PERSONAL COMMENTARIES OF RETAIL REAL ESTATE EXPERTS
An important judgement clarifying European rules on retail establishment; a very strict EU data protection regime; a binding number of charging points for e-vehicles for buildings with more than 10 parking spaces. These are a few examples of important, new rules for the retail property industry adopted by the EU in recent years — and together, they’re a good example of why European policymaking is increasingly important for our sector.
The department store is in crisis. European department store chains close one store after the other. If the format wants to survive it needs to reinvent itself completely.
It was only five years ago that VIA Outlets was launched. In an interview with ACROSS, COO Otto Ambagtsheer talks about consolidating the current portfolio of 11 assets, expanding the Fashion Club loyalty program, and debuting hot local brands like BALR. and Nikkie.
In recent years, fashion retail has proven that there is a fine line between whether fashion and lifestyle brands are successful or become insolvent. These days, celebrity endorsements, collection collaborations, new “it” pieces, retail and e-commerce presence, as well as retail excellence and customer loyalty determine whether fashion and lifestyle brands are in or out.
Opinions tend to be very much divided when it comes to the big e-commerce players.
In Romania, repeated and unplanned changes in legislation hinder the process of building authorization, as well as the legal steps required at the time of completion.
Coworking spaces have potential – also in shopping centers. The first symbioses already enhance the European retail real estate market.
Since the liberalization of opening hours – determined by the “Salva Italia2” decree passed in 2011, during Mario Monti’s legislature – retailers in Italy have been free to open on Sundays and festive days, according to their own commercial strategies.
In order to survive, shopping centers are beginning to adapt retail, housing cultural, educational, and leisure facilities all under one roof. Since 80% of those visiting malls are Millennials or Gen Z, leisure is a hot topic within retail development.
The Polish real estate segment is changing. What we are seeing, apart from traditional real estate investments in office and retail, is there has been growth in new formats, including mixed-use projects with multifunctional concepts, and a growing potential for small-convenience schemes and retail parks.
Real estate investors both in and out of Germany rely on specialist retailers and specialist retail parks: They offer constant pulling power, stable revenues, and solid customer footfall – all of which require clearly positioned product and sector concepts, which signal to investors that their investment is both solid and sustainable.
Outlet Centers are still a niche market in the international retail real estate business and an asset class of its own. Today, there are more than 200 outlet centers spread over Europe but there are significant differences regarding the degree of saturation and maturity levels.
People say that predictions are hard, especially when they have to be made about the future. Be that as it may, ACROSS asked leading industry-players what to expect from the coming twelve months.
For years, malls in the United Arab Emirates have been surpassing each other with endlessly new, breathtaking attractions: With features such as ice rinks in the middle of the desert, aquariums, and roller coasters or an entire VR world, shopping has long since become an experience in this region.
A self-made man who set out to form a European format omnichannel provider.
In today’s environment of complex and fast changes in all fields of real estate development, particularly affecting retail and all the complementary activities making these developments possible, inevitably, the architectural profession will have to adapt by preventively responding to future trends and demands.
In 2018, the current retail (r)evolution continued and did not slow down. Omnichannel has become a reality: Today’s consumer, whether 7 or 70 years old, searches the web to make in-store purchases and does the exact opposite five minutes later.
Just a few years ago, many retail commentators were predicting that by 2020, online retail (“clicks”) would have completely taken over and driven physical (“bricks and mortar”) stores to extinction.
The ACROSS Advisory Board is happy to announce its latest addition and welcomes Thomas Reichenauer as its new member.
Outlet retail has long been established across Europe, but the sector has tended to suffer from being seen as second best to its big sister, the shiny shopping center. As a long-term owner and operator of retail outlets across Europe, Resolution Property has been at the forefront of evolving this sector to capitalize on creating offers that can’t be replicated online.
