Evolving Trends in India’s Retail Leasing

The (retail) leasing industry has observed huge changes in the past two decades with the emergence of new-age brands and the entry of international players in the Indian retail market. In the early 2000s, brands preferred premium high streets for expansion due to a lack of quality shopping malls. There were a handful of brands that dominated the industry. In the Anchor category, this number was minuscule. Several changes have occurred in these two decades. The leasing industry has evolved with time, and leasing trends have undergone immense changes.

Variations in Leasing Trends

India is a dynamic country with varied ethnicities, choices, demographics, and spending habits. The leasing trends differ throughout North, South, East, West regions; and Tier I, II and III cities.

In South India, there are key local players in categories like Ethnic wear, Electronics, Furniture, Jewellery, etc. that dominate the market; however, these are more concentrated towards high streets. These brands come with their own loyal customer base; hence, the malls cannot ignore these formats while formulating their leasing plans. North India, on the other hand, is a brand-conscious market and more focused on international fashion and premium brands.

Thus, we can say that there is no…