What is it that makes The O2 differ from other shopping destinations?<\/strong><\/p>\nOur first stand out proposition is out value proposition. As an outlet on a general day, everything we have is up to 70% off, now more so than any other time people are really looking at how they spend their money and what they spend their money on. It really makes a big difference for us that our customers get that value. Money just goes that little bit further and we\u2019re able to let people treat themselves that little bit more.<\/p>\n
For me, retail is about that experience \u2013 nobody needs anything that they buy, most of it is a luxury or something that they want. I think here we\u2019re able to provide that experience in an environment that feels safe, with a really high roof and natural ventilation, it makes us different to any other shopping centre \u2013 we\u2019ve got that space here to make people feel at ease.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also about not only the experience that people have in stores but as they move around the venue. Now that we\u2019ve got little bits of food and drink opening and Up at The O2, it really turns the destination into something that you can do for more than a couple of hours in the day. It really feels like a place to take the family or friends, go shopping or have an experience and then have a bite to eat.<\/p>\n
We really value our local customer. We\u2019ve become a local hub and community \u2013 I see young mums meeting here with their kids and people are using our space as a community space now and I feel very sure that you can\u2019t do that in the high street or any other shopping centres.<\/p>\n
Do you think that the large open space benefits those young parents with prams?<\/strong><\/p>\nA pram is the worst thing you can have in a busy shopping centre. The shape of The O2 means screaming kids voices don\u2019t travel, if you were in a regular shopping centre something like that would probably make you feel really anxious. I think we appeal to our local residents like that and this has been an opportunity to really connect with them.<\/p>\n
When we have the arena open, we have the distraction of 20,000 people coming here that may have come for another reason, where as right now we\u2019re just focusing on the shopping and what we do with our customer, how we allow them to behave freely but in a safe environment. Focusing on our local customer and the safety is definitely our point of interest.<\/p>\n
What measures have gone into make the venue safe, is there a comprehensive list you\u2019ve gone through?<\/strong><\/p>\nWe not only had a comprehensive list \u2013 we had a plan, we had a timeline of what would happen and when it would happen. Between myself, the team, the retail industry, our security team and other security measures we spent a week brainstorming \u2013 going through the guidelines we had and the space we have here. We then went and walked it, so we walked different areas and experienced how measures would feel and what they would look like.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re the worlds\u2019 largest music and entertainment venue, so we really understand how people should move around our environment and we took the guidelines that were instructed and went through everything we needed to do: signage, digital signage, floor markers, safety distance when people sit down.<\/p>\n
After we opened on that first day, we regrouped and went through what worked, what didn\u2019t work and we do that on a weekly basis. We change things slightly on a weekend when its busier, such as closing toilets.<\/p>\n
How has Icon Outlet operated since reopening?<\/strong><\/p>\nWe\u2019re experiencing half the footfall of a non-event day, which feels about right. We\u2019re trading 30% less hours (between 11am-5pm) which came from working with the tenants and thinking about footfall and staff. By reducing hours by 30% we also help tenants reduce their payroll by 30% so they don\u2019t have to bring as many people back from furlough while we are still building that trade.<\/p>\n
Talking to tenants, they all feel that if we did extend the hours they wouldn\u2019t feel as comfortable as they do now. Some of the other considerations for the tenants \u2013 if they start trading at 11am the staff have to get here for 10am, so their tube journey is safer and they\u2019re not travelling with the masses. We\u2019re also offering free parking for our staff, as well as free parking for our customers, to make them feel as relaxed as possible.<\/p>\n
The average transaction value has gone up 30% from pre-lockdown \u2013 with 50% less footfall and 30% less trading hours. The units per transaction has also risen, so people are coming here and spending more money. We\u2019re doing a disservice if people walk away without a bag.<\/p>\n
Where does the plan go from here?<\/strong><\/p>\nWe\u2019ve created pillars of a strategy around a 100 day plan \u2013 the 100 day plan can move a bit because we don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen tomorrow, let alone in 100 days. We\u2019ve opened and we understand what we are dealing with. We\u2019ve changed our conversation with tenants, so instead of asking \u201cwhat are you doing?\u201d, we\u2019re asking \u201chow are you doing?\u201d which is part of our strategy to share the burden.<\/p>\n
As we open up more and as the entertainment district opens more, as the cinema opens at the end of July, as children go on their holidays \u2013 we\u2019ll find a normalisation. We will always keep our core value of our value proposition and our experience that you have when you\u2019re here as a destination rather than just a shopping centre.<\/p>\n
Our plan will feel like its fruition when we can open our arena, but until then I\u2019m taking advantage of the grassroots marketing, understanding our local catchment area and what the customer will want going forward.<\/p>\n
Everyone is saying that retail will look different but retail has needed to look different 6 months ago. We started making changes 6 months ago, so the way we have our relationships with brands and customers, the choice of products that we elevate for them \u2013 we\u2019ve been doing this for a while. Adapting throughout the circumstances we\u2019ve faced is sustained as opposed to brand new.<\/p>\n
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In Focus: average transaction value increases 30% at Icon Outlet at The O2 - TheIndustry.fashion<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n