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Oxford (Gilligan lives in Oxfordshire) is really fun. It has two crazy golf courses – and they do great food and cocktails for adults!”
The demands of overseeing a popular shopping mall means that each day in the office is varied and challenging: “We have a very good relationship with retailers and need to have a continual dialogue. My day ranges from negotiating a new deal along with our agents, to working closely with our centre team and other in-house teams at Landsec. In addition to all types of asset management opportunities, from lease renewals, upsize or relocation opportunities to rent reviews. No two days are the same.”
She believes landlords need to be dynamic and innovative in the current challenging economic climate. With no short-term improvement in retail market conditions predicted experimenting with new ideas is seen as critical to get footfall rising and tills ringing in-store.
And so is working in partnership with customers and tenants: “As a landlord, if you can understand your retailer’s strategy and performance, it will help you support their business.
“We’re also looking at various different ways to engage with the local community. Particularly, as Southside is, in effect, the Town Centre for Wandsworth, it isn’t just a shopping centre. Unlike destination shopping centres like Bluewater, Southside has to act as the main shopping hub not just a local convenience offer. We are really trying to deepen
“ WE’RE ALSO LOOKING AT VARIOUS DIFFERENT WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.”
our understanding of what both our customers and retailers want and need.”
Asked how she thinks shopping centres and retail in general will evolve, Gilligan says a localism agenda will have to take centre stage with more local independents and community projects.
“As landlords we need to engage more with the local community. For example, we might consider putting more white box units on offer and getting local independents in for say six months to trial brands and concepts, as we have at Trinity Leeds.”
Southside Story
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