SmartGifty Editorial Team

Developing London Chinatown as an Iconic Destination

In destination marketing, the standard response to a visibility problem is usually an expensive ad campaign. But what happens when the challenge isn’t a lack of awareness, but a lack of wayfinding? When London’s Chinatown needed to put itself more firmly on the map, the solution didn’t come from a billboard—it came from thousands of …

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Beyond Panic Buttons: Secure Your Mall Now.

In an era of complex public safety challenges, the “soft target” nature of shopping malls requires more than just reactive security—it demands a connected ecosystem. In this feature, Peter Endress explores how digital platforms are replacing siloed systems to transform emergency response. From integrating digital signage for instant evacuations to streamlining communication between tenants and first responders, learn …

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The world’s most unusual gift cards: From tattoos to space travel

Introduction When you think “gift card,” you probably imagine a retail store, a restaurant, or maybe an online marketplace. But around the world, companies have gotten wildly creative with what you can buy via gift cards. Some of these unusual offerings might surprise you — and inspire you to rethink what gifting can be. Tattoos …

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Why predictions for 2026 are already wrong

With three decades of deep-rooted experience in the retail industry and five years dedicated to professional futures studies, our guest writer, Peter Thommen, brings a unique perspective to the intersection of commerce and foresight. He applies the rigor of Strategic Foresight to identify the real forces shaping our global markets. In this insightful piece, he moves beyond the noise of …

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Retail & loyalty in 2026: The trends that will define the New Year

Introduction The new year always brings fresh resolutions — not just for people, but for businesses too. In retail, January is the month where leaders ask: What’s next? How do we evolve? After a record-breaking holiday season, attention shifts toward loyalty, personalization, and how to future-proof the customer experience. In 2026, gift cards and loyalty …

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Holistic design & co-creation: A new lens for the evolving retail landscape

Retail is no longer about square meters and sales per foot. It is about relevance, emotion, and the experience people carry with them long after they leave. As traditional malls lose momentum and new generations redefine value, the role of design is being rewritten. In this issue, Stephen Chow, Managing & Creative Director of CAN Design, shares …

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How Agile Retail Spaces Are Outperforming Traditional Formats

In this edition, we hand the pen to Ghalia Boustani — Ephemeral Retailing Specialist, published author, and podcast host. With a background that bridges research and real-world execution, Ghalia examines how flexibility has become the defining factor in the survival and success of physical retail. Drawing on empirical insight and Paris-based case studies, she outlines …

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From food courts to fine dining: How shopping malls became culinary destinations

Introduction If you think of shopping malls, the first image might be crowds, clothing stores, and holiday sales. But there’s another side to the mall experience — one that has transformed dramatically over the years: the food. From greasy pizza slices to Michelin-starred pop-ups, malls have gone from quick snack stops to culinary destinations. The …

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