DMS Talk 8: Location + Market X Retail Association X DMS — A Deep Dive into Retail Spaces in Austria.

Changes in Retail Spaces in Austria — Insider Insights from Location + Market and the Retail Association: DMS Discusses the S+M Health Retail Check

This DMS Talk is a must-watch for anyone curious about the evolving retail landscape in Austria. Oliver Nitz, CMO of DMS, sat down with Dr. Roman Schwarze­necker from Site + Markt and Manuel Friedl from Handelsverband to explore the latest developments. Together, they tackled critical questions about the future of retail in Austria: Which sectors are filling vacant spaces? Are flagship stores still relevant? And is empty retail space a warning sign — or an opportunity?

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Location + Market and the Retail Landscape in Austria

We were pleased to welcome Dr. Roman Schwarzenecker for this DMS Talk — a conversation full of fresh ideas and insights. Since 2013, Location + Markt has been delivering impactful research on Austria's retail landscape. Their long-running study, the "S+M City Retail Health Check" , now in its 11th edition, continues to offer valuable data — published in partnership with the Retail Association.

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The S+M City Retail Health Check: Key Findings

The 2023/2024 edition offers new insights that help Austrian retailers make more informed business decisions. It covers 24 retail zones — including shopping streets and 16 selected small towns — analyzing over 13,300 shops across nearly 2 million square meters of retail space.

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A Loss of 9,000 Square Meters: Urban Fashion Retail Takes a Hit

One striking finding: Urban retail areas have shrunk by 9,000 square meters. Since 2018, Location + Markt has tracked a steady decline in retail space demand. The reasons? First came the pandemic, followed by inflation and a real estate crisis — all of which shifted consumer behavior. The fashion sector has been hit particularly hard, losing ground to online shopping since 2014.

“It’s encouraging that vacancy rates in 40 inner-city areas across Austria have dropped slightly — from 6.8% to 6.7%. But that’s largely because many of those spaces are being repurposed,” explains Rainer Will from the Retail Association. “Medical practices and hair salons, for example, are replacing traditional retail.” His colleague Manuel Friedl offers even more insights in DMS Talk 8.