Change is gradual. The baker leaves, a new lunchroom opens, and the shoe store moves two streets away. In small steps, the shopping street changes. But how major are the differences after 10 years?
Every year, Locatus processes adjustments for around 15% of its retail database. (For those who don’t know us yet, our database really does contain every point of sale in the Benelux). So after 10 years, the retail landscape will most definitely look different. Last week I dove into our database and took a closer look at the shifts at sector level. What stood out?
In this blog, I compare January 2013 to the most recent data (July 2022).
Outliers based on number of retail outlets
- Most grown (%)
The Electro repair sector has relatively grown the most (+338%). From 193 stores in 2013 to 788 stores by mid-2022. - (Almost) Extinct
The sector Video Store is almost extinct. Of these, only 18 stores can still be found throughout the Netherlands. Meanwhile, Post Offices have become completely extinct. The last store closed in 2018, while there were still 512 post offices in 2013. - Decreased by more than 1.000 stores per sector
Sector Shoes : -40,0% (-1.384 stores)
Sector Women’s fashion : -17,5% (-1.209 stores)
Sector M&F fashion : -14,5% (-1.002 stores) - Most additional retail outlets
The Delivery/Take-away sector has grown the most in terms of number of retail outlets: + 2.361 (+111%). This sector now has 4,485 retail outlets. We have seen steady growth here for more than 10 years, but during the corona-pandemic the industry received an additional boost.
Service sector dominates Growth Top 10
The industries that are growing most (in number of retail outlets) almost all sell services, rather than products.
- Top 10 Industries grown most (in total number of outlets)
- Delivery/take-away
- Service station
- Hairdresser
- Cafe-Restaurant
- Fitness
- Lunchroom
- Beauty salon
- Fast food
- Second hand miscellaneous
- Nail salon
Apparently, more and more people want to look good, while eating in or out, and subsequently want to work off the extra pounds….
Outliers bases on Retail Floor Space
- Highest RFS
The Supermarkets sector is at the top of the list when it comes to RFS. In second and third place are home improvement stores and furniture stores. These have a much larger average floor area, but are much less densely spread. - Most increased (in RFS)
The Supermarkets sector also added the most store meters: + 860,000 m² in 10 years, or 21.8%. The second largest sector, Secondhand miscellaneous stores, grew by 379,567 m². - Most declined (%)
Three sectors pretty much share their first place when it comes to percentage of most shrinkage (between 60 and 61%): Computer, Sound & Vision and Office Supplies. The first two are selling more and more online, while the last sector is selling less and less because we simply use fewer pens and writing materials. - Most decreased in RFS
The department store sector has shrunk the most in absolute terms in terms of RFS (- 344,825 m²). The demise of V&D has left its mark on vacant retail floor space for a long time. The buildings often turn out to be too large for other retailers and thus the giant spaces are often converted for other (retail) purposes.
Locatus has 217 different sectors in its database. Each sector develops differently. Would you like to know more about a specific sector? Or what would be a suitable sector distribution for your shopping area? Do not hesitate to ask us about our Sector & Formula Analysis.
One last piece of sector knowledge: Did you know that there are 52 sectors in the Netherlands in which only independent entrepreneurs are active (i.e. no retail chains)?
