McArthurGlen, Europe's leading developer, owner and manager of designer outlet villages, will open more than 135,000 m² of new retail space across Europe in 2010 and 2011. This total includes three new schemes: La Reggia Designer Outlet near Naples, which will open in February 2010, as well as new designer outlet villages in Athens and Neumünster, near Hamburg.
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McArthurGlen's La Reggia Designer Outlet near Naples, which will open in February 2010.
In addition, extensions are under way at six existing centers: Berlin, Veneto (near Venice), Roermond (in Roermond and near Düsseldorf), Parndorf (Vienna), Barberino (Florence) and Castel Romano (Rome). And the Group is redeveloping, together with joint venture partner Henderson Global Investors, Factory Shopping Messancy as a new designer outlet village to serve the Luxembourg area.
Currently, McArthurGlen has more than 400,000 m² of existing outlet retail space across Europe in 18 designer outlet villages.
The Group works with 750 brand partners across Europe, of which 50 are top international luxury brands. The centers offer the 70 million consumers that visit McArthurGlen's outlets across Europe all-year-round discounts of up to 70% on the brands' surplus stock.
McArthurGlen's portfolio includes Serravalle Designer Outlet, Europe's largest designer outlet with 180 stores with top names such as Armani, Blumarine, Bulgari, Dolce & Gabbana, Etro, Ferrari Factory Store, Prada, Roberto Cavalli and Versace.
Gary Bond, McArthurGlen's CEO European Development, says: "Outlet retailing is still a growth area in Europe, for the right scheme in the right location. Brands are increasingly discovering how outlet retailing can help them raise cash from excess stock, while consumers have latched on to the value of buying both trusted and aspirational brands at discounts of up to 70%."
McArthurGlen sees Germany as a particularly interesting market, together with southern Spain and southern France. Germany has 0.9 m² of outlet retailing space per 1,000 inhabitants compared with 4.5 m² in Austria and 9.5 m² in the UK, Europe's most developed market for outlet retailing. (Source: Ecostra, March 2009.)
Gary continues: "We see a huge potential for well-designed, well-thought out outlet centers in the German market. We are currently under way with the second phase of our Designer Outlet Berlin, a joint venture with Henderson Global Investors, and a new scheme in Neumünster, near Hamburg. In addition, around two-thirds of the consumers visiting Designer Outlet Salzburg and our very successful Designer Outlet Roermond in the Netherlands are from neighbouring Germany, whether Bavaria or North Rhine-Westphalia."
Henning Balzer, McArthurGlen's Development Manager in Germany and Austria continues: "We are currently actively searching for new development opportunities in the German market. In particular we are interested in developing a McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Center in North Rhine-Westphalia, and we are interested in other regions in Germany with a good catchment area and strong purchasing power."
