saudi Arabia
August 31, 2023 11:31 - 28 minutes - 13.1 MBDive into the heart of Aseer Region in Saudi Arabia as Mohammad Alawi discusses 'The Point', a retail marvel set to redefine Abha's landscape. Discover how this ambitious project promises to blend tradition with modern retail innovation. For more detail and to connect with Mohammad, please visit their website at www.thepointabha.com/
Episode 70 - Bridging the Retail Divide - Amplifying In-Store Success with E-commerce Innovations
August 04, 2023 06:54 - 16 minutes - 7.76 MBIn this episode, we welcome Paul Maguire - Head of Retail Delivery at Endava. Paul is a retail technology expert with a wealth of experience in leading organizations like Kingfisher, Harrods, and Estee Lauder. Join us as we explore global retail trends and their reflection in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Paul shares his unique experiences and insights on MENA's projected e-commerce growth to $57 billion by 2026 and its impact on the retail landscape. Learn about the role of ERP a...
Episode 69 - Speed of Trust and Implications for Retail with Gen Z, Gen A and Millennials
May 04, 2023 10:41 - 42 minutes - 19.5 MBIn this powerful keynote speech, trust expert Stephen M.R. Covey, Co-Founder of CoveyLink and the FranklinCovey Global Speed of Trust Practice, sheds light on the transformative role trust plays in the retail industry, particularly in engaging Gen Z, Gen A, and Millennials. As the bestselling author of "The SPEED of Trust," Covey reveals how trust is not just a soft, social virtue, but a hard-edged, economic driver with the potential to revolutionize businesses and elevate performance. Lis...
Episode 68 - Embrace The Digital Change
April 05, 2023 08:12 - 30 minutes - 49.8 MBWe 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, So...
Episode 67 - Unlocking Your Full Potential with AI Software
April 05, 2023 08:11 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MBIn 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 offe...
Episode 66 - Shopping Malls a Heart of Community that Strengthens Family Bonds
March 01, 2023 06:56 - 27 minutes - 80.5 MBA 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.
Episode 65 - From Ecommerce to Brick & Mortar
December 27, 2022 07:44 - 20 minutes - 47.8 MBIn this session, we are delightfully happy to have Jing Leng with us. She is the General Manager for this incredible Kids and Baby Apparel Brand, which has taken the globe by storm through its E-commerce platform – Hibobi. And today, we discuss the importance of brand exposure through having Brick & Mortar and its entry into the MENA region.
Episode 64 - Brands and Strategy
December 16, 2022 11:57 - 29 minutes - 13.5 MBTogether with our long time member Nina Seredai-Udalova, we dive into the reality of the importance of brand purpose and strategy. Nina is the Founder and Managing Director of Ninth Space, a brand strategy and design company which over the years have helped hundreds of companies globally.
Episode 63 - A Region Of Vision, A Region of Loyalty - The Middle East
December 01, 2022 11:36 - 15 minutes - 7.27 MBLets 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.
Episode 62 - Great Customer Experience Is A Result of Great Design
October 26, 2022 10:43 - 31 minutes - 14.5 MBHow do you turn your desire to improve customer experience for your place from theory into reality? Join us with Alan Robertson, Founder of Air Design to discuss Customer experience for places or otherwise called 'Place Experience' and discover what you need to do to make it.
Episode 61 - Leadership in the Retail Market
October 17, 2022 13:57 - 29 minutes - 13.5 MBFeaturing the final of 3 parts episode with Michael Ruckman, President & CEO of Senteo. An expert with an incredible background in retail, retail banking, and real estate across all continents of the globe to talk about Customer Experience & Journey, The three faces of Digital for Retailers and the state of leadership in the retail market today. Visit senteo.net to know more.
The Three Faces of Digital for Retailers
October 10, 2022 10:22 - 21 minutes - 9.64 MBFeaturing the 2nd of 3 parts episode with Michael Ruckman, President & CEO of Senteo. An expert with an incredible background in retail, retail banking, and real estate across all continents of the globe to talk about Customer Experience & Journey, The three faces of Digital for Retailers and the state of leadership in the retail market today. Visit senteo.net to know more.
Customer Experience & Customer Journey
September 30, 2022 07:09 - 37 minutes - 17.2 MBFeaturing the 1st of the 3 episodes with Michael Ruckman, President & CEO of Senteo. An expert with an incredible background in retail, retail banking, and real estate across all continents of the globe to talk about Customer Experience & Journey, The three faces of Digital for Retailers and the state of leadership in the retail market today. Visit https://senteo.net to know more.
