Opening more stores is not the same as growing profitably. Elite Retail Leasing builds retail growth strategies that tell you where to expand, in what order, and on what terms — so every new site strengthens the network instead of stretching it.
Most retailers we meet are not short of opportunities. They are short of a filter. Leasing executives call with sites, brokers send availabilities, and centres offer incentives — but without a strategy behind it, expansion becomes a series of one-off decisions that are hard to unwind five years later.
With over twelve years inside Australia’s retail leasing market, we have sat on both sides of that conversation. We know how landlords assemble a tenancy mix, how leasing budgets are set, and where the flexibility genuinely sits in a deal. We use that to build a growth plan that is realistic about what the market will actually agree to.
We work with tenants ranging from single-store operators taking their second site to national brands with more than 50 locations, across food, fashion and service-based retail.
We assess catchment, foot traffic patterns, complementary retailers, competitor proximity and centre performance before you commit. A strong-looking site in a weak trade area is still a weak site.
The order you open in matters. We map which markets to enter first so that supply chain, staffing and brand awareness build on each other rather than competing for the same resources.
We benchmark base rent, outgoings, promotional levies and turnover rent against comparable deals so you know whether a proposal is genuinely competitive before you negotiate.
Not every location needs the same store. We help define the formats that suit each centre type — regional centres, neighbourhood centres, strip retail and CBD locations all reward different footprints.
Growth is also about knowing which existing sites to renew or renegotiate or exit. We review expiries and option dates across your portfolio so decisions are made early, while you still have leverage.
Ideally before the second or third site. Once a network reaches four or five stores, decisions made without a plan start to compound — leases expire together, formats drift, and occupancy costs vary widely across the portfolio. That said, it is never too late; we regularly build strategies for established networks preparing for their next phase.
We are based in Melbourne, Victoria, but we act for tenants expanding across Australia. Retail leasing markets differ by state and by centre owner, and part of the work is understanding those differences before you commit to a location.
Leasing agents are engaged and paid by landlords to fill tenancies. We act only for tenants. Our advice on whether a site is right, and what it should cost, is not influenced by which centre has vacancy to fill.
Tell us about your site, your lease or your growth plans. We will tell you where you stand — directly, and without obligation.
© Elite Retail Leasing — Retail Leasing Consultants, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia