How do you plan the festive decor strategy?

We plan the Christmas decoration concepts during the course of the year for both commercial and office assets. While planning we are mindful of all the different festive moments to be celebrated between 1 December and 15 January. Decorative elements are usually procured during the second and third quarters and 80% of the decoration is already set by Black Friday, which usually marks the beginning of the retail season of good prices for gifts and fantastic experiences for everyone. Decorations differ depending on each shopping centres’ brand positioning and relevant marketing plans.

How do you maximise Atterbury Europe’s strategy of environmentally responsible measures?

We never deviate from our green path. MPC and Atterbury Europe both choose our business partners according to their professional references and sustainable goals and practices. For instance, our Christmas decoration strategy is supported by MK Illumination, a well known Austrian festive-light production company and we procure products from their ECO line. The importance of environmentally friendly solutions is emphasised through our Christmas marketing and digital campaigns for which we organise handcrafting workshops, educational plays for children and other interesting content promoting healthy lifestyle and wellbeing of the entire community.

Is it viable to have recycled/recyclable Christmas decorations in the malls? What happens to the decorations after the festive season?

Our starting point is to never separate quality and sustainability when planning decorations. We consider elements such as product quality, service life, C0² emissions and energy source/consumption during the production process, the use of sustainable materials, fair working conditions in plants and supply chain, packaging and logistics. And in the operational phase we look for low energy consumption, good design with solutions to avoid light pollution, practical maintenance which provides long-term usage and long lifespan. The average energy consumption of MK illumination LED decorative elements varies from 3.5W to 7W and hanging elements from its organic line consist of 40% wood and 60% polycarbonate made from recycled kitchen oils. Come 15 January, the decorations are taken down, repaired and stored for reuse the next season.

You mentioned that your marketing plans are tailored to each mall. Can you share some of the festive plans?

Each centre’s brand positioning and of course, overall market needs determine how we approach the marketing. Visitors are now expecting innovative and entertaining content throughout the entire year, including the festive season. Our standard activities include projects for kids and teenagers but because we are bringing families together, we always look for engaging content that will entertain everyone regardless of their age.

Is there one asset that stands out in terms of what they have planned for the festive season?

This winter the UŠĆE office and retail complex created a combination magic forest and gingerbread town. Some of the Christmas programme pillars are handcraft workshops (making candles and Christmas decorations), the Lego holiday adventure, outdoor figure skating and a food festival as a gathering point for all fun-seeking people.

Many special decorations adorn the complex and invite visitors to get into the Christmas spirit.

What do you enjoy most about your job at this time of year?

Giving our community the chance to enjoy the holidays and inspiring them to have a great time with their loved ones is always a rewarding experience for our entire team. We are happy to help them choose beautifully wrapped presents and to make unforgettable Christmas memories.