EuroShop 2023 in Düsseldorf will be a brilliant start to 2023 for the entire industry and will set the tone for trends and innovations in the coming years. After the long Covid-related dry spell, this trade fair is the perfect opportunity to meet customers from all over the world. umdasch will also be present with a stand that emphasizes togetherness with a marketplace atmosphere. Visitors can expect numerous digital and sustainable touchpoints, as we continue to see these two developments as big drivers.
At the moment, we sense a certain restraint in some sectors, which is mainly related to hesitant consumer behavior with regard to high inflation and rising energy prices. We, therefore, assess the investment climate in the first two quarters as more difficult than it was in the past months – with one exception, the luxury sector will not be affected. What we are currently seeing, especially in the luxury segment, is that the demand for turnkey solutions is increasing. With our team of around 100 general contracting professionals, we can implement everything from a single source and are thus, a comprehensive project partner – not only for new openings but also for conversions of existing buildings.
The megatrend of neo-ecology is still unbroken, so dealing with sustainability will become even more of a survival and differentiating factor for retailers and service providers in the future. For us as shopfitters, it is therefore important to extend the lifespan of furniture and to offer our customers flexible and modular shopfitting systems including lifetime maintenance and service contracts. Digitalization remains an important part of retail, but its application will change. Digital elements are no longer integrated into stores just for the sake of digitalization, but rather used specifically where they simplify processes or add value. But also, in terms of energy management, technological applications will become a critical success factor when it comes to using lighting, cooling, and air conditioning efficiently and in a customer-oriented way.
I wish the market participants the necessary courage, willingness to innovate, and confidence in brick-and-mortar retail to continue investing and transforming in 2023. No one can say yet how the new year will develop, but companies and retailers must act with foresight to master the coming challenges.
Read more about expert opinions in our Online Special: “Industry Outlook 2023”.
