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Physical retail roars back: Christmas 2025 expected to be the biggest in years

  • Written by Daily Bulletin


Physical retail is back and it’s booming. Shopping centres across Australia are preparing for one of the biggest Christmas and Boxing Day sale seasons on record, driven by strong consumer confidence, vibrant in-centre activations and a renewed appetite for real-world connection.

At the heart of this retail resurgence is JMK Retail’s Yamanto Central in Ipswich, where a year of consistent growth and innovative community engagement is culminating in a record-breaking festive period.

“Our approach to retail is all about interactive experiences that fill people with joy and create wonderful memories,” JMK Retail general manager, Vicki Leavy said. 

“This combined with great products and customer service is elevating the role and importance of physical retail in the lives and wellbeing of people everywhere.”

Halloween success signals retail resurgence

According to Leavy, the momentum has been building for months. The centre’s much-loved Halloween celebration has once again exceeded expectations, drawing huge crowds and setting the tone for a powerful close to the year.

“Our Halloween campaign continues to grow year after year,” Leavy said.

“Foot traffic was up more than 20 percent on last year and the feedback from retailers and visitors has been outstanding. Families are coming in costume, kids are having fun and our retailers are joining in with themed products, specials, and activations. It’s an event that brings the whole community together.”

This year’s Halloween celebration featured everything from roaming eight-foot monsters and a live River 949 FM radio broadcast to free family entertainment, face painting and a K-Pop disco. The result, according to Leavy, is proof that online shopping simply can’t compete with physical connection.

“People want to feel part of something,” she said. 

“They don’t just want to shop, they want to belong. That’s what community focused centres like Yamanto Central do best. They create experiences, memories and moments that digital retail can’t replicate.

“In speaking with colleagues across industry, the feedback has been the same.  The physical retail centres that have focused on entertainment and activities combined with clever activations, have enjoyed strong results.”

Anticipating a record-breaking Christmas season

With that energy rolling straight into Christmas, Leavy said JMK Retail is expecting its strongest festive trading period on record across all of its shopping centres.

“Retailers are optimistic, consumers are spending and the atmosphere is electric,” she said. 

“We’ve got a full Christmas calendar of activity that will keep our centres alive with excitement right through to Boxing Day. From Santa visits to live music and community celebrations, it’s all about creating joy and connection.”

The power of local retail experiences

JMK Retail’s strategy of blending strong retail offerings with family-friendly experiences has proven to be a winner. 

“We’ve always believed that retail is about more than transactions,” Leavy said. 

“It’s about community, relationships and shared moments. The more we invest in creating experiences, the stronger the results are for our retailers.”

She said the trends are clear: Australians are returning to physical retail in force. 

“Online shopping will always have its place, but it can’t replace the feeling of walking into a beautifully decorated centre, chatting with staff or seeing your kids’ faces light up when they meet Santa,” Leavy said.

Retail’s bright future

For Yamanto Central, that sense of connection is what drives growth. 

“We’re expecting our Christmas and Boxing Day season to break all records,” Leavy said.

“That’s because people want to be part of something real and we deliver that every day.”

JMK Retail centres

JMK Retail is one of Australia’s oldest and most successful shopping centre developers, owners and managers with sites located across Queensland.   JMK Retail own and manage a variety of retail properties ranging from food orientated precincts, retail strip, neighbourhood and sub-regional centres. Their centres are in key locations, anchored by long-term tenancies with nationally identifiable retailers that incorporate a wide and varied range of retailers who are primarily focused on traditional retailing, day to day household needs, dining, finance and services, medical, health, fitness and beauty.

www.jmkretail.com.au

Groundbreaking investment positions Agile Energy to slash power costs for Australian businesses and accelerate Australia’s rise as a green economic powerhouse

  • Written by Daily Bulletin


Agile Energy is now positioned to play a defining role in reducing energy costs for Australian businesses and fast-tracking the nation’s transformation into a globally competitive green economic powerhouse, following a landmark investment partnership from Five V Capital and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC).

