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Retail Retail

Industries & Sectors

Retail & Leisure

Transforming communities through better retail strategies
Retail-Featured.jpg

Opening a new brick-and-mortar store is more complex than ever.  

The Italian retail scene is unique, and getting it right needs more than just basic property advice. Success comes from a deep understanding of market knowledge, from consumer habits to the best locations on high streets and in shopping centers. We blend expert knowledge with fresh thinking to help businesses find great spots and investors get the most from their properties. 

Whether you're a brand looking for the perfect store or an investor with a retail portfolio, our approach is built on real data and local insight to achieve solid results. We know that winning in Italy means balancing classic charm with what modern shoppers want.

DELIVERING RESULTS

20
Local Professionals
200+
Deals: high street transactions
€110M
Value of transactions
*Cumulative figures, years 2021-25

What Sets Us Apart

Retail Strategies That Work on the Ground

We analyse foot traffic, demographics, and competition to find prime locations. In Italy, this means balancing historic centers, retail parks, and tourism trends. Our data-driven approach ensures your brand thrives in the right environment.

Investor Expertise Built for Change

We advise on acquisitions, repositioning, and tenant mix. Our team tracks rental trends and capital flows to help investors navigate the agile Italian retail market. We focus on active management to maximise asset value and adapt to new consumer behaviors.

Insights That Reveal What's Next

We monitor spending patterns and occupier plans to keep you ahead. By combining real-time transaction data with market intelligence, we help you anticipate change instead of just reacting to it, ensuring you make informed decisions.

Tailored Solutions That Deliver

Generic advice fails in retail. We create strategies for your specific goals, from securing flagship stores to optimising rental income. Our network covers everything from luxury brands to value concepts, ensuring a perfect fit for your needs.

Advisors Who Think Like Retailers

Our team has years of experience advising international brands and Italian landlords. We understand P&L pressures and what makes a location successful. This sector knowledge helps us structure deals that balance risk and reward for everyone.

Places That Perform and Belong

We create destinations that enhance communities by aligning location strategy with local needs. This drives economic activity and builds resilience, which is crucial in Italian markets where retail is central to urban life.

Services

Investor Services


Capital Markets


We handle investment transactions for retail and leisure assets. Our team structures deals, sources capital, and advises on pricing. In Italy, we navigate regulations and buyer preferences to close deals efficiently.

Learn more about our capital markets

Mid Cap Retail


Our deep knowledge of the retail market and of both Italian and international brands allows us to identify investment opportunities of attractive scale for private clients and institutional investors, in major cities as well as regional markets. This expertise enables us to offer our clients access to properties in prime locations, with strong performance potential and high-profile tenants.  

Agency Leasing


We represent landlords to secure quality tenants. Our experts market properties and negotiate lease terms that balance rental income with tenant retention, leveraging our knowledge of Italian lease structures and market rental levels.

Learn more about our agency leasing services

Asset Services


We optimise retail asset performance through active management. Our teams oversee operations, manage tenant relations, and implement cost controls to align with ownership objectives and boost revenue. 

Learn more about our asset services

Valuation & Advisory


Our specialists provide independent valuations for retail properties. We support acquisitions, portfolio reviews, and financial reporting by incorporating local Italian market factors and tenant quality analysis.

Learn more about our valuation & advisory

Project & Development Services


We advise on retail projects from concept to completion. Our services include feasibility analysis, construction oversight, and lease-up strategies, navigating Italian regulations and planning to ensure success. 

Learn more about our project development services 

Sustainability Services


We help property owners meet ESG goals with energy efficiency, green building certifications, and sustainability reporting. We provide practical strategies to enhance asset sustainability as Italian regulations tighten.

Learn more about our sustainability services


Occupier Services


Tenant Representation


We help retail brands secure prime locations for new stores, expansions, or relocations. Our services include site selection, lease negotiation, and deal structuring. With local market expertise, we ensure favorable terms for brands entering the Italian market.   

Luxury Retail


We support Italian and international luxury brands in expanding across Italy’s most prestigious locations. Leveraging our EMEA network, we deliver personalised guidance and a seamless, well executed localisation strategy aligned with each brand’s identity and ambitions.  

