Glossary & Definitions
Industry standard definitions for retail categories and real estate terminology across key European markets.
1. Retailer Categories
| Category | Sub-Sector | Definition | Example Brands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Department Store | Department Store | Large, multi-level anchor tenants selling mixed categories. | El Corte Ingles, Selfridges, Harrods, Karstadt, John Lewis |
| Apparel | General Apparel | Sells substantial ranges for Men & Women (and often Kids). | Zara, H&M, Gap, Next |
| Apparel | Ladieswear | Exclusively or overwhelmingly for Women. | & Other Stories, Stradivarius |
| Apparel | Menswear | Exclusively or overwhelmingly for Men. | Jack & Jones, Hackett |
| Apparel | Childrenswear | Exclusively for Children/Babies. | Okaidi, Mothercare |
| Apparel | Lingerie | Intimate apparel and sleepwear. | Oysho, Victoria's Secret |
| Apparel | Bridal & Formalwear | Wedding gowns, suit specialists and formal occasion wear. | David's Bridal, Moss Bros, Hawes & Curtis |
| Sports | Sports Fashion | Street style, sneakers, and "athleisure" (fashion-led). | JD Sports, Foot Locker, Snipes |
| Sports | Performance | Technical gear specifically for doing sport (function-led). | Lululemon, Under Armour, Nike |
| Sports | Outdoor | Hiking, camping, and adventure specialists. | The North Face, Patagonia, Cotswold Outdoor |
| Sports | General Sports | Mixed equipment and clothing (often big box). | Decathlon, Sports Direct |
| Jewellery & Acc. | Fine Jewellery | High value, precious metals, and diamonds. | Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Boodles |
| Jewellery & Acc. | Fashion Jewellery | Trend-led, lower price point (often plated). | Pandora, Swarovski, Lovisa |
| Jewellery & Acc. | Watches | Specialist watch retailers. | Watches of Switzerland, Breitling |
| Jewellery & Acc. | Accessories | Specialists in bags, luggage, scarves, or sunglasses. | Ray-Ban, TUMI, Coach, Parfois |
| Health & Beauty | Cosmetics & Skincare | Makeup and skin focus. | Sephora, MAC, Charlotte Tilbury |
| Health & Beauty | Perfumery | Scent specialists. | Jo Malone, Penhaligon's |
| Health & Beauty | Drugstore / Pharmacy | Essentials, medicine, and toiletries. | Boots, Superdrug, Rossmann |
| Health & Beauty | Wellness | Body care, soaps, and relaxation. | Lush, Rituals, Aesop |
| Health & Beauty | Optical | Spectacles, contact lenses, and eye care. | Alain Afflelou, Specsavers, Vision Express, Bailey Nelson |
| Electronics | Consumer Devices | Tech, phones, and gadgets. | Apple, Dyson, MediaMarkt |
| Electronics | Appliances | Larger format units that sell kitchen and laundry appliances. | Currys, Darty, Boulanger |
| Home | Homeware | Soft furnishings, decoration, and kitchenware. | Zara Home, H&M Home |
| Home | Furniture | Large format items (sofas, beds, cabinets). | IKEA, BoConcept, DFS |
| Home | DIY & Hardware | Home improvement, tools, and garden. | B&Q, Leroy Merlin, Homebase |
| Home | Mixed Goods | Variety stores selling a broad mix of home, food, and seasonal items. | Action, Poundland, HEMA, The Range, B&M |
| Stationery & Gifts | Stationery & Gifts | Cards, paper, small gifts, and novelty items. | Flying Tiger, Paperchase, Moleskine |
| Stationery & Gifts | Books | Traditional bookstores. | Thalia, Foyles, Waterstones |
| Stationery & Gifts | Toys & Games | Toys, puzzles, models and video games. | LEGO, Smyths Toys, Hamleys |
| Footwear | Sneakers & Street | Fashion-led trainers and casual styles. | Vans, Converse, Golden Goose, Axel Arigato, Snipes |
| Footwear | Formal & Classic | Smart shoes, often leather-focused or heritage. | Church's, J.M. Weston, Santoni, Bexley |
| Footwear | Ladies' Footwear | Specialist high-heels or exclusively female focus. | Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Roger Vivier, Jonak |
| Footwear | Outdoor & Utility | Boots, weather-proof, and rugged styles. | Timberland, Dr. Martens, Hunter, Red Wing Shoes |
| Footwear | General Footwear | Family-oriented or broad ranges (Men/Women/Kids). | ECCO, Geox, Camper, Deichmann, Skechers |
| Footwear | Children's Footwear | Specialist kids shoes (fitting focus). | Start-Rite |
| Grocery | Supermarket | Large format weekly grocery shopping. | Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Aldi, Lidl |
| Grocery | Convenience | Small format, essential "top-up" shopping. | Spar, Tesco Express, Amazon Fresh |
| Grocery | Specialist Food | Retailers selling food for home consumption (not restaurants). | Hotel Chocolat, Lindt, Butchers, Bakeries (Retail focus) |
