Mall owners eye return of customers with cabin fever
Online was having an impact before the pandemic; it was boosted by the lockdowns; and it will continue to erode bricks-and-mortar retailing long after any post-lockdown bounce turns into a new normal.
The strength of the malls was the surprise of the property results.
Scentre Group, the owner and manager of Westfield Living Centres, is so confident of a post-lockdown bounce in visitors, sales and income that chief executive Peter Allen has confirmed guidance for the current half – provided the lockdowns are “substantially eased” in time for the November, December and January sales.
