New solution for landlords with vacant properties - 01/08/2009

rpa:vision launches new interior product whitebox to support the retail community

This week retail specialists rpa:vision launch brand new interior product whitebox© to overcome the challenges faced by an ailing retail property sector.

In the midst of murmurs of a slow recovery for retail, rpa:vision has been working closely with retailers, shopping centre managers and local authorities to devise a proactive approach to increasing footfall and interest in shopping.

rpa:vision's whitebox© is a value turnkey installation, with selected quality options, which attracts short and medium term tenants trading ready retail environments previously perceived to be unattainable to independent retailers, pop-up shops, galleries, promotional zones and public information centres.

About 15% of High Street shops will be empty by the end of 2009, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has predicted. This would be more than double the 7% of stores, which were vacant at the start of the year.

The BRC reported that currently about 12% of town centre shops were empty, a spokesperson said.
"The dangers associated with this deteriorating picture are clear."
"Vacant units are perhaps one of the most visible impacts of the economic downturn. Shoppers who are unable to ignore increasingly visible vacant units in their local communities are likely to further reinforce falling consumer confidence."

As industry leaders, rpa:vision has utilised experience of working with a wide diversity of retail brands over the last 25 years to inform this value engineered and programmed solution to relieve all parties of the obstacles to opening a quality retail offer. Thus rejuvenating high street and shopping centre locations by ensuring a fresh and vibrant feel and helping to restore consumer confidence.