Building thriving communities: Guiding the smart evolution of shopping, service and leisure destinations for economic growth and social resilience.
People-Centred
Social Vitality: Fostering inclusivity, accessibility, safety, culture, and a sense of belonging – essential elements of successful centres.
Commercial Prosperity
Economic Growth & Resilience: Driving innovation, business attraction & evolution, employment, & financial investment.
Pride in Place
Environmental Sustainability: Enhancing green infrastructure and amenity eco-friendly transportation options and climate adaptation.
What We Do
First Retail Group are experienced retail and urban destination strategists with a global perspective. We leverage extensive market knowledge, location intelligence, and a deep understanding of consumer behaviour to guide the evolution of shopping, leisure and service precincts.
We know that successful centres rely on a triple bottom line: Commercial Prosperity (economic growth and innovation), Community Vitality (social resilience and culture), and Dynamic Places (the physical environment). Taking a guardianship approach, we consider the holistic social and economic impacts of change, ensuring positive, sustainable outcomes for businesses, residents, and visitors alike.
Our award-winning methodology has earned the trust of property owners, developers and government organisations across New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and beyond. We help translate global insights into actionable strategies that breathe new life into precincts, towns and cities, tailored to your unique challenges, timeframe, and budget.
How We Can Help
Market Insights
We identify the market dynamics, customer insights and opportunities that reveal the best potential for destination success. By combining consumer behaviour analysis and performance data with location and competition intelligence, we provide the clarity they need to adapt and grow sustainably.
Retail Strategy
Our specialists create practical, experience-led strategies that improve retail propositions and boost commercial performance. We go beyond traditional planning to build economic resilience – optimising growth and profitability, elevating the customer journey, and giving your city centre a distinct competitive edge.
Enablement
A strategy is only as successful as its execution. We provide the roadmaps to deliver and embed lasting improvement. Through robust stakeholder engagement, project management, and a focus on long-term sustainability, we drive transformations that ensure your destination serves its community well into the future.
Case Studies
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. By balancing future economic growth with vital business support during active construction, we successfully revitalised this vital urban heart.
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.
Town & City Centre Retail Strategies