Empty shop windows are no longer the exception.
They’re becoming the new normal.
And new formats—like automated retail—are starting to fill the gap.
Across Austria, 77% of people feel that retail vacancies are increasing—and nearly 9 out of 10 see it as a serious problem.
But here’s the interesting part:
👉 A new retail model is quