Newmarket Business Association
Wednesday 7 June 2006
Retail competition sends message to Sylvia Park
Auckland’s premier shopping district, Newmarket, has wished Sylvia Park all the best ahead of the Mt Wellington
mega-mall’s opening day - tomorrow.
Today the Newmarket Business Association sent a bouquet of flowers and its best wishes to Sylvia Park’s owner and
operator, Kiwi Income Property Trust.
“Sylvia Park is a welcome addition to Auckland’s retail offering. We encourage everyone to go and have a look,” said
Cameron Brewer – head of the Newmarket Business Association today.
“Retail spending in New Zealand has been increasing at a rate of about five percent every year for the last five years.
The retail industry is worth $57 billion to our economy annually. There’s plenty of room for a New Zealand owned and
operated mega-mall.
“Having said that, retailing is not all roses as we head into another uncertain winter. However it’s all about finding
one’s niche. Sylvia Park is strategically well located - in striking distance of the region’s fast growing south-eastern
precinct. Its main competition, nearby Botany Downs, has got to be worried. Those who like Botany Downs will like the
look of Sylvia Park.
“Newmarket’s not losing any sleep over Sylvia Park simply because we offer a very different product. We have not spent
one dollar on trying to counter Sylvia Park’s mega marketing campaign. Our greatest asset is that we’re home to some of
the country’s leading flagship fashion stores and can offer a real on-the-street bustling shopping experience.
“Retailing is a tough game but all the statistics show that each year the pie continues to get bigger. Further, the New
Zealand shopping market is increasingly sophisticated and multi-layered. Gone are the days when a mall would open and
those on the strip would throw brickbats. Giving bouquets feels much better,” said Mr Brewer
Nearly 40 new stores will open in Newmarket over the next four months, with Westfield’s redevelopment of Nuffield Street
and Newcrest Group’s new retail complex next to the Shoe Sheriff on Broadway.
ENDS