| Food & Beverage | Cafe & Coffee | Coffee-led, light snacks, daytime focus. | Starbucks, Caffè Nero, Gail's, Joe & The Juice |
| Food & Beverage | Quick Service (QSR) | Fast food, counter service, high volume. | McDonald's, KFC, Five Guys, Leon |
| Food & Beverage | Grab & Go | Ready-to-eat sandwiches/salads for immediate takeaway. | Pret A Manger, Greggs, Subway |
| Food & Beverage | Casual Dining | Table service, mid-market, full meals. | Pizza Express, Nando's, Wagamama, The Ivy |
| Food & Beverage | Fine Dining | Premium, experience-led table service. | Nobu, Michelin-starred venues |
| Food & Beverage | Bars & Nightlife | Alcohol-led venues, pubs, and clubs. | All Bar One, BrewDog, Slug & Lettuce |
| Leisure | Cinema | Movie theaters. | Odeon, Vue, Cineworld, Everyman |
| Leisure | Gym & Fitness | Gyms, yoga studios and spin classes. | Gymbox, Barry's, Psycle |
| Leisure | Active Leisure | Physical activity venues. | Gymbox, Trampoline Parks, Bowling, Topgolf, Climbing |
| Leisure | Arts & Culture | Galleries, museums, and immersive experiences. | Tate (Shop), Clarendon Fine Art, Secret Cinema |
| Leisure | Live Performance | Theaters and music venues. | Royal Opera House, O2 Academy |
| Services | Personal Care | Treatments (Hair, Nails, Spa, Beauty). | Toni & Guy, Rush Hair, Laser Clinics, Barbers |
| Services | Financial | Banks, building societies, FX bureaus. | HSBC, Barclays, Western Union |
| Services | Agency & Professional Services | Estate agents, travel agents, solicitors. | Foxtons, TUI, Kuoni |
| Services | Service & Repair | Dry cleaning, cobblers, tailors, key cutting. | Timpson, Johnsons the Cleaners |
| Other | Automotive | Car showrooms and mobility. | Tesla, BYD, Polestar, Genesis |
| Other | General Other | Tenants that do not fit any specific category. | Post Office, Amazon Lockers |
2. Key Real Estate Terms by Market
UK & Ireland
- Zone A
- The primary zone (first 6.1m) of a shop from the window. The most valuable space.
- ITZA
- "In Terms of Zone A". A unit of area measurement used to value retail space.
- 1954 Act (Security of Tenure)
- Statutory right to renew a lease upon expiry, unless the landlord has specific grounds to oppose.
- FRI Lease
- "Full Repairing and Insuring". Tenant is responsible for all repairs and insurance costs.
France
- Bail Commercial (3-6-9)
- Standard commercial lease lasting 9 years. The tenant (but not the landlord) has the right to break the lease every 3 years.
- Droit au Bail / Pas de Porte
- Key money or lease premium paid by an incoming tenant to enter a lease or take over an existing one.
- ILC (Indice des Loyers Commerciaux)
- The standard index used for annual rent indexation (revision) for retail premises.
Germany
- Mietvertrag
- The lease contract. German leases are strictly governed by the BGB (Civil Code).
- Kaltmiete vs. Warmmiete
- Kaltmiete: "Cold rent" (Base rent only).
Warmmiete: "Warm rent" (Rent + Service Charges/Nebenkosten). - Wertsicherungsklausel
- Indexation clause. Rent is usually linked to the CPI (Verbraucherpreisindex), often triggered only when the index changes by a set % (e.g., 10%).
Spain
- LAU
- "Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos". The Urban Leases Act governing commercial property.
- Obligado Cumplimiento
- The mandatory period of the lease (Lock-in period) during which the tenant cannot leave without penalty.
- Gastos de Comunidad
- Community expenses (Service Charges). Often charged separately from the rent.
- IPC
- Consumer Price Index. Rents are typically indexed annually according to IPC.
Italy
- Contratto 6+6
- Standard retail lease duration: 6 years with an automatic renewal for another 6 years.
- Indennità di Avviamento
- Goodwill Indemnity. If the landlord terminates the lease (not for cause), they must pay the tenant 18 months' rent.
- Ramo d'Azienda
- Transfer of a "Going Concern" (business branch). A common way to transfer a lease without requiring landlord consent.
- ISTAT
- National Institute of Statistics. Rents are indexed annually, usually at 75% or 100% of the ISTAT index.
Netherlands
- ROZ Model
- The standard lease contract template drafted by the Real Estate Council. It is landlord-friendly but universally used.
- 7:290 Retail Space
- Legal classification (BW 7:290) offering strict tenant protection. The standard term is 5+5 years.
- Casco
- "Shell" condition. Unlike other markets, Dutch units are often leased as a raw shell (no screed, no wiring) and the tenant installs everything.
- Indexering (CPI)
- Rents are indexed annually based on the CPI (Consumentenprijsindex).