Buchan Group designed precinct for Anaconda aims to reset Large Format Retail expectations

A new Australian-first lifestyle retail precinct near Brisbane offers a glimpse into how the big box sector is transforming to reflect the seismic shift in consumer expectations.

An artist's impression of the Anaconda’s Adenvture HQ warehouse at Brendale.

A NEW generation Large Format Retail (LFR) precinct in Brisbane’s north heralds a rethink of the sector with plans to draw consumers through an experience-based “edu-tainment” offering.

Buchan Group principal and sector lead – precinct (retail and mixed-use) Phil Schoutrop said LFR should be renamed Lifestyle Retail to reflect the seismic shift in consumer expectations.

A Development Application is currently with the Moreton Bay Regional Council for outdoor retailer Anaconda’s Adventure HQ on a 8.5ha site at Brendale which Mr Schoutrop said was an “Australian first”.

Designed by Buchan and lodged last year, Anaconda has committed to a 8500sq m single-level warehouse while there is another two-level building with almost 12,000sq m of floor space also part of the application.

The Anaconda warehouse is twice the size of its normal floorplate and will offer the same range but also have a cafe and products like camping trailers, boats, kayaks, jetskis, mountain bikes and All Terrain Vehicles (ATV).

Buchan Group principal architect Phil Schoutrop.

Mr Schoutrop said Adventure HQ aims to extend the customer retail experience beyond the showroom walls by offering try-before-you-buy opportunities through outdoor “edu-tainment”.

“There will be lot to do in their store but next to it is a bike and ATV testing track, a lake to test fly fishing, or you can jump into a kayak and a hiking test trail,” he said.

“The idea is to get people to stay at the site longer for a number of different reasons.”

Mr Schoutrop said advances in online shopping, centralised distribution warehousing and Covid-19 were fuelling the retail reincarnation. He said customers nowadays researched online, before going to a store to test the product and then organise delivery which means the LFR showrooms were becoming smaller because they don’t need the storage.

“The owners of these LFR sites are starting to reconsider whether big box is the best and highest use for these properties,” Mr Schoutrop said.

“They used to be in the middle of nowhere because it was cheap land but now they’re in the middle of somewhere, in the middle of communities.

“So they have to change the mix to include wellness, to include convenience retail like a supermarket and still have that large format lifestyle by offering something a little bit more of an entertainment level like a BMX Skate Park, wave park or trampoline park.”

An artist's impression of the Anaconda warehouse at Brendale.

Mr Schoutrop said LFR traditionally used to describe whitegoods, furniture, hardware and homeware housed in larger boxes, but customers now wanted a “return on experience” which was personalised, sustainable and engaging.

“Developers are investigating freestanding models that respond to the daily needs of the customer in conjunction with the local community,” he said.

“People have very little time to wait. If you are going to go there they need a good reason to invest their time. The more reasons to go there stronger to pull has to be.”