Julie Hillary, SACSC congress chairman
Retailers, investors, leasing agents and developers will converge on the Cape Town International Convention Centre in October to attend the South African retail industry’s premier gathering: the 14th Annual African Congress of Shopping Centres.
Hosted by the SA Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC), and sponsored by Growthpoint Properties, the conference is supported by the International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC) and provides a meeting-place for retail heavyweights from SA, the rest of Africa, and abroad.
This year’s conference theme – Relevance, Balance and Responsibility – signals a confident move away from the economic fears that have defined retail discourses in the past few years.
“We felt the time was right to shift the retail industry’s attention from surviving the global economic crisis, to looking for fresh growth opportunities and cutting-edge insight,” says SACSC congress chairman, Julie Hillary.
As always, the congress prides itself on top-notch speakers, both local and global, and this year’s crop of experts is no exception.
Norbert Sasse, chief executive of Growthpoint Properties says, “As a leading retail property owner, Growthpoint supports this showcase of major trends and new objectives which will have a direct impact on implementation for business growth for the entire sector.”
International keynote speaker Mike Walsh is expected to be a major drawcard in his own right. Author of Futuretainment, chief executive of innovation research firm Tomorrow and noted futurist, Mike Walsh is an acknowledged authority on the digital future and will be presenting his insights on consumer connectedness, cutting-edge trends in marketing and media, as well as the impact these factors will have on the retail industry.
Other confirmed participants include David Kneale, chief executive of Clicks Group, Patrick Flanagan of Flanagan & Gerard, environmentalist and motivational speaker Lewis Pugh, who Al Gore described as one of the most exciting speakers he’d ever heard. Respected broadcaster and facilitator John Perlman will act as MC for the congress.
But the conference isn’t all work and no play.
The programme features retail property tours to destinations ranging from Century City’s Canal Walk Shopping Centre to the Cape Quarter, and networking opportunities abound at the opening cocktail party and gala dinner.
The 14th Annual African Congress of Shopping Centres will take place from October 13 to 15 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Send an email to confer@iafrica.com or visit www.sascscongress.co.za.
