KEY POINTS:
The outlook for retail property in a tightening consumer spending environment will be examined at an Auckland conference this month.
The Property Council's annual retail conference at SkyCity Convention Centre on July 24 will examine trends in the sector and give an update on Sylvia Park.
John Bougen of Prime Retail, will speak about factory outlets, fashion and farming. Bougen, who lives on a sheep station, was a founder of Dress-Smart, the country's first factory outlet centre chain.
Phil Schoutrop of The Buchan Group in Sydney will talk about store design trends.
Karl Retief, Kiwi Income Property Trust's retail portfolio manager, will speak about Sylvia Park in Mt Wellington, one year on. The fifth stage of the centre was finished last June and Kiwi says that made the park New Zealand's largest shopping centre because it has more than 200 retailers.
In January, the 70,818sq m $451 million centre also became the first to break the $300 million annual retail sales barrier.
Other speakers are Tony Dimasi, shopping centre strategist of Mapinfo, who will discuss facts and figures in the sector.
GPT Group project director Mark Kirkland will speak about the $470 million Rouse Hill Town Centre in northwest Sydney.
