We have a deep-rooted passion for real estate development, commerce and shopping centres, and in spring 2018, we finally went the whole hog. We set up a new, agile and completely Finnish specialist company in the real estate sector. Understanding the customer is at the core of this company’s operating principle. We chose a company name that would also work well internationally and a slogan that sums up our operating philosophy: Realidea – ideas that stand the test of time.

Personnel and areas of expertise

In the space of over half a year, Realidea has grown from a team of three partners to a specialist company of nine people. Our areas of special expertise are real estate and project development, location data and market analyses, city plan background surveys, leasing functions, promotion of interests in construction contracting and now also operative management of shopping centres.

Market

The overheating in the construction market, radical changes in commerce, the impact of online retail on bricks and mortar stores and the development of multichannel commerce have been big themes in recent years. Major projects in the Helsinki Metropolitan area in particular have kept shopping centres firmly in the headlines. Next year the pace will speed up as the third phase of the AINOA shopping centre will open in Tapiola in Espoo, Ideapark in Seinäjoki and the Mall of Tripla, which will open in Helsinki, will join eastern and western parts of Pasila.

This year the British JD Sports and Danish Jysk, with its new ‘city’ concept, and Swedish Weekday opened their first specialist stores in Finland. Finnish stores Carlson Home and Kekäle extended their store chains in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Auto dealers discovered shopping centres and opened new stores in them.  New chains, such as the Polish LPP, Estonian Baltika Group and Japanese Muji will also arrive in Finland next year.

The restaurant, cafe and entertainment sectors have also significantly increased their roles in shopping centres in recent years and this includes international operators. This autumn, the Estonian Cinamon chain opened its first cinema in Finland, in the REDI shopping centre in Helsinki, and Finnkino opened its long-awaited IMAX theatre in the Itis shopping centre.

All these new additions have introduced a positive vibe and refreshing variety to the shopping centre market.

Understanding the customer

At Realidea we believe that expertise in commerce and services, and understanding the businesses of our tenants will increase in importance in the development of business locations and the creation of valuable real estate. In the same way we also need to understand consumers’ purchasing behaviour and their needs. In cooperation with owners we can make these into a recipe for success in the development and the competition of new and existing shopping centres.

So, with this in mind, let’s turn our attention towards holiday season and our sights towards 2019. We’d like to thank all our customers and partners for the past year – let’s continue our fruitful cooperation next year!

Wishing everyone happy holidays – here’s to a new year that is overflowing with ideas!

~ Team Realidea ~