Orchard prime retail space sees strong take-up in 1Q2024, with Central Area rents up 0.2% q-o-q

In the Orchard location, fine jewelry chain Swarovski started its largest retail store of around 2,300 sq ft at Wisma Atria. Homegrown womenswear brand name Klarra’s opened a 1,500 sq ft main boutique at ION Orchard. With the improved retail demand, malls such as Paragon and Wisma Atria had obtained full occupancy by the end of 2023, Wong adds.

“The retail industry continues to be two-tiered,” claims Tricia Song, CBRE head of study for Singapore and Southeast Asia. Second areas continue to view softer need for retail space contrasted to prime sector.

The Outside Central Region (OCR) found an unfavorable net involvement in retail space of regarding 54,000 sq ft in 1Q2024. Vacancy price in the OCR boosted to 4.4% in 1Q2024 from 3.9% in the previous quarter. CBRE associates it to combination in chosen field sectors and resistance to high leas.

Angelia Phua, JLL Singapore consulting director for research study & consultancy, indicates that higher operational expenses, intense competitors, unpopular retail ideas and changing consumer choices have actually also resulted in some store endings and a rise in vacancy rates.

The Orchard location observed the highest take-up in retail space during the quarter, with final interest of 43,000 sq ft or 80% of complete take-up in the Central Area. Retailers in the Orchard location were spurred to take up more location as visitors arrivals in 1Q2024 climbed by 49.6% y-o-y, boosted by a five-fold increase in Chinese guests, states Song.

Still, depended by tough local intake and buyer traffic above pre-Covid values, stores continued to take key retail areas in the OCR, states C&W’s Wong. As an example, the Chinese sportswear company Beneunder chose to launch at Westgate Mall in Jurong East last year. Hong Kong cosmetics chain Sa restarted at Jurong Point last quarter and is opening three more outlets in the OCR in 2Q2024.

In 1Q2024, retail room leas in the Central Region fell partially by 0.4% q-o-q, expanding the decline of 0.1% q-o-q the previous quarter. Nevertheless, islandwide prime floor rental fees were up by 1% q-o-q, after a 1.2% q-o-q rise the previous quarter.

Retail rents in the Central Area nudged up 0.2% q-o-q, mainly because of the Orchard region, explains Wong Xian Yang, Cushman & Wakefield (C&W) head of research for Singapore and Southeast Asia. In contrast, retail industry hires in the Fringe Areas fell 1.8% q-o-q in 1Q2024.

Openings prices in the Orchard region were lower to 6.4% in 1Q2024 from 8.7% in 4Q2023, the most affordable since the onset of the pandemic.

Grand Dunman Singapore

As an example, fashion brand Zara closed its retail store in Marina Square shopping mall, while Times Bookstores shuttered its shops in Plaza Singapura and Waterway Point. After launching here 2 years earlier on, South Korean convenience store Emart24 closed all 3 shops in Singapore in March. Tom & Stefanie, a kids’s clothing merchant, closed up its outlet at West Shopping center after 25 years.

URA’s 1Q2024 information revealed rates of retail investments were up 1.8% q-o-q, marking the fourth straight quarterly surge. Phua associates the raise in asset prices to entrepreneurs alloting even more resources to top quality retail resources. Entrepreneurs are drawn to the sector because of the beneficial supply-demand fundamentals, positive yield spread over funding prices and shortage value of such properties.

However, the pipeline of business travel and meetings, incentive travel, conventions and exhibitions (BTMICE), enhanced trip connection and ability with the upcoming Changi Terminal 5 will certainly further boost the travel and leisure recovery and, consequently, the retail industry, mentions JLL’s Phua.


error: Content is protected !!