Online retail leasing platforms gain traction in Australia
Australian retailers looking for spaces to hire are getting a helping hand from online start-ups storematch.com and Lease Me. Both companies connect commercial property landlords with businesses in need of bricks and mortar. Storematch claims to have made 12,000 such matches via its platform in the past year, while Lease Me focuses on helping fashion brands, and numbers Westfield and GPT Group among its landlords.
Digital disruption is gaining traction in retail leasing with two online marketplaces aiming to connect retailers with vacant space in malls and shopping strips.

The new start-ups – storematch.com.au and Lease Me – have already signed up large retail landlords including ISPT, AMP Capital, Scentre Group and GPT and their services could prove increasingly popular in years to come as Amazon and food delivery businesses like Uber Eats reduce retail foot traffic.

Storematch was co-founded by four Melburnians including former Stockland leasing general manager Vaughn​ McGuinness and Jon Sully, co-owner of the Michel's Patisserie franchise before it was sold to the Retail Food Group. The pair are also directors at retail leasing consultants BDC.

Justin Levy founded Lease Me to help fashion brands find retail space.

Marketing itself as the "Tinder of retail leasing", Storematch claims to have matched 12,000 bricks and mortar retailers with "dream retail space" in less than a year. Landlords pay to list their vacant spaces on Storematch.

Retailers confidentially enter their shop requirements – location, size of store and usage – while landlords enter their vacant sites. If there's a match the two parties are put into contact to negotiate a deal.