retail

London, Tuesday, 16 September 2025.
Last Monday Landsec, Holovis and creative studio Wake The Tiger confirmed two immersive installations for 2025: themed storytelling guest journeys at Westfield London and the UK’s first ApolloDomes—two 19‑metre projection domes—at Gunwharf Quays, debuting with Halloween and Christmas programmes. For retail operators and investors this marks a deliberate pivot to experience‑led tenancy: lower‑footprint, faster‑fit‑out attractions that drive dwell time, ancillary F&B and repeat visitation while commanding ticket revenue and flexible content licensing. Key operational levers include planning and noise constraints in urban centres, dome safety and staffing, AV lifecycle and content pipelines, plus integration with dynamic ticketing, mall marketing and landlord‑subtenant commercial models. The most intriguing fact: large‑scale dome projection arrives in mainstream UK retail, offering a scalable, high‑turnover entertainment format that sits between pop‑up experiences and full‑scale dark rides. Retail executives should weigh capex, programming agility and revenue‑share when assessing whether domes and immersive journeys belong in leasing mix.

Orlando, Monday, 15 September 2025.
Universal Destinations & Experiences is coordinating a global fall 2025 retail strategy tied to Halloween Horror Nights that brings Japan’s fan‑favorite HamiKuma line to Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood for the first time and launches new Universal Horror Unleashed collections featuring Universal Monsters and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Rolling out alongside regional seasonal events and an Epic Universe NBC special, the plan emphasises limited‑edition drops, immersive in‑park retail concepts and cross‑promotion to lift per‑cap spend and diversify licensing revenues beyond ticketing. For retail operators, the most intriguing development is the intentional global harmonisation and cross‑park product transfers—forcing tighter SKU planning, constrained inventory decisions and new experiential activations designed to increase dwell time and conversion during peak windows. Expect tighter timelines for inbound stock, prioritized allocation for marquee SKUs, and amplified demand for retail teams to coordinate merchandising, forecasting and guest flow strategies to capitalise on scarcity-driven urgency across multiple parks this fall.

Orlando, Sunday, 17 August 2025.
Universal Studios Florida is implementing targeted retail transformations, marking a strategic pivot in its commercial ecosystem. The closure of the On Location Gift Shop and temporary suspension of Antojitos restaurant at CityWalk Orlando suggest a calculated approach to reimagining guest experience and retail spaces. These moves indicate a nuanced operational refinement, potentially signaling broader changes in the park’s commercial strategy. By selectively adjusting its retail and dining footprint, Universal demonstrates an adaptive management approach, likely aimed at optimizing guest flow, enhancing visitor experience, and potentially preparing for future developments within the park’s dynamic entertainment environment.