What’s next for one of the biggest mixed-used developers in the Middle East?
September 02, 2022 13:33 - 18 minutes - 8.33 MBMiddle East is at the forefront of real estate development globally. We have invited Amit Puri, Vice President of DAMAC Properties, one of the leading mixed used developers in MENA to join us and tell us how they see from their eyes the future of our region.
It’s not only Loyalty, It’s total Customer Behavior
August 19, 2022 13:16 - 8 minutes - 3.89 MBContrary to popular beliefs, loyalty is not just all about rewards and loyalty per se, it's something more. Let's dive into why Loyalty programs are actually more about Customer Behavior than just simple rewards and retention. A special episode with Manav Fernandez, from QBF Consulting. www.qbfconsulting.com
Disruption is the Mother of Innovation
August 12, 2022 15:18 - 14 minutes - 6.85 MBWith Bill Kistler, Founder and Managing Partner at urbanOvation. This episode will tackle the causes and effects of disruption for the retail industry and what we can do to face it.
Episode 55 - Data is the new oil driving digital retail
August 04, 2022 08:28 - 26 minutes - 12.3 MBEither driven by passion, demand or the unstoppable trend. We have found our ways to do a new way of retailing, integrating new digital factors that are essential to keep up with the times. With Garry Burrows, Managing Partner of ACR Partners. We will go through what are the new innovative techniques and retail-tech in the market.
The Great Resignation
July 29, 2022 11:42 - 24 minutes - 11 MBWith Phil Bedford, Best Selling Author & Owner of Assentive GCC, Shane Philips, CEO of the Phillips Group - In the Panel, David Macadam , CEO of The MECS+R as the Moderator and Richard Dean, Presentor at Dubai Eye 103.8 for the introduction. In this session, we will learn what the employers of today are looking for in their search for only the best of the best talents in the GCC.
New Shopping Centre Design
July 22, 2022 10:18 - 28 minutes - 12.9 MBAn incredible panel session with Phil McArthur - Chairman of McArthur Retail Development Specialists, Paul Firth - Associate Principal of Callison RTKL, Lee Talbott - Retail Portfolio Director of Roshn, KSA, and Amit Puri - Vice President for Leasing, Damac Properties. To talk about the critical success factors to delivering community as a new format, digital strategy, amenities and wellness.
Episode 52 - An Introduction to Destination Marketing
April 29, 2022 08:42 - 17 minutes - 7.94 MBHave you ever wondered how travel marketers and tourists approach summer and spring content planning? As the travel restrictions in most regions are now gradually being limited, individuals are now making use of destination marketing strategies to make considerable changes to their messaging plans and content. The significance of destination marketing indeed cannot be denied in the current era. Don’t you think so? However, a significant portion of individuals still seems to be unaware of t...
Contacts, Experiences and Journeys: What customers really want
April 01, 2022 11:31 - 29 minutes - 13.4 MBThis episode is from the Retail Congress MENA Live Event. In this interesting session, Michael Ruckman, CEO of Senteo, discusses Eyezon, and other current technologies used to enhance the quality of customer contacts and the overall retail experience. These new technologies are already adopted by most forward-thinking companies. Learn how you can improve sales and the quality of customer relationships in this dynamic session with Michael.
Being Brilliant On The Basics - Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor
January 19, 2022 05:50There is a lot of talk about channels, digital-first, and hybrid but the reality is 70% of what you sell is sold by someone else either in person or online. With the rediscovery of stores as the anchor for customer adoption, and being the face of the brand, how you look at your employees has never been more important. With millions leaving the service industry from hospitality, restaurant, and retail what will it take to keep those associates? What is it they crave and what needs to change...
What does the D2C Model means for Shopping Centres and Retailers?
January 18, 2022 12:33 - 31 minutes - 14.5 MBWhile the D2C selling model is becoming popular among brands and product companies, there are several supply chain challenges and complexities involved for businesses in this space. Logistics and supply chain management can make or break a Direct-to-Customers buying experience. On this episode we will cover the challenges, opportunities and threats for a D2C Model. With Raju Dedhia head of Pre-Sales and Enterprise Solution at Vinculum
CEO in the Retail Industry – Rebound Plan - Shahram Shamsaee
January 18, 2022 11:37 - 31 minutes - 14.6 MBHow 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.
