Direct-to-consumer (D2C) offers great potential for manufacturers. Especially with mid- to high-interest products, manufacturers can often offer their customers a much better customer experience than retailers—and that's throughout the entire customer life cycle.
Physical stores in German cities and municipalities were under pressure long before the corona crisis. The trend of city dwellers relocating to the suburbs and increasing online shopping efficiency has indirectly led to stationary stores' closures.
Oliver Klinck, the managing director of eBay Germany, talks about the development of the local online marketplace "eBay Deine Stadt", which was launched by eBay Germany in April 2021.
In times of impending business closings due to the threat of the corona virus, the question arises of how viable the German retail sector is. Part of the answer will depend on how intensively local retailers are already operating on online channels.
One of the country's leading eCommerce researchers gives eStrategy Consulting exclusive insights on the role of the online store in digital POS, what a regional online marketplace really needs to be successful, and the ever-changing role of buying groups. Get the full story on the future of digitalization in retail.
Here's what brands and retailers are doing to support their brick-and-mortar businesses in online visibility and customer experience.
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).
Empty shopping districts threaten not only retailers but also neighboring restaurants and the real estate industry. Retail and location development experts Roland Wöfel and Andreas Haderlein weigh in on the topic.
The disappearance of lively city centers due to the retail crisis has caught the federal government's attention. No longer just an issue of supporting local retailers, the empty building lots in the inner city are now a threat to regional identity.
Since the middle of March 2020, stationary trade in Germany has been closed throughout the country. Exceptions are shops serving the basic supply. The latter are currently experiencing unprecedented sales due to restaurants that are also closed and the trend towards general stockpiling.