“We have the expertise to help cities whose centers are suffering”

Born in Oupeye (Liège) on December 25, 1983, Raja Lachhab had her first contact with real estate as part of her dissertation on Thomas & Piron’s investments in Morocco, which she did as part of her training at HEC Liège. . For her first job, she joined a film production company, Tarantula. “I wasn’t particularly planning to work in culture but it remains a business with budgets, searches for opportunities… even if the sector is very difficult due to the lack of resources.”

A worry-free move? “This would save future residents a lot of frustration.”

In 2016, she joined Codabel, a start-up active in real estate investment and management. “We started with a shopping center and an investor,” recalls Raja Lachhab. There she finds her sister, who has training in accounting.

She then joined CBRE investment management in 2019. “For five years, I managed all retail for Belgium. I had the role of owner but I also did marketing because I wanted the assets to increase in value.” She is then again in contact with Yasmina who, after Codabel, joined Ceusters. “She was in charge of marketing the centers that I managed”specifies Raja Lachhab.

Advice to owners

At JLL, she is now the interface between the owners and the brands. “I know everyone’s expectations well. I want to strengthen the advice to owners in order to bring value to their assets. We must identify the potential of a property and, depending on its environment, say that we are going to put catering, textiles there instead… The idea is not to fill spaces for the sake of filling spaces.”

The retail market is not easy at the moment. “We are at a time of questioning. With Covid and the generalization of teleworking, many restaurants have closed. Customers’ purchasing habits have also evolved (e-commerce, second hand, etc.). are more ashamed of going to discount or second-hand stores. It’s smart purchasing and the fight against waste that are important. And, on the other hand, we also have people who buy quality more. than quantity. They want to know where the products come from, how they are made… Brands must adapt, change the way they work and offer a greener image. Some are disappearing, others are entering the market. Owners must also evolve by offering more sustainable buildings.”notes the head of JLL. “In retail, we have to take into account the owners, the brands but also the consumers.”

Living in a retail park is coming soon

Her wish would be to be able to say that she helped to turn around a shopping street in decline. “By installing large brands but also small ones. It is essential to give space to these professions which are tending to disappear because that is what consumers are looking for. A baker, for example, can set up anywhere he wants it and it will work.” To do this, she would also like to collaborate with local authorities. “We have the expertise to help cities whose centers are suffering.”

For the moment, it is Mapic which occupies it. This international commercial real estate meeting will be held in Cannes from November 26 to 28. “This is an important moment for us. We have the opportunity to come into contact with brands that we would not be able to approach so easily. It is also the opportunity, for an international network like ours, to meet our colleagues and see the synergies that we could create together. Some represent brands from their country who perhaps want to come and set up in Belgium.”