Economic advisor at the British Chamber of Commerce David Kern noted that managers are having to cope with a different environment but "life goes on".
"I think the recession tests management," he said, adding: "There seems to be a perception that this is the end of life and that is totally ludicrous."
Mr Kern's comments came following the opening of the London Westfield shopping centre last week - the capital's largest shopping mall.
The British Retail Consortium recently found that retail sales have been dropping in the last year, with the clothing and footwear sectors performing particularly badly.
But Mr Kern stated that people "still have to shop", so while the new centre may have performed better in a thriving economy, "well managed business will do well".
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