The news of Spanish Zara opening in Sydney next week has welcomed some and dismayed many – but this is only the beginning of what will soon unfold as a battle of the brands in our very own CBD.
The Australian retail market will be given a serious shake up over the next 12 months, as international retailers like British Topshop and Japan’s UNIQLO look to set-up-shop in Sydney. Depending upon demand, these high-street mega brands will seek out sites all over the country, across all major cities and shopping centres, all of which is expected to bolster the retail, tourism and economy markets.
Topshop have on the cards a flagship store to open in Sydney in 2012; US retailers Abercrombie & Fitch, Victoria’s Secret, Forever 21 and UNIQLO Japan are considering opening stores in the CBD for the first marquee stores in Australia; and the Swedish H&M group is liaising with shopping centre owners and retail leasing agents.
“Zara, Topshop and Forever 21 will not come to Australia from as far away as Spain, UK and the US just to open one or two stores in Australia. They will open more and more, including outside the CBD in well-to-do suburbs,” Knight Frank’s associate director for retail leasing, Alex Alamsyah told SMH.
While we make ourselves the target for international retailers, it’ll come with a price. These brands will compete to dominate in the Australian market and will ultimately impact upon local retailers in keeping up with the competition. Mass production will heavily influence wardrobe choice, as we succumb to the imperialistic takeover of overseas brands. One can only hope we won’t morph into consumer clones of one another as individual style is thwarted. I can’t help but be openly pessimistic.
Via SMH
Image by: Cameron Spencer via Getty
