Dubbed the fashion and style capital of Australia, Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and the second-most populous city in the country. Also known as Australia’s “cultural capital”, Melbourne is home to several art galleries and its iconic laneways and arcades which are galleries in themselves for their vibrant displays of street art and jazz bars.As a financial centre, Melbourne is the world’s 32nd most competitive with the headquarters of several of the country’s largest corporations and two of its four biggest banks, ANZ and National Australia Bank. The city is also Australia’s second-most visited and comes in at no. 73 on the list of most visited cities in the world, with tourists flocking to its laneways and shopping centres.One of Melbourne’s major shopping destinations, the Queen Victoria Market is the largest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere and has been open for 140 years.Queen Victoria Market, Elizabeth Street Section, Source: Wikimedia CommonsMelbourne Central is the city’s biggest shopping centre and one of its most famous landmarks. Within its 20-storey glass cone is Coop’s Shot Tower, which was built in the 1800s, alongside several flagship stores of leading global brands.Coop’s Shot Tower, Melbourne Central, Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe ever popular pedestrian-only shopping strip, Bourke Street Mall, is another quintessentially Melburnian retail hub with its department stores and designer boutiques. Other go-to destinations for shopping and entertainment in the city include:Chadstone Shopping CentreChapel StreetCollins StreetEmporium MelbourneFlinders LaneMelbourne’s GPOQV MelbourneRoyal ArcadeSt Collins LaneThe Block ArcadeThe District DocklandsThe StrandMelbourne’s status as a centre of creativity is borne out by its local retail spaces such as independent designer label, Vow Studio. The store’s fluorescent pink and green palette and playful patterns echo the prints and pastels found in its fashion line. Pink display shelves and the pink fur on its table legs and mirror frame provide perfect complements to the design.Vow Studio, Melbourne, Source: Vow StudioIn stark contrast to Vow Studio’s bright and happy colours, Reina Melbourne is an almost all-white space relieved by simple furniture pieces in solid earth colours and the checkered rug. The giant full length mirror and the old wood in the minimal decorative elements add just the right touches of warmth. The basic windows recall to mind the store’s location in the historic Nicholas Building at the intersection of Flinders Lane and Swanston Street.Reina Melbourne, Source: Reina MelbourneAs a living retail legend, Hill of Content has been in operation for just over 100 years and is the oldest bookstore in the city. The store succeeds in its objective to provide a pleasant browsing environment with its relaxing lighting, spacious aisles and touches of greenery. The flexible design also accommodates events such as book talks and book signing.Hill of Content, Bourke Street, Source: Hill of ContentAlso uniquely Melburnian is Clementine’s, which brings the best of Victoria to Melbourne in its cosy and welcoming shop on Degraves Street. Its signature orange branding is instantly recognisable on the street, highlighted beautifully by the store’s warm lighting. Given the variety and volume of the merchandise, the store remains delightfully organised and uncluttered.Clementine’s, Source: Clementine’sFor shoppers looking for something out of the ordinary, Lord Coconut is a jewellery retailer whose unconventional designs have created a bohemian niche market. Described by visitors as “looking like a museum”, the store uses antique furniture and vintage photos in its design as well as unusual display elements such as old books and lifelike human arms.Lord Coconut, Source: Lord CoconutCreating a name for itself in niche perfumery is the LKNU Parfumerie, whose flagship store at Emporium Melbourne stands out for its design and its range of rare fragrances. The use of wood provides a touch of warmth to the ultramodern minimalist white product wall and hanging light fixtures, with mirrors on the back wall and ceiling creating the illusion of depth.LNKU Parfumerie, Source: What’s OnFinding a niche market is one of the ways in which retailers in Melbourne have bounced back following the pandemic. CBRE tags the city as the country’s “come-back kid” leading the national CBD retail recovery. Pop-up stores have contributed much to this growth by attracting more shoppers, as have events such as the AFL Grand Final.The city’s annual plan drawn up in 2022 and set to extend four years since, is focused on driving economic recovery. Business precinct and shopfront activation is one of the plan’s major initiatives, and incubation for creative, entrepreneurial and social enterprises are among the listed activities for the plan’s first two years.So far, the plans have resulted in a reduction in the vacancy rate for retail and hospitality spaces to less than 10 per cent, with CRBE noting a preference for quality spaces in prime CBD areas.Other major initiatives that promise well for Melbourne’s retail industry involve making sure Melbourne is the easiest place to start and grow a business, and strengthening the creative sector by providing greater access to city spaces for creative industries. Related activities include curating the city’s events calendar to maximise visitation and spend.Plans have also been in the works since 2022 to rehabilitate the Docklands and the Central Pier which is to incorporate sports and entertainment venue, Marvel Stadium, and which has already received a $3 million allocation from government funding.Take part in the exciting new developments and growth opportunities for retailers in Melbourne. Talk to an experienced retail design agency with deep Melburnian roots, today.Greater Group is a multi-disciplinary global retail design agency. We have been creating award-winning retail spaces, customer experiences and workplaces since 1989, utilising our combined expertise to deliver high-impact, high-return design, fit-out and manufacturing solutions and provide clients with one point of contact throughout.Contact us at contact@thegreatergroup.com to discuss how we can elevate your brand through innovative, future-proof retail design solutions. 