Record footfall for Gemini Park Bielsko-Biała
Retail & leisureThe number of customers of the shopping centre in Bielsko-Biała increased by 1 pct on 2018, which, despite the retail ban and the condition of the market, enabling its footfall to remain close to 4 pp above the national average.
“This is the second year in a row when we successfully bucked the negative trends nationally, mainly due to the law restricting trade on Sunday and holidays and a downturn in the market,” claims Krzysztof Brączek, the director of Gemini Park Bielsko-Biała.
The turnover generated by Gemini Park and its tenants also bodes well for the future. In 2019 turnover increased by 11 pct y-o-y. Its revenue on retail-free Sundays has also been highly satisfactory, having been boosted by its Superotwarta entertainment and food & drinks campaign. The centre achieved a 17 pct increase in visits on shopping-free Sundays over the year, bringing the footfall for the day up to 50 pct of the average for the rest of the week.
According to Krzysztof Brączek, there are several factors behind the performance of the shopping centre. One has been its positioning on the local market – a strategy that has been implemented for the last six years and includes its marketing and leasing as well as introducing new brands to the city. “At the same time, we have also been focused on building lasting relations with the local community and CSR. The latter has enabled us to establish cooperation with local institutions and to engage in the life of the city by supporting important local social, cultural or charity initiatives, such as the Tom Hanks’ Syrenka car auction, the Bielska 10 kids’ run and the Gramy Dobbro concert to encourage greater tolerance,” he explains.
Last year 18 tenants of the shopping centre extended their contracts, which covered a combined 4,700 sqm gla. Among the brands that have decided to stay are: Martes Sport, 4F, Greenpoint, CCC, Sizeer, Levi’s, X-Kom, Diverse, KiK, Monnari, Wojas and Rossmann, while Diverse has also increased the space it leases from 168 sqm to 243 sqm, 4F from 250 sqm to 450 sqm and Greenpoint from 71 sqm to 128 sqm. Thirteen new tenants have opened in the mall, occupying a total of 2,600 sqm: Only, Tatuum, Fine Wine, Kontigo and Dealz, as well as Costa Coffee and Silver Dragon among the F&B tenants, bringing the total occupancy of the food court up to 100 pct. A renovation concept for the zone is currently being prepared.
Negotiations are also taking place with new and potential tenants, with a Konsimo discount furniture store to open in the centre soon. Gemini Park Bielsko-Biała is situated in the centre of the city. It comprises 42,000 sqm with 120 stores, service tenants and restaurants as well as a car park. It also features the Park – W Deche! children’s environmental education park (of over 1 ha) and a rope park. The shopping centre has been operating since 2009 and was enlarged in 2014.
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