Real Estate Investor December 2020 December/January 2021 | Page 5

EDITORIAL JOHANN RUPERT VIEW

The great business reset – goodbye 2020 , hello 2021

To say that 2020 was a tumultuous year for everyone is an

understatement . Many people would say it has been a pure horror show and mostly about survival for business & property investors . When lockdown was first announced , a lot of rules enforced by government , changed the business and property arena completely . The real estate , publishing and events sector has been changed forever . Many traditional real estate businesses , publishing houses and events companies , amongst many other industries that could not adapt , were forced to close down .
The good news is that smart entrepreneurs that adapted to the Covid-19 shocks spotted new opportunities and seem to have benefited from dealing with the restrictions .
The big changes to the new normal , from remote working conditions , digital communication ( Zoom boom to Zoom burnout fatigue ) and online shopping , has been immense . At REI , since April 2020 , we are so grateful that we managed to achieve successful digital strides in our space .
During lockdown , REI was forced to find new methods to collaborate & keep our readers , users , viewers and event delegates connected and engaged . We published our last print REImag edition in March 2020 , as most of our mag sales were made in airports and key shopping centres . The move to a fully digital mag has been beneficial . This is reflected in the upward spike in REI digital audience reads . Our popular virtual events are also a new trademark of the REI brand as reflected in more than 40,000 registrations for our virtual events since April 2020 . There has also been growth in our podcasts and video views as well . Long may this trend continue for us , so watch this space for better and brand new digital innovations .
We also understand that the concept of remote working is definitely here to stay and has permanently changed how & where people work , interact , and engage . According to McKinsey , new research indicates that business leaders now need to consider how staff set and enforce work boundaries from home ( which can be an energy drain ) as well as how they prioritise work and meetings .
It has changed how people think about home ownership and the way buyers think . We saw property ownership trends grow and rentals decline . The prominence of home offices , changes in commuting habits and people operating from peripheral locations & the comfort of their homes , will influence future real estate choices . In property consumption , there is a move to more virtual reality ( VR ) tours and the use of artificial intelligence ( AI ) for instant & enhanced customer experiences .
We have also seen the traditional owners of office and retail real estate buildings rendered moribund . This has forced investors , landlords and property developers to move in the direction of what the market really needs . A trend of repurposing and converting those buildings into better-used , more affordable accommodation has been seen .
As we face a new year , we are starting to see signs of resilience and cautious optimism for next year . Dare we not repeat the same mistakes that strangled the very survival of our businesses and livelihoods going forward .
Now is the time for everyone to shift our focus to 2021 , make new plans to seize the many investment and business opportunities you can avail to yourself . At year end , it is always a time to be grateful and optimistic despite the current challenges . We would like to say a big thank you to our loyal clients who stayed the course with us during such a tumultuous year . We would like to say a very big thank you to you , our readers & users , and we look forward to continuing our journey with you way beyond 2021 .
We wish you happy holidays , a wonderful festive season , and a successful 2021 .
Stay safe and successful investing .
NEALE PETERSEN FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ROSS PEROT
“ Most people give up just before they ’ re about to achieve success . They give up the last minute of the game , one foot from a winning touchdown .”
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SA Real Estate Investor Magazine DECEMBER / JANUARY 2021 3