Future of trade: NRW interior cities are fighting for vacancies!

Future of trade: NRW interior cities are fighting for vacancies!

The retail landscape in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is subject to profound changes that are characterized by changing shopping habits and a significant decline in inpatient trade. A current study by the NRW Ministry of Economics has examined the shopping behavior of over 500 dealers, 13,000 customers and representatives from 28 city administrations. This study shows that over 85 % of the respondents still buy food and everyday goods in their city, while non-food products are increasingly acquired online.

A significant example of the current development is the bookseller "Weltbild", which registered bankruptcy in 2024 and closed several branches in order to concentrate more on the online business. In addition, despite the changes, the inner cities are perceived as important meeting points for social interactions. Especially in small cities, the decline in shops is clearly noticeable, as many consumers migrate to larger cities or the Internet. In this context, many cities in North Rhine -Westphalia strive to make their inner cities car -free, which makes it difficult for visitors to find a parking space.

digital trends in purchasing

The study has also shown that digital offers such as Click & Collect and local shopping apps are in demand. Despite the growing online presence, only a third of the retailers surveyed has their own online shop, which shows a great advisory and training needs. Local retailers have to adapt to avoid further vacancies in their city centers.