Chinese garment giant Semir Group’s global expansion post-covid
October 03, 2021 05:38 - 20 minutes - 9.51 MBOn this episode we have invited two distinguished retail professionals and representatives of Semir Group, Chris Attwel & Lucy Lu. We will talk about the rapid expansion of Semir Group globally and they will help us understand how they were able to do it so fast. Semir Group in 2020, achieved a total revenue of US$2.3 billion and profit of US$124 million. By 2021, their footprint consisted of 3,000 stores for the Semir brand in China, another 4,800 stores for the children’s brand balabala ...
Are Malls Dead?
September 01, 2021 08:24 - 36 minutes - 16.7 MBWhat changed in the retail business over the last 15 years? We invited Bob Poline, President of Bob Poline Associates Inc. to help us understand what is happening in our industry. Together with his expertise of 41 years as a retail professional, we discuss retail's evolution, future trends, and what kind of people would businesses need to actually "have a future".
Omnichannel Is No Longer A Choice But A Necessity
June 22, 2021 13:25 - 29 minutes - 13.3 MBLearn 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
Virtual Reality: The Future of Retail Entertainment in Shopping Malls
April 29, 2021 08:24 - 14 minutes - 6.74 MBFEC's or Family entertainment centres, rapidly became the anchor tenants across the globe in different shopping centres in the past several years. And simply because it became an essential element to provide the experience inside malls. With the advancement of technology, a dream for most people has become a reality recently, and that is Virtual Reality. We invited Mr. Frederic Fittousi - MD of Virtual Centre today, to explain to us the future of retail-entertainment. Frederic@virtualcenter....
Retail Rescue: How to reposition a struggling retail development asset?
April 20, 2021 11:00 - 48 minutes - 22.4 MBMr. Phil McArthur, a member of MECS+R since 1996, will discuss on this episode about the best practices and the how to's on developing retail assets correctly. Mr. Phil have developed and advised many shopping centres that are now successful today, including but not limited to, MAF Shopping Malls, Citystars Cairo, Al Futtaim Malls and more.
Is Pakistan your next must visit place on earth?
March 31, 2021 13:38 - 31 minutes - 14.3 MBWith Habil Ahmed Khan, Director of Operations for The Gulberg Mall & Signature Living in Islamabad, Pakistan. We had a lovely discussion about the vast opportunities of retailing in Pakistan. How the increasing tourism will affect the retail industry. And why the country is getting more and more attention from tourists in a global scale. Do you want to know more? Contact [email protected]
Retail Property Management Company Resilience & Sustainable Future
February 18, 2021 11:24 - 20 minutes - 9.29 MBLearn 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.
Hospitality Mindset – Thinking-Hospitality To Maximising Service And Sales
February 07, 2021 07:11 - 36 minutes - 16.7 MBFOOD+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 b...
Being Resilient and Hopeful in a Time of Change by Bob Phibbs, The Retail Doctor
January 30, 2021 21:36 - 22 minutes - 10.2 MBBob 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 ...
Changes in Customer Behavior & Marketing Strategies for Retailers
December 30, 2020 09:45 - 16 minutes - 7.54 MBHow did the covid-19 pandemic changed customer’s behavior? On this episode with Alyssa Almaiahi, Creative Director of Mint Stalk Creative and Digital Agency, let’s explore the changes and effective marketing strategies to which combines online and in-store tactics to drive sales and loyalty. Brought to you by the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres and Retailers. Do you want to know more? To reach out to Alyssa, contact their Mint Stalk UAE office on +971 58 504 8627 or send her an...
Your Customers are Changing. Are You? by David Avrin
November 26, 2020 11:48 - 16 minutes - 7.38 MBDavid is the author of the book ‘Why Customers Leave (and How to Win Them Back)’ In his session, he will talk about your changing customers with the recent shift in mindset and expectation, how it has affected the retail industry and provide solutions and strategies to drive, retain and attract customers.
