How the retail sector can thrive in 2026?

Dave Jackson, centre manager at the McArthurGlen designer outlet in Cannock, gives an update on the state of the retail trade and wider sector performances.  

News is plentiful, and in a wide market of retail, leisure and placemaking, there’s a lot to choose from. I wanted to step away from what you can read online, and give you what we see every day, as a team, immersed in the sector.

So, here’s the honest version….

Retail isn’t falling apart. It’s just changing faster than most people are comfortable admitting. And if you look at what’s really performing, the patterns are pretty clear: the places and brands that win today aren’t simply stores or large shopping centres - they’re creating reasons for people to visit, stay, purchase, and come back for more.

That’s the shift.
Not complicated. Not mysterious. Just real.

Customers right now are looking for two simple things at the same time:
a good deal and a good day out.
Not one or the other - both.

The old approach of “put product on shelves and hope for the best” doesn’t cut it anymore. Consumers want to feel like their time is worth something. If a destination or store can give them value, authenticity, something interesting to do, and a reason to bring the family… that’s where behaviour starts to change.

• It’s why outlets are outperforming the market.
   
• It’s why experience-led schemes are gaining ground.
   
• And it’s why retailers that offer more than “the latest season’s trends” are the ones we’re seeing pull ahead.

This isn’t about footfall for the sake of footfall.
It’s about relevance, enjoyment, authenticity, and — most importantly — keeping it simple.

What is the biggest difference between the destinations and retailers that feel busy and the ones that feel empty?

If you look at somewhere like Merry Hill, the model is clear: space isn’t just being filled - it’s being repurposed with intent. Former anchors are becoming long-term leisure, multiple new uses under one roof, food and social spaces that actually get used, and a mix that fits how people want to spend a few hours, not just a few pounds.

It’s not a “shopping centre” in the old sense anymore. It functions like a local ecosystem - retail, leisure, convenience, entertainment - all feeding each other.

You see the same in West Midlands Designer Outlet, opening brands like Pretty Pots, a local partnership giving guests a first-class pottery experience (a must try!), and Polo Ralph Lauren, with timeless product at a value price point. Every brand intentionally adds to the experience.

Marks & Spencer is the retailer version of this: great product and pricing, sizing for 2026 not 2002, food that feels like a treat, and, of course, enough choice in store to be individual in your style choice.

So, what are consumers thinking when in these destinations or stores in 2026?

Customers don’t think in categories (we just organise them that way).

The modern shopper isn’t deciding:
“Today I want retail”
or
“Today I want leisure.”

They’re thinking:
“Where can I go that gives me everything at once?”

If a destination ticks enough boxes - good brands, strong value, something for the kids, somewhere to eat, something fun or different - behaviour compounds. One good experience leads to another, and before you know it, you’re not just getting visits, you’re getting habits.

That’s when a centre or store becomes part of people’s weekly rhythm, not just an errand on their list.

Where this is all heading?

The places and retailers performing well right now aren’t just trading. They’re adapting. They’re listening. They’re building environments that make sense for today, not for 2012.

Everything supports everything else. Every change strengthens the bigger picture.
And every visit and transaction adds a bit more momentum.

It’s not luck. It’s not hype. It’s just the outcome of developing places people actually want to be in.

The fast pace of change will continue. The market will continue to develop, and grow, despite the challenges. Change and collaboration across the market and understanding consumer trends will be key.

The winners will be the ones that adapt, learn, and listen, and above all, keep it simple. Despite all of the above, you might not see me in Greggs and Primark anytime too soon!