Megan Hutchinson

Another great piece from Mary Portas regarding the return of Top Shop but it easily applies to all retailers: Last week brought another piece of the Topshop comeback puzzle. The once-iconic name is stepping back into the real world, with collections hitting two major European retailers later this year. There was a buzz, excitement and chat for months on how this was going to launch. And now we know. Topshop is to return via other retailers’ stores. It’s a return – that’s for sure. But not without questions. Or a shed load of emotion. Because Topshop wasn’t just a store. Why was it so successful? Well apart from a powerful, savvy and brilliant bunch of women at the top, (excluding the Chairman occasionally sticking his nose in) it was a cultural and fashion landmark. It was a scene. A rite of passage. A London institution. That Oxford Street flagship was our cathedral of cool. A place where young people didn’t just shop - they found themselves. They congregated. They dreamed. They tried on identities and imagined what they could be. So now with no store, no street, no stage - how do you bring that magic back? Handing the brand over to sit on racks alongside other labels in someone else’s store dilutes that uniqueness and undermines what made it iconic. A true relaunch is not just about availability—it’s about vision, control, and rebuilding a compelling narrative. You don’t revive a brand by outsourcing its soul; you do it by curating the experience, owning the aesthetic, and making people want you again. Simply slotting into another retailer’s environment isn’t a comeback—it’s a concession. Fashion has changed beyond recognition. Today’s shoppers scroll a thousand aesthetics an hour. They’re unpredictable, fluid, fiercely selective. But they still want to feel. To explore. To belong. To believe in something. And the great brands are returning to that space. The most successful community-led resurgence of brands like Miu Miu or Jacquemus—have understood this. They’re building experiences, not just products. They’re cultivating emotion, identity, and space. This is where the future lies: in community, in connection, in joy. Physical spaces—whether it’s a flagship store, a pop-up, or a cultural hub—serve as spiritual homes. They anchor the brand’s soul, giving people somewhere to be, not just to buy. Because great fashion is never just worn. It’s felt. That was Topshop’s power. And it still can be. So let’s forget the surface-level playbook. Not rely too heavily on the celebrity-fronted campaigns. Let’s channel the curation, the cultural confidence, the creative guts that made it iconic. So here’s my rally cry: Ditch the safety. Find the soul. Reimagine the magic. Because the world doesn’t need more stuff. But it does need more Topshop.

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NEW RESEARCH: This year’s Christmas trading period reinforced the defining trends of 2025, with UK consumers remaining value-driven, selective, and highly responsive to strong omnichannel execution. Read Savills Global Retail and Leisure summary of the key themes that shaped operator performance over the festive period. Key takeaways include: 🛒 Grocers and discounters led festive growth, with Lidl, Aldi, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and M&S all delivering strong food-led performance driven by premium own-label, convenience missions, and value propositions. 🛍️ Consumers continued to “trade up” selectively, prioritising food, gifting and small treats while cutting back on big-ticket discretionary purchases, leading to a clear divergence between grocery strength and softer general merchandise results. 📈 Omnichannel execution was the decisive competitive edge, as retailers who combined digital capability with an effective store estate—such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Next—captured demand through faster fulfilment, convenience, and increased customer engagement. Contact Alan Spencer, Stuart AJ Moncur, Johnny Rowland, Andy Hall or myself for leasing advice, location strategies and market commentary. #savills #retail

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#Consumers tightening the purse strings ahead of the #autumnbudget? Absolutely not, on the evidence of today's #retailsales: ✅ YoY retail #spend up +4.0% in September ✅ YoY volumes (i.e. real growth)+2.3% ✅ Shop price #inflation of 1.8% lower than headline (3.8%) ✅ Q3 values (+3.2%) and volumes (+1.5%) both up (and accelerating) ✅ Q3 real growth of +1.5% considerably higher than #GDP (+0.2%) ✅ Yet #economists still get it spectacularly wrong ✅ Economist consensus forecast was -0.2% MoM volume growth vs outturn of +0.5% #kfretail #highstreet #ecommerce #online #grocery #supermarkets #retailproperty #retailrealestate https://lnkd.in/e2PPS9V2

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In this video, Steve Rodell (Managing Director - Retail & Leisure, Christie & Co) discusses the leisure market landscape in 2025 and key trends that will shape 2026. To find out more, read the full Christie & Co Business Outlook 2026 report here: https://lnkd.in/e39RgdVQ #leisurebusinesssales #businessoutlook2026

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The retail market is shifting — and emerging brands are leading the charge. Message me to learn how CoStar helps you track the trends shaping today’s retail landscape.

