High streets find more favour as physical shops attract again

Following several years in the wilderness, retail is beginning to find more acceptance again. Although there is still some nervousness about the sector among institutional investors according to Dirk Bakker CEO of Colliers Netherlands, there has been a dip in the online shopping spend and more interest in high streets.

He was talking to Real Asset Insight’s Richard Betts during the recent Provada real estate show in Amsterdam. His colleague director, retail, Chris Lanting explained: “After covid the physical shopping experience has picked up well among consumers and turnover in physical shops is increasing. From my perspective, that’s future proofing physical shopping.”

Lanting said that because rents in high streets have dropped for several years, there is a better balance between turnover and rent making a strong business case for retailers.

Bakker pointed out that this is a logical conclusion if Gen Zed is spending on experience. “Where do you spend on experience? You do it in bars, restaurants and shops….it’s a logical movement.”