Those with an interest in retail will have noted the changes over the past year or two. Where stores were once stacked with as much stock as possible, the tide has now turned.

Leading retailers such as Myer and David Jones have reduced clutter significantly, providing a much more spacious appearance, improving the ease of shopping and to an extent, maintaining higher quality products. The enhanced ambiance has delivered a bottom line improvement to both businesses.

Coles and Woolworths are also making changes to their stores to improve customer attraction and even 7 Eleven is trialling a new model in the CBD.

Within Kingston’s small retail strips, local businesses need to monitor and understand these changes and, where possible, look to implement them within your own retail outlets. National retailers don’t make changes without significant market research to support the expenditure and effort.

Consider whether there is an opportunity for you to be first in your local environment to implement new trends to achieve a competitive advantage for yourself.