Physical retail is back and it’s booming. Shopping centres across Australia are preparing for one of the biggest Christmas and Boxing Day sale seasons on record, driven by strong consumer confidence, vibrant in-centre activations and a renewed appetite for real-world connection.

At the heart of this retail resurgence is JMK Retail’s Yamanto Central in Ipswich, where a year of consistent growth and innovative community engagement is culminating in a record-breaking festive period.

“Our approach to retail is all about interactive experiences that fill people with joy and create wonderful memories,” JMK Retail general manager, Vicki Leavy said. 

“This combined with great products and customer service is elevating the role and importance of physical retail in the lives and wellbeing of people everywhere.”

Halloween success signals retail resurgence

According to Leavy, the momentum has been building for months. The centre’s much-loved Halloween celebration has once again exceeded expectations, drawing huge crowds and setting the tone for a powerful close to the year.

“Our Halloween campaign continues to grow year after year,” Leavy said.

“Foot traffic was up more than 20 percent on last year and the feedback from retailers and visitors has been outstanding. Families are coming in costume, kids are having fun and our retailers are joining in with themed products, specials, and activations. It’s an event that brings the whole community together.”

This year’s Halloween celebration featured everything from roaming eight-foot monsters and a live River 949 FM radio broadcast to free family entertainment, face painting and a K-Pop disco. The result, according to Leavy, is proof that online shopping simply can’t compete with physical connection.

“People want to feel part of something,” she said. 

“They don’t just want to shop, they want to belong. That’s what community focused centres like Yamanto Central do best. They create experiences, memories and moments that digital retail can’t replicate.

“In speaking with colleagues across industry, the feedback has been the same.  The physical retail centres that have focused on entertainment and activities combined with clever activations, have enjoyed strong results.”

Anticipating a record-breaking Christmas season

With that energy rolling straight into Christmas, Leavy said JMK Retail is expecting its strongest festive trading period on record across all of its shopping centres.

“Retailers are optimistic, consumers are spending and the atmosphere is electric,” she said. 

“We’ve got a full Christmas calendar of activity that will keep our centres alive with excitement right through to Boxing Day. From Santa visits to live music and community celebrations, it’s all about creating joy and connection.”

The power of local retail experiences

JMK Retail’s strategy of blending strong retail offerings with family-friendly experiences has proven to be a winner. 

“We’ve always believed that retail is about more than transactions,” Leavy said. 

“It’s about community, relationships and shared moments. The more we invest in creating experiences, the stronger the results are for our retailers.”

She said the trends are clear: Australians are returning to physical retail in force. 

“Online shopping will always have its place, but it can’t replace the feeling of walking into a beautifully decorated centre, chatting with staff or seeing your kids’ faces light up when they meet Santa,” Leavy said.

Retail’s bright future

For Yamanto Central, that sense of connection is what drives growth. 

“We’re expecting our Christmas and Boxing Day season to break all records,” Leavy said.

“That’s because people want to be part of something real and we deliver that every day.”

JMK Retail centres

JMK Retail is one of Australia’s oldest and most successful shopping centre developers, owners and managers with sites located across Queensland.   JMK Retail own and manage a variety of retail properties ranging from food orientated precincts, retail strip, neighbourhood and sub-regional centres. Their centres are in key locations, anchored by long-term tenancies with nationally identifiable retailers that incorporate a wide and varied range of retailers who are primarily focused on traditional retailing, day to day household needs, dining, finance and services, medical, health, fitness and beauty.

www.jmkretail.com.au