Fashion boutique Shila closes: Another sign for downtown shock!

Fashion boutique Shila closes: Another sign for downtown shock!

Ribnitz-Damgarten, Deutschland - The fashion boutique "Shila" in Ribnitz-Damgarten will close at the end of the month. Owner Jana Marquardt does not comment on the background of this decision. The business, which was opened in March 2021, was particularly known for his Scandinavian fashion for women. "Shila" was the third location of Marquardt after the shops in Rostock and Malchow were previously operated. The latter remains active together with online trading. However, the business in Rostock had to close at the end of 2023 because it lacked walk -in customers. Now there is no subsequent tenant for the shop on Langen Strasse in Ribnitz.

Why are so many shops in city centers fight for survival? Inpatient trade is enormous challenges through the increasing online trade, the changed work culture and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. City researcher Thomas Krüger clearly advocates measures to redesign shopping miles. He demands the development of unique shops and offers to attract a diverse audience and stop the loss of attractiveness of the city centers. The Trade Association of Germany (HDE) supports this approach and calls for a city center fund of 500 million euros to support threatened city centers. This is becoming increasingly important in view of the current forecasts that predict strong shopping ends in the future if it is not traded. Deutschlandfunk reports that empty business could further tighten the situation.

The background and the pressure on retail

After the buying behavior has changed, retailers notice that the city center is increasingly losing importance. A look at the figures shows that the proportion of under 30 year olds who appreciate the city center as shops in 2015 dropped to only 40 % in 2021. The so-called "donut effect" also describes the shift in the consumption of city centers towards suburbs. Rental prices for retail real estate in 1a locations have dropped since the Corona crisis, which makes it even more difficult for many shops to remain profitable. Purchase and department stores are particularly affected, which have fallen behind e-commerce in the hard race. Statista points out that retail with long -lasting crises and does not have enough time to fundamentally change the situation.

Another problem is the changed leisure behavior of people. Consumers want more places to linger to meet friends. Around 45 % of those surveyed require improved quality of stay in the city centers in surveys, while at the same time an increased functional mix of shopping, living, gastronomy and leisure is required.