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Town & City Centre Retail Strategies

First Retail Group are experienced retail and urban destination strategists with a global perspective. At First Retail Group, we help cities and commercial precincts evolve into places where businesses thrive and people actually want to gather. Working across New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and beyond, we partner with property owners, developers, and local councils to turn complex market data into clear, practical strategies.

We believe great urban centres require a careful balance of economic performance, community vitality, and thoughtful physical design. Taking a long-term guardianship approach, we make sure every project respects local identity while delivering lasting value for businesses, residents, and visitors alike.

How we help

Market Insights

We identify the market dynamics, visitor behaviours, and emerging opportunities that reveal the highest potential for destination success. By combining consumer analysis and performance data with deep location and competition intelligence, we provide the clarity civic and commercial leaders need to adapt and grow their centres sustainably.

Growth & Resilience

Our specialists create practical, experience-led strategies that elevate retail propositions and boost overall commercial performance. Our work complements urban planning to build true economic resilience – optimising precinct growth, enriching the visitor journey, and giving your town or city centre a distinct, competitive edge.

Enablement

A strategy is only as successful as its execution. We provide the practical roadmaps required to deliver and embed lasting urban improvement. Through robust stakeholder engagement, expert project management, and a focus on long-term sustainability, we drive strategic transformations that ensure your destination serves its community well into the future.

Connect with our Retail Experts

Case Studies

George street dunedin

Revitalised Retail Precinct

Supporting a diverse mix of students, hospital workers, and visitors, Dunedin’s George Street is the premier retail and commercial cornerstone of the southern city. To guide its major streetscape upgrade, FRG was brought in to develop a progressive retail strategy and a comprehensive impact mitigation roadmap.
The strategy created a blueprint that helped guide the design team and provide commercial stakeholders and the Council with confidence to invest in the transformation.

Te Ngākau civic square precinct

City Centre Regeneration

Actively connecting Wellington’s central city and waterfront, Te Ngākau Civic Precinct is the vital cultural, creative, and democratic heart of the capital city. To leverage the massive civic regeneration of the square, FRG developed a unified retail and commercial strategy to align surrounding businesses with new cultural anchors. By leveraging the precinct’s distinct environment, experience and proposition, we've helped stakeholders maximise potential from this vibrant urban destination.

First Retail Group Ltd (FRG)

We are specialist retail consultants. FRG builds customer connection, strong foot traffic, and solid revenue growth for consumer-facing businesses and public destinations. Our work covers retail, hospitality, healthcare, tourism, and service sectors, alongside commercial precincts, shopping centres, and cities.

Contact

Based in NZ – Operating Globally.
Head Office L3, 44 Victoria Street, Wellington, 6011, NZ

hello@firstretailgroup.com

DDI NZ +64 4 979 9668
DDI AU +61 4 888 60415

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