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Search Results for: european retail real estate magazine

Europa-Galerie Saarbrücken, Germany. /// credit: Sonae Sierra

Best-Practice Example: Europa-Galerie Saarbrücken — “Operators Need To Find Neighboring Tenants That Can Build Synergies”

Retail is polarizing towards the absolute top locations, among them metropolitan locations, and A-cities. There are many cases proving this but there are also exceptions – and not just any, but successful exceptions. The recent DeepTalk online-discussion took a closer look at one such exception and looked a little behind the letting and positioning strategies of the Europa-Galerie Saarbrücken in Germany, one of the outstanding best-practice examples.

credit: NEPI Rockcastle

NEPI Rockcastle Research: CEE Retail Markets Outshine Stuttering Western Europe, As Strong Economic Growth And Rising Incomes Buoy Consumers

The disposable income gap between Central and Eastern Europe’s (CEE) economies, which are enjoying solid economic expansion, and stagnating Western European countries is narrowing fast. This is buoying consumer spending in markets like Poland and Romania and attracting international and regional retailers to large modern shopping centers that dominate the CEE’s shopping and experience landscapes, while also offering higher margins and lower costs, NEPI Rockcastle’s latest ‘White Paper for Growth’ research concludes.

Left-to-right: Yurdaer Kahraman, CEO and Board Member of FİBA Commercial Properties; With its 17,000 sq m glass ceiling, Star Mall in Shenyang, China, lets the sunlight in and creates a feeling of shopping in the open air. /// credit: FİBA CP

FIBA COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES: THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSUMER NEEDS-RELATED PROJECTS

Architecture, service, offerings, technology, and sustainability—these are the key elements of consumer needs-related projects. Fiba Commercial Properties explains how these aspects are properly implemented and integrated and, in the end, deliver a unique, captivating experience that goes beyond what traditional retail developments offer.

BALFIN Group: “New markets need courageous people.”

The BALFIN Group has brought nothing less than the idea of shopping centers to Albania. The group is not only a developer and operator of assets but has also developed into one of the most influential retail and wholesale players in the Western Balkans. “It takes courage, trust, and patience to break new ground,” says Julian Mane, Vice President Retail of the BALFIN Group. “But whoever is among the first on a new market will also be the most successful.” In the extensive interview with ACROSS, Mane explains, among other things, how he convinces brands to enter the Albanian market, what they can expect there, and why retail parks will be the future concept for the country.

Left-to-right: Thomas Reichenauer, Managing Director at ROS Retail Outlet Shopping; Designer Outlet Algarve’s new plaza, center extension is opening in Summer 2025. /// credit: ROS Retail Outlet Shopping

ALL SIGNS POINT TO FURTHER GROWTH AT ROS RETAIL OUTLET SHOPPING

With the FREY Group as a new financially strong property partner providing robust support, ROS Retail Outlet Shopping is setting the stage for further growth and enhanced premium outlet shopping destinations across Europe. Major expansions at four centers and two new developments are set to be completed within two years.

Brendon O'Reilly, Managing Director of FASHION HOUSE Group (left), Outlet Centre Pallady in Bucharest, Romania (right). /// credit: FASHION HOUSE Group

WE STILL NEED MORE INVESTORS WHO UNDERSTAND OUR BUSINESS

Fashion House Group is the only outlet operator in Romania, and it benefits from a growing interest in international brands in Southeast Europe. In this interview with ACROSS, Brendon O’Reilly, Managing Director of Fashion House Group, explains how he wants to grow and expand with these brands.

Antoine Frey, CEO of FREY (left), Thomas Reichenauer, Co-Founder and Managing Director of ROS Retail Outlet Shopping (right). /// credit: FREY, ROS

“WITHIN THE NEXT TEN YEARS, WE WANT TO BUILD TOGETHER ONE OF THE BEST EUROPEAN COMPANIES DEVELOPING, OWNING, AND MANAGING OUTLETS”

This summer, ROS Retail Outlet Shopping joined the French FREY Group to grow together in the outlet sector. In this interview, Antoine Frey, CEO of FREY, and Thomas Reichenauer, Co-Founder and Managing Director of ROS Retail Outlet Shopping, explain which values and visions both companies have in common, what plans they are pursuing, especially with their first project in Malmö, and why they feel particularly comfortable in the outlet and outdoor shopping sector in the long term.

