Online shopping has become an integral part of the retail industry, with many consumers now choosing to do their weekly shop over the internet rather than visit their nearest supermarket. As a result, a number of the UK’s largest grocery providers have scaled back store expansions and renovations in favour of upping the level of service... Read More
According to a report released by real estate firm DTZ, Asia Pacific office rents are expected to show the largest increase in rents from 2013 to 2017. Bengaluru, India, is expected to post the highest annual growth at 8.5 per cent. Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre Office rents in Europe are expected to post a wide range of... Read More
Melbourne has been ranked as a top Global University City, as well as a top Global Innovation City. Last month, it was placed first in the Economist Unit's Liveability Report for the third year in a row. The city has taken a very active stand on sustainability. In 2002, Melbourne established its "Zero Net Emissions by... Read More
While the economy may be improving and consumers have once more begun to spend, small retailers across the country still find themselves struggling to make ends meet. In part, this is due to the internet shopping craze, which has seen consumers browsing the offerings of e-tailers rather than heading to their local high street. An... Read More
With the British economy going from strength to strength in the aftermath of four years of recession, international firms and growth funds are keen to have their slice of the pie by investing keenly in the country’s infrastructure. This is particularly true of growing economies such as China, which is involved in a number of different... Read More
US commercial property owners should see their insurance premiums drop in 2014, according to a report released by Willis Group Holdings P.L.C. The 2014 Market Readiness Report points to a number of factors, including new competition and falling reinsurance prices, as reasons for better pricing next year. Willis says that it expects... Read More
Jaeger, the 129 year old fashion brand, is planning to return some of its clothing manufacturing to the UK, some 15 years after it was off-shored. Most of Jaegers clothing is produced in Asia, but the company now wants to return it closer to home and start manufacturing in the UK, as well as Italy, Portugal and Turkey. The idea behind... Read More
The position of London’s South Bank as a prime business location is underlined by data showing that office take-up in the area is at its highest level since 2007. Approximately 872,000 sq ft was let between July and September bringing the total for the year to date to 1.3 million sq ft. The improving economy is undoubtedly a factor... Read More
Business confidence has begun to increase significantly as companies manage to raise revenues in the period of recovery following the recession. Yet there are still critics who claim that there are no solid signs of long term recovery. And with growth in manufacturing going into reverse last month, some fear a further dip into the economic... Read More
Intu Properties has closed a transaction worth £101 million on the Parque Principado Shopping Centre in Asturias in northern Spain. It is one of the country's top 10 shopping centres, and brings in nine million visitors each year. Prime tenants include Primark, Ikea, Zara and H&M. The company, which owns 16 shopping centres in the... Read More
The high street has struggled greatly in the past few years, with poor weather driving customers indoors and into the arms of e-tailers only exacerbating the issue of the economic crisis. As a result, chains which previously enjoyed huge success in town centres saw falling sales and profits, with the result that many high profile brands had... Read More
While consumer confidence is once more on the rise, thanks to a squeeze on disposable incomes this is not necessarily translating into steeply rising sales for high street retailers, many of whom are still making losses though at a lower rate than during the recession. Fortunately, several years of economic turmoil have left a lasting... Read More
Hotel chain Travelodge has written to 124 local councils seeking to work together to finance the construction of new budget hotels. The move follows partnership deals struck with local authorities for hotels in Eastleigh and Aylesbury. The chain says it is in advanced discussions with five other councils for developments using land... Read More
Shanghai's Free Trade Zone (FTZ) will be open for business soon, and its property market has been generating a buzz. On September 24, the government released four plots of land to generate transfer income according to the National Business Daily. Before the move, the city had sold a number of plots of land at premium prices and rent... Read More
When you think of fashion you tend to think of the West End not the East End. Instead East London may make you think more along the lines of Eastenders with its market stalls and sometimes wild fashion tastes – if you are not from around there. But Hackney Council has recently approved plans for a new multi-million pound ‘fashion... Read More
Veteran retailer Bill Grimsey has repeated his call for a review of the business rates system in light of new figures which show the extent to which provincial commercial property values have fallen since the last revaluation. Stockport Town Hall Mr Grimsey, who recently led a study into the problems facing the high street, has spoken... Read More
Tesco has spent tens of millions relaunching its premium Finest range in the hope of attracting more shoppers who may have stayed away after the horsemeat scandal engulfed the supermarket. Tesco bosses also hope to win business from upmarket rival Waitrose, which has seen a huge lift in sales in the past year. Finest is worth £1.4bn... Read More
With UK airport capacity provoking considerable debate, the prospect of a potential closure in Scotland was seen as a problem for firms north of the border. Fortunately, this issue has now been resolved, with the Scottish Government confirming that Glasgow Prestwick International Airport will be nationalised in the coming weeks. Deputy... Read More
Christmas time is never cheap especially if you have plenty of family and friends to buy presents for. But the food we consume over the festivities can add an even bigger strain to that already heavily squeezed purse. So when supermarkets like Morrisons offer a bonus scheme just for buying their weekly shop like normal, many of us jump... Read More
Although unemployment has dropped significantly since the recession, one of the Government’s key aims remains the re-introduction of long term unemployed and disabled workers to the workplace. However, according to a leading disability charity, there is simply not enough being done to facilitate this ambition. Disabled workers... Read More
The boom in internet shopping has changed the face of the retail industry substantially, with many consumers choosing to order everything from clothing to groceries online. This has caused many retailers to cut back on their store portfolios and instead concentrate their efforts on building a strong online platform. However, in a... Read More
The race for space is on in Bond Street and it has led to luxury brands shelling out millions on multi-level megastores. The trend started when Louis Vuitton opened its large outlet store on the street in 2010. Chanel opened its own store on the other side of the street earlier this year. Other brands are following suit, and planning... Read More
