9
PROFILE: MARK RUMFITT
MEETING POINT
bring the John Lewis brand to catchments that are not big enough to
support a full-range JLP department store.
In terms of content, the conference will be the familiar mix of
plenary sessions and break-out sessions, some aimed at experienced
managers and others at those looking for a quick introduction to a
particular topic.
Among the highlights, Rumfitt points to Professor Joshua Bamfield,
director of the Centre for Retail Research who will look at retail
prospects over the next couple of years. He expects retail growth to be
strong, though patchy in some areas, and he warns unemployment is
likely to continue rising for much of the next year.
“He called 2009 correctly, so a lot of people will be interested in
what he has to say,” says Rumfitt.
And Helen Gordon, property director of Legal & General’s Life Fund
will give the landlord’s view of the current market. “We’ll be looking to
find out just what are owners’ expectations of centre managers going
forward, especially on service charge levels and rents,” explains Rumfitt.
The other side of the coin – the tenant’s perspective – will come
from Costa Coffee’s property director, Clive Bentley. Coffee shops
are still expanding in shopping centres, and Costa’s recent acquisition
of Coffee Heaven in mainland Europe gives Bentley a wider market
perspective.
Customer service expert Mark Bradley will be presenting one of
the plenary sessions, after a successful seminar last year. “Customers
know exactly what they’re paying for, these days,” notes Doughty, “so
customer service is a way of gaining competitive advantage without
paying out a lot of extra money.”
And linked to this, another feature of the Bournemouth conference
will be the BCSC’s annual ACE awards, which recognise excellence in
customer service. This year the awards have been taken out of the
conference hall and will form the centrepiece of the conference dinner,
which takes place in Bournemouth’s renovated Pavilion opposite the
Bournemouth International Centre.
But as well as the educational content, the SCM conference has
become an important social event for many of the UK’s managers.
“We’ve made sure there’s plenty of space in the programme to meet
and network,” says Rumfitt.
Early indications are that delegate numbers are on a par with last
Mark Rumfitt
year’s 500, so there’s plenty to look forward to in Bournemouth this
year.
Find out more:
For more information, please contact the author or visit the website:

www.shopping-centre.co.uk/facilities_management

graham.parker@jldmedia.com
www.shopping-centre.co.uk January 2010 SHOPPING CENTRE
08-09-SCJan10-Profile.indd 11 14/1/10 18:54:38
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