Remember the old tradition of the Boxing Day sales? Every year, the front page of the newspapers would be dominated by images of long snakes of people queuing patiently in the early hours of the morning (often in the cold and the rain), before rushing into the stores at opening time in a mad dash, jostle and grab for the best bargains. Boxing Day 2019 may feel like a lifetime ago (a lot has happened in the 171 days since!), but when shops in England finally re-open again tomorrow after months of enforced closure the customer retail experience will be very different. Plastic screens, mask-clad customer service hosts, hand sanitiser stations, closed fitting rooms and 2-metre distancing will be the new norm, and one that both customers and staff will need to get used to. In preparation, John Lewis even turned to "war games" this week with some staff posing as customers in a series of stress tests, with each individual given specific scenarios known only to them, such as wanting to test a child's buggy before purchasing it. A No-No if you are asking. The war games, in fact, were so realistic that some genuine customers started queuing outside, assuming the store had re-opened its doors for real. Safeguarding measures or not, The Weekly takes that as an encouraging sign. Consumers may have turned to online shopping (a lockdown necessity) on a temporary basis, but e-commerce will never be a substitute for the in-store experience, plastic screens or otherwise!
The Weekly very rarely feels the need to quote Russian Revolutionary, Vladimir Lenin, but there is one quote that struck a chord; "There are decades when nothing happens. And there are weeks when decades happen." Over the last few weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we socially interact and do business. In April the UK economy shrank by an unprecedented 20 per cent, effectively wiping out 18 years of economic growth in a single month. And over the last weeks and days, the Black Lives Matter movement has raised some stark questions, on both side of the Atlantic, about inherent racism in our society. The Weekly is not about to launch into a lengthy debate on "pandemic paradigm shifts" in the global economy and wider society, but for simple property investors it is even more essential to have a clear strategic vision to navigate in such turbulent times. St Bride's Managers believe their UK investment strategies hold truer than ever. After all, London is still ranked the World's Number 1 City and will continue to attract international capital even if office occupiers re-evaluate their space and density requirements, and tourism takes a short-term hit. Outside London, it is even more imperative to understand the divergent growth prospects for long term investment. The rationale for a research-led focus on key UK cities and strategic corridors, such as the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, is stronger than ever.
Necessity is the mother of invention. This old English proverb has rarely felt more apt as we adapt to a new digital life on Zoom, virtual trips to the museum and the theatre, and the odd takeaway pint. There will be one new set of innovations, however, that The Weekly will be watching with interest over the coming weeks. As sporting events gradually resume behind closed doors, organisers have been trying desperately to work out the best way to create an atmosphere at events with the introduction of "virtual spectators". Anyone who has watched the Bundesliga, for example, since German football's return will have noticed the eerie silence in the stands and the echoing shouts of the players. Empty stadiums are simply not conducive to a riveting viewing experience. In a bid to salvage some of the vibrant atmosphere, Premier League chiefs have set up the Broadcast Enhancement Advisory Group, whilst Silverstone boss, Stuart Pringle, announced this week that he is ready to consider cardboard cut-outs of fans at this summer's British Grand Prix as part of a visual stratagem. So what can we expect when we tune in to watch our favourite sports from the comfort of the sofa? Well, video screens will be used to create "fan walls" made up of supporters on live video calls and, in football, television producers are considering importing "realistic" crowd sounds from the FIFA 20 computer game. It is understood that Premier League clubs will also be allowed to play pre-recorded fan chants to celebrate goals from the home team and, if you are lucky (or unlucky) enough to be a Brighton fan, you can even apply for your own personalised cut-out to take your seat in the stadium. A cardboard beer cut-out for those who really want to get into the spirit is an optional extra.