Page 42 - August 2020

The new Face Europe, like the rest of the world has faced an incredibly difficult few months because of the

effects of the coronavirus. Like regions all around the globe, the European retail and leisure
sector is adapting to a new environment and new sets of rules as retailers, leisure operators and
of Retail developers continue to find new ways to cope with the pandemic as the world tries to put itself

back on the right track. Here, RLI takes a look at the European market in the post-Covid-19
new normal and highlights some key developments that show the resilience of the continent.

t the start of the year, it appeared the world was but in what form remains to be seen as the effects of the of Covid-19 and the state of e-commerce in CEE by Jan some countries have had very strict quarantines/lockdowns
excited for a new decade and the possibilities virus continue to take their toll in different ways. Lastuvka, Founder of MonkeyData and Research Author. such as Italy, Spain, Greece and France whilst others such as
that were in store across the globe. Now, Not so long ago, Europe was looking to Asia as an indication Covid-19 is ushering in a new age of consumer Sweden have continued to operate in pretty much the same way.
A just over half a year later and the world has of what it might expect once the area moved towards a behaviour according to research which shows the vast Court explains that: “The impact on the future physical
been thrown into turmoil because of the coronavirus post-Covid-19 new normal in the sector. But it must be said majority of Europeans plan to stick to their lockdown retail and leisure landscape remains to be seen, but it is
pandemic. In Europe, the Covid-19 virus hit Europe in that outcomes in differing countries may vary a great deal online buying habits. Retailers have seen online sales likely to be very different from that seen before the
January and February, with the first cases confirmed in because of how individual governments have dealt with the increase dramatically with 64 per cent of Europeans Covid-19 pandemic. It is still too soon to assess the impact
Spain, France and Italy. Covid-19 infections have now been pandemic, the ensuing lockdown and of course, residents of admitting to shopping more online during Covid-19. In the on footfall and sales, and both will take time to get back
diagnosed in all European Union Member States. each individual country and their feelings towards coronavirus UK alone, this rapid increase in e-commerce is expected close to pre-Covid-19 levels. Anecdotal feedback is that
and how safe they may feel in any given environment. to add £5.3bn to e-commerce sales in 2020, totalling there are improvements week on week both in terms of
THE STATE OF PLAY Perhaps unsurprisingly given the lockdown of stores £78.9bn according to the ‘Why European shopping may footfall and turnover. In most countries, footfall appears to
So much has happened in just a few short months that it across the world, as a whole e-commerce appears to be never be the same post-Covid-19 report by DS Smith. be showing a decrease on the same period last year, though
is very difficult to know exactly what the future holds for very stable, showing long term sales growth despite events According to the ‘The Phoenix Awakes: Retail & Leisure it is slowly improving and largely depends on the type of
the retail and leisure industry. Obviously it will still exist, regarding Covid-19, according to research on the first wave Trends in Europe’ by Yvonne Court of Cushman & Wakefield, retail and leisure destination.”
THERME MANCHESTER
Manchester, UK
Developer: Therme Group

Europe

AUGUST 2020 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL 43