18 June, 2015

Launch: New Strategy To Boost City Retail Sector

A blueprint to help the City’s retail sector reach its full potential has been officially launched at Town Hall by the Lord Mayor with more than 130 of the City’s retailers and business people.

The City Retail Strategy will help develop great retail places, attract flagship brands and assist the retail and hospitality sectors to grow and create jobs. Nearly 17,000 people work in retail and hospitality within the City and Council is committed to providing ongoing support.

While consumer confidence has been down in recent times, the City has entered a period of exciting revitalisation and the strategy has been put in place to help retailers benefit.

Lord Mayor Martin Haese, who’s a former long-term retailer and extremely supportive of the strategy’s implementation, said a strong retail sector is vital to the City’s economic success.

“A major $30 million upgrade to Adelaide’s shopping heart, Rundle Mall, has reinforced the Mall’s position as South Australia’s leading retail precinct,” Martin said.

“Council is committed to working with retailers to help drive the City’s retail strategy – the first of its type for the City – and a blueprint for a strong and vibrant retail sector in Adelaide.”

Colliers International Director of Retail Leasing, Ben Laycock, was excited by the strategy and by new initiatives bringing people into the City who want to shop, dine, relax and experience Adelaide.

“Attracting new brands to the city will create a stronger point of difference and develop the mix of retailers for the benefit of shoppers,” Ben said.

“Working together, retailers can be involved in guiding this plan forward to deliver positive results for the City as a whole. This is the first citywide strategy and significant first step for our sector.”

Rundle Place Centre Manager, Kate Jarman, said the strategy gives the direction and vision needed to build on a strong foundation to grow the retail offer in our community.

“To be competitive in this retail environment, all stakeholders need to work together to ensure the CBD continues to be the best destination for new, innovative and international retailers,” Kate said.

The strategy has been designed to build on the competitiveness of the retail sector and focuses on a number of outcomes, including using technology as an enabler.

Click here to read the strategy. A dedicated website will go live in the next few days.

Matt Halliwell