Retail Blog: more opportunities for retailers – B2B Connexie

 Published: Tuesday, March 17, 2015

 By: Marco Mekenkamp
 
 
 
 

  Agreements with 50 municipalities in Retail Deals attractive shopping areas. Lower vacancy by market store rent. More space to combine shopping with catering. And additional training for store staff. These are the main agreements between market and government enshrined in the Retail Calendar on the initiative of Minister Henk Kamp of Economic Affairs (EZ). “Retailers, landlords of retail and municipalities to work together on the attractiveness of shopping. The retailers are given the opportunity to respond to the changing market conditions and to benefit from the improving economy, “said Minister Kamp.

Shopping
Retail Blogs are shopping more compact and more attractive. Now 7.5 percent of the shops empty and comprises 30 percent of the retail area from overcapacity. This year 50 municipalities make agreements called Retail Deals to offer entrepreneurial opportunities and to reduce vacancy rates. Instead of basing the hire shop at historical rates, landlords and retailers agree to apply market-based rent. A number of municipalities with property owners and retailers to get started to reduce unnecessary square meters of retail space.

experiment
The government launched an experiment with 12 municipalities to reduce regulations. This business owners can easily catering facilities and services combine in their store. That contributes to a vibrant downtown. Moreover, workers and employers for summer arrangements to provide store personnel training, so that the growing opportunities to be exploited online sales. The goal is to better equip store employees to changing consumer needs.

Investment
To keep shops appealing to the public necessary investments. In addition to regular financial credits are available, for example via Qredits supporting EZ. A positive development is the fact that the Pension Fund Retail 40 million invested in SMEs Impulse Fund. From this fund innovative plans from retailers can be financed.
To monitor the progress of the Retail Calendar, remain shopkeepers, landlords, municipalities and EZ three years together in the Steering Group Retail Calendar. A Retail Team is established to assist organizations with specific expertise in the implementation of the agreements.