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Great to see our Head of Retail and Leisure, Gareth Soar, featured in the latest Estates Gazette piece on what we’ve known for a while - shopping centres are well and truly back in fashion! Gareth neatly summarises what we’re seeing on the ground - investor appetite for UK retail is very much there, but it’s highly selective. Top occupier line-ups, strong locations or genuine repositioning opportunities are attracting capital, while secondary stock without a clear plan continues to struggle. The importance of hands-on management is critical in this customer-focused sector. In a market driven by yield and the search for stable income, active asset management, operational grip and a clear vision for place will be what separates the winners from the rest. Workman LLP Activate - Workman Placemaking #UKRetail #ShoppingCentres #Retail #Leisure

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Savills has released its UK Single Family Housing Spotlight, which validates and contextualises the continued ascendency of the sector. It was another record year for Single Family, which now accounts for over half of UK BTR investment in 2025 (59%; >£3bn). Behind the headlines, several trends are shaping the housing landscape and creating an environment that support future market growth: - Stronger and more widespread appetite from housebuilders to sell homes to SFH investors, recognising that SFH is complementary to open market sales by de-risking and accelerating housing delivery.   - Increasing interest from long-term capital - established portfolios are emerging that evidence longer-term rental performance and deep tenant demand, substantiating positive perceptions about the sector’s risk profile. - Resilient demand for high quality, family homes, particularly in the East Midlands and South East of England – driven by widening rental affordability relative to incomes and by residents increasingly choosing professionally managed services over buy-to-let rental stock.   Leaf Living has already delivered several thousand homes & we are looking forward to operating at the forefront of the sector, as we continue to deliver thousands more homes and fund development partnerships through strategic relationships across the South East of England.

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Our latest UK Leisure Spotlight research report is live! Please get in touch if you would like to receive a copy. Carlene Hughes James Hurst Samuel Arrowsmith Tom Whittington Savills Global Retail and Leisure #savills #research #leisure

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Overall retail property market still on steady footing. It's not all bad news, not all good news. Uncertainty continuing seems certain. https://lnkd.in/eeDe4vzV ⚫ A recovery by the retail property market is running out of steam because of retailer bankruptcies and cautious shoppers. ⚫ Store closures rose in 2024, ending a two-year expansion, with more closures than openings nationwide. ⚫ Uncertainty and inflation are causing retailers to pause on signing new leases, affecting shopping-center leasing. ✅ Opportunistic retailers can use this period as the playing field evens out to leverage deal making in their favor. Landlords can change their merchandising mix. Kate King The Wall Street Journal Burlington Stores, Inc. Five Below#retailtransformation #retail #CRE RETHINK Retail #topretailexpert

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It’s been great to work with the teams at M&G Real Estate and CBRE UK Development Management on The Ribbon development in Central London. Our #placemaking team has supported with the creation of an Employment & Training Opportunities Strategy focused on maximising positive impact within the local community. We’ve also built and implemented the Host Building powered by VTS occupier app to create a smart building digital portal, enabling touchless access and visitor management alongside enhanced amenity and #community management. Aaron Pope Hugo Parry James Shaw Jason Gallehawk James Pay Emily Dixon

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The latest retail leasing research in central London reveals a significant increase in investment in the first half of 2025, amounting to £1.6bn. #retail #retailnews https://lnkd.in/euByhjFj

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Great to provide my insights for 2026 alongside the latest impactful research from Samuel Arrowsmith. Debt markets are becoming increasingly constructive, and we are seeing improved liquidity across the sector, with a particular focus on larger transactions.

