SmartGifty Editorial Team

Creating Exceptional Customer Experience in Shopping Centers and Mixed-Use Assets: A Forward-Looking Guide for the Next Decade

Expert series / By

In today’s hyper-competitive retail world, “Customer Experience (CX)” is the single most powerful differentiator for shopping centers and mixed-use destinations. Gabriele Bertini, our guest author, is sharing his views on why CX is not merely the sum of isolated elements—tenant mix, architecture, marketing, or technology. It is the seamless, emotionally resonant outcome when all these components work in harmony to deliver personalized, memorable, and …

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Beyond the Store: Why Retailers Must Diversify to Survive

Expert series / By

In this edition, we address a harsh reality: the traditional retail formula is breaking. With thinning margins, rising costs, and volatile consumer loyalty, relying solely on product sales has become a high-risk gamble that many legacy brands are no longer winning. The answer lies in Strategic Diversification. To survive, retailers must stop acting as mere merchants …

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How brand power shapes meaningful customer relationships

General / By

In a crowded marketplace, having a standout product or service is no longer enough. What truly sets successful brands apart today is brand power — the ability to form emotional connections that go beyond transactions and turn customers into loyal advocates. Brand power is not built overnight. It grows through every interaction a customer has with you, …

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Experience Sells: How Moments Make Money and Drive Loyalty

Expert series / By

In an age of endless choice, where shoppers can browse globally and buy instantly, the question isn’t whatcustomers purchase. It’s how the experience makes them feel. Today, experience is the new currency. Price and product still matter, but they no longer guarantee loyalty. Shopping centres and retail destinations are realising that emotions drive spend and memorable moments drive return visits. We …

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2026: Why Experience Is the New Product and Transformation Is the New Goal

Expert series / By

For decades, retail has focused on “putting the customer first” through data and tactics. But in 2026, the industry has shifted from transactions to transformations. Shoppers are no longer just buying products; they are choosing relationships. In this era, experience is the product, and the brands that thrive are those that foster genuine emotional bonds. Key …

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Why February is the New Frontier for Customer Loyalty

Newsletter / By

Think February is only about Valentine’s Day? Think again. We’re witnessing a major shift in consumer behavior: the rise of the “Self-Love Economy.” In our latest long-read, we explore why “self-gifting” is becoming a powerful driver for retail growth and how businesses can use this mid-winter moment to turn one-time shoppers into lifelong advocates. This month, …

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A thoughtful way to show appreciation this Valentine’s day

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Valentine’s Day is often associated with romance, flowers, and last minute gifts. But at its core, the day is really about appreciation. It is about taking a moment to show people that they matter. And that does not have to be limited to romantic relationships. Appreciation comes in many forms Valentine’s Day can be a …

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2026 – Year when average will no longer be enough

Newsletter / By

In 2026, sales and shopping destinations are entering a new era marked by a clear shift: from transactions to experiences, from mass communication to personalization. In this edition, we explore how gift cards are evolving into an emotionally rich, digital experience, and why listening to customers and smart use of data are becoming a key competitive advantage. We conclude with a real-world …

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A gift card is not a product — it is a growth engine

Expert series / By

A gift card is more than just a substitute for cash; it is a powerful marketing engine for attracting and rewarding visitors. In this article, Jurij Triller, CEO of SOS-SW and owner of the SmartGifty brand, explores why the shift from outdated paper vouchers to seamless digital ecosystems is essential. By prioritizing User Experience (UX), shopping …

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Developing London Chinatown as an Iconic Destination

Expert series / By

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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