Is the Galaxy and Cascade kill trade in the downtown? "Today, the customer ... - Gazeta.pl

Centre for Economic and Social Development on behalf of the City from 2010 examines the retail market on 26 streets in Szczecin. Checks how many businesses, what industry, their rotation. What is clear from these studies?

for four years at the Jagiellonian survived only every third company. But …

It turns out that the number of companies decreased from 1618 (in 2010) to 1,517 (in 2013), an increase of 6.2 percent. At the same time decrease related mainly to the streets “peripheral”, on the main streets in the center of the number was more or less constant.

Giant was while rotation of firms. From 2010 to 2014, for all the studied streets lasted less than half of the traders (42 percent.). The situation is even worse in the center. On the street. Jagiellonian Krzywoustego and al. Polish Army – only one-third. In place of the fallen opened new stores, but mostly from a different industry. The greatest losses in clothing industry (removal of 55 stores), gained hairdressing and cosmetology – 140 (an increase of more than 30 points). Much is also legal and medical services. An increasing number of offices of accounting, financial advisory, points offering “cheap” loans.

for Gazeta Wyborcza

Przemyslaw Wojnarowski

real estate analyst

Popularity of places like the Galaxy or gallery Cascade results from changes in cultural, civilizational, changes in habits of Poles. But also their greater expectations as consumers. Once was enough to have the goods – he is selling. Now you need to know how to do it. What matters is the quality of service, range, environment.

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In the context of the Jagiellonian – please note that once the norm were also shops at “minus one” in the basement. Yes operated boutiques, service points. Today, the customer expects more. The few remaining cellars are those who can afford only the lowest rent. Branded shop looking for a more prestigious location. But is necessarily a shopping mall? No. An example is the Midsummer Piotrkowska in Warsaw and Lodz, where locate known brands. Banks and chic cafes also looking for seats at the “most expensive” streets. The owner of a grocery store or cobbler can not afford the fees there in force. But that does not mean that it has to disappear from the city center. Quite the contrary.

And here a huge role municipality, which currently still has a large number of units. It should be leased or sold on preferential terms to allow activity artisans, small traders, etc.. The role of local government is not making money yet, just create a friendly space to take care of it, which can not make profits, but it is culturally and historically important. I remember the piano tuner of the street. Queen Jadwiga or coffee roaster at the Jagiellonian. Such places, some zak?adziki, shops, cafe, create an atmosphere, which will not be in a shopping mall … Anyway – in Western Europe is already observed retreat from the big shopping complexes. Increasingly popular are minicentra shops also offer traditional products of higher quality. In Poland, we are at an earlier stage, but our habits and expectations of the customers will continue to evolve.

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Note that the shopping centers also are changing. It’s not only the market but also gastronomy, entertainment. You can spend the whole day. Their strength lies precisely in the fact that great diagnose customer needs and meet them. Even religious needs, because in the southern Polish is a gallery, next to the chapel was created

Trade and services over the Jagiellonian not died, but changed their profile. Clothing store replaced the hair salon or tattoo studio. It is also sign of the times. Responding to the needs of customers. In downtown comes a frog-type stores or Fresh Market. Because – as I said before – now you not only have the goods, but to know how to trade, then, at what time. Larger shopping done now in supermarkets and discount stores, usually on the weekend. Small shops mainly earn a week.

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An example of “killing trade ‘in Szczecin is not Jagiellonian street, but Krzywoustego and Wyszynski. It happened after the renovation of these streets. The city should deeply reflect on the concept of redevelopment. Cancelled parking, bus stops and popular postponed once deserted road. Please note that where the bus stops 75 retail outlets and bars “live”.

Another example of spatial dysfunction is an avenue of Flowers. The glass pavilion may look interesting, but what’s next? The concrete promenade between carriageways, extremely unfriendly to man. Does anyone out there still coming? When I stood there tents with flowers, was quieter and better. It was enough to change only the quality and instead of tents put pavilions, an example of which is the Fountain Avenue.

over how to create a welcoming public space, how to plan for pedestrian, you should think about in the context of the expansion of the Galaxy. It is important that this issue sees the Vice President of Szczecin Piotr MYNC what he said during a recent debate.

at the end of a central issue – the condition of the development of trade and services in each city is a wealth of people. If they have a job and money, shopping and various services will were coming.