" Comer Group, the owner of the Ardennes Outlet Centre in Verviers, Belgium, has established an on-site shopfitting facility designed to allow retailers to take units and trade even faster at the 25,000 sq m scheme. The service, which can provide support for existing brand retailers and retailers new to factory outlet trading, can reduce the time it takes retailers to shopfit and allow them to have a turnkey operation for their stores.

Ardennes Outlet Centre, which opens at the end of 2005, has a catchment of 19 million shoppers in a 90-minute drive time. Brussels-based Bureau Gerard is the letting agent and Cologne-based Retail Marketing Group is providing marketing and commercialisation expertise for the for the 60-unit centre which is adjacent to a hotel and cinema/ leisure complex.

Comments Andy Cox of BSB, the company that manages the Ardennes Outlet Centre on behalf of Comer Group:

"This on-site operation will give retailers the chance to really speed up the occupancy process to be open and trading in the fastest possible time. It also gives tenants and brands venturing for the first time into Factory Outlet Centre retailing a considerable advantage. They may not realise the implications of the design concept for a unit in a Factory Outlet Centre setting. Comer recognises the importance of assisting retailers in this process and has therefore set up a design and shop fitting facility which will be managed on site."

"Ultimately, our aim is to be able to assist with the concept design to fast track the deal to delivery period for all retailers."

Gerry McDonnell of Spot Retail Services who will be the shopfit coordinator at the Ardennes Outlet Centre, believes that this approach makes good and economical sense for retailers who do not have an outlet design concept, do not have shopfit programmes in place or who simply want to achieve both speed and economy. Spot Retail will work to create a bespoke design with branded visuals for each brand that wants to work with them.

"Our aim is to streamline the shopfitting operation in order to minimise the time it takes from agreement to getting the doors open to the shopping public," says McDonnell, who will be managing the process on site.

Adds Cox:

"While many major retailers will have their own shopfitting teams and styles, we have now enabled all retailers the option to participate in this service in order to maximise their ability to be open and trading which is top priority." "

http://www.propertymall.com/press/article/13733