A new report analysed the operational networks of 334 leading international retailers across 61 countries and revealed the world's most important shopping destinations. The top ten markets are largely unchanged from the 2012 rankings. The 2015 edition of the CBRE report: ‘How Global is the Business of Retail?’ presents Top Target Markets, Top 10 Countries, Top 10 City Rankings.
Paris was the top target market last year with 50 new entrants, most of which were smaller European based brands. Tokyo moved into second place with an upturn in economic prospects attracting 48 new entrants, followed by Hong Kong with 43 new entrants and Abu Dhabi with 42 new entrants. Berlin was in fifth place with three other German cities (Frankfurt, Munich and Cologne) also featuring in the top target markets.
The United Kingdom retains the top spot as the most penetrated market by international retailers. 57.5% of retailers surveyed are present there. The United Arab Emirates (54.5%), China (52.4%), U.S. (51.2%) and Germany (49.1%) make up the remainder of the top five. France moves up one place to join Spain in sixth place with 48.2% of retailers present; Russia (46.7%) remains eighth, Hong Kong moves up two places to ninth (44.6%) and Singapore (43.1%) moves up one place to 10th. Europe continues to dominate the top ten although Asian markets are climbing up the rankings with, for example, Hong Kong and Singapore moving ahead of Italy (now in 11th position).
London has retained its position as the world’s most international shopping destination, followed by Dubai. New York ranked in 3rd.
