Efficiency, sustainability and reuse of furnishings characterize investment strategies in specialist retail.
Despite high costs and a fragile economic situation, German retailers continue to invest in their brick-and-mortar stores. While the net expansion of new branches is generally low, the focus is on optimizing existing locations. Particularly in textile specialty stores, shoe stores, and sporting goods retailers, there is a trend toward more efficient concepts combined with high standards for product presentation.
According to the EHI study "Store Monitor 2026," the costs for setting up a new specialist store in the textile, shoe, and sporting goods trade have fallen by 9,6 percent since 2023 to €590 per square meter of sales area. At the same time, retailers are increasingly focusing on the efficient use of existing fixtures and more affordable materials to maintain an attractive store appearance. The average cycle for complete store renovations in this sector is around 8,9 years.
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important. On average, 50 percent of the furnishings are reused after renovations. 42 percent of those surveyed already work with circular systems or cooperate with suppliers who offer such solutions. Material selection and planning take into account not only cost-efficiency but also durability and recyclability.
“The textile trade demonstrates that it is possible to combine high-quality product presentation with efficient, sustainable planning,” explains Claudia Horbert from EHI, an expert in store design. The growing demands for innovation and consulting services from suppliers are also driving changes and additions to the supplier pool.
