As arguably New Zealand’s most progressive city, and entrenched as the South Island’s economic hub, Christchurch is attracting strong interest from heavyweight investor entities and global retail brands prompting the country’s largest full-service real estate agency, Bayleys to make a strategic new appointment to its national retail team.

Chris Ireland joins the firm as head of retail South Island, based in Bayleys’ Christchurch office, and is tasked with growing retail sales and leasing activity across the mainland’s key markets.

Ireland’s broad international retail sector experience and the established relationships he has with corporate retail brands and shopping centre developers/landlords will add tangible value to Bayleys’ retail team, expanding capability across the asset class according to William Wallace, Bayleys general manager South Island commercial and industrial.

“Chris has a great retail property pedigree and given the growth we are seeing in the wider Canterbury retail market and in fact, across the South Island, having him onboard is a real coup for the team.

“We’ve identified clear opportunity in the retail sales and leasing market, and have been looking to grow our presence across that market segment for some time. Chris’s experience and insights into the retail sector nationally and internationally will give us a valuable gateway to corporate clients and global brands that want to be part of the South Island retail scene.”

With close to 30 years of experience in retail sales and leasing, project leasing, and asset management across New Zealand and Australia, Ireland joins Bayleys after two decades with a global agency. He was drawn to the collaborative nature of the Bayleys business model, the valuable networking opportunities the firm offers, and it’s partnership with one of the world's leading independent real estate consultancies. Knight Frank.

Returning to Christchurch 12 months ago, Ireland says the city “screams opportunity”, and is a logical market for retailers to cement a presence.

“It’s exciting to see the progression of the city and observe how its thriving in the face of national and global consumer and economic flux. It’s a city that bucks many national trends and continues to demonstrate resilience.

“Several major retail assets have been purchased recently and are to be repositioned, and I think retail is having its time in the sun right now. Developers are back in the market scoping opportunity and I see my role as a conduit, matching retailers with landlords, getting in front of shopping centre owners and institutional investors and making good things happen.”

Noting trends and activity in the Australian market, Ireland says global brands are looking to expand and given the right property, could look to come to Canterbury and other parts of the South Island as part of a well-considered market diversification programme.

“Looking at the bigger retail complexes, they need to have a real point of difference to perform well in the nuanced push-pull retail environment that we find ourselves in today where e-commerce continues to infiltrate wallets and consumer behaviour. Shopping centres need attraction retailers and offer experiences that give people a reason to visit.

“There needs to be a workable and optimised mix of retail businesses to extend the time shoppers spend in these centres, and to encourage them to return.

“Working with big players in the retail sector for as along as I have has provided huge insight into how the asset class ticks and I’m keen to partner with landlords, developers, and tenants to create smart, sustainable leasing solutions.”