The Melbourne Retail Strategy launched in July 2006, is a joint initiative of the City of Melbourne, the State Government of Victoria and the Melbourne Retail Advisory Board and aims to ensure that by 2012, Melbourne city will be renowned globally as Australia’s leading retail city with an unrivalled retail landscape acclaimed for its diversity and compelling experiences.
Within an architectural and design context, the Melbourne Retail Strategy seeks to establish partnerships between innovative design and architecture studios and key retail houses to explore opportunities to create retail-driven landmarks within the city.
Roger Nelson, Chair of the Melbourne Retail Advisory Board and Principal of NHArchitecture, explains that the Melbourne Retail Strategy addresses all aspects of the retail spectrum, ranging from attracting a high-end, luxury department store and building retail landmarks in the CBD, to developing enclaves of young designers and artisans, addressing the way the various precincts around the city are defined and marketed, and capitalising on Melbourne’s event culture and new developments such as the Convention Centre, due for completion in 2009.
“Melbourne’s retail sector will face significant challenges over the next few years, including accessibility and increased competition. Therefore the Melbourne Retail Strategy has been developed to ensure that over the next six years, Melbourne capitalises on the opportunities at hand to retain its title as Australia’s premium retail city,” Mr Nelson said.
As demand for prime retail space continues to outstrip supply, retailers are looking for creative new alternatives for space.
At the launch of the Melbourne Retail Strategy Year Two Report Card 2007:2008 on 12 May 2008, Chair of the City of Melbourne’s Business and International Relations Committee, Cr Fiona Snedden, said part of Melbourne’s distinct retail personality is the innovative use of its laneways, network and above awning retail spaces. “In the next twelve months we will see further increased mix of commercial and retail buildings connected by lanes, concourses and open spaces. We are liaising with industry to identify and develop ‘above awning’ levels for unique retail space. We are talking to agents, landlords and the Property Council of Australia, as well as emerging designers to identify and facilitate access to the unused spaces within the CBD,” Cr Snedden said.
It was further revealed that early plans were underway for a nationally recognised week-long ‘Melbourne Shopping Festival’ currently planned as part of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week 2010. It is anticipated the $1 billion worth of retail development currently underway will be officially online. The shopping festival will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase the new Melbourne Retail landscape to the world.
Speaking at the launch, Industry and Trade Minister, Theo Theophanous said our unique mix of city retailers is diversifying all the time, and the report card shows increasing demand from lifestyle, food and beverage retailers – but it is fashion that continues to ensure Melbourne is a draw card for major retailers and shoppers alike.
What’s in store for Melbourne’s 2008 Spring Fashion Week from Design Victoria?
Design Victoria, together with City of Melbourne Retail Development Unit has marked Melbourne Spring Fashion Week 2008 as a key opportunity to cultivate new and unique retail experiences that will help shape the vision for the city through their Business Ready and Design Ready seminar
New Retail: Location is everything — or is it?
Retail is very much about seeking the next new experience and this often involves radical ideas that are a distinct departure from traditional concepts - High Street, laneways, above ground, underground, shopping centres, urban precincts, pop-up retail, collectives, the internet. Where are the opportunities? What is the new experience? What are the innovations? What impacts on success?
Thursday 4 September 2008
11.30 am - 1.30 pm
Melbourne Town Hall
Design Victoria aims to build on its hugely successful seminar ‘Innovation In Retail Business’ held during Melbourne Spring Fashion Week in 2007, co-presented with the City of Melbourne Retail Development Unit. ‘Innovation In Retail Business’ encouraged participants to look at retail through the eyes of designers and retailers who innovate by design and to examine design’s strong link to Melbourne’s edge as Australia’s leading retail destination. Key themes were change, difference and innovation – ‘design’ a catalyst for change, a way of thinking that creates and adds value to brands, products, services, spaces and business.
Related Links
Melbourne Spring Fashion Week (MSFW) — www.thatsmelbourne.com.au
16 June 2008