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Dubbed the fashion and style capital of Australia, Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and the second-most populous city in the country. Also known as Australia’s “cultural capital”, Melbourne is home to several art galleries and its iconic laneways and arcades which are galleries in themselves for their vibrant displays of street art and jazz bars.As a financial centre, Melbourne is the world’s 32nd most competitive with the headquarters of several of the country’s largest corporations and two of its four biggest banks, ANZ and National Australia Bank. The city is also Australia’s second-most visited and comes in at no. 73 on the list of most visited cities in the world, with tourists flocking to its laneways and shopping centres.One of Melbourne’s major shopping destinations, the Queen Victoria Market is the largest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere and has been open for 140 years.Queen Victoria Market, Elizabeth Street Section, Source: Wikimedia CommonsMelbourne Central is the city’s biggest shopping centre and one of its most famous landmarks. Within its 20-storey glass cone is Coop’s Shot Tower, which was built in the 1800s, alongside several flagship stores of leading global brands.Coop’s Shot Tower, Melbourne Central, Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe ever popular pedestrian-only shopping strip, Bourke Street Mall, is another quintessentially Melburnian retail hub with its department stores and designer boutiques. Other go-to destinations for shopping and entertainment in the city include:Chadstone Shopping CentreChapel StreetCollins StreetEmporium MelbourneFlinders LaneMelbourne’s GPOQV MelbourneRoyal ArcadeSt Collins LaneThe Block ArcadeThe District DocklandsThe StrandMelbourne’s status as a centre of creativity is borne out by its local retail spaces such as independent designer label, Vow Studio. The store’s fluorescent pink and green palette and playful patterns echo the prints and pastels found in its fashion line. Pink display shelves and the pink fur on its table legs and mirror frame provide perfect complements to the design.Vow Studio, Melbourne, Source: Vow StudioIn stark contrast to Vow Studio’s bright and happy colours, Reina Melbourne is an almost all-white space relieved by simple furniture pieces in solid earth colours and the checkered rug. The giant full length mirror and the old wood in the minimal decorative elements add just the right touches of warmth. The basic windows recall to mind the store’s location in the historic Nicholas Building at the intersection of Flinders Lane and Swanston Street.Reina Melbourne, Source: Reina MelbourneAs a living retail legend, Hill of Content has been in operation for just over 100 years and is the oldest bookstore in the city. The store succeeds in its objective to provide a pleasant browsing environment with its relaxing lighting, spacious aisles and touches of greenery. The flexible design also accommodates events such as book talks and book signing.Hill of Content, Bourke Street, Source: Hill of ContentAlso uniquely Melburnian is Clementine’s, which brings the best of Victoria to Melbourne in its cosy and welcoming shop on Degraves Street. Its signature orange branding is instantly recognisable on the street, highlighted beautifully by the store’s warm lighting. Given the variety and volume of the merchandise, the store remains delightfully organised and uncluttered.Clementine’s, Source: Clementine’sFor shoppers looking for something out of the ordinary, Lord Coconut is a jewellery retailer whose unconventional designs have created a bohemian niche market. Described by visitors as “looking like a museum”, the store uses antique furniture and vintage photos in its design as well as unusual display elements such as old books and lifelike human arms.Lord Coconut, Source: Lord CoconutCreating a name for itself in niche perfumery is the LKNU Parfumerie, whose flagship store at Emporium Melbourne stands out for its design and its range of rare fragrances. The use of wood provides a touch of warmth to the ultramodern minimalist white product wall and hanging light fixtures, with mirrors on the back wall and ceiling creating the illusion of depth.LNKU Parfumerie, Source: What’s OnFinding a niche market is one of the ways in which retailers in Melbourne have bounced back following the pandemic. CBRE tags the city as the country’s “come-back kid” leading the national CBD retail recovery. Pop-up stores have contributed much to this growth by attracting more shoppers, as have events such as the AFL Grand Final.The city’s annual plan drawn up in 2022 and set to extend four years since, is focused on driving economic recovery. Business precinct and shopfront activation is one of the plan’s major initiatives, and incubation for creative, entrepreneurial and social enterprises are among the listed activities for the plan’s first two years.So far, the plans have resulted in a reduction in the vacancy rate for retail and hospitality spaces to less than 10 per cent, with CRBE noting a preference for quality spaces in prime CBD areas.Other major initiatives that promise well for Melbourne’s retail industry involve making sure Melbourne is the easiest place to start and grow a business, and strengthening the creative sector by providing greater access to city spaces for creative industries. Related activities include curating the city’s events calendar to maximise visitation and spend.Plans have also been in the works since 2022 to rehabilitate the Docklands and the Central Pier which is to incorporate sports and entertainment venue, Marvel Stadium, and which has already received a $3 million allocation from government funding.Take part in the exciting new developments and growth opportunities for retailers in Melbourne. Talk to an experienced retail design agency with deep Melburnian roots, today.Greater Group is a multi-disciplinary global retail design agency. We have been creating award-winning retail spaces, customer experiences and workplaces since 1989, utilising our combined expertise to deliver high-impact, high-return design, fit-out and manufacturing solutions and provide clients with one point of contact throughout.Contact us at contact@thegreatergroup.com to discuss how we can elevate your brand through innovative, future-proof retail design solutions. 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