Transforming a Local Centre Into Measurable Revenue

This case study highlights how Auburn Central used the anyspaces.com platform to transform underutilised retail space into a high-performance activation hub, growing seasonal revenue from $150,000 in 2016 to $575,000 in 2018 — a 283% increase.

Revenue Growth

$150K → $575K

Commercialisation Spaces

25+ spaces

Pop-up Occupancy

72% average

Food Truck Offerings

40+ vendors

Auburn Central exterior showing retail activation spaces

Business Overview

Auburn Central is a community-focused shopping centre serving local residents with a mix of retail, food, and service offerings. The centre identified vacant retail space as an opportunity to generate additional revenue whilst enhancing the customer experience.

Venue Type

Shopping Centre

Management

anyspaces.com

Activation Goal

Space monetisation

The Commercial Challenge

When Auburn Central first joined anyspaces.com in 2016, the centre was generating approximately $150,000 annually from casual retail leasing and activations. Significant challenges included:

Underutilised vacant retail space with limited activation opportunities

Lack of structured brand experiences and diverse activation offerings

Manual coordination processes creating admin friction

Limited brand reach to attract quality activations and sponsored events

Activation Strategy

The campaign was structured as an ongoing short-term activation programme, converting vacant retail space into a rotating portfolio of diverse brand experiences across multiple categories.

Space Types Used

Vacant retail spaces reconfigured for pop-ups, showcases, and experiential activations

Location Selection

High-visibility spaces positioned to maximise foot traffic and customer engagement

Campaign Structure

Diverse activation mix including home improvement, automotive displays, health & wellness, and seasonal pop-ups

Duration of Activation

Flexible terms from days to weeks, creating continuous activation coverage

How the anyspaces.com Platform Enabled the Campaign

anyspaces.com worked closely with the Auburn Central team to implement a collaborative space management strategy that unlocked new revenue streams through technology-driven workflows.

Space Optimisation & Configuration

The platform enabled the centre to introduce new space types and reconfigure existing ones to maximise usability, visual appeal, and activation potential.

Targeted Marketing & Brand Outreach

Implemented a targeted marketing campaign combining social promotion, local outreach, and automated brand reach-outs through the dashboard, significantly expanding the centre's activation pipeline.

Quote and Offer Management

Streamlined activation workflows through the automated quote platform, speeding retail onboarding and reducing admin friction for new activations.

Campaign Tracking and Reporting

Performance tracking fed back into centre strategies, enabling data-driven decisions for future space allocation.

Execution and Experience

The transformation delivered exceptional outcomes for both the venue and activating brands:

Setup Process

Streamlined brand onboarding through centralised booking management, enabling rapid activation deployment across multiple space configurations

Customer Engagement

Rotating brands kept the centre dynamic and engaging, offering customers something new with every visit across home improvement, automotive, and wellness categories

Brand Experience

Diverse activation mix created compelling brand showcases, from seasonal pop-ups to automotive displays, strengthening community engagement

Campaign Logistics

Platform-managed coordination eliminated manual processes, allowing the centre team to focus on strategic partnerships rather than administrative tasks

Results and Impact

Revenue Growth

+283%

Revenue grew from $150,000 in 2016 to $575,000 in 2018

Commercialisation Spaces

25+

Enhanced spaces created through place management strategy

Pop-up Occupancy

72%

Average occupancy across short-term activation spaces

Food Truck Experience

40+

Local favourite food truck vendors generating sponsored event income

Key Achievements

Place management strategy enhanced spaces to include 25+ commercialisation opportunities across pop-ups, kiosks, and experiential zones

New signage income streams engaged with a range of different businesses, diversifying revenue sources

Sponsored events including a local favourite food truck experience with over 40 different food offerings created community engagement

Continues to be managed by anyspaces.com, ensuring sustained performance and ongoing optimization

What This Means for Brands

Other brands can replicate this success by leveraging short-term activation opportunities:

Testing new markets: Short-term activations provide low-risk opportunities to validate customer demand before committing to long-term leases

Building brand visibility: Activations in high-traffic venues create immediate customer exposure and engagement

Flexible duration options: From days to weeks to months, brands can align activation length with campaign objectives

Streamlined coordination: Platform-managed workflows reduce admin burden and accelerate time-to-market

What This Means for Venues

Venue partners can leverage anyspaces.com to deliver similar transformation outcomes:

Turning vacant space into revenue: Generate consistent commercial income from space that would otherwise remain empty during tenant transitions

Creating continuous activation: Rotating brands maintain centre vibrancy and customer engagement throughout the year

Test-before-lease approach: De-risk long-term tenancy decisions by observing brand performance during short-term activations

Reducing admin overhead: Centralised platform management eliminates manual coordination and streamlines booking workflows

Ready to Transform Your Vacant Space?

Join Auburn Central and other shopping centres turning empty retail space into high-performing activation revenue through anyspaces.com.