Benoy and ULI Collaborate to Delve into New Iterations of Modern Retail
Benoy’s Partnership with ULI: Retail Innovation Forum
On September 20th, Benoy partnered with ULI to participate in the Retail Innovation Forum. During this event, Benoy, along with other participants, delved into strategies for upgrading modern retail and explored the latest design trends. Louise Ma, Associate Director of Benoy Shanghai, delivered a speech entitled “Commercial Design Driven by Modern Lifestyles,”. In her presentation, she showcased two new projects: the redevelopment of Moshida Plaza and Phase 1 of Shanghai Yangtze River Delta Oasis Intelligence Valley — Zhaoxiang Park. These projects served as vivid illustrations of Benoy’s forward-thinking approach and unique design strategy in commercial interior design, captivating the real estate industry experts in attendance.
In her speech, Louise Ma analysed various case studies to engage the audience in a discussion about how modern businesses can adapt to meet the needs and preferences of today’s consumers, who are shaped by evolving lifestyles. She also explored how the transformative power of design can be utilised to craft emotionally resonant and diversified consumer experiences.
Benoy’s Forward-Thinking Design Approach
When addressing the redevelopment of Moshida Plaza, located on Nanjing West Road in Shanghai, Louise stated, “Bright Food Group, the client, entrusted us to create a new concept commercial project that integrates landscape, architecture, and interior design. From the initial stages of the design process, our team had a clear vision that it would be different from traditional revitalisation projects. Our goal was to tackle challenges beyond surface-level enhancement.
Instead, leveraging the project’s unique location and the inherent strengths of the brand, we optimized the floor space efficiency within the limited space by strategically directing the flow of customer circulation. Additionally, we implemented ‘three-dimensional’ brand area divisions to meet the changing demands of modern consumers. In today’s landscape, an increasing number of projects require designers to transcend beyond traditional commercial thinking, leveraging localisation and the brand’s inherent assets to enhance the uniqueness of the project. In this regard, Benoy has a wealth of experience in handling such projects.
Panel Discussion and Benoy’s Participation
The event started with a presentation by Nicky Zhu, the Senior Director and Head of Strategic Consulting for East China at Savills. In his presentation, he shared case studies on organic revitalisation of commercial districts at different scales and the upgrading of retail spaces. He provided his perspective from a commercial standpoint with strategic analysis.
Following Nicky Zhu’s presentation, Stella Si, the Marketing Director of Broadway Malyan, presented comparative examples of commercial revitalisation efforts in other regions across Europe.
The event culminated in a panel discussion on the topic of “Commercial Upgrading and the Latest Trends and Directions”, moderated by Nicky Zhu, the Senior Director and Head of Strategic Consulting for East China at Savills. The panelists engaged in a thought-provoking dialogue and explored the roles of “technology, art and culture” in commercial revitalisations. The panelists included Jackey Ma, Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Hongyi Corporation Group; Keith Su, General Manager of Raffles City The Bund; and, Joanna Chen, Deputy General Manager of the East China Region and General Manager of the MOHO Project at Hopson Commercial Property.
Additionally, Tang Wei, Project Director of Benoy Shanghai, and Yifan Huang, Senior Marketing Manager, China, attended the event and had in-depth discussions with over 40 industry experts, fostering a valuable exchange of insights and ideas.
