European Shopping Places Summit 2025 in Innsbruck
Under the motto “Creating Places People Love – Social, Sustainable and Successful,” the European retail real estate industry gathered in Innsbruck in April 2025 for the European Shopping Places Summit – the flagship annual event of the European Council of Shopping Places (ECSP).
As the only organized association representing the interests of the retail real estate sector in Europe, the ECSP brings together leading experts from across the industry. It provides an ideal platform to explore current developments and trends in retail real estate, gain valuable insights, and exchange ideas with peers. One central question takes center stage:
“How must brick-and-mortar retail formats evolve to remain relevant and successful in the future – and what role will circular economy and recommerce play in the future of physical retail?”
To answer this question thoroughly, our Managing Partner Cliff Pfefferkorn highlights the following key areas of focus:
- UX & Commerce Innovation
Innovative shopping experiences arise where technology and user understanding intersect. UX design becomes a decisive success factor: only those who guide customers intuitively through digital and physical touchpoints can create lasting enthusiasm – strengthening not only sales, but also brand loyalty.
- Customer Centricity
The traditional point of sale (POS) alone is no longer sufficient. Successful retail concepts are built around the consistent understanding of customers’ needs, emotions, and behaviors. Personalized services and experience-oriented spaces form the foundation for loyal relationships and sustainable business models.
- Ecological Responsibility & Circular Economy
Sustainability is becoming a strategic success factor. ESG-driven action, the responsible use of energy, and the implementation of the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) together form the basis for properties that are not only efficient, but also future-ready – environmentally, economically, and socially.
- Digital Transformation
Digital transformation is reshaping how retail spaces are conceived, operated, and experienced. Intelligent technologies, connected systems, and data-driven decision-making open up new opportunities to increase efficiency and redefine customer experiences in physical environments.
For many years, eStrategy Consulting has supported retailers, shopping mall operators, and real estate developers as a strategic partner in digital transformation – including in the areas of digital transformation of shopping malls and the digital point of sale.
Further information can be found on our competence area pages: Overview of Competence Fields.
In addition, you will find links to our 13 examples of how brick-and-mortar retail can leverage digitalization, as well as a case study on the ECE Digital Mall – From Shopping Mall to Omnichannel Hub.
eStrategy Consulting & JLL conduct a joint report on digitization in the German retail sector
To expand on a Berlin-based study that eStrategy Consulting conducted last fall, the research team conducted a wider joint analysis at seven major locations with property consultancy company Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL).
ECE Digital Mall – from shopping mall to omnichannel hub
ECE is one of the three largest developers and operators of shopping malls in Europe. It is challenged by digitalization of retail, because the new customer behavior and the increasing relevance of digital channels in the customer journey weaken existing USPs of shopping malls: the leasing of attractive, high-reach and high-revenue spaces to renting retailers.
ECE – Easy Dining
Shopping malls have to face the digitalization, which is changing both the behavior of customers and the business models of tenants. In addition to a large number of retailers, restaurateurs and their offerings are also an essential part of shopping malls business concepts. For our client ECE, we implemented "Easy Dining".
Faszination Handel 2024: A look at consumer trends and buying behavior
September 30, 2024
Our managing partners Thomas Natkowski and Cliff Pfefferkorn took part in FASZINATION HANDEL 2024. The event focused on key developments in retail, with an emphasis on new consumer trends and changing purchasing behavior.
Welcome, Carl Butler
March 1, 2024
We are delighted to welcome Carl Butler as a new partner at eStrategy Consulting. This adds more than 20 years of digitization experience for financial institutions, public authorities and software companies to our consulting expertise, especially for clients in the financial world and the public sector.
