Country Road – MAB Takes Country Road to Uni Hill Factory Outlets
MAB welcomed iconic Australian fashion brands Country Road, Witchery, Mimco and Trenery to Uni Hill Factory Outlets (UHFO) in mid-December 2014, delighting shoppers in the lead up to the gift giving season.
The awesome foursome of authentically Aussie brands takes UHFO’s fashion offering to the next level, strengthening its already impressive selection of retailers and setting it on track to becoming the fashion mecca of Melbourne’s north.
The opening of the coveted fashion brands was perfectly timed for Christmas shoppers and marked a significant step in the highly anticipated centre expansion, which had already seen a number of traders opening their doors and existing brands relocate to new and bigger spaces.
During September 2014, UHFO welcomed athletic retailer Asics and sister brand Onitsuka Tiger to the sporting retailer stable, and the Nike Factory Outlet Store relocated to an even larger mega store format increasing its offering to a whopping 1,150 square metres, the largest Nike Factory Store outlet for the state.
The $20 million investment is expected to continue boosting jobs locally, with the expansion set to increase the centre’s overall retail capacity by 5,900 square metres.
MAB Chief Operating Officer David Hall says both the centre and the local community will benefit immensely from the new retailer additions, which have been a long time in the works.
“The joining of these retailers to UHFO’s lineup is hugely exciting for local residents who continue to rely on the centre for a diverse and thorough brand offering. Adding such iconic fashion brands ensures the centre adds value for our shoppers, and what perfect timing in the lead up to Christmas”, he said.
Country Road Group General Manager Real Estate and Development, Glenis Harding says the brands are thrilled to join an already impressive trader line-up at UHFO.
“We are excited for the opportunity to give those in Melbourne’s northern corridor and UHFO shoppers access to the Country Road Group’s suite of brands. At such a vibrant and burgeoning shopping centre we are confident our presence will be a success,” she said.
The expansion has also signalled confidence for retailers in the bricks and mortar sector. Recent centre figures continue to show UHFO is going from strength to strength with annual turnover between August 2013 and September 2014; up 19 per cent from the corresponding period last year. Visitation to the centre is also on the up, with a 13 per cent increase in foot traffic for the same period.
Recent success from existing tenants including Adidas, Puma and Skechers saw the three global brands extending their retail footprint, taking bigger spaces in the centre from October 2014.
With the launch of several well-known and loved brands and the expansion of existing retailers to bigger spaces to happen over the coming months, residents in Melbourne’s northern suburbs continue to enjoy an increasingly exceptional outlet offering at University Hill.
Uni Hill Factory Outlets is located on Janefield Drive near the corner of Plenty Road and the Metropolitan Ring Road, Bundoora.
Open seven days, 10am – 6pm.
For further information please visit: www.universityhill.com.au