What attracted you to accept your role as the Mall Manager? |
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I like challenges and I am passionate about the retail industry. The whole set-up is interesting and promising, and it’s an experience to manage the first world class mall in Pakistan - a wonderful opportunity. Not to mention, Bahria Town is a multinational company, and I love the environment! How do you see the domestic consumer market in Lahore?
The market and the trends have considerably matured over the last 5 years, and the luxury market is now very well established - A very promising growth potential and discerning customers, yearning for a complete shopping experience. We have seen good growth in the consumer spending and a lot more customers are now brand conscious. Our target market specifically is a high-end luxury segment, more brand loyal and aware of the latest fashion trends. We don’t want to offer anything that is outdated; we want to challenge people’s preconceptions so customers value our offering. Overall, I believe that the retail business has indeed a strong future in Pakistan. |
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What makes The Mall of Lahore stand out? |
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The Mall of Lahore is located in a multi purpose building, the Park Lane Tower. The concept is to give people of Lahore all the facilities under one roof. The Mall of Lahore is the hi-street fashion destination. It offers a unique world class shopping experience and is a quality benchmark for all upcoming Malls. Recently, we conducted local surveys, and the results were astonishing. The local shopping malls in Lahore are in a poor condition, and the shopping experience is not as enjoyable as it should be.
Plus, the sheer size of everything is matched by the scale of the design, quality and originality of the décor. |
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Who are the main anchors of the Mall of Lahore?
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The anchor tenant is Spinneys, the premier supermarket retailer operating all over the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. They will now provide that same quality shopping experience to the people of Pakistan. It‘s really a wonderful addition to the market here. |
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What other brands do you have?
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Spinneys, Christian Dior, FENDI, TAG Heur, Nike, NEXT, Osim, McDonalds, Mothercare, Wingchair, ELC, Saint Cinnamon, Espresso, KFC, Charles and Keith and Levis, to mention just a few. Overall, the mall features quality stores offering all ranges of international brands and high-end fashion. The stores at Park Lane Tower simply offer an array of shopping and entertainment options. |
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What in your perspective are the key parts in managing a Shopping Mall?
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The key role in mall management is the running of everyday operations, and then, we of course have the event calendar which is all about special days to keep our customers together and entertained. It is important for the shopping mall to be able to generate consistent footfall of customers. As we target the B+/A+ customer segment, we need to ensure both convenience and availability. |
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Since the Mall of Lahore is a project of Bahria Town, could you explain the standards and vision set by Bahria Town Ltd?
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Bahria Town has set up a leadership position in the commercial sector, just like they have done in real estate industry. Focusing on the quality of brands, Bahria Town simply wants to give people famous quality brands and a great shopping experience under one roof, through the Mall of Lahore. |
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How difficult is it really to get the right mix of outlets in a shopping mall? Is there a formula?
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There is no exact formula that can be used, however, the critical success factor follows a proven process that aims at delivering and engaging a blend of the brands in different categories. |
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How would you describe the Mall’s retail appeal?
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From the very beginning, we looked closely at the customer demographics and how to best give retailers an absolutely optimum mix. We aimed to provide retailers both high quality and quantity of the customers. This consideration has influenced everything, including the choice of location, where we can offer retailers a huge customer base. |
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Lastly, please tell us how you have structured the whole concept of the Mall?
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The Mall of Lahore comprises different zones, and each zone focuses on a specific segment. The zones consist of Hi-Fashion, Ornaments & Jewelry, Fashion Accessories, Home accessories, Supermarket and Food Court. All zones are designed according to customer convenience and set a complete benchmark. This is basically how malls all over the world are planned. |
