Page 56 - May2021

Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated places in the world. One of the
most mature and thriving retail markets in Asia, No other city fills up its real estate
quite as efficiently as this bustling harbour metropolis—stores, markets, and boutiques
alone take up more square footage here than they do anywhere else in the world.
From off-the-rack Chinese gowns to bespoke speciality knives (and vice versa), the sheer
variety of products in Hong Kong’s shops is dizzying. Every budget, need and whim
is catered for in “can do” spirit by a similarly impressive assortment of venues: malls
where the moneyed shop, chic side-street boutiques and vintage dens where fashionistas
find one-of-a-kind items, nerdy gadget bazaars, and a mix of markets where you
can haggle to your heart’s content. The city has no sales tax so prices are generally
attractive to visitors. In such a major location, there are specific places visitors must go
to, these are Mongkok, Causeway Bay, the Central Finance Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui, Russell
Street, Canton Road and Queen’s Road Central, with new retailers on the scene including
Adidas, Skechers, GU, Versace, Nike, Lao Feng Xiang and NYX.

instanBul
An iconic city in a unique location that spans two continents, Istanbul’s strategic
location bridging Europe and Asia has made it a regional powerhouse and a hub for
diplomacy, business and finance. The city is separated by the Bosporus, which connects
the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea, is the busiest shipping lane in the world. Istanbul
is the largest city in Turkey and is a favourite tourist destination for millions each
year. One of the reasons it is iconic is that it is home to the oldest shopping centre
in the world – The Grand Bazaar. There are over 4,000 stores with some dating back
to 1453. There are three main high street areas in Istanbul; Nisantasi and Istiklal on
the European side and Bagdat Street on the Asian side. In addition, secondary streets
have also become attractive for retailers. Transformation projects and urban regeneration
activities still remain, albeit at a slower pace because of Covid-19. The important retail
streets and areas of this one-of-a-kind city are Abdi Ipekci Street, Istiklal Street, Bagdat
Street and The Grand Bazaar, whilst new retailers include Pandora, Intimissimi, Atelier
Rebul, Kiko Milano, Chanel, Samsung, Huawei, Ipekyol, Ecco and Mudo.

los angeles
A beguiling blend of rugged mountains, urban sprawl and beautiful Pacific beaches
there’s nowhere quite like Los Angeles. Tinsel Town, as it’s colloquially known, has no
shortage of glamour, but there is much more to LA than famous names, with suburbs
such as Malibu and Venice Beach boasting cultural gems as well as quirky shops and
interesting boutiques. The entertainment capital of the world, it is a globally-renowned
travel destination for millions of tourists each year. From Santa Monica to Pasadena,
Los Angeles offers retailers an array of high-street submarkets. Massive investments in
technology and transit-oriented development infrastructure present a tremendous upside
to retailers seeking to expand their brands. The dynamic transformation of Downtown
Los Angeles offers retailers the unique opportunity to seize market share in the nation’s
second largest consumer market. Key areas include West Hollywood, where designers,
artisans and fashion icons gather to cultivate new trends, Santa Monica, which stretches
along three miles of California coastline and welcomes over 8.4 million visitors a
year, Pasadena, which is home to the iconic Rose Bowl, an exquisite venue where
RLI was fortunate enough to host an event at in 2019 and Beverly Hills, the premier
shopping destination in Southern California that showcases world-renowned fashion
houses, boutiques and restaurants.
56 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL MAY 2021