Designer Outlet Croatia is among the top 25 most successful premium outlet centres in Europe
Zagreb, 21 June 2024
Ranked 23rd in the latest study published by ecostra, Designer Outlet Croatia is building on its success as it prepares for new milestones, including the centre's expansion planned for 2025.
Designer Outlet Croatia ranked among the 25 best outlet centres in Europe based on the annual Outlet Centre Performance Report 2023 published by ecostra. In the study, business results and tenant satisfaction with management in outlet centres in outlet centres across Europe are evaluated. This recognition confirms the centre's successful management and continuous efforts to deliver a unique and upgraded shopping experience to visitors.
"Designer Outlet Croatia was recognized as one of the most successful outlet centres in Europe according to ecostra’s Outlet Centre Performance Report for 2023. This recognition confirms our commitment to excellence and continuous growth. The constant increase in sales is the result of strategic expansion, bringing in international brands and a focus on sustainable. Additional investments clearly indicate that Designer Outlet Croatia not only follows, but also actively encourages the growth and development of the market, providing its visitors with a diverse and high-quality offer," said Nikola Grđan, Centre Manager at Designer Outlet Croatia.
Outstanding business results
Since its opening, Designer Outlet Croatia has recorded continuous growth, and compared to 2023, sales in the second quarter of 2024 increased by +10%. This success is not only the result of growing customer interest, but also of strategic expansions and new store openings during 2023 and 2024.
During 2023, the opening of stores such as Puma, Lacoste and Guess Accessories as well as the expansion of Europe 92, further contributed to this growth. In April 2024, Skechers became the largest outlet store in the region, an even bigger Calvin Klein store reopened and the new Italian brand Elmas Phil made an entry. Tommy Hilfiger and Hugo Boss will expand their stores in the second half of 2024, with the latter becoming the largest store of the brand in the entire region.
Designer Outlet Croatia successfully copes with the challenges of non-working Sundays and holidays. While the market is facing the negative consequences of the new legal framework, Designer Outlet Croatia has successfully redirected traffic to other days, primarily Monday, Friday and Saturday. Despite more than 20 non-working days, the same number of visitors was recorded in the first five months of this year as in the same period last year. Analyzing the structure of visitors, the largest increase in customer arrivals from neighboring countries, especially from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, can be observed.
Plans for the future: new retail spaces and a green oasis
In autumn 2025, Designer Outlet Croatia is planned to be expanded by an additional 6,000 sqm, which will lead to the opening of 30 new stores, while the new INGKA retail park will occupy 12,000 sqm with 10 new stores. The project also provides for the development of 28,000 sqm of green space. The planned expansion will further enrich the offer in the segments of consumer goods, cosmetics and furniture, providing a unique shopping experience, and will certainly contribute to the employment of local staff from the surrounding area, which will further improve relations with the local community.
Sustainable development as a business priority
In addition to attracting a diverse range of brands, Designer Outlet Croatia takes care of sustainable development and giving back to the community in which it operates. Aware of the importance of preserving ecology, it operates through a continuous aspiration to achieve high standards of sustainable design, shopping experience and environmentally conscious fashion. Designer Outlet Croatia holds the international BREEAM certificate for green construction, with an Excellent rating of 72.1% for high standards of environmental care through energy efficiency, rational use of water and construction from ecological materials.
The centre has implemented LED lighting technology that enables better energy efficiency, visitors are provided with 12 charging stations for electric cars, a power plant with solar panels has been installed on the roofs of the centre, and the entire centre is covered with green areas that are a protected oasis for the local ecosystem for birds, insects and many types of plants. In addition, Designer Outlet Croatia participates in the first program of carbon dioxide emission compensation and carbon footprint neutralization by planting trees in Croatia, CO2MPENSATING BY PLANTING.
In order to encourage its visitors to behave in an environmentally sustainable manner, a drop box for recycling old clothes has been installed in the centre, and visitors who recycle are rewarded with additional discounts. In addition, Designer Outlet Croatia strives to include the youngest visitors in its eco activations through various ecological workshops and projects.
Prizes and awards
Success in business and many initiatives is also demonstrated by the recognitions that Designer Outlet Croatia receives, especially the place in the finals at the MAPIC Awards 2018. In 2022, the Native Advertising Institute awarded the centre for an innovative marketing approach and declared its "I wear culture" campaign silver in the "Best Native Advertising User Activation Campaign" category and bronze in the "Most Creative Native Advertising Campaign" category. In 2023, the centre won the Austrian Green Planet Building® Award (AGPB) for sustainable construction by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology and the Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce, which rewards energy efficiency and renewable energy supply in the building and real estate industry in an international environment.
A unique shopping destination
Designer Outlet Croatia was opened in 2018 and offers more than 100 fashion and lifestyle brands such as Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, Lacoste, Ted Baker, Guess, Adidas, Puma and Converse, 30-70% off, all year round. Located in the south-east of Zagreb, the centre is anchored by an IKEA store, which attracts 2 million visitors every year. Designer Outlet Croatia is adjacent to the A3/E71, at the Ivanja Reka A4/E71 junction, which has an average daily traffic of 50,000 vehicles. The A3 highway connects Serbia and the east of Croatia to Zagreb.
The primary project for the construction of this premium outlet in the business zone of Rugvica was worth 33 million euros, and its realization is a combination of the strengths of the companies INGKA Centres, MUTSCHLER Group and ROS Retail Outlet Shopping.