The first collaboration of its kind in Australia’s commercial and industrial clean-energy sector, the investment gives Agile Energy the institutional backing required to roll out more than 200 MW of rooftop solar and battery systems to businesses nationwide. This will allow Australian businesses to access cleaner, cheaper and more secure energy at scale and without upfront capital outlay.

This strategic partnership strengthens Australia’s ability to shift rapidly toward a decentralised, low-carbon, high-productivity energy future, with Agile Energy at the centre of delivering it.

Driving down business energy costs, fast and at scale

Rising grid prices continue to put pressure on Australian businesses. Agile Energy’s zero-capex Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) offer immediate relief by giving businesses access to cheaper, stable and long-term renewable power.

The rollout of 200 MW of Agile Energy solar and battery systems will enable businesses across manufacturing, logistics, industrial, retail, healthcare, property and construction to dramatically reduce energy costs while improving operational certainty and reducing exposure to volatile grid pricing.

This next era of distributed clean-energy deployment positions Australia as a leader in the global green economy, where lower energy costs become a competitive advantage rather than a barrier to growth.

Jack Kapoor, Chief Executive Officer of Agile Energy, said the investment represents a transformational moment for both the company and the nation.

“This commitment accelerates our mission to make clean energy accessible and financially compelling for Australian businesses,” he said. 

“Five V and the CEFC bring not just capital, but deep institutional expertise in scaling sustainable infrastructure. Together, we’ll unlock hundreds of megawatts of rooftop and on-site solar and batteries.

“Working with Five V Capital and the CEFC strengthens our capacity to move faster, scaling to 200 MW and beyond while maintaining the discipline, data and outstanding delivery that define Agile Energy.  This is institutional capital backing local execution.”

A national blueprint for a green economic powerhouse

This investment marks Agile Energy’s evolution from a successful 50 MW deployment track record into a national platform capable of delivering clean-energy infrastructure at a scale that shifts the economic landscape.

By supplying affordable renewable energy directly to business customers, Agile Energy is strengthening national productivity, enabling businesses to reinvest energy savings into growth and innovation, and helping entire industries decarbonise without financial barriers.

The partnership between Five V Capital and the CEFC creates the conditions for a major acceleration in Australia’s shift toward modern, low-carbon industrial capability.

Institutional endorsement of Agile Energy’s role in lowering costs

Patrick Rodden, Managing Director at Five V Capital, said Agile Energy’s model directly addresses the biggest cost challenge facing Australian businesses.

“Agile Energy represents the next generation of clean-energy infrastructure platform, founder-led, execution-focused and driven by data, discipline and exceptional customer outcomes. We’re excited to partner with the Agile Energy team to help scale the company’s growth nationally and invest institutional capital into a sector that delivers outstanding returns for customers and the environment,” he said. 

Malcolm Thornton, CEFC Head of Growth Capital, said Agile Energy’s national rollout will significantly improve both affordability and decarbonisation outcomes.

“Commercial and industrial customers are essential to Australia’s decarbonisation journey. The CEFC commitment to Agile Energy will help accelerate the uptake of rooftop solar and battery solutions for Australian businesses, making clean energy more accessible and affordable. By supporting the growth of innovative providers in this sector, we’re enabling more companies to cut energy costs,” he said.  

David Margolius, Chief Commercial Officer of Agile Energy, said the partnership strengthens customer confidence.

“Demand from Australian businesses for secure, low-cost clean energy continues to grow. With institutional capital now aligned behind Agile Energy, customers can rely on fully bankable solutions underpinned by robust infrastructure and proven long-term operational performance,” he said. 

About Agile Energy

Agile Energy is one of Australia’s fastest-growing clean-energy companies, delivering large-scale solar, battery and electrification solutions for the commercial, industrial, healthcare and property sectors. The company designs, finances, builds and operates integrated clean-energy systems that help businesses reduce costs, decarbonise operations and participate in virtual power networks. With deep engineering expertise, financial discipline and a long-term ownership mindset, Agile Energy is redefining how organisations generate, store and trade electricity creating measurable financial and environmental performance across Australia’s transition to a smarter, more resilient energy future.

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