‘I see many new urban development projects with plenty of opportunities’
S
ome 10 years ago, the city had centre managers but hardly any data monitoring. My first job was to inventory the retail industry in Antwerp: to gather knowledge and use that to advise on policy about permits, policy plans, opening hours etc.,’ Dries van Hofstraeten explains.
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CEUSTERS l Retail: interview
‘Antwerp, Belgium’s number one retail destination, is continuing to build on the Flemish policy lines but plays its own trump cards. In 2013, we developed a city policy plan for retail, which we updated this year. The focus is on keeping Antwerp on the map as a pioneering national and international shopping city. For example, we are seeing that new and innovative shopping concepts are not only electing to conduct a test period in Antwerp, but are actually staying here permanently. As a matter of policy, we are focusing on making the central areas more compact, since we have too many square metres of retail space. Mobility is another consideration. As is the quality of the retail businesses in the local centres, the districts.’ What are the greatest trends at present? ‘Up to 2010, 2012, we saw major growth in the number of retail premises. After that, we saw the supply stagnate and decline, resulting in empty shops. Even Antwerp cannot escape this trend. In places with little future, we ask landlords to include residential use or to bring in a mix of services and restaurants. Some streets are no longer shopping streets where you go to wander. You have to choose shops that are spread out.’ ‘The number of passers-by in central streets is falling as a result of fragmentation, of e-commerce and because we are spending less money on shopping as an activity.
the landlords that are having to look for them and adapt their premises. You can see new models emerging, for example, often with an integrated café or restaurant.’ In the food sector, the competition is still strong, even in less obvious locations. The question is how long that can continue. As a city, we naturally want there to be as many shops as possible within walking distance for an entire district.’
Dries Van Hofstraeten, retail expert - city of Antwerp
The shopping street as such is disappearing. It is gradually being replaced by a street for all your day-to-day necessities, such as childcare or health insurance. A shoe shop or clothes shop certainly makes little sense in the local centres. Are you as a city sitting at the table too? ‘We are using big data, pure technology, to make digital maps. For example, we can use WiFi connections to count the number of passers-by. We share those maps free of charge with anyone who has an interest in them, for example estate agents and retail chains. ‘We also talk to retailers to keep abreast of developments. What concepts are they looking for? Maybe we can guide them to the right estate agents. For example, we have noticed that the expansion of fashion shops has stagnated. Some clothing brands still want to come, but they are stumbling over the high rents and the fear of not making much turnover. Often, the landlord has to water down the wine a bit to make the premises affordable. In the past, retailers were queuing up to rent a unit, now it is
How can you ensure a good match between retailers and estate agents? ‘We try to create a direct line. We try to analyse the market objectively and raise awareness. Sometimes, the estate agents need to take a broader view of their portfolios, move away from the purely commercial or residential. Co-working spaces, for example, are a great addition and can attract a lot of people. Sometimes we get requests for locations and we pass these on to the estate agents. Of course, we let the market take its course, but we can and do give advice. We are regularly in touch with a large player like CEUSTERS. They are an interesting party because they have their finger on the pulse on a daily basis, much more than we do.’ Are empty premises the biggest challenge? ‘Empty units cause panic, just think of the media report about Schuttershofstraat. As a city, of course you need to see that signal, even if there is usually a wide range of reasons. Empty premises are a multi-headed monster. The city can start investing again in such a street, but it’s no magic wand. The landlords too need to look at another way to use their properties. For example, if there are restaurants, visitors tend to stick around longer in a street. There is certainly no one-size-fits-all solution. You have to look at each case individually and tailor the policy accordingly.’
