While the number web and digital shoppers quickly rises, there are many opportunities to take advantage of this reality. Most of the retailers discussed above bring with them robust, enthusiastic and committed communities. The opportunity to experience their favourite businesses in a new way can bring any shop space renewed traffic, eyes and interest. Store-fronts disseminated to the world through photos and social sharing. The power of a business's community is better than advertising.

Empty shops don't indicate that less money is being spent, or that less people are spending. It indicates that people want a different kind of experience when they walk into a store. A new generation of retailers and shoppers are high on creativity and low on time, with sizable specialized communities that thrive on The New. Businesses that are quick, flexible and inventive are able to adapt quickly and thrive on the challenge of re-invention, discovery and reach.

An entirely new genre of 'store' has emerged, where the success of a space is not necessarily located in how much inventory is sold, but what parts of an experience can add value. Events, openings, extended use and space-as-a-destination all offer new ways to stimulate footfall, renew engagement and support meaningful relationships between businesses and their communities.

No matter what kind of retail space you have, there are always unexpected shifts. Tenants leave early, there are awkward pauses in between leases, or re-developing takes longer than expected. By facilitating a creatively curated variety of short-term tenants, properties can stay vibrant and active whilst going through structural, financial or legal adjustments.