Retail in Shopping Centers has been one of the most dynamic economic segments in our country. An industry that has a multiplier effect and covers all levels of our economy. With the systematic opening of economic activities, the return of people to shopping malls gives us a sample of how quickly the country will return to the economic levels it had before the pandemic.
Security and Peace of Mind First
Nadkyi Duque, President of the Panamanian Association of Shopping Centers (APACECOM) tells us that from the first moment of closure they started monitoring the impacts of COVID-19 worldwide. This helped to find the best biosafety practices and protocols to be applied in our country, working hard hand in hand with the health authorities. The work focused on three sectors:
- Preparation and approval of protocols, establishment of work committees, training of personnel and equipment.
2. Identification of the areas of greatest importance, sanitization of all areas, deep cleaning of air ducts and filters, temperature measurement, access to alcohol gel dispensers and installation of people counting chambers.
3. Advertising campaign to raise awareness and help the authorities to keep customers informed.
Gradual Increase in Traffic and Sales
For the President of APACECOM the challenge is to stay open, also have been very optimistic about the two months that have elapsed since the reopening. This has been achieved thanks to the fact that the process has been carried out in an orderly and controlled way, helping the costumer behave well when following biosafety measures.
Nadkyi Duque tells us that all this work and implementation process is having good and steady results since they have observed a gradual increase in traffic and sales between 50% to 60% vs. before Covid-19. She also comments that in the interior of the country the recovery has been more favorable, reaching 60% – 70%. Everything indicates that the economic development in shopping centers is right on track, although there is still a long way to go to reach optimal numbers. Of course, Nadkyi Duque says that this positive path will continue as long as public policies that favor both public and private investment are implemented.
Continuous Self Evaluation
This work strategy is of great value since APACECOM, by knowing the needs of its economic sector, allows them to work actively with local entities, but also with associations from other countries such as Colombia, Argentina, Spain, Brazil, Peru and Honduras. with the aim of observing what happens in other markets that opened before Panama. In this way, our country implements the best practices locally, and helps to create its own protocols and implement the different measures to face the crisis. Always self-evaluating to continue making adjustments that will improve bio-security.
Promotions: The Way to Continue Growing
Nadkyi Duque emphasizes that the strategy to continue attracting more and more people is to keep up with promotions that include extremely attractive discounts. These actions keep the costumer interested, who is facing economic uncertainty, and wants to save as much as possible on their purchases.
One of these attractive promotions that they have kept especially for tourists is the exemption from tax on their purchases. A promotion that supports Panama’s positioning as an international shopping center. Nadkyi Duque wraps up saying that although most businesses apply this promotion, APACECOM presented a project that seeks to create this benefit permanently as part of the economic reactivation measures for the country.
