Crédit photo : Trinité photos

{{François Baroin, Ministre de l’Outre-Mer, Maire de Troyes}}

{{Didier Papaz, Président de la CCI de Troyes et de l’Aube}}

{{Les débats}}

{{Magdus awards}}

{{Echanges conviviaux}}

{{Espace Argence}}

[
->http://www.magdus.fr/Agenda]

{{Contact}}
[->accueil@magdus.com]

—–

{{{Plus d’infos:}}}

[Magasins d’usine et centres de marques : quelle place et quel avenir en Europe? Toutes les synthèses du colloque 2005-> http://www.magdus.fr/xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

[Magdus Awards 2005->http://www.magdus.fr/Laureats-nomines-2005]

[Magasins d’usine, centres de marques : risques ou opportunités pour les territoires ? Toutes les synthèses du colloque 2003-> http://www.magdus.fr/xxxx]

Contact : [->accueil@magdus.com]

—–

{{{ {{Existing centres in France
(november 2008)}} }}}

In France, between 1993 and 2007, the sales area dedicated to FOC doubled, from 123.000 sqm (7 centres) to 266.000 sqm (20 centres).

{{{ {{Evolution of the concept in France between 1993 and 2007}} }}}
|{{Year}}|1993|1997|2002|2005|2007|
|{{Number of centres}}|7|12|17|19|20|
|{{Sales area (sqm)}}|123000|152000|216000|251000|266000|
|{{Estimation turnover (€ incl. VAT (Millions d’€)}} |320|426|635|766|800|

{{{ {{Factory outlet centres in France, june 2008}} }}}
|{{ Number of centres }}|20|
|{{ Selling area (sqm)}}|266.000 m²|
|{{ Number of commercail units }}|1 200|
|{{ Authorised projects }}|126.000 m²|
|{{ Projects known to be under consideration}}|more than 100.000 m²|
|{{ Estimation turnover ( € incl. VAT)}}|800 M€|
|{{ Estimation number of employees}}| 5.200|
|{{ Estimation number of consumers (in millions}}|8|

More information about the situation in France, but in french, click here
[http://www.magdus.fr/Situation-france->http://www.magdus.fr/Situation-france]

————

_ Contact : [->accueil@magdus.com]

A stagnation of the concept, in the form of theme-based models dedicated to clothing brands, was announced at the end of the 1990s. Today, the Factory Outlet Centres wish to offer diversity and a large number of projects deploy a more “fragmented” offer. In addition to those who highlight a «distribution / culture / services / leisure» package, we note that proposals to open new outlets wish to appear as real responses to economic and social issues in the territories concerned.

{Without regulations specifically for them, brand centres or factory stores must meet installation and/or functioning conditions. These are more or less strict depending on the country. For instance, in the European Union countries fall into two different categories: those where the projects to set up new outlets or to extend existing outlets are subject to a specific authorisation (case of France), independent of the building permit, and those, fewer in number, where the projects depend solely on the issue of the building permit (case of the United Kingdom).}

{{{In Germany}}}
The setting up of brand centres must comply with requirements defined, on the one hand by the federal law on territorial planning and the series of laws relating to construction and, on the other hand, by development programmes for the Länder. The main goal is to ensure sustainable development of the territory, combining socio-economic requirements with ecological stability.
_ Advertising rules are applicable for all direct sales from factories to consumers. In addition, as regards the running of the company, rules on opening hours and price display are identical to those applicable to any sales establishment.

{{{In Belgium}}}
The legislation applicable to factory stores is the law of 29 June 1975. This law specifies that an authorisation must be obtained for any opening of a new store or extension of an existing store. It divides the Belgium territory into 2 areas (urban and rural) and, based on this distinction, entrepreneurs may or may not need to obtain a socio-economic permit for their project.
_ For rural areas, a permit is needed for all commercial areas exceeding 750m² of commercial floor area and /or 1 000 m² of gross built area. For urban areas, the same permit is necessary when the net commercial area exceeds 1500 m² and/or when the gross built area exceeds 3 000 m². The decision to issue or otherwise a permit can take more than 6 years.
_ The procedure put in place by the Law of 1975 on commercial establishments only provides for recourse in the event that the Comité socio-économique pour la Distribution [Socio-Economic Committee for Distribution] issues a favourable or partly favourable opinion on a file. The recourse files are then examined by the National Commission and the Interministerial Committee for Distribution.

