Future of retail: inner cities need new magnets

Future of retail: inner cities need new magnets

City centers like that of Dorfen urgently need revitalization, especially in view of changing customer behavior due to booming online retail. In the past, specialized shops like Camping Eberle were the meeting place for discerning customers who found the right goods here. Nowadays these specialist shops are facing new challenges. Customers think carefully about whether the visit is worth it, whether the quality justifies the higher price and whether the advice is actually as good as is claimed.

With the significant shift to online shopping, exacerbated by the corona pandemic, many stationary retailers are losing customers. The complaints about the dying of the inner cities and the nostalgic hope of preserving the old cityscape are therefore of little use. In order to revitalize city centers, they must adapt to the needs of today's customers and create relevant offers that are unique.

A visit to a city center should therefore be an experience that goes beyond the pure shopping appeal. Additional attractions such as sights, restaurants, relaxation areas and various services help ensure that visitors enjoy spending time in the city center. The design must be customer-oriented and create a harmonious mix of different offers. Even if some parking spaces have to be sacrificed, it is worth it because an attractive offer attracts visitors who then generate sales.

The key is to position city centers as places for encounters and experiences. Through individual design and a wide range of offerings, city centers can continue to be a strong attraction for both locals and tourists and thus maintain their attractiveness in the long term.