Auckland, 17 June 2015 - Taupo shoppers are getting great new shopping options with the news that two established nationwide brands are opening stores for the first time in town, and more are set to come in the near future.
Lincraft creates new store at 29 Totara Point
Crafty Taupo residents can warm up their hot-glue guns with the news that Australasian craft, fabric, yarn, haberdashery, window furnishings, manchester and fashion accessories brand Lincraft is set to open a new 1,500sqm store in the Totara Point retail centre. The site was formerly occupied by 100% Electric.
Established in 2005, Lincraft now has more than 70 stores in New Zealand and Australia. The company is taking an eight-year lease that is due to commence in July, after works to update the property are due to be completed by the landlord, The Pointon Group.
Melissa Healy of Lincraft says: “Since opening our first store in 2011 in the South Island, we are looking forward to expanding our presence in the North Island and creating our fourth store in total. At Lincraft, our aim is to inspire – and we know that nothing is more rewarding than creating something with your own hands. With the largest range of quality products, Taupo residents are sure to find something for their next project.”
Glynn Pointon of the Pointon Group says: “The Totara Point Shopping Centre has enjoyed some rapid growth of late with new tenants such as Lincraft, The Vet Club and Simply Numbers Accountancy taking premises. Lincraft’s new store, along with the ever-popular Fabryx store, will give locals and visitors who are interested in home sewing, knitting, crafts along with soft furnishings and accessories one of NZ’s largest selections.”
K&K expands style at Horomatangi Street
21-store ladies fashion chain K&K Fashions Limited has added a 22nd, 140 sqm store at 13A Horomatangi Street, formerly occupied by Hillary Fashions.
A family-run business that has been operating for over 30 years, K&K has grown to cover New Zealand from Whangarei to Invercargill, with an emphasis on fuller figure fashion.
K&K’s mission has always been to provide the latest international fashions to women of all sizes at affordable prices, tailoring the latest fashion trends to suit the New Zealand body: Whether a size 10 or 26, the latest fashions are at K&K.
Grant Unsworth, CBRE NZ’s National Director Retail Services, says: “These are great deals for Taupo. They will help the local retail market and provide new offerings for local people and visitors alike.
“These new retailers are attracted to Taupo not only because it consistently takes top honours as a visitor destination - recently awarded the 2015 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Destination Award and topping a consumer poll conducted by leading travel experience provider Experience Oz + NZ as the country’s number one destination to experience for example - but because it is equally attractive to year-round residents.
“It’s also great news because we have completed another lease with a major national retailer to take a large city centre site – which we look forward to announcing in due course.”
This news follows a recent nationwide CBRE retail consumer survey that revealed that a bricks-and-mortar shopping experience is still attractive to younger shoppers, with 24% of the 18-24 year old age group intend to spend more in bricks and mortar shops over the next two years while 43% expect to increase their online expenditure.
Unsworth says the current and expected future shopping habits highlighted in the report are encouraging for bricks and mortar retailers and owners of retail property.
“Online retailing is a well-known trend. However, what the survey illustrates is the ongoing relevance of bricks and mortar, particularly among lower income brackets and those aged 18-34. Retailers and centres that adopt dual ‘bricks and clicks’ strategies will also be well-placed. Shopping centres must also continue to improve and offer shoppers convenience, plenty of parking, an attractive environment and other compelling reasons to visit.”
This follows the recent news that CBRE has been awarded two mandates to reposition and lease significant parts of two major regional shopping centres in Papamoa and Wanganui.
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About CBRE
CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (in terms of 2014 revenue). The Company has more than 52,000 employees (excluding affiliates), and serves real estate owners, investors and occupiers through more than 370 offices (excluding affiliates) worldwide. CBRE offers strategic advice and execution for property sales and leasing; corporate services; property, facilities and project management; mortgage banking; appraisal and valuation; development services; investment management; and research and consulting. Please visit our website at www.cbre.com.