{{{In Spain}}}
The law of 15 January 1996 introduced certain rules with the aim of making the commercial sector more stable. Like France, the Spanish government had implemented drastic measures to freeze the progress of modern commerce.
_ Current regulations are more consensual. It is the independent communities that are responsible for their application. Consequently, town councillors play a major role in commercial urbanism.

{{{In France}}}
The opening of large retail centres is more strictly controlled by the Raffarin Law of 5 July 1996, including the concept of factory store. An authorisation is required for the installation of any retail outlet with a sales area exceeding 300 m² and extensions of stores when their total area exceeds 300 m².
_ Applications are examined by the CDEC (Commission Départementale d’Equipement Commercial or Departmental Commission for Commercial Installations, composed of 7 members of whom the Prefect who chairs the Commission). The Commission has four months to rule on the file. In this way the project can be authorised in full, in part or refused. In the case of dispute of the decision, an appeal procedure can be launched within two months by the Prefect of the département or at least two members of the CDEC, with the CNEC (Commission Nationale d’Equipement Commercial – National Commission for Commercial Installations). This Commission is composed of four high government officials and four key figures competent in the field of territorial development or distribution, all appointed by the Minister for Commerce for six years. The CNEC also has four months to rule. Finally, a last appeal is possible to the Conseil d’Etat.

{{{In Portugal}}}
According to the law of 20 August 1997, it is compulsory to obtain an installation authorisation for large commercial units. As regards the installation of a brand centre, the threshold is fixed at 20000 m². The request is filed with the General Division for Competition and Consumption (DGCC). The authorisation by the Ministry of the Economy is only granted if the brand centre’s market share on the territory (mainland) is less than 15 %. Then the start-up of activity is subject to a functioning authorisation issued by the DGCC which checks whether the general conditions are fulfilled.

{{{Existing centres in Europe
(april 2008)}}}

{{{ {{Main Tendancies (may 2008)}} }}}

-* Sales area : more than 2.1 millions of sqm
-* Number of centres : 158
-*Evolution of the number of the centres between 2002 and 2007 : more than 50%
-* Main reception countries of the new centres : South Europe (Spain, Italy), CEEC (Hungary, Poland)

{{{ {{European countries Top 5 (may 2008)}} }}}

[More information->http://www.magdus.fr/spip.php?page=centre&lang=fr]}}}

Whilst the concept offers variants in its general aspect (mixed distribution/culture/leisure centres, distribution centres open to several sectors of activity, centres specifically reserved for personal equipment, etc.), there is a common denominator among these different formulas: the brands. But for a centre to function it is not a question of attracting just any brand type. There is, in fact, a real brand typology that must be taken into account in reasoning when planning a centre (from the international brand to the young brand of the moment). The brands fulfil different “functions”: some strengthen a centre’s renown, others tend more to generate visits or make the centre part of a hot trend.

If you want contact us:[->accueil@magdus.com]

The operators: specialists or generalists (1st July 2008)

|{{Operators}}|{{Number of centres}}|{{Selling area in sqm}}|
|McArthurGlen|17|367.100|
|Realm|12|167.550|
|Neinver|10|139.000|
|Value Retail|9|125.600|
|Freeport|3|113.200|
|Concepts & distribution|8|103.300|

On the 1st July 2008, these 6 operators shared :
-* 37% of the existing centres in Europe
-* 47,5% of the european sales area

{Factory stores capture 2.3 % of the French clothing and shoe market and represent a little more than 1% of the turnover achieved by the retail sector. This distribution channel therefore remains marginal, even if we can consider that it has found its customer base.}

{{Distribution among men, women and socioprofessional categories}}
_ Originally confined to seconds and ends of series, the array of products offered in factory stores has widened and the ranges have greatly increased, attracting a much wider palette of consumers. People with average purchasing power have been joined by those with high purchasing power who, up until recently, were, first and foremost, customers of town centre stores. In Troyes, the average purchase basket is 208 €.

{{The fashion effect}}
_ The desire to consume in these centres is maintained by fashion and the feeling that the concept is rare. Fashion awareness is more noticeable on the women’s market than on the men’s market. Today a woman of 60 years wishes to dress fashionably, In just two years some products can be considered to be out of fashion and, whatever the reduction, will not find a purchaser.

