In October, Mecca opened its 1500sqm ACT flagship at Canberra Centre, replacing the beauty giant's two smaller storefronts previously in the centre. The new store combines cosmetics retail with a perfumery bar, skincare treatment suites and naturopathic services amid bespoke artworks and handcrafted interiors, exemplifying how immersive design transforms shopping into a multisensory experience.

Outdoor equipment company Arc'teryx takes a similar approach in its new Canberra store, evoking the mountains through rugged stone facades and artistic recreations of natural elements, while a dedicated space for repairs and resale turns sustainability into a tangible customer experience.

These retail concepts sit alongside Funlab's Hijinx Hotel, which opened in 2024 in former carpark space. The competitive socialising venue's themed challenge rooms represent a category-defining approach to immersive entertainment that is reshaping customer expectations across the centre.

“These spaces function like stages, drawing on theatrical or fairground design cues to create richly immersive moments,” says Stephen Dewaele, GM Property Management. "It's the creation of lasting memories that truly define experiential retail.”

The strategy responds to established consumer priorities, with 88% saying the experience a company provides is as important as its products (State of the Connected Customer, Salesforce).

The recently revitalised Hunter & Gatherer fresh food precinct at Pacific Epping draws on Melbourne's open-air market tradition to create an authentic, layered experience reflecting Epping's cultural diversity. Anchoring the precinct is Sacca's Fine Foods, an Italian grocer serving the local community since 2008, now spanning a butcher, gelateria, café, florist, and bakery—its family-style service and bazaar-like atmosphere particularly resonating with Epping's Italian and Mediterranean communities.

The connection matters commercially: 57% of consumers increase their spending with a brand when they feel connected to it (The Social Media Trends for 2024 & Beyond, Sprout Social).

“What successful retail environments do really well is design for people and product in equal measure,” says John Grinham, Head of Retail Design and Delivery. “Instead of defaulting to templated sameness, we aim to express local stories and reflect neighbourhood traditions. That's how you build loyalty, by creating places where people feel they truly belong.”

QIC centres nurture local businesses through adaptive design that anticipates community needs. Robina Town Centre's Riva Offices, which opened in April, were purpose-built for entrepreneurs with next-generation coworking facilities including a podcast studio. Canberra Centre's new LSKD store was designed with dedicated floorspace for community 'Pilates & Lattes' sessions and gear swap events, enabling the retailer to function as both shop and community gathering point.

“Community-focused partners bring authenticity and energy to our centres,” says Luke Young, General Manager - Leasing. “By providing adaptive spaces, we help them contribute meaningfully to local life.”

For emerging businesses, this means flexible pathways from concept to permanence. Vince Lam, Brand iQ National Manager, explains: “We're curating environments where emerging concepts can test their vision, then expand into permanent spaces that reflect their growth.”