18 years ago, the first shopping center in Albania was established, Qendra Tregtare Univers (Univers Shopping Center). QTU revolutionized the retail industry and shopping experience, created hundreds of new jobs, and brought in international brands. For the first time, QTU provided Albanian consumers with standardized stores and centralized purchases in a modern building.
This innovation marked an important turning point in the now 30-year-old trajectory of BALFIN Group. “I returned to Albania for the exact reason of opening the first shopping center. All indicators of the business plan showed that QTU would fail. Many professionals, even relatives, did not believe that an organized shopping center 6 km away from Tirana would work. But I was convinced of the value that this investment would bring, not only financially, but also in terms of the market and consumer culture. The belief in this vision was reinforced with the inauguration of QTU, when people proved to us that the Albanian market was ready for such an innovation,” says the President of BALFIN Group, Samir Mane, recalling the opening of QTU 18 years ago.
Here are some of the memories of Endri Alikaj, now in the position of Advisor at BALFIN Group, who managed QTU in its first years, which also coincided with the beginnings of his professional career.
How was your experience as the first administrator of QTU?
QTU was a special work experience, not only for me as an administrator and director, but a first and special experience for many Albanians, whether with regards to the organized shopping it offered; witnessing QTU; enjoying coffee or self-service; but also for entertainment or activities.
I can make a comparison with the book “Toward the Unknown” which talks about the great discoveries from sea voyages in the 14-15 centuries by Christopher Columbus, Vasco de Gama, and many others. So was my experience at the age of 26 with QTU.
I remember the adrenaline, the positive energy of all the collaborators, and the belief that we had to finish the entire construction on time and, together with the units of the time, open on the agreed deadline of October 2005.
“QTU, not only shopping…” I remember now the advertisement that gathered millions of Albanians and created a known and loved QTU at all times.
What were the first challenges in the management of QTU?
The biggest challenge was setting the opening date.
Another challenge was to convince the tenants to invest and rent a store in the first shopping center, 6 km from Tirana, considering that about 90% of the stores were only on Str. Myslym Shyri and Durres Street, well known at that time!
The first 30 businesses were convinced with great difficulty but with the optimism that everything would go well and that their investment would be worth it, which turned out to be true starting from the first day of opening.
Of course, the first hypermarket Euromax, the largest electronics store Neptun, and the well-known international brands Mango, Terranova, Okaidi, and Golden Point gave confidence and created a very strong brand of QTU which guaranteed continued success.
The next challenge was setting up structures and recruiting staff for services such as cleaning, maintenance, and management, for which separate businesses were established and the staff was recruited directly by us.
What impression did the opening of QTU leave on you?
Ah, for those who were present, it was a very special day, where thousands of cars blocked the highway for hours. There were thousands of people in our shops the most accurate expression was that they emptied all the stores.
In the eyes of all employees, managers, and tenants, you could see the brightness and joy. We were saying under our breath and thinking in our minds: “We succeeded, the success of QTU is certain.”
And from QTU, the success of BALFIN Group continued with other projects, but the foundation stone had been laid.
This October QTU celebrated its 18th birthday with campaigns dedicated to buyers, numerous activities, and a party for all visitors. On this birthday, the atmosphere resembled exactly its inauguration, as the people who shared the celebration were many, just like 18 years ago. QTU remains one of the most beloved and popular brands in the shopping center sector in the country, thanks to the relationship established over almost two decades. This is what makes QTU, all about you.