{{Greater volume}}
_ Consumers tend to purchase less expensive clothing. The opening of a new retail outlet generates a necessary reduction in sales by other retail outlets. Consumers demand clear rules guaranteeing in the brand centres the presence of products with real information.

{{Shops and leisure activities}}
_ For many, the future of factory stores is based on an alliance between stores and leisure activities. Consumers increasingly wish to enjoy themselves when they make their purchases one to three times a year. This is why brand centres are appearing near large leisure centres or offer, themselves, fun, sports or cultural activities.

{{The brand and the price}}
_ Consumers are seeking an attractive brand at a competitive price. Operators must offer a balanced selection of brands of world renown, brands linked to a fashion phenomenon and more or less prestigious brands that generate visits…

{{Risks and opportunities}}
_ The questions prompted by the installation of a factory store are linked to a number of issues: territorial planning, urbanism, consumers’ rights and the right to competition. Factory stores today pose the same problems as hypermarkets in the past: major growth over twenty years, negative impact on traditional retailers and town centres. The majority of the projects launched in France are also perceived as challenges in the area of local development and territorial stability: a factor in territorial planning, attractiveness, economic development, job creation and trade tax, or a danger for local traditional retailers.

{{Rare or commonplace}}
_ Should we tighten regulations on the installation and extension of brand centres to prevent them becoming commonplace, thus weakening the concept? The existence of too many factory stores could indeed generate their decline and that of brands. By having recourse to them to sell off excess stock, isn’t there the risk that industrialists will destabilise other forms of distribution?

{{Specificity or generalisation}}
_ Can articles other than clothing and household equipment be concerned by this type of distribution?
_ Must projects for such installations be limited to regions that can justify a strong industrial tradition (Roubaix, Troyes, Romans, Cholet, etc.), as certain local elected representatives demand? With, as a result, a ban on any installation in areas that do not have the right due to economic, geographic and historical reasons, although they have a high tourist potential, for instance southern and south-western France?

{{Town centre or outskirts}}
_ At present town centres are no longer as attractive as in the past. In France clothing consumption is marking a downward trend, which means that new factory stores could lead to a transfer of customers from the town centres to these new structures. The challenge consists in strengthening town centres’ power to attract in order to direct the flow of commercial tourists in their direction.
_ In Troyes, we were able to see the negative and positive effects.
_ In personal equipment, the impact on traditional retailers (in particular on retailers in Troyes town centre) has been spectacular. A real shock wave followed the creation of brand centres on the outskirts. This was expressed in a devitalisation of independent retailers, weakened at the same time (as in all French town centres) by the sudden upsurge in organised retailing (franchise outlets, branches, etc.).
The stores that closed down have been replaced by others and the greater number of service providers in the town centre’s did not prevent banners such as H&M from setting up there. Without factory stores, the town of Troyes would not have welcomed close to 2 million visitors in 15 years in its town centre. This commercial tourism has been joined by cultural tourism due to the town’s historical attractions.

{{History or geography}}
_ The reasons for the geographic localisation of a new centre go far beyond the existence of industrial roots and a textile past: motorway links, density of tourist flows (Marne-la-Vallée), population (Paris region), local purchasing power and the proximity of a foreign market are criteria to be taken into account. It goes without saying that territories are competing today as future locations for brand centres.

{{Stocks or relocations}}
_ The selling of excess stocks tops the list of distributors’ and brand managers’ concerns. These excess stocks represent 2 or 3% of the total volume of the market and between 0.7 and 10% of the volume of the products diffused according to the brands and banners.
_ Three possibilities are offered to a firm that wishes to get rid of its excess stock: destruction of the products, sale to discount stores or sale in factory stores. Factory stores offer the firm the advantage of controlling the distribution and, therefore, protecting the brand and the distribution network.

-* Brand stores are raking it in!
-* Brand centres: What performance for what market?
-* Brand centres in France: How are they evolving?
-* Brand centres: « Risks and consequences of their development?» (…)

If you want more information in french [click here->http://www.magdus.fr/Marche-et-tendances-prix-marques]}}}

————

{{{If you want contact us:}}}[->accueil@magdus.com]