Justyna Bartosz is the Head of Leasing at NEPI Rockcastle. /// credit: NEPI Rockcastle

“CREATING PLACES WHERE PEOPLE ENJOY MEMORABLE MOMENTS TOGETHER – THAT IS THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLE FOR ALL CHANGE AND INNOVATION.”

NEPI Rockcastle’s strong net operating income (NOI) growth of 13.5% in the first half of 2024 allowed the company to raise its forecast for full-year distributable earnings per share. Justyna Bartosz, the Group’s Head of Leasing, explains what makes the CEE’s retail and consumer world tick and why it is that NEPI Rockcastle and its tenants can’t pay enough attention to the buzzwords: experience, community building, and authenticity.

Yurdaer Kahraman, CEO and Board Member of FİBA Commercial Properties. /// credit: FİBA CP

“YOU DON’T WANT TO RUIN YOUR FUTURE BY MAKING THE WRONG LEASING DECISIONS.”

“Commercial Real Estate is not a short-term project,” says Yurdaer Kahraman. The CEO and Board Member of Fiba Commercial Properties has dedicated his career to the retail real estate industry. He is familiar with the international and German markets and, through Fiba Commercial Properties, now operates some of the most innovative centers in Türkiye, Southeastern Europe, and the Far East. In the ACROSS interview, he critically examines the management of the European retail real estate industry and concludes that only quality will prevail. In today’s competitive environment, it is not a matter of being the largest in the number of assets and area. The winners are those who are fast, innovative, and sustainable.

Redevelopment: Elisen Palais in Hamburg, Germany (left), Chris Fleetwood, Deputy COO Real Estate at Redevco (right). /// credit: Redevco

TECHNICAL INNOVATION BY BRANDS AND CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH LANDLORDS WILL DETERMINE WINNERS AND LOSERS IN RETAIL’S “SECULAR SHIFT”

“We are all aware of the seismic changes in the retail landscape in recent years that have affected both owners and occupiers”, says Chris Fleetwood, Deputy COO Real Estate at Redevco. Therefore, a combination of macroeconomic events, higher-for-longer interest rates and inflation, increased consumer awareness of their own environmental footprints and values, and the emergence of transformative technologies have created an ever more competitive environment.

credit: Avannah van der Niet for CEE CEE CREATIVE HIGHRES

HOW POTSDAMER PLATZ ATTRACTED GLOBAL BRANDS

The secret to a thriving retail destination lies in the art of curating a unique combination of retailers set against aesthetic backdrops with a blend of loyal customers, brands, and events that consistently attract new visitors. This is no easy feat in the competitive European market. However, The Playce at Potsdamer Platz, located in central Berlin, has emerged as a place of “firsts” for the city, Germany, and Europe.

Gutterball (left) is the company’s family-orientated bowling offer, while Level X (right) combines multiple family entertainment concepts under one roof. /// credit: Lane7

LANE7: “WE ARE THE NEW SHOPPING CENTER ANCHOR”

The bowling concept is opening its first location in continental Europe with The Playce in Berlin. The British company’s appetite for expansion does not stop there. Tim Wilks, founder of the concept, explains in an interview why bowling, in particular, is a successful format, how he guarantees footfall for shopping center landlords and other tenants, and which markets and locations are on his list.

Norbert Scheele /// credit: C&A

RETAIL OFFERS AN ATTRACTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT – THAT REALITY NEEDS TO BE BETTER COMMUNICATED!

