26
sports users and we have found the flexibility we needed in our concept to meet this demand.
“We will still open out of town retail park formats focusing on our duplex model, but have also introduced High Street and shopping mall concepts. We have a minimum size requirement of 9,000 sq ft trading area but this can be split over two levels so that we can keep our promise of ‘70 sports under one roof’.”
As with the old BHS store at Uxbridge, the structural change in the UK retailing scene has, in some instances, helped Decathlon find the right sort of outlets.
“In recent times, the retail market has been fairly volatile with some chains going out of business or other chains being acquired. So surplus space has come onto the market which has made it easier to find opportunities, but these still have to be in the right locations where we know our presence is going to work”.
Rodriguez knows north west London well having worked in the area for several years and a store in the location has always been a target.
“We’ve always had a requirement for Uxbridge. The catchment is particularly attractive due to the demographic profile and our research showed high levels of physical recreation and sports participation. Also, the retail environment that intu has created in the centre was a strong incentive to commit to the location”.
Dan Simms of Colliers Retail Agency – which advises intu on the letting of the centre – comments: “Decathlon is a tremendous retailer but have always been very selective. The failure of BHS left a large gap at intu Uxbridge but paradoxically also created the scale of space that Decathlon need.
“Our market tends to generalise about few retailers wanting large chunks of space any more, but this letting
Browse | Q3 2017
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36
