Bangkok--23 Apr--CB Richard Ellis
The United Kingdom continues to lead the world as the most international retail market globally as Europe maintains its ability to attract the world’s top retailers, according to the latest retail research from CB Richard Ellis, the 2009 edition of the company’s annual How Global is the Business of Retail? report.
CBRE’s study mapped the global footprint of 280 of the world’s top retailers across 67 countries, exploring the globalisation of the retail industry at national and city levels. The UK outperformed other major European economies such as Spain, France, Germany and Italy to take the number one position. Although Europe continues to dominate the top markets, emerging economies such as China, Russia and the United Arab Emirates have gained significant ground in the past 12 months.
Thailand came in at 30th out of 67 countries, behind regional competitors such as China, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia, but ahead of places such as Australia, Indonesia, India, the Philippines and Vietnam. 27% of the 280 retailers tracked in the study have a presence in Thailand, whereas 58% are present in the UK, and 36% are present in Singapore. Thailand scored particularly highly in terms of new store openings in the clothing and footwear sectors and also in terms of new luxury sector entrants.
Despite being one of the largest and most established retail markets in the world, the United States surprisingly only registered in 10th position globally, with 39% of international retailers present. This is partly due to the fact that US retailers tend to penetrate their vast national market extensively before considering international expansion.
Mr. Nithipat Tongpun, Executive Director of CB Richard Ellis Thailand, commented ”Despite the global economic slowdown, many retailers have continued their expansion plans throughout the past 12 months. Interestingly, 40% of all new store openings in 2008 were outside the retailer’s home region.
“It remains to be seen whether the expansion into emerging markets will be sustained through 2009 and 2010. Yet the globalisation of the retail industry is undoubtedly an ongoing long-term trend which is not going away.”
The report also analysed which types or categories of retailers have the strongest international presence, and found that luxury retailers dominate global retail in terms of their footprint around the world. An astounding 90% of luxury retailers have a presence in more than 10 markets and 40% are present in more than 30 countries.
Top International Retail Markets
2008 Rank Country % of International Retailers Present 2008 % of International Retailers Present 2007 2007 Rank
1 United Kingdom 58% 55% 1
2 Spain 48% 47% 2
3 France 46% 43% 4
4 United Arab Emirates 45% 39% 6
5 Germany 45% 44% 3
6 China 42% 37% 10
7 Russia 41% 38% 9
8 Italy 41% 40% 5
9 Switzerland 40% 38% 8
10 United States 39% 39% 7
14 Japan 37% 33% 13
16 Singapore 36% 33% 14
18 Hong Kong 34% 31% 19
26 Malaysia 33% 32% 15
30 Thailand 27% 27% 27
33 Australia 26% 22% 32
34 Indonesia 25% 20% 35
42 Philippines 19% 19% 38
55 New Zealand 14% 14% 50
63 Vietnam 9% 8% 62
Percentages relate to sample of retailers surveyed for the How Global is the Business of Retail? report 2009
About CB Richard Ellis
CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services firm (in terms of 2008 revenue). The Company has more than 30,000 employees (excluding affiliates), and serves real estate owners, investors and occupiers through more than 300 offices (excluding affiliates) worldwide. CB Richard Ellis has been named a BusinessWeek 50 “best in class” company three years in a row and Fortune 100 fastest growing company two years in a row.
CB Richard Ellis established an office in Bangkok in 1988, followed by Phuket office in 2004, and Samui office in 2007. CB Richard Ellis (Thailand) Co., Ltd. has grown to be a leading real estate services provider, offering strategic advice and execution for sales and leasing for all types of property, property and facilities management, valuation and advisory, and research and consulting. For more information, visit the company's website at www.cbre.co.th.