Retail format selection: Occupancy cost and profitability

Abstract

Retail property management teams neglect the influence of occupancy costs and the resultant profitability of different retail formats when assessing their decision to expand. The aim of this research was to provide an easy-to-understand profitability equation for shopping centres and stand-alone outlets to guide retail property management teams in their decision-making process. A quantitative study, using secondary data obtained from a single retailing group and analysed using a simplified profitability formula, was conducted. The research endeavoured to determine the influence of rent on profitability to provide financial guidance to property management teams when benchmarking different retail formats. This included an investigation into the relationship between size and rent value besides the comparison of the profitability of different retail formats. Although financial considerations form an important part of the decision-making process, retail property management teams should continue to combine the results of financial benchmarking with consumer preferences to achieve optimum results.