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 speak to Scott O’Donoghue, a Director at Colliers International who started his career after completing a property valuation degree career and now oversees the QLD retail assets under management.
What is your current role and main responsibilities?
As Director of QLD Retail Management at Colliers, my role involves overseeing the QLD retail assets under management, and leading the centre management teams to deliver value for our clients.
How did you get in to this industry?
My uncle was a retail Valuer, and learning what he did growing up got me interested in the property industry.
Tell us a little bit about your career
After completing a degree in property valuation, I worked my way up from the service desk at a shopping centre, into a trust accounts clerk and through into management. Throughout my career I have been lucky enough to work on regional centres, sub-regional centres, neighbourhood centres, large format centres and CBD based centres.
What has been your hardest career decision?
Until 12 months ago when joining Colliers, I have only ever worked for one company. It was the hardest decision, but I am glad I made it!
What do you love most about your job?
I love that I get to work with several different clients across a large number of assets. Getting involved in many different projects, discussions and ideas allows me to keep having new experiences every day as part of my role.
What motivates you?
Working on developing a strategy, undertaking that strategy and seeing the positive outcomes of hard work and actions taken. For example, being able to review and make changes to a shopping centre’s tenancy mix, that turns around the retailers performance and the value of the asset for the client.
What makes a great Director?
Being able to motivate people to keep learning and strive for best practice, as well as ensuring everyone has the opportunity to grow.
Wintergarden, Brisbane
What is your most memorable moment of your career?
Working on my first redevelopment project, which was ISPT’s Wintergarden in the Brisbane CBD. Given the location of the centre, which also has a 5 star hotel above it, there were many challenges throughout the project.
What do you think makes a successful shopping centre?
A successful centre is built from good retail design, having the right retail offer and amenity for the customers. Successful centres have a connection to their place and local community, which can be the most challenging part to achieve.
Which in your opinion is the best example of a good shopping centre, retail precinct or place?
The external food precinct of Westfield Chermside for me is a great example of how a retail environment, can be changed to feel like a resort or hotel’s garden area. The tenancy mix of restaurants and café style food offering, as well as kids play areas and entertainment retailers, all works cohesively from the customer’s perspective.
Westfield Chermside
How can landlords and retailers work together better?
By both parties getting a better understanding of each other’s business, and finding the meeting point so that they both can be successful.
What are some of the trends you are seeing in the industry?
Centres are becoming more of a community hub, with the amount of retail in centres decreasing and these tenancies being backfilled with medical and other services. Landlords are now more willing to invest to improve the customers experience, as customers’ expectations continue to increase, and we push to keep shopping centres a relevant part of the community.
What’s three words that describe you?
Measured, honest and calm
How do you manage stakeholders?
I find that communication is the most important tool in managing stakeholders. Ensuring that everyone is aware of what is going on, and being honest all times builds solid relationships.
What do you do to keep learning and growing in your career?
I get involved in as many conversations as I can; say “yes” to any opportunity that comes up and read as much as possible. In retail, there is so much knowledge learned on the job, which occurs on a daily basis.
What advice would you give to someone starting in the industry?
Talk to as many people as possible, and don’t be scared to reach out to people in the industry for guidance.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to get in to Shopping Centre Management?
I think starting off on the reception in a centre management office is a great grounding for someone wanting to get into a career in retail management. It is important to learn how a centre operates, and working your way up is essential so you can learn the skills and knowledge on the job.
What do you do in your leisure time to de-stress?
Spend time with the family, going to the beach would be the ideal way to spend the day.
Westfield Chermside
What’s your favourite retailer and why?
Aesop. I think that their fitout designs make such statements, and whilst fitting with their brand create a great experience for their customers. It is fantastic when you see a retailer that understands how important the customers instore experience is.
Have you worked in another industry and then come back to shopping centres?
I did leave the industry for a few years to pursue my musical interests. That went well but decided to come back to shopping centres after seven years of playing music, having released three albums and travelling around the world.
What is the single most important quality you need to possess to be in this industry?
You must be able to build relationships with a wide range of personalities.
Interested in being profiled? Contact Belinda Daly belinda@shoppingcentrenews.com.au
