Executive Summary

This report analyzes which brands, retailers and store formats will be winning in the retail world of the future. The report draws on global analysis performed by FGRT, retail real estate market insights about the Hong Kong market from Colliers International and an expert panel discussion that took place in Hong Kong on the theme the “Tenant of the Future.” The panel discussion was part of the second event of the “Retail Revolution: Disrupt or be Disrupted” event series—a collaboration between FGRT and ULI Asia Pacific, which focuses on innovation in retail and its applications to real estate.

• New Retail is emerging as a dominant retail strategy in key markets around the world and this is changing how retailers look at their physical retail footprint: New Retail companies view their physical stores as a lot more than just a distribution channel.
• In 2017, Hong Kong experienced a recovery of retail sales, with more emphasis on new shopping experiences. A few of the trends shaping the landscape are an uptake in tourists from the Chinese Mainland, changing consumer behavior that is increasingly digital and the market entry of new international brands.
• Brands and retailers will still need an offline presence in the future, which they will use to provide an experiential environment to shoppers and to add value to online sales. In addition, closer collaboration between tenants and landlords will be key in the New Retail landscape.