Ahead of the Mega Trends in Retail event in Adelaide today (6 October), The Advertiser South Australia has sought the views of Urbis associate director Julie Collins in its article Shopping centres must look at mixed use, better food retailers to ride out soft retail growth.
Julie will be presenting at the Property Council’s event alongside Hames Sharley and Vicinity Centres to discuss current and emerging trends set to affect retail markets, locally, nationally and globally.
“Retail centres can’t just be retail centres anymore
In the article, Julie emphasizes that shopping centre owners must adjust to the subdued growth in the retail sector. It is predicted that traditional food courts will make way for higher quality cafe and dining precincts as a ‘sense of place drives’ global retail consumption.
“It’s more about mixed use and understanding if you give them (customers) a sense of place and community you can get people here,” Julie said.
“It’s down to things such as community spaces, areas for childcare, even simple things like putting community libraries … retail centres can’t just be retail centres anymore.”