Small shops in not-so-big cities performed better than full-range stores in prime locations
The specialist retail customers of Cologne-based GMS Verbund GmbH achieved a decline in sales of 6,4 percent in the period from January to September. This is better than the industry average, said the group, which based its comparison on a survey of its customers on the sales situation. The association sees the reason for the overall better performance of GMS customers as “the high degree of specialization and the close customer loyalty” of its predominantly owner-managed specialist dealers.
The crisis affected companies very differently. Depending on the location, product range and degree of specialization, it has been shown that small shops in not-so-large cities are significantly less affected than prime locations in the shopping metropolises and that specialized retailers have suffered fewer losses than full-range retailers.
In the specialized fashion retail sector, accumulated sales are minus 7 percent. Rural and urban full-range retailers suffered larger losses, with a combined average sales decline of 15,9 percent. The comfort shoe segment also recorded a decline in accumulated sales of 9,6 percent compared to the previous year. The group of inner-city shops and specialist stores is more affected, with a decline of 26,5 percent.
Children's shoe retailers not affected
With an increase of 1,7 percent, children's shoe retailers appear to be completely unaffected by the lockdown. The customers remain very loyal to the individual children's shoe stores. In addition to creative sales solutions during the closure period, there was a lot of pent-up demand after the shops reopened, as many children had outgrown their old shoes.
The sports sector, particularly in full-range sports and team sports, suffered the most significant declines at 29 percent. Meanwhile, running retailers were able to report sales increases of up to 13,5 percent, as running has experienced a new boom, especially since the lockdown period and gyms were temporarily closed.
