As the Christmas turkeys and crackers continue to be unveiled in the coming weeks of trading statements most retailers’ focus is now firmly back on convincing shoppers to get shopping again. Nervousness prevails over customers’ wariness to spend after Christmas and pre-VAT rise indulgences but the stronger performance of retailers such as John Lewis, which chalked up record results for both the Christmas and clearance trading periods of 2010, shows that good product, service and knowledge of the customer remains key.

Of course on top of this is location and of no greater illustration of the fact that stores still hold a vital role in a retailer’s multichannel strategy was the fact that despite the snow shoppers turned out in force at John Lewis’ stores to collect goods instore they had reserved online.

With a development pipeline that remains restricted, retailers have no choice but to look at the existing centres that can today provide them with tried, tested and most importantly real opportunities for growth rather than the empty promises of stalled developments.

Clever asset management will continue to be key to offering retailers the opportunities for new space in 2011 whilst the more balanced relationship between landlord, tenants and agents should mean fairer deals for all parties going into this new year.