According to the EHI Retail Institute, the number of shopping malls in Germany grew by nine to 453 in 2012. The corresponding selling surface increased by roughly 275,000 square meters to a total of 14.2 million square meters. In the next 3-4 years, about 50 new malls are expected to be built, including seven this year. EHI detects the highest potential for new shopping malls in medium-sized towns with a population between 20,000 and 100,000 inhabitants. The main reasons why developers of shopping facilities are after towns of that size is because demand in larger cities is mainly satisfied, while smaller towns are not interesting enough for mall operators. EHI counts about 600 towns and cities between 20,000 and 100,000 people around the country. As a result of the growing interest in medium-sized towns, the new malls are rather small: four out of the nine new shopping temples have a selling surface between 10,000 and 19,999 square meters and two others between 20,000 and 29,999 square meters. The trend toward smaller malls is also conditioned by the tendency to build them in city and town centers rather than outside town. Seven out of the nine new malls constructed last year, are, in fact, located downtown. Often, developers are forced to think small due to higher real-estate costs, lack of available space and legal implications such as the protection of historic buildings etc. When it comes to renting the selling space apparel retailers are definitely at the forefront – H&M opened seven doors in the nine malls, followed by C&A and New Yorker with three doors each. Those two retailers, however, were less active than Intersport members who opened four new stores with a total selling surface of 4,220 square meters.

Comments: Germany’s retail culture has always been sort of old-fashioned in the sense that customers stubbornly continue to shop downtown (and complain about the notorious lack of parking space). Latest figures from the EHI Retail Institute suggest that not that much has changed. However, the ongoing trend to shop in city and town centers brings other advantages, which may also fuel one of the most interesting trends in recent years – the growing number of e-bikers and increasing importance of urban mobility. The more interesting and lively town centers are, the more attractive pedelecs and e-bikes may become. We reported yesterday on the tremendous efforts of a couple of big cities around the globe – from Tokyo to Amsterdam, from Montreal to Seville – to develop infrastructure in the bike-friendliest way possible. As reported last month, in the U.S. there is also growing awareness of the importance of attractive city centers – and the desire to be as mobile as possible in urban areas. Let’s see whether the attractiveness of town centers as a place to shop boosts the sales of e-bikes – and vice versa.

by ISPO