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 create this dynamic and ever-changing industry. This week, we profile CBRE’s new Head of Retail, Sheree Griff…
What is your current role and main responsibilities?
I joined CBRE late last year in a newly created role as Pacific Head of Retail Property Management & Leasing. My focus is very much on thought leadership and being the ‘connector’ to foster and grow CBRE’s engagements in the retail sector. We want to strengthen our market leading position in retail leasing and management by expanding our occupier service offering and delivering a point of difference to our clients through the work we undertake in CBDs, shopping centres and large format retail assets.
Our business is ultimately about people, so it’s also about building meaningful connections and fostering relationships within CBRE and the broader property industry. It’s about setting the stage to continually reimagine retail and optimise growth, while having bespoke approaches to all our clients’ retail assets.
Can you give us a brief outline of your career path?
I started in Asset Management for Adelaide City Council at the age of 20 specialising in retail and social infrastructure assets with two amazing mentors. This really sparked my interest in property.
When the council outsourced retail management to Knight Frank I joined the Knight Frank Adelaide team before a family relocation to Brisbane saw me join JLL and work with a broad range of clients, including Lendlease, LaSalle Investment Management and Frasers Property as a Portfolio Director on retail and mixed-use assets.
I then had an opportunity with Colliers as the Head of Retail QLD where I worked with some great clients such as Centuria, Sekisui and a range of private investors.
The common thread during my career has been retail developments, strategic repositioning and return optimisation outcomes.
West Village
What do you love most about your job?
I love mentoring and guiding new people as they embark on their journey in the retail industry, where you need to have passion and work at pace. It takes a unique set of skills and a certain personality type. I love imparting my passion and collaborating both within CBRE and with industry peers. Let’s just say I love talking about all things retail, including emerging new brands, innovations and what’s next for retailers.
What elements do you think make a shopping centre thrive?
A retail centre that has a heart, is unique with a bespoke design, is sustainable and purposeful. Centres need to be filled with retailers that are innovative and passionate about their business and connected with the community and consumers.
A vibe is also very important as it attracts existing and new consumers to return time and time again. Consumers are seeking out enriched spaces and this is what creates repeat spend and customer engagement.
The shopping mall, precinct or place needs to have connected spaces that go beyond mere transactions. They need to captivate customers with an immersive experience like never before and be vibrant and innovative to maintain relevance. The retail environment needs to tell a story and connect consumers with experiences and memories. Frictionless experience is so important to the consumer, allowing them to browse without barriers, select without obstacles, or enjoy quick convenient shopping at pace.
What excites you most about working in the shopping centre industry?
Retail innovation and change. New and emerging brands are so exciting and there are so many entrepreneurs with amazing new products and experiences that continue to emerge in bricks and mortar spaces.
What local or global brand do you think is the one to watch and why?
The wellness industry is really emerging and growing as consumers focus on how to look good and feel good. The consumer wallet is open when it comes to wellness, and people are willing to spend.
What do you do in your free time to de-stress?
I love exercising with my two daughters every day. It may be a run in the morning or attending a functional fitness class to get me motivated for the day. I also love spending time at the beach on the weekends. The sun is my battery recharger!
Three words that best describe you?
Energetic, passionate, entrepreneurial.
Do you like shopping?
I sure do. I think a love for shopping is critical if you’re in the retail industry. You need to immerse yourself so that you can best understand how consumers think and feel while keeping an ever-watchful eye on new and emerging brands. It also helps you stay across ways retailers are constantly reinventing themselves to stay current and engaged.
Shopping also helps me assess retail designs and how this shapes the ways in which communities live, work and shop. Design really does shape the heart of every retail precinct.
There are always new learnings in retail as the industry moves at pace, so I describe my love for shopping as ‘research’!