Norbert W. Scheele has worked for C&A in various functions and countries for more than 40 years. Not only does he have four decades of first-hand experience dealing with change in the retail sector, he has also overseen the expansion into Eastern Europe. At a time when the mood in the world of retail is more divergent than ever between the East and the West, when the middle segment is shrinking in favor of luxury and discount stores and consumers as well as employees seem to have become more and more demanding, it is all the more worthwhile to take a look at the situation and the development of retail in Austria and Europe with an experienced retail expert like Norbert W. Scheele. For 6 years he is as well vice president of the Austrian retail association.

credit: Kaufland

REVITALIZATION: HOW KAUFLAND IS DEVELOPING A MARKET HALL INTO THE NEW TOURISM MAGNET OF SOFIA

Kaufland is continuing its expansion tour in Europe. Revitalizations are playing an increasingly central role in this. The integration of existing retail locations and modernization has recently increased compared to the construction of new buildings. Furthermore, the latest example in Sofia shows the role that the interaction between tourism and retail can play for a location. With the revitalization of the Central Market Hall in Sofia, Kaufland is not only reviving an architecturally unique location but also a tourist magnet.

Andreas Löcher, Head of Investment Management Operational (left), and Roman Müller (right), Head of Investment Management Retail at Union Investment. /// credit: Union Investment

Polarization is the trend of the moment: “We’re on the lookout for polarization winners”

The retail and hotel asset classes are both geared towards the consumer, clearly benefit from tourism and are impacted by the “luxury vs. budget” polarization trend. Six months ago, Union Investment therefore decided to bring together its retail and hotel investment teams by establishing an Investment Management Operational department. The Hamburg-based investment and asset management company is targeting synergies and opportunities for its portfolio in the two property categories and considering acquisitions. Andreas Löcher, Head of Investment Management Operational, and Roman Müller, Head of Investment Management Retail, discuss the megatrends affecting both asset classes, highlight other similarities and identify locations of particular interest.

HOTELS & RETAIL: “THE MOST OBVIOUS CORRELATION CAN BE FOUND IN THE LUXURY SECTOR”

Shopping tourism is on the rise again. International cases have proven that shopping and overnight stays can constitute a profitable symbiosis. Nevertheless, this profitable combination of hotel and retail is still in its infancy in Europe. Christian Buer, Professor of Business Administration and Hotel Real Estate & Financing at Heilbronn University and Founder of the consulting firm Nemis, explains where and how the combination of hotel and retail has the potential for success and why we should focus on the outlet and luxury sectors in particular.

HOTELS & RETAIL: “THE MOST OBVIOUS CORRELATION CAN BE FOUND IN THE LUXURY SECTOR”

Shopping tourism is on the rise again. International cases have proven that shopping and overnight stays can constitute a profitable symbiosis. Nevertheless, this profitable combination of hotel and retail is still in its infancy in Europe. Christian Buer, Professor of Business Administration and Hotel Real Estate & Financing at Heilbronn University and Founder of the consulting firm Nemis, explains where and how the combination of hotel and retail has the potential for success and why we should focus on the outlet and luxury sectors in particular.

Andreas Löcher, Head of Investment Management Operational (left), and Roman Müller (right), Head of Investment Management Retail at Union Investment. /// credit: Union Investment

Polarization is the trend of the moment: “We’re on the lookout for polarization winners”

The retail and hotel asset classes are both geared towards the consumer, clearly benefit from tourism and are impacted by the “luxury vs. budget” polarization trend. Six months ago, Union Investment therefore decided to bring together its retail and hotel investment teams by establishing an Investment Management Operational department. The Hamburg-based investment and asset management company is targeting synergies and opportunities for its portfolio in the two property categories and considering acquisitions. Andreas Löcher, Head of Investment Management Operational, and Roman Müller, Head of Investment Management Retail, discuss the megatrends affecting both asset classes, highlight other similarities and identify locations of particular interest.

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Retailtainment: How To Increase Experience Per Square Meter
Retailers who can always find answers to consumer needs will survive. We have dedicated this “Special” to these locations: retail concepts and locations that stage themselves for the customer, appeal to all their senses, create a holistic experience, and whose success can no longer be measured in mere sales figures.
Go to Special