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In the world of outlet retail, success isn’t just measured in square meters but in collaboration, data, and experience. Otto Ambagtsheer, CEO of VIA Outlets, shares how the company’s unique partnership-driven model is transforming its 11 centers across Europe into high-performing, guest-focused destinations. From shared sales incentives and shopper insights to immersive placemaking and omnichannel innovation, VIA Outlets is proving that when landlords and brands grow together, the result is more than retail. It’s a curated, connected community.

Transformation in lieu of new construction: Marco Gösling, Managing Director Business Unit Construction Solutions at umdasch The Store Makers, provides insight into the growing significance of general contracting, the challenges associated with renovating existing buildings, and why sustainability is no longer merely a trend. Projects such as the ”Kämmerei” in Düsseldorf and ”Le big TamTam” in Hamburg demonstrate how technical expertise, environmental awareness, and architectural quality go hand in hand.

In an age in which digital dominates and foot traffic is harder to attract, retail spaces are being reimagined not just as places to shop, but as platforms for experience, education, and emotional connection. In her latest piece, Pınar Yalçınkaya, CEO of MPC Properties, explores how AI, sustainability, and creative activations are helping transform shopping centers across Serbia into vibrant hubs of relevance. From beekeeper suits and dinosaur replicas to podcast stages and robots that greet you by name, MPC is proving that future-proof retail is less about space and more about meaning.