Marketing Beyond Crisis: Leveraging The Power Of Location
October 11, 2020 07:37 - 12 minutes - 5.49 MBThis 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
(Part 2) - How will you communicate differently? With Shannon Alter, CPM
October 04, 2020 08:31 - 12 minutes - 5.65 MBThis 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 [email protected] or visit www.mecsc.org
(Part 1) - How will you communicate differently? With Shannon Alter, CPM
September 24, 2020 12:20 - 7 minutes - 3.37 MBOn this episode with Shannon Alter, CPM let us explore her journey in the Retail and Real Estate Industry and get inspired. Let us take this opportunity to learn from her experiences and be prepared in Deal Making, building long-lasting relationships! Establish your path to success by learning the fundamentals to deal with your clients. 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...
Retailing in Iraq: Seizing the Opportunity of Change
September 01, 2020 08:34 - 7 minutes - 3.52 MBExplore retailing in Iraq and its opportunities with MECS+R Member, Ihsan Zangana, Managing Director of IZ Developments. Ihsan heads the development of the upcoming Mall of Kirkuk in Erbil, Iraq. With the recent developments in the economy of the country, retail has seen significant changes in its trends. Consumers are also seeking more options for brands. How do we take advantage of these opportunities? Let us explore this topic today, only at the VOD Retail Podcast by the Middle East Counc...
(Part 2) Virtuous Consumption: When malls and small businesses do good
August 06, 2020 15:45 - 12 minutes - 5.92 MBThis 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...
Virtuous Consumption: When malls and small businesses do good
July 26, 2020 06:35 - 8 minutes - 3.8 MBTo 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 [email protected]
History 101 on Arabic Perfumes
June 14, 2020 09:35 - 4 minutes - 2.25 MBAnother exciting episode with Mostafa Diga, Operations Manager at Abdul Samad Al Quraishi Perfumes Company. An exclusive, with a 150 year old company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Learn how they grow from 3 --> to 370+ branches around the world. And whats in store for them next! For more details or/ to connect with Mostafa and Abdul Samad Al Quraishi Co. contact us at MECS+R, or contact Justin Espiritu at [email protected] www.mecsc.org | Follow us on Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, I...
Impact of COVID-19 In The Shopping Centre and Retail Industry
June 09, 2020 06:16 - 54 minutes - 50.2 MBSpecial 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 landlord...
Wore The Same Outfit For The 5th Time And Was The Coolest In The Room
May 03, 2020 11:01 - 14 minutes - 19.3 MBSustainability 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 l Anthony Spary l CBRE
April 09, 2020 06:36 - 30 minutes - 41.3 MBRetail 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?
Retailer / Landlord Partnerships in a Mature Market – The Open Book Idea
April 05, 2020 05:14 - 40 minutes - 55.2 MBFurqan openly talks about the dynamism in the region where problems such as oversupply, lack of planning, cohesiveness, oversizing of malls, shortage of brands among others are not the same everywhere, but the solutions are. He also shared his thoughts on CAPEX and retailer support as one of the biggest issues faced by the industry today and how we can navigate through it. The goal is not being congruent, having synergy, getting it balance nor the customer experience, it is all about maximiz...
Retail Live: Predicting and Influencing Behavior Around The World Using Big Data
March 09, 2020 13:13 - 33 minutes - 46.5 MBIn this session learn from the creator of Valuegraphics, David Allison, how you can predict and influence the behavior of your customers and audience by managing Big Data. Bringing messaging, science and motivational data to every idea to every interaction in everything in business and in life. What does data say about customer experience? Change the way you look at the world. How to engage with your audience, client, stakeholders, shareholders and anyone in your life by looking at data dif...
Centralizing Procurement In Retail: What You Need To Know l Iyas Khatib
February 25, 2020 07:29 - 15 minutes - 20.9 MBIyas Khatib talks about the importance of having established procurement department for shopping malls, connecting shopping malls who spend in similar categories of indirect spend, aggregate their spend and negotiate better pricing from a group of carefully selected suppliers. In the time of tight margins, it is time to look for new ways of savings and achieving the best value for money. Guest Expert: Iyas Kathib, Partner, Procurement Plus
Design Thinking: The Key Framework For Successful Retail Innovation In The GCC
February 04, 2020 06:21 - 32 minutes - 44.1 MBIn this podcast Scott explains how the leading retailers and creators of game-changing innovations are leveraging Design Thinking to transform their organisations and their approach to innovation, and seeing huge impact on customer experience and bottom line financials as a result. He introduces the key components of Enterprise Design Thinking and explains how after listening to this podcast, listeners within the leading retail portfolio businesses in this region can get Design Thinking accr...