After several years of ostentatious shows of wealth from Russian and Ukrainian developers, the 15th Mapic will have a much more familiar feel for British visitors, says Mark Faithfull

Mapci Retail Week

Whisper it softly, but it’s cool to focus retail growth on the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Germany again. After several years in which global retail property show Mapic has lent its axis eastwards, Cannes will this year play host to a more sombre crowd with their feet planted back in the continent’s biggest retail markets.

Mapic is ostensibly an exhibition with a conference attached - however, its location in Cannes makes that far too simple a definition. Mapic is in fact a networking event first and foremost and now in it’s 15th year, the past three or four years have really seen it come of age as real estate and retail have globalised.

Last year over 9,500 delegates attended, including 2,000 retailers, from 65 countries - this year the event organiser anticipates that the number will be nearer 8,000 delegates but points optimistically to over a 1,000 retailers from 30 countries signed up by September. Last year the British were the third largest contingent at the show (behind the French and Italians).
The story of Mapic in recent times has neatly charted the ascent of emerging markets in the Middle East, Russia, the Ukraine, Turkey, the Baltics and Central and Eastern European. Some of those more volatile nations will undoubtedly be less overt in 2009, but other nations, such as Egypt, and Libya will be showing their hand this time round.

New Look/Mim, Desigual and Mamas & Papas - plus Dan Stanek of US-based Retail Forward - will speak at arguably Mapic’s best conference programme to date, while retailers such as Carrefour, Casino, G-Star, Galeries Lafayette, Subway, Deichmann and Jack Wolfskin will exhibit at the show alongside first-timers such as Aurora Fashions (UK); Fashion Continent and Global Denim (Russia); Church’s Chicken (USA); Comme des chefs, Noee and Côté Optique (France).

British exhibitors include the major agents, BCI Design, BDP, Benoy, Chapman Taylor, Fashion House Developments, GVA Outlet Services, Hammerson, Henderson Global Investors, McArthurglen, Pradera, Raindrop Information Systems and the UK Club, run by Pipers and BCSC.

The 60-second guide to Mapic

Where: Mapic 2009, Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France

When: November 18 to 20

What: Close to 1,000 exhibitors and 8,000 attendees will gather on the French Riviera for a networking event that also envelops Cannes’ hotels and watering holes and the floating gin palaces in the marina adjacent to the Palais. Mapic has a sharp focus on retail with a lean towards shopping centres. Other than the stands, there are conference streams, speed matching business sessions, an awards and a host of networking parties.

What to see and do at Mapic

Exhibition: Most of the UK’s biggest real estate players will be in evidence either on their own or at the substantial BCSC/Pipers ‘UK Club’ stand. Germany will bathe in the limelight for 2009 and Libya is among the markets making their debut.

Conferences: Mapic has really upped its game this year and a host of retailers, including; Mim/New Look, Mamas & Papas, Desigual, IKEA and Douglas are among the speakers. Mapic will also be running seven-minute ‘speed matching’ sessions for cities, retailers and funds.

Events: There’s an opening night cocktail party and an awards ceremony, while the major exhibitors host drinks receptions in and around the Palais.

UK Club exhibitors

Air Design, BCSC, Brookfield Developments, CACI, Capital Shopping Centres, City of Edinburgh, Covent Garden London, The Crown Estate, Cundall, Cyril Sweett, Davis Langdon, DTZ, Experian, Gloucester Quays, Grosvenor, Harper Dennis Hobbs, Haskoll, HOK, Holder Mathias Architects, International Business Contracts, Land Securities, Leslie Jones Architects, Lunson Mitchenall, Newport Unlimited, Peel Holdings, RTKL, Scott Lighting, SDD Retail, Sheppard Robson, Toolbox Marketing, Troup Bywaters + Anders, Turley Associates, Waterman, Westfield, Wragge & Co.