Advertisement
Search
Close this search box.

Outlets

Latest news, developments and trends in the outlet industry

In its 25th anniversary year, the Designer Outlet Parndorf celebrates the most successful year in the location’s history. ACROSS spoke to Mario Schwann, General Manager Designer Outlet Parndorf, about the return of international visitors, why maximum service orientation almost like in a first class hotel is the be-all and end-all, and what trends and developments are taking place at the location.

The development of new outlet centers is always an exciting prospect, both for consumers looking for great deals and for developers seeking to create profitable ventures. However, an ongoing debate in the realm of outlet center planning revolves around whether leisure facilities should be an integral part of these retail destinations. Giles Membrey, Managing Director of Rioja Estates Ltd. explains the pro and contra arguments.

Customers are seeking a better-quality and more varied offering, expecting to see both international and local options, argues Joan Rouras, Head of Leasing and Retail at NEINVER. For a long time, a neglected topic, F&B in outlets, is taking on a whole new role. NEINVER has taken many steps to offer its guests innovative F&B in addition to a high-quality retail offering.

Twenty-five years of Designer Outlet Parndorf: It all started with a clear vision. Mario Schwann, General Manager McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Parndorf, talks in his extensive ACROSS interview about the development of the location, decisions about the brand mix, the development as a tourist location, and why the geographical location at the border triangle of Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia always pays off, especially in challenging times.

Amsterdam The Style Outlet has made it clear that the experience element is a key component in its value proposition. Although shopping remains the primary attraction, creating a space where people can go to meet up and spend time together is a crucial part of the outlet’s growth strategy. Both the increasing number of visitors and rising sales figures at the centre show that its efforts to offer a go-to destination that brings people together and provides a unique shopping experience are proving very popular – the figures speak for themselves.

The Designer Outlet Parndorf extends its opening hours to 9 p.m. during the summer. The summer sale will start on June 9th with additional discounts while new F&B offers will ensure an additional summer feeling.

Slovenia’s first Fashion Outlet Village is scheduled to open in 2024/2025. The HG Invest investor group around the Tyrolean company Huter Invest is developing it. Nikolaus Huter, Managing Director of Huter Invest, spoke to ACROSS about the development, the advantages of locations close to the border, and why more and more offline shopping locations should be converted to outlet centers.

A close cooperation with the brands is the key for success. Fran Gutiérrez, Retail Director NEINVER, explains how this looks like in practice. NEINVER not only supports their brands with technological tools. The company has prioritized people and training as two main pillars in its retail strategy to support brands’ growth.

Inflation encourages consumers to go in search of even greater value for money, states Giles Membrey, Managing Director of Rioja Estates. Therefore, he argues, Outlets are becoming more attractive to costumers. Furthermore, also internet sales are a driver of Outlets.

Dan Mason, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Realm, discusses the developments and challenges of the outlet market, the opportunities a UK-based operator sees in Europe, and how the training of a five-star hotel group can be a key to increasing sales, performance, and motivation.

“Retail has become an experiential interface, and the outlet proposition offers a key difference,” states Daniel Losantos. On the occasion of the ACROSS anniversary, the CEO of NEINVER took the opportunity to reflect on the last few years and to look ahead to the future, despite the uncertainty in which we find ourselves today.

To succeed in the digital age, landlords and operators must embrace a culture of fact-based decision making. Adopting advanced analytics tools and investing in the collection of valuable data to inform their business decisions will enable them to improve their own business performance, that of retailers, and, indeed, that of the rest of the retail industry.

Thomas Reichenauer manages some of Europe’s most successful outlet locations as Founder and Managing Director of ROS Retail Outlet Shopping. He spoke with ACROSS about his company’s plans as well as the opportunities and challenges facing the industry.

It is an exciting time for our current and future developments, which have hit some key milestones in recent times, says CEO Otto Ambagtsheer. All of his developments and projects happen under the light of high ESG and energy efficiency standards. ACROSS spoke with the VIA Outlets CEO about the current mood in the outlet industry.