Luxury outlet retail in China is demonstrating vitality and resilience as the sector capitalizes on the growing demand for cultural, lifestyle and vacation experience-centered shopping.

Among luxury outlet retail operators, Florentia Village Beijing-Tianjin Luxury Design Outlet leads the way.

The flagship project of Italy's RDM Group reported a 6 percent year-on-year increase in sales and a 7 percent rise in visitor traffic in 2025, signaling sustained consumer demand despite broader market headwinds.

On May 10, Florentia Village Beijing-Tianjin celebrated its 15th anniversary. The shopping complex has contributed to the diversification of the country's outlet market, integrating culture, commerce, tourism, sports, and exhibitions into a unified "micro-vacation" retail experience, said the company.

The shopping complex has established a 180,000-square-meter commercial footprint, hosting more than 200 internationally renowned brands. This includes national outlet exclusive brands such as Roger Vivier, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Peak Performance, as well as North China exclusives like Acne Studios, Mulberry, Mackage and Stone Island.

Jacopo De Vena, managing director of Florentia Village & RDM Asia, said the company has pioneered a "micro-vacation" model, combining authentic Italian architecture, a holiday-style setting, and immersive experiences.

Over the years, Florentia Village has remained committed to creating a "micro-vacation" immersive experience that sets it apart from traditional outlets, said the director. Notably, the sports and outdoor category has emerged as a critical revenue pillar, increasing nearly 20 percent in contribution to the revenue from 2024 to 2025.

Recent upgrades, including the renovated VIP lounge and new landscape pathways, reinforce the shopping complex's signature “La Dolce Vita” atmosphere.

"Consumers today increasingly prefer relaxed, lifestyle-oriented scenarios. We've adapted to the trend and have seen these categories becoming a vital pillar of our revenue structure," De Vena said.

According to Bain & Company's 2025 China Personal Luxury Goods Report, 65 percent of Chinese luxury consumption occurred in the Chinese mainland market in 2025. The report anticipates moderate growth for the Chinese personal luxury market in 2026, with the region poised to remain the cornerstone of global luxury market growth.

Driven by the continued expansion of the middle-income group, a rebound in consumer confidence, and supportive policy measures, further repatriation of luxury spending to the Chinese mainland is expected. However, the degree of growth will remain highly dependent on specific product categories and individual brand performance.

The China Commerce Association for General Merchandise's 2024-2025 China Outlet Industry White Paper estimates that in 2025 there were about 251 outlet projects in operation nationwide, with a total sales scale of about 239 billion yuan ($35.2 billion).

The development of China's outlet industry is undergoing a strategic shift — moving away from sheer scale expansion toward a focus on achieving extreme operational efficiency, said the report.

Against this backdrop, Florentia Village Beijing-Tianjin, which is located within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei one-hour economic circle, leverages high-speed railway and expressway access to capture intercity passenger flows.

This has allowed the outlet to convert transient visitors into a loyal customer base with high repurchase rates, said the director. Seasonal cultural and experiential programming has further boosted Florentia Village Beijing-Tianjin as a dual-city micro-vacation destination, with nearly 80 million visitors to date.

"We broke free from the traditional outlet logic of over-reliance on discounts. By connecting deeply with consumer groups from both Beijing and Tianjin, we converted regional transit passenger flow into a stable consumer group with high stickiness and high repurchase rates," he said.

De Vena added that RDM Group continues to consolidate its market leadership by focusing on six strategic dimensions: scenario creation, high-end merchandising, stock iteration, digital operations, membership deepening, and regional integration.

Through immersive holiday environments, exclusive brand collaborations, and a mature digital ecosystem — encompassing 7.8 million registered members nationwide — the group has built a standardized model capable of replication across all Florentia Village's projects.

Looking ahead, RDM Group is expanding its national footprint with Shanghai third phase and Chongqing second phase, aiming to transform Florentia Village into localized micro-vacation cultural landmarks.

The group emphasizes high brand completeness, cross-border consumption facilitation, and multidimensional upgrades to brand matrices, experiential offerings, and commercial value.

Despite increasing competition, national projects achieved an 8 percent year-on-year increase in visitor traffic and 6 percent sales growth in 2025, demonstrating strong resilience and market recognition, said the company.

"Today's outlet is not just a shopping destination; it is a lifestyle and leisure experience," said De Vena. With strategic location, differentiated offerings, and refined operations, Florentia Village continues to be optimistic about the luxury retail and experiential consumption across the country.