Retail: Gloomy times for shopping centers
The decline in sales in the Swiss retail trade is also being felt by the local shopping centers - even more than average compared to the market as a whole. This is one of the findings of the Shopping Center Market Report 2016, which is launched today, November 5.
As part of the study, which is prepared by stoffelzurich, 256 experts from the shopping center and retail industry were surveyed on the development of the next two to three years. According to the study, Swiss shopping centers are facing very significant challenges.
This year - depending on the climate and the course of the Christmas business - the majority of Swiss centers will close with a drop in sales compared with the previous year. In the next few years, the experts predict that the situation will worsen massively in terms of declining sales, reduced floor space and store closures.
60 percent of those surveyed by stoffelzurich believe that sales in stationary retail will continue to fall in the next few years. That is 69 percent more than in the previous year. 90 percent of all study participants agree that online retail will continue to grow in return.
Against this backdrop, 70 percent of all respondents expect demand for more retail space to fall. In 2013, 45 percent still expected demand to fall.
Around half of all experts are even forecasting branch closures over the next two to three years, which is 70 percent more than last year.
The study participants see the greatest need for action in the revitalization and refurbishment of the centers - on average, Swiss shopping centers are over 28 years old.
The Market Report 2016 is being published for the third time this year. It is produced by stoffelzurich, Marcel Stoffel's consulting company. (ah)