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The CBRE UK London Retail Market Report H1 2025 has just launched, and its packed with insights for anyone navigating the retail landscape in Central London. Key themes that stood out: *Prime retail streets are seeing tight supply and rising rents. 9 of the top 14 streets saw rental growth in the last 12 months.* *F&B operators continue to dominate leasing activity, with strong demand across Soho, Covent Garden, and The City.* *Investment volumes are up 37% YoY, driven by strategic acquisitions and the rise of own-to-occupy strategies.* *Our leasing team has been busy, with 200+ deals completed and 1,200 active requirements across Central London totalling over 5million sq ft tracked.* Please read the full report: https://lnkd.in/eCtFaNZt Please reach out if you have any questions about Central London's retail market performance. CBRE Retail

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In Central London retail during 2025, we've noticed an interesting trend: a split between consumer sentiment and occupier confidence. Although West End spending dipped slightly, with cautious consumers affecting average transaction values, the underlying activity paints a different picture. Footfall and transaction volumes both continued to rise. This trend aligns with what we're hearing from brands: retailers are adopting a longer-term perspective on London. Demand for top-tier spaces on Bond Street, Oxford Street, and Regent Street remains robust despite global uncertainties. With tightening vacancies and limited supply, competition for prime units is still fierce. It's a reminder that, although consumer cycles vary, prime London retail is still seen as a strategic long-term location for global brands. As we look to the future, improving sentiment and increased footfall may bolster spend growth in 2026. For more insights, read the full report:

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🥇 Great to see PureGym leading the way yet again with Savills calling us out as the most acquitive occupier in the retail warehouse market for the second year running in 2025 🙌 🏃‍♂️ 53 openings in total last year with 32 on retail parks (3 retail warehouse units already open this year so far too 😮‍💨). 👀 Still plenty more to go for 2026 and beyond, with formats to suit all catchments from 15k population markets + and formats of between 3.5-20k sq ft. Please get in touch property@puregym.com or Steve Elrington Heather Blenkinship Marcus Levico Katie Criss Matthew Dickson Duncan Costin

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To LCA , for BE News’ “Spotlight on Retail” last night – great to hear some positivity about the market.  A big thank you to Liz Hamson, Sian Wilde and all Team BE News / LCA for arranging and hosting this.   BLUF: "Retail isn’t dead – it’s evolving".  Data-driven insights, omnichannel strategies and (drive for) customer experiences are shaping the future of UK retail and retail real estate.  However both retailers and retail real estate owners & managers are all having to work much harder to win against ferocious competition, and the gap between “The Best” and “The Rest” continues to widen. Enrique Del Rio Mancebon (Lloyds Banking Group) and Amanda Argent (Baird Group) provided two fascinating Keynote Speeches. A Panel of 6 experts then provided further insights. The panel included: - Allan Lockhart - CEO, NewRiver REIT - Jenni Matthews - Marketing & Insights Director, MRI Software - Vivienne King - Founder, Impactful Places / Chair, Revo - Retail. Property. Community. - Charles Elgood - Partner, Maples Teesdale LLP - Robert Wingrave - CEO, Time Retail Partners (B Corp™) - Dr. Clive Black - Director, Shore Capital Markets A challenge to summarise everything said, however, with the help of AI (thanks, ChatGPT-5!), here goes: (1) Reasons to be Positive: - UK consumer spend remains resilient: August up 2% YoY, Non-Essentials +3.4%, Health & Beauty +16%. - Physical retail is evolving, not disappearing – strong demand for in-store experiences and omnichannel synergy. - Retail property market is the best in a decade, with AI and analytics set to boost performance. (2) How Retail & Real Estate are Evolving: - Experience-led stores: immersive design, 1:1 appointments (80% conversion), tech-enabled service - help woo and keep customers. - Omnichannel wins: customers spend more when both online and offline integrate well. - Data-driven insights and predictive analytics can help shape tenant mix, marketing and event planning. - Retail destinations adding F&B, leisure, and social spaces to attract footfall. (3) Challenges & Risks: - Economic uncertainty and £640Bn unspent savings signal fragile confidence. - Climate resilience and sustainability: temperature-controlled, future-proof spaces needed. - Structural issues: fragmented ownership, planning hurdles, and rapid retailer churn, especially in "The Rest", hamper growth. - Political and regulatory headwinds: business rates, EPR, and policy uncertainty. The key question I was going to ask - "What about The Rest? What about the 7,000-odd High Streets*, which in many cases are struggling or failing, rather than the bigger shopping centres / retail parks that "big" investors focus on?" was asked but only sort of answered - more to do there, methinks, if UK plc is to move out of its torpor and find a better, more sustainable growth path. Great to be there with colleagues from Inner Circle Consulting, Lucy Webb and Roland Karthaus. Thanks again, BE News and LCA.

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