MORE OR LESS

We created the Pan European Retailers Group, we founded Retailp.com, we have spoken on many international retail panels, we are Mapic Steering Committee Members..........today we create a new business together!

MORE OR LESS

Chris Igwe and Pierre Combet have joined forces to launch a new company, based out of Paris, called, MORE OR LESS. The company will be dedicated to assisting retailers and brands keen to optimise their retail strategy and portfolio. 

The objective of the company will be to devote time supporting retailers and brands in their pan European plans, either through expansion (MORE) or through restructuring of their stores or by reducing their rents (LESS).

Together, they have over 60 years’ retail experience, having been involved in retail real estate through well-known brands they have worked for as European Real Estate Director, such as THE GAP, CAMAIEU, FOOT LOCKER, GRANDOPTICAL OR SUNGLASS HUT (between them they can boast over 2,000 stores opened throughout Europe). They have also gained considerable first-hand market knowledge and experience through other organisations within which they have worked, including consulting firms, landlords, or trade associations, names which include CBRE, TREMA, AUGUSTE THOUARD or ICSC.

They both currently have retail clients who they assist in their development plans, as well as performing restructuring and repositioning of the brand, at a national or international level. 

Throughout their careers, they have been part of the executive boards deciding on the preparation, planning and implementation of a strategy in various countries, involving expansion or store closures, as required. As a result, they have interacted with nearly all the major players in the industry, helped also by the fact that they speak several languages. 

For many years they have both been on the MAPIC Steering Committee, enabling them to understand first-hand what preoccupies retailers. 

They commented, ? We believe that given the way the retail sector is going today, approximately 30% of our time will be devoted to retailers and brands seeking to expand (MORE) versus approximately 70% devoted to those in a phase of LESS, whether this is in the reduction of the portfolio or a reduction in rent. We do however consider that the effective management of the rent reduction negotiation process is as important as any planned store openings. However, in either case, the intention will be to help significantly improve the client’s profitability. ?