Dear Reader,
When the headlines are dominated by inflation, geopolitical instability, and slowing consumer demand, it is tempting for businesses to retreat, to think smaller, and to focus on survival rather than ambition. Yet history has shown that the companies that dare to think big in difficult times are often the ones that emerge strongest when the storm clears.
Retail real estate, perhaps more than any other sector, embodies this paradox. On the one hand, it is directly exposed to consumer sentiment, disposable income, and macroeconomic cycles. On the other, it has the unique power to shape lifestyles, communities, and entire cityscapes. That combination of vulnerability and opportunity makes it essential for leaders in this industry not to shrink their ambitions in the face of crisis, but to amplify them.
Winston Churchill once remarked, “Never waste a good crisis.” For retail real estate companies, crises are not only a test of resilience, they are a springboard for reinvention.
This is the reason why in this issue of ACROSS we not only want to think big, but above all want to show who has managed to turn big thinking into big action. What’s exciting here is that it’s not always necessarily the biggest players, but often those from the mid-sized or even smaller segment who show greater courage, especially when the big ones hesitate. The result: particularly in times of crisis, they grow big. BIG CEE (page 17), NEPI (page 12), and FREY & ROS (page 27) are examples that demonstrate this in our cover story.
We broaden our view further: In this issue, beyond the cover story, CC Real (page 62) presents its gastronomy strategy, ECE (page 56) shows how cities and centers can be optimally connected, and Avi Alkas (page 74) highlights the potential lying dormant in the Turkish shopping center market.
Enjoy reading this issue of ACROSS!
Yours sincerely,
Reinhard Winiwarter
Publisher of ACROSS Magazine
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High-quality industry information is very important, especially in challenging times. Therefore, ACROSS will further expand its reporting, particularly in the online sector. You will find our publication dates for 2025 here. Benefit from our strong presence to further improve the positioning of your company.
