finance
Bundoora Retailers Face National Shift to Online and New Store Formats
National patterns in online growth and preferred store formats are influencing how Bundoora retailers should plan amid an absence of reported local openings.
How we reported this
No specific retail store openings or closures have been reported in Bundoora. National and global trends instead point to clear shifts that local businesses must factor into decisions on channel mix and store design.
These patterns matter now because spending continues moving online while physical formats evolve toward smaller, experience-focused spaces. Bundoora retailers operate within the same national environment where online channels already claim a larger share of total spend, requiring adjustments to inventory, staffing and marketing even without new local developments to track.
Online versus physical sales patterns
Australian online spending surged 12% in 2024 to reach $69 billion and now accounts for 17.7%-22.3% of total retail spend. In-store sales are projected to fall from 45% in 2024 to 41% in 2026 nationally. Bundoora businesses therefore face the same pressure to integrate digital tools that support this continued movement of spend.
AI-driven personalization and social commerce integration form part of the major Australian retail trends alongside the shift toward value-driven retail with smaller store footprints. Retailers in Bundoora can apply these elements by testing targeted online offers and compact physical displays that match reduced in-store expectations.
Preferred tenant types and foot traffic signals
2026 retail openings are dominated by discount/off-price, grocery-anchored, food-and-beverage, and experience-driven tenants, while legacy big-box and oversized pharmacy formats continue to shrink globally. Bundoora operators considering physical changes should weigh these categories when evaluating lease or fit-out options.
Shopping mall foot traffic in the US rose 1.8% in the first half of 2025, with a trend expected to continue into 2026 driven by Stores of the Future concepts featuring omnichannel integration. Local businesses can monitor whether similar omnichannel experiments appear in nearby centres and assess how their own online and in-store operations connect.
Businesses should review their current mix of online and physical channels against the documented national movement in spend and evaluate opportunities in smaller, experience-led or value-oriented formats. Checking government business registers and local council resources remains the direct route to confirming any future Bundoora-specific activity.
This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.