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Industry expert shares experience in Macao lifestyle industry with IFTM (English-medium) undergraduates

中文摘要 / Summary in Chinese

IFTM assistant professor Dr. Yang Jingjing invited the General Manager of NOVA Mall, Mr. Paul Lee to give a talk to Year 4 students of Bachelor of Tourism Retail and Marketing Management (English-medium) programme on 7 March 2022.

Guest speaker shares his work experience and expertise to show students how their studies connect to the world outside school. The talk aimed to provide students with a multi-dimensional approach to understanding the creation of an all-in-one lifestyle shopping destination, especially to provide an opportunity in meeting the industry practitioner in which can better integrate students’ theoretical knowledge learnt during lectures with real examples and experiences.

Thanks to the rise of online shopping, shopping centres are integrating several activity offerings into their space, giving people more reasons to visit than just shoppe. Aside from having attractive shops that sell products that are relevant to the local community, shopping malls have to change their focus from being ‘places where people do their shopping and leave’ to welcoming spaces that deliver ‘experiences’ as well as attract visitors and encourage them to stay longer. Thus, turning shopping centres into destinations that offer enjoyable experiences.

In the sharing talk, Mr. Lee brought up that measurements had been taken to restrict tourists entering Macao due to Covid-19 pandemic. Unlike the hotels and resorts, NOVA Mall is taking advantage of the new retail opportunities and is committed to creating a new, inspiring and comprehensive one-stop living circle for Macao residents and tourists. Besides, Mr. Lee emphasised that ‘Location’ and ‘accessibility to service area’ are always the two essential considerations when we come to achieve unity as a large shopping mall. He combined his marketing expertise with practical examples to explain to students about the importance of economics, marketing and consumer behaviour in operating, managing retail businesses and formulating marketing strategies.

Not only giving a detailed introduction on how to conduct market research and analysis, such as the service provided by retailers covered in the service area, to students, but Mr. Lee also makes use of vivid and interesting examples to share his ideas on planning marketing and festive events. The designs of different shopping centres need to fit in with their thematic positioning for these also represent the branding itself. Store design and visual merchandising are important elements of retail operation.

Mr. Lee then discussed the trend of new retail developments in Macao with students, together looking into the transformation of stationary retail with new digital challenges.

The interactive atmosphere created in exchanging each other’s ideas and thoughts, allows students to develop and explore with different senses and perspectives. And most importantly, the activity helps to nurture students to become socially responsible individuals who are suitable for taking managerial and leadership roles in the retail industry.