Prime Highlights
- DJI’s Manchester store will serve as its new northern flagship, following successful openings in Birmingham and London.
- The signing adds an experience-led tech category to Manchester Arndale’s retail mix for the first time.
Key Facts
- DJI was founded in 2006 and now operates across more than 100 countries, specialising in drones and imaging technology.
- Manchester Arndale is one of the UK’s largest city-centre shopping destinations, managed by M&G Real Estate and Global Mutual.
Background
DJI is bringing its first store to Manchester, signing a 10-year lease for a 3,386 sq ft unit at Manchester Arndale. The new outlet will be the brand’s fourth location in the UK and will front onto Market Street, one of the city centre’s busiest retail corridors.
The store will carry DJI’s full range of products, including drones, handheld imaging devices, and camera stabilisation systems. The brand has built a strong following among content creators, photographers, filmmakers, and technology enthusiasts across more than 100 countries.
Manchester Arndale’s portfolio manager at M&G Real Estate, Scott Linard, said the signing adds an experience-led dimension to the centre’s retail mix. He noted that the strategy focuses on bringing in brands that reflect the evolving interests of visitors from Manchester and beyond.
Steve Gray, head of European retail asset management at Global Mutual, said DJI’s arrival highlights Manchester Arndale’s growing appeal to retailers of all kinds. He added that the signing further diversifies the destination and strengthens its position as a leading regional retail hub.
Oliver Marshall, director at Cited Property, which represented DJI in the deal, said finding the right location in Manchester city centre for a brand of DJI’s global standing took several years of patience. He described the Manchester Arndale unit as DJI’s ideal position and called the new store the northern flagship, building on the success of existing stores in Birmingham and London.
The DJI signing follows several recent additions to Manchester Arndale, including Sephora, Arc’teryx, Pro:Direct, XF Gym, Neals Yard, and GARAGE.
