Shopping Center preferred?

With a shopping center density of 0,3 sqm GLA (gross leasable area) per inhabitant Austria is among the top nations in Europe with many projects being finished over the last years.

But do retailers fancy a location in a shopping center (SC)? Or, in other words has there been a shift in the distribution towards SCs?

A comparison of data from Austrian retail trade locations in 2004 and 2009 shows some surprises. Looking at 4 branches – food, drugstore/perfumeries, fashion and shoes – the overall number of locations stayed nearly the same. But the locations of chained and organised food retailers have diminished by 6%. As did the shoe shops that declined by 12% compared to 2004. The highest increase in shop numbers show drugstores and perfumeries. These also increased their share of shops that are in SCs: 2004 only 4% of all shops were in SCs, in 2009 alreade 9% can be found there. The share of high street locations rose from 2% to 7% in 2009. One reason is the expansion of perfumery chaines such as Douglas and Marionnaud as well as dm and Bipa. The chained and organised fashion retailers in high street loctations stayed nearly the same – but the share of retail parks rose from 9% in 2004 to 12% in 2009. Typical brands include Takko or Kik.

The graph shows the distribution of fashion locations in 2004 and 2009.

A complete insight in all locations of the Austrian retail trade offers the new edition of the RegioData Retail Addresslists 2009.