The Shopping Centre industry is driven by people. It’s the skills and expertise of the people that manage, develop and evolve shopping centres for their communities that creates this great industry. Shopping Centre News profiles a range of interesting people from the industry each week. This week we talk to Mark Wizel, National Director Investments at CBRE. Since 2011, Mark and his team of 64 professionals  have sold over $11 billion of property to a range of local and international buyers.

Tell us a little bit about your career
Midway through a degree in Business Studies/Valuations at university I was offered a full time job with Colliers International. Just nine months later my supervisor, Martin O’Sullivan was offered a contract at CBRE and I joined too as part of a team.  Once at CBRE I noted a gap in the market  that I could exploit – sub $100 million properties – and began what has now become a very successful department with more than 60 staff and sales in excess of $11 billion.

How did you get into this industry?
I first started in sales at my father’s stall at the Vic market and then some time later watched an auction one morning and I knew then that’s what I wanted to do.  A friend of my mother’s arranged work experience at a leading agency which later translated into a full time job.

What has been your hardest career decision?
Leaving my first full time job after just nine months. This was a company which had given me a start in my chosen career and I’m very grateful for that.

What do you love most about your job?
Everything. The people, the clients, the staff, achieving great results for my clients, watching young staff mature into quality people,  the excitement of auctions…

What makes a great agent?
 A great agent is one who puts the time into making sure the client knows they are your first priority

What is the most memorable moment of your career?
Two things, well actually three: Selling my first property – an office suite in Swanston Street for $167,000 – opening CBRE’s Chinatown office in Melbourne, and winning 2010 REIV
Agent of the Year.

Chinatown Opening, CBRE

What motivates you?
It’s really very simple. Being good at what I do and helping others achieve success.

What do you least like about your job?
There are ups and downs in every job. I  prefer to focus on the positives.

What do you think makes a successful shopping centre?
The success of a shopping centre is all about attracting customers and keeping them in the centre for as long as possible and increasingly that means providing quality food, entertainment and services along with the more traditional retail offering. It must also be in the right location and provide excellent private and public transport access.

Which in your opinion is the best example of a good shopping centre, retail precinct or place?
There are many very good centres – Chadstone and Westfield Doncaster are among them – and they vary from location to location and so it is difficult to compare them. Those that have successfully steered their way through the economic cycles and challenges from online retailing and at the same time maintained consistently high tenant occupancy are clearly the best.

What are some of the trends you are seeing in the industry?
Obviously  a very significant trend has been that associated with the enormous challenge bricks and mortar retailers have faced from online stores. I am encouraged by the response from centre owners in adapting their tenancy mix to offer more services and a greater quality food and entertainment offering. We are also seeing investors and developers taking greater note of the potential  upside in significant retail landholdings.

New retail centre developments in the future will increasingly look to maximise site usage with mixed use developments including residential and office components. We are also going to see a greater trend to locational alignment with transport hubs.

Did you think you would end up in the role you are in now?
Yes, but perhaps a little sooner than I had imagined, and that is really all about surrounding yourself with quality people as well as having a little bit of luck in being in the right place at the right time.

What do you do in your leisure time to de-stress?
I love to spend time with my family and friends. It helps to keep me grounded and constantly aware of the value of having people around you who care.

What’s your favourite retailer and why?
One of my favorite retailers was John Ilhan, aka Crazy John. He was passionate, a great salesman, a hard worker and ultimately very successful, a success he shared through his generous donations to a number of charities.

Do you like shopping?
I’m not averse to shopping but that is secondary to my love of shopping centres themselves.

What is the single most important quality you need to possess to be in this industry?
You need to be ahead of the game, to know where the industry is headed before it goes there, and for that you need to be a keen student of all aspects of the industry.

What advice would you give to someone starting in the industry?
Work hard, never stop listening, never stop learning, always treat people with respect.