The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released figures showing a 0.8% seasonally adjusted increase in retail sales during October. The good news has provided an optimistic outlook for Christmas retail sales, with department store sales rebounding to a 4.3% rise after falls in September.
Other coutries have not fared as well with German retail sales showing a seasonally adjusted fall of 0.2% on the previouse month. UK retail sales fell to an eight month low, with shoes, apparel and groceries the worst performers.

Australian online shopping site OZtion, has announced their online shopping statistics based on the shopping patterns of the 1 million visitors to their site during October 2006. The Statistics show that the rate at which Australians purchase products online doubles between 6pm and 10pm on weekdays. This is contrary to the myth that Australians mainly shop online from work.

Their top four product categories by sales revenue were women’s clothing, video games, jewellery and computers.

Womens wear specialist retailer Millers Retail, founded in 1993 has formally changed its name to Specialty Fashion Group (SFG).

SFG operates in the Australian and New Zealand retail markets, specializing in women’s clothing with 700 retail stores across Australia and New Zealand under the brand name stores of Autograph, Crossroads, Katies, and Millers Fashion Club. Specialty Fashion Group is the largest womens wear speciality retailer in Australasia.
The listed company’s Australian Stock Exchange code changes to SFH from MRL.

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The purpose of a retail concept is to house, display and sell goods and services and in consequence realize a return on investment. Retail concepts are in essence a combination of marketing and design. The retailer needs to be correctly positioned in the market and needs to communicate and service that position.

A Retail Concept needs to be: Innovative, Practical, Cost Effective, Results Driven In order to achieve the above the following steps need to be followed which are intended to be scientific(retail is serious business), and to objectify and demystify the process.

Research on what is required to operate successfully in the future and not on historical practices. Definitely not whimsical.

What is the selling strategy? Who is the customer and why would he or she choose to shop at a particular store? Is it because of service, speciality, convenience,leisure, value? Is it because of the distinctive products and/or services? Whatever the strategy, consumer behaviour, demographics and psychographics need to be considered, which depending on the application may also need to be experiential and entertaining.

Space Planning Concepts are architectural/interior designers who are concept orientated in the design and planning of architectural interior space, and other three dimensional environments. For more information on this topic contact Space Planning Concepts