Townsville retailers swapping shopfronts for warehouses

RETAILERS in Townsville are swapping shopfronts for warehouses as the rise of online shopping continues.

The Herron Todd White October 2018 Month in Review states that the number of boutique retail shops along major arterial roads has reduced during the past 10 years.

“While there are still pharmacy and larger bulky retail located within strip retail centres, typically retailers of fashion and homewares are now located within airconditioned shopping centres or designated retail hubs,” the report stated.

“As a result of the rise in online shopping, we have also seen once retail storefronts relocate to small industrial warehouse properties that offer a small shopfront along with warehouse capability to accommodate their online business.

“This has helped to reduce overheads such as higher retail rents, making it an attractive alternative.”

The report also touched on the huge growth of retail in Townsville’s northern suburbs.

Fast- food outlets offering drive- through service, as well as fuel stations with fast- food options, had also expanded.

“The Townsville retail market has evolved over the past 10 to 20 years with huge expansions in the northern corridor of Townsville to support the surrounding new housing estates, along with development of convenience and neighbourhood centres to support developing residential estates,” the report stated.

“Fast- food outlets offering drive- through ability, in particular coffee outlets, have seen a major expansion over recent years, along with fuel station mixed developments including fast- food options,” it said.