Welcome to the Spring 2013 SLA Newsletter. We had a very successful series of events last year, and we’re in the process of organising this year’s events (see below). Please put the dates in your diary and we hope to see you at one or more event during the course of the year.
An invitation to members of the Society for Property Researchers (SPR)
We would like to invite members of the SPR to join the SLA, however we do have strict membership criteria and do not allow suppliers to join. Please see the terms and conditions of joining here. It’s free to join, only takes a minute to fill in the online subscription form and then you’ll have two chances of attending great site location and property events. With the success of last year’s joint SPR and SLA event, we wanted to welcome members to join us too. Click on the Join us on the home page side bar. We look forward to welcoming you along as new members.
Events 2013
- Changing Grocery Store Formats, CBRE Henrietta House W1, 1st May 2013, 6.00 for 6.30 pm
– Andy Thompson, Head of Network Planning & Property Insight at Sainsbury’s
– Steve Jones of Unilever (formerly Tesco)
– Third speaker to be confirmed - Public Sector event, Birmingham, 21st May 2013, (time TBC)
- The impact of Crossrail on West End shopping, CBRE Henrietta House W1, 18th June 2013, 3.30 for 4.00 ’til 8.30 pm (jointly with SPR)
– Speakers agreed to date: Tony Morgan, Chair, Crossrail
– Richard Dickinson, New West End Co.
– Giles Clarke, GrosvenorWe’re seeking two more speakers; Jonathan Reynolds, OXIRM, will chair, and Stewart Colderick, CBRE, will moderate the Q&A session. Given the impact that Crossrail development will have on West End shopping, this is a very significant event.
- The Future of Convenience Retailing, new Coop HQ, Manchester, 3rd September 2013, 6.00 for 6.30 pm
– This event is at the planning stage currently, but is sure to be a winner; those who have attended previous Coop SLA events will know what to expect.
- SLA Forum, CBRE Henrietta House, W1, 15th October 2013, 9.30 for 10.00; close at 4.30 pm
– We are discussing ideas for this year’s theme – if you have ideas, we’d love to hear them. Email info@thesla.org
Please be sure to put the events which appear in your diary; more information will be emailed in due course. If you would like to reserve a place please email info@thesla.org
Jon Walker Award 2013
Blair Freebairn of GeoLytix won the Jon Walker Award in 2013 – see website (https://thesla.org/jon-walker-award/)
We have changed the format somewhat this year. Whereas we formerly asked SLA members to nominate innovations in the market, and the committee judged the best, this year we would like you to let us know on info@thesla.org of any innovations in location analysis, such as:
- an innovative project
- innovative use of data
- an innovative modelling solution
- innovative software development
Deadline for notification of innovations is 14th September 2013. We will put the entries on the SLA website, and ask SLA members to vote for the best. As usual, the result will be announced at the SLA Forum.
Supplier Listing on SLA website
We will be providing an additional service to members shortly, in terms of a listing of relevant data suppliers to the location analysis market. The suppliers will be grouped under specific headings, e.g. neighbourhood classifications. Just the name and website will appear. We are in the process of compiling lists currently.
Membership drive
We continue to grow membership, despite the inevitable attrition as people move abroad, leave the industry, etc. A good way to grow faster would be for everyone in the SLA to think about other people in the industry who they know (friends, colleagues); are they members of the SLA? should they be? Please encourage them to join. It’s easy! Forward this email to them and encourage then to visit the website (https://thesla.org), check eligibility criteria, if eligible, join online. Let’s grow the SLA even faster.
Pro bono support for small charities
Rosa de Balsi left Boots after 26 years in January. She has been an SLA member since its inception in 2002. She wrote to us, mentioning that on occasion the Location Planning team at Boots had given ‘free’ support to various small charities, usually based around shop siting.
Rosa suggested that the SLA might act as a ‘clearing house’ for such requests; so, if you receive this type of request but are unable to help (perhaps because of resource constraints) why not email the SLA about it (on info@thesla.org) and we’ll send an email around the membership, and/or put the request on the website.
If you have any comments, questions or feedback please do not hesitate to get in touch on info@thesla.org