Retail Archives

The Meaning of Being Local: Three Dubai Malls and Their Strategies to Stay Indispensable

Day 3 of the ACROSS Study Tour delivered a key insight: Dubai’s malls are global icons – but their long-term success is built on something surprisingly local: understanding their communities and reinventing themselves around those needs.

Retail Business in Abu Dhabi: How Two Flagship Malls Shape the UAE Capital

The second day of the ACROSS Study Tour led to the UAE capital Abu Dhabi where the retail landscape is in a rapid, strategically aligned transformation. Linda Hurst, General Manager of The Galleria, and Simon El Khoury, General Manager of Marina Mall, explain their business.

M&S OPENS FLAGSHIP STORE CONCEPT AT MERRY HILL, UK

Merry Hill announced that M&S has opened its latest renewal store concept at the top 10 UK shopping destination, featuring a brand-new Coffee Shop, fresh market-style foodhall, and expanded fashion, home & beauty offer.

The Experience Factor: Redefining the Value of Retail Places

JLL’s 2025 Consumer Experience Survey, which gathered responses from more than 12,000 people across 19 markets and 64 cities, shows that consumers are quietly but decisively raising their expectations for physical places.

World’s Main Streets: London’s New Bond Street Rises to No. 1

Cushman & Wakefield’s new ‘Main Streets Across the World’ report places London’s New Bond Street at the top of the global ranking – ahead of Milan’s Via Montenapoleone and New York’s Fifth Avenue. The report also confirms broad-based resurgence of Europe’s prime shopping miles.

Austrian Retail Innovation Awards 2025 Recognize Excellence in Retail

REWE-Group’s Billa, MediaMarkt, Rasendokter and Spar are the four winners of the Austrian Retail Innovation Awards 2025

APM MONACO TO OPEN FIRST STANDALONE STORE IN VICTORIA LEEDS, ENGLAND

The Victoria Leeds shopping center owned and operated by Redical has recently announced the planned arrival of APM Monaco, a fashion jewellery brand founded in 1982. APM Monaco has signed to open its first standalone boutique in the North of England, marking a key milestone in the brand’s expansion across the UK.

The Hidden Value of Places: Why Retail Real Estate Must Rethink What it Measures

Retail real estate is entering a new era. Physical places act not just as trading environments but as powerful media platforms. Portland Design’s Head of Data & Analytics, Paddy Gamble, shares how emotional engagement, digital reach, and behavioral insights are reshaping the success of places.

Vila do Conde Porto Fashion Outlet Opens Major Expansion – A Clear Signal of VIA Outlets’ Iberian Ambitions

VIA Outlets celebrates the grand opening of its Vila do Conde Porto Fashion Outlet. A key milestone in a multi-year investment programme.

GRAI Q3/2025: Europe Stays in the Lead, Retail Confidence Strengthens

Union Investment and NIQ-GfK’s Global Retail Attractiveness Index (GRAI) for the third quarter of 2025 confirms a continuation of the positive trend of the European retail market that has characterized the year so far.

Lefties by Inditex to make German Market Entry

Owned by the Spanish multinational textile company, Inditex, the affordable clothing brand Lefties is continuing its expansion in Europe in Düsseldorf, Germany.

From Square Meters to Meaning: Investing in the Future of Retail

As retail evolves, so does the way investors measure value. For Eric Decouvelaere, Head of EMEA Urban Destinations Operator Division at CBRE, the winning formula combines location, strong execution, and emotional connection.

“Retail Reimagined: Redefining Value, Culture and Place”

Portland Design’s Managing Director Ibrahim Ibrahim explores how culture, community, and belonging are redefining the purpose of retail spaces – and how brands can build future-ready value beyond the shelf.

Chris Igwe recognized as Class of 2026 “Retail Voices by NRF”

Founder and President of Chris Igwe International, Chris Igwe has been one of the 2026 Retail Voices by NRF – a recognition program from NRF in partnership with RETHINK Retail.

Westfield Centro to welcome new UNIQLO Store in 2026

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW)’s shopping and leisure destination, Westfield Centro is welcoming a new international fashion retailer, UNIQLO in the Spring of 2026.

Innovation Sets the Pace in Europe’s Outlet Center Market, New Industry Review Shows

The latest Ken Gunn European Outlet Industry Review 2025/26 revealed at MAPIC shows a market stabilizing at the top while accelerating with strategic change down the hierarchy.

MAPIC Awards 2025: A Celebration of Innovation, Leadership and Legacy

For its 30th anniversary, MAPIC awarded not only the brands and projects of the year but also the personalities, projects and brands of the last three decades.

MAPIC 2025: A Quieter Cannes – and Signs of a Retail Renaissance

In its 30th year, MAPIC took a more introspective turn. The fair may have felt smaller and calmer, but behind the scenes, new ideas about the future of retail and placemaking are quietly taking shape.

Gift Card Systems in Retail: Where Does the Value Go?

As the global gift card market surpasses USD 900 billion, the question for retail operators is no longer whether to offer them — but how.

50 Years of Westfield Donau Zentrum in Vienna: A Milestone Shaping the Future of Urban Retail

Vienna’s Westfield Donau Zentrum is celebrating its 50th anniversary under the motto “50 Years of Future – Shaping the Shopping Experience of Tomorrow.” Austria’s largest shopping and leisure destination is not only looking back at five decades of transformation but also forward, with a clear focus on innovation, sustainability, and urban quality of life.

Swiss Retail Sector Leads the Way: Food Waste down by 20%

As reported by the Swiss Retail Federation, the country’s retail sector has achieved exemplar results, cutting food losses by 20% between 2017 and 2024.

Resilience against the odds: Global Luxury market projected to reach €1.4 trillion in 2025

According to the World Market for Luxury Goods 2025 by Euromonitor International, the luxury market is set to reach an amount of €1.4 trillion in 2025 – in spite of currently ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical turmoil.

Shopping malls in trend for Christmas season

Study confirms the relevance of shopping malls and shows new trends.

HUMA IN SANKT AUGUSTIN – A PIONEER OF THE HYBRID RETAIL CONCEPT

The huma shopping center in Sankt Augustin is a unique development in the German retail sector: An established center has been successfully combined with a fully-fledged outlet area for the first time. ACROSS spoke with Dr. Maximilian Gutsche, Managing Director of the Jost Hurler Group, and Lars Jähnichen, Managing Director of the IPH Group, about the background, implementation, and market success of this model, as well as how it could be replicated elsewhere.

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