{"id":159220,"date":"2025-07-30T00:55:17","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T00:55:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/in-the-past-five-years-one-in-ten-commercial-establishments-in-spain-has-shut-down-while-online-retail-has-doubled\/"},"modified":"2025-07-30T00:55:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T00:55:17","slug":"in-the-past-five-years-one-in-ten-commercial-establishments-in-spain-has-shut-down-while-online-retail-has-doubled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/in-the-past-five-years-one-in-ten-commercial-establishments-in-spain-has-shut-down-while-online-retail-has-doubled\/","title":{"rendered":"In the past five years, one in ten commercial establishments in Spain has shut down, while online retail has doubled."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\"Gabriela
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The Shift in Retail: Challenges for Traditional Stores<\/h2>\n

Every day, about \u00a032 retail stores\u00a0 shut down in Spain, which translates to more than \u00a011,000 closures\u00a0 each year. Small Spanish businesses have been battling adversity for a while, but the \u00a0COVID-19 pandemic\u00a0 marked a significant tipping point. This health crisis not only froze economic activity for months but also accelerated structural changes in consumer habits. One of the most profound transformations was the \u00a0surge in online shopping\u00a0. While the potential of online retail had been evident for years, the pandemic lockdowns propelled this channel into a primary choice for millions of consumers, extending far beyond household items.<\/p>\n

From 2019, just before the pandemic, to 2024, \u00a0Spain lost 10.5% of its retail census\u00a0, which amounts to about \u00a059,000 fewer retail locations\u00a0 in a mere five years. This decline starkly contrasts with the dramatic \u00a095% increase in online sales\u00a0 during the same timeframe. More Spaniards are opting for online purchases, with the percentage rising from \u00a046.9% in 2019 to 56.7% in 2023\u00a0. This shift has compelled companies to adapt urgently, integrating \u00a0online sales\u00a0 as a key focus for their customer engagement. Data from the report \u00a0“New Consumption Dynamics After COVID-19,”\u00a0 prepared by the \u00a0BBVA Foundation\u00a0 and the \u00a0Valencian Institute for Economic Research (IVIE)\u00a0, demonstrates these changes. The report highlights that the restrictions imposed during the pandemic pushed consumers towards digital channels. It points out that the \u00a0large retail chains\u00a0, with greater resources to implement new technologies, have dominated the market, exacerbating the struggles of smaller enterprises.<\/p>\n

The Disparity in Recovery<\/h2>\n

The evolution of the digital marketplace has initially benefited \u00a0major operators\u00a0 and chains, harmful to traditional retail outlets, which were slower to digitize. Many small businesses, unable to pivot promptly, were forced to close. According to the \u00a0INE (National Statistics Institute)\u00a0, regions like \u00a0Canary Islands\u00a0, \u00a0Galicia\u00a0, and \u00a0Navarre\u00a0 have been particularly devastated, experiencing \u00a0closure rates exceeding 13%\u00a0 since the onset of the pandemic.<\/p>\n

The report also reveals discrepancies between various sectors. For instance, \u00a0food, drugstore, and hygiene products\u00a0 saw elevated spending during confinement, spurred by large supermarkets but also by small businesses that managed to endure due to their proximity. The convenience and perceived safety of these establishments shaped consumption patterns during the lockdown, fostering habits that persist today. Conversely, sectors such as \u00a0clothing and footwear\u00a0 suffered drastic declines of up to \u00a090% in April 2020\u00a0, with a recovery in positive figures not occurring until a year afterward. The association \u00a0ACOTEX\u00a0 indicates that the small textile sector has been critically harmed, with a \u00a039% drop in establishments\u00a0 since 2019.<\/p>\n

Adapting to New Realities<\/h2>\n

As consumer preferences have shifted, traditional retailers must adapt to these new realities. Stores that once thrived on foot traffic are now forced to rethink their business models. Many small retailers are exploring \u00a0omnichannel strategies\u00a0, merging in-store experiences with online shopping to provide customers with more flexible options. Innovations like \u00a0click-and-collect\u00a0, where customers buy online and pick up in-store, are becoming increasingly popular.<\/p>\n

Moreover, focusing on the \u00a0unique value propositions\u00a0 that local shops offer, such as personalized customer service and a curated selection of goods, can attract consumers back to physical stores. Engaging in community initiatives, hosting local events, and enhancing the customer experience can create a loyal customer base that values the authenticity of local businesses.<\/p>\n

In conclusion, the landscape of retail in Spain has undergone a dramatic transformation due to the pandemic, marking a crucial shift from traditional to digital commerce. Small businesses face unique challenges but also have opportunities to innovate and adapt. The future will likely see a blended approach where both online and offline retail coexist, catering to the evolving needs of consumers in a post-pandemic world.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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General News – 2<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Updated Wednesday, July 30, 2025 – 02:48 The Shift in Retail: Challenges for Traditional Stores Every day, about \u00a032 retail stores\u00a0 shut down in Spain, which translates to more than \u00a011,000 closures\u00a0 each year. Small Spanish businesses have been battling adversity for a while, but the \u00a0COVID-19 pandemic\u00a0 marked a significant tipping point. This health […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23832],"tags":[12320,4926,1834,23293,2289,8449,3890,1694,845,45],"class_list":["post-159220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-finance","tag-commercial","tag-doubled","tag-economy","tag-establishments","tag-online","tag-retail","tag-shut","tag-spain","tag-ten","tag-years"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=159220"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159220\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=159220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=159220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=159220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}