It’s never too early to talk about Christmas. Last December, The Telegraph claimed that there’s “just no need to buy new”. Whilst this is, in theory, a nice idea that would certainly benefit the circular economy, our data points to a rather different consumer reality.

In the last five years, approximately 1.2 million new homes have been delivered, 300,000 fewer than were deemed necessary in that time. The challenge now should be to better understand how we build the right homes in the right places. Follow the data, follow the demand.

As the capital of Europe’s strongest economy, it should come as no surprise that UK operators are eyeing up – and indeed committing to – Berlin, often to kickstart international expansion. The city has long been considered attractive and unique, with a vibrant culture scene to match. Beyond just reputational value, it manages to tick every box when looking for the foundations every business needs to see, to be confident of success.

We have all seen updates on the staffing crisis in the hospitality sector, and sadly such updates are only getting more regular. There is no miracle cure, but solutions are required. We need to have a comprehensive understanding of the situation and identify who is currently working in the industry and who needs to be enticed in. Only then will we be able to implement relevant benefits that will actually work.

There is a well-worn mantra in retail that the customer is always right, and like all cliches it is grounded in a kernel of truth. At the heart of success in retail is engaging consumers, through capturing their attention, their wallets and their loyalty. This is as equally true of shopping centres as it is of shops.