GVA Grimley Outlet Services leasing team start 2009 as they mean to go on announcing four new signings for Outlets across Europe. This is the latest batch of new signings as retailer’s line up for new Outlet opportunities.

Mustang Jeans signs up for Fashion House Outlet Centre Sosnowiec in Poland, IC Company´s and Eastpack& Envy Sport sign up for Fashion Arena Outlet Centre in Prague, Olymp signs up for the Premier Outlet Centre Budapest and Miss Sixty is the latest signing for the Premier Outlet Centre Ringsted in Copenhagen, following close on the heels for Hugo Boss who signed at the end of 2008.

· Eastpak &Envy Sport takes 323 sq m and plans to open in February 09 stocking outdoor and sports fashion and bags.

· IC Companies takes 252 sq m and plans to open in January ’09. Their brands include Jackpot, Cottonfield, InWear, Matinque, Part Two and Peak Performance.

· Mustang Jeans takes 182 sq m on a five year lease and plans to open in February 09. Mustang Jeans is a manufacturer and retailer and celebrated their 75th anniversary in 2008, making them one of the oldest manufacturers in Europe.

· Miss Sixty takes 162 sq m and are already open. Their brands include Miss Sixty, Energie, Murphy & Nye, Killah and Refrigiwear. David Carver, Head of Leasing, GVA Grimley Outlet Services explains: Miss Sixty were keen to go to Denmark as they have a great brand line up including Nike and with Hugo Boss due to open early in 2009 they felt it was an ideal location.

· Olymp takes 250 sq m and are already open. Their brands include Olymp, Maryelis, Maybach, Brezner, Marty’s and Shirt House.

David Carver explains: The Outlet sector is extremely exciting but is a unique market that needs in-depth specialist knowledge and independent market leaders, GVA Grimley Outlet Services, are experts in the fast-growing European Designer Outlet sector. The leasing team have enjoyed a busy end to 2008 with a number of new lettings to key retailers having been concluded and the indications are that the start of 2009 will continue in the same vein.

Brendon O´Reilly, Director, GVA Grimley Outlet Services adds: The Outlet sector is a great option for manufacturers and brands to sell off surplus stock or previous seasons’merchandise at 30-70% below regular retail prices. This allows them to work efficiently while protecting the brand image and controlling the value. Other manufacturers and brands could benefit by looking at the Outlet sector, especially in the current climate. The Outlet sector is bucking the recession and in many cases shows a yr/yr growth in sales.

He explains: City centre retailers need more "new" brands and styles to create "high fashion", to meet this demand, brand manufacturers have to make more products and make them faster. But as a result, they also have more surpluses. Outlet centres enable brand owners to dispose of this stock in a controlled way, without selling it very cheap to traders, thus protecting the brand owner and the high street. While the high street suffers the need to provide a profitable route for selling off increasing levels of surplus stock is ever more important.’

He adds: It also opens a new market for the brand as a different type of buyer goes to the Outlet centre, in comparison to the "high fashion" stores in the city, increasing the sales of the brand.’

Article from: /www.property-magazine.eu, 27 January 2009