Food & Beverage


Rising demand for out of home dining and innovative formats is transforming the retail landscape. With extensive experience in leasing shopping centres, mixed use destinations, and developing some of Italy’s most successful food courts, we offer a dedicated service line for the food & beverage sector, providing tailored guidance to help clients meet evolving consumer expectations and achieve long term success.  

Location & Labor Analytics


Data-driven site selection is vital for retail success. We analyse demographics, spending patterns, competition, and labor availability, incorporating Italian consumer trends and economic data for evidence-based decisions.   

Learn more about our workplace solutions

Project & Development Services


We manage retail fit-outs, rollouts, and refurbishments. Our expertise in Italian construction, permitting, and local suppliers ensures projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standard.

Learn more about our project development services

Facility Services


We provide maintenance, cleaning, security, and operations for retail spaces. For multi-location retailers, we ensure consistent service, manage vendors, and ensure compliance with Italian regulations.   

Sustainability Services


Support your sustainability goals with energy management, waste reduction, and green lease strategies. We help Italian retailers reduce costs and meet consumer expectations for environmental responsibility.

Learn more about our sustainability services

Team

Thomas Casolo
Thomas Casolo

International Partner
Milan, Italy

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Contact us

Research

Milano City
MarketBeat

Italy MarketBeat

Cushman & Wakefield MarketBeat reports analyse quarterly Italy commercial property activity across office, retail and industrial real estate sectors including supply, demand and pricing trends at the market and submarket levels.
Anna Strazza • 27/04/2026
Italy
Research • Investment / Capital Markets

Italian Real Estate Market Trends & Outlook 2024/2025

This report delves into the key transformations shaping Italian real estate, providing valuable insights for investors seeking opportunities amid uncertainty.

Anna Strazza • 13/02/2025
Inclusive Cities Barometer
Insights • Sustainability / ESG

Inclusive Cities Barometer

We quantified the social value of our cities. Our bold idea was to map out, track and measure how inclusive our cities are. We introduce the industry’s most comprehensive urban inclusion data set: The Inclusive Cities Barometer.
05/07/2024
office with lights
Research • Economy

European Outlook 2024

Tailored for investors and property owners, our insights offer a clear path through the complexities of today’s market.
Sukhdeep Dhillon • 11/12/2023
couple with face masks on Milan street
Insights • Economy

Italy Real Estate Market View

A regular update on the commercial real estate market in Italy.
Raffaella Pinto • 23/09/2022
investment card
Insights • Investment / Capital Markets

Six Tips from Italian Real Estate

The beginning of 2021 marked the same trend recorded at the end of 2020 for real estate sector in Italy, highlighting a 33% drop in investments compared to the same period of the previous year.
28/04/2021
View all

Frequently Asked Questions

We offer site acquisition services for retailers targeting top-tier destinations. Our team identifies properties, analyses foot traffic and demographics, negotiates lease terms, and structures transactions. Whether it's Milan's Via Montenapoleone, Rome's Via Condotti, or emerging retail streets in other cities, we secure locations that align with your brand and financial goals.

We negotiate leases that include green clauses, energy requirements, and sustainability commitments. This involves working with landlords on building upgrades, cost-sharing for efficiency improvements, and ensuring lease terms support sustainability reporting, while addressing the specific technical challenges of heritage buildings.

Investing in the local market requires examining tenant mix, lease terms, foot traffic, and competitive positioning. We focus on factors like location accessibility, demographics, anchor tenants, and asset condition. Local insights, such as consumer spending patterns, tourism impact, and regulatory requirements, are key to identifying the right opportunities.

We provide comparative analysis of European retail markets, including rental levels, yields, consumer spending, and regulations. For brands entering Italy, we offer insights on consumer preferences, competitive landscapes, and local operational requirements, helping you plan smart market entry strategies with less risk.

We create strategies that align property decisions with brand and consumer needs. This includes optimising store networks for omnichannel delivery, choosing locations for experiential retail, and structuring flexible leases for adaptation. Locally, we balance traditional retail with digital integration to meet the needs of both domestic shoppers and tourists.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

If you would like to find out more about our specific expertise, or discover how we could work with your company, please contact a member of our team – we’d be delighted to hear from you.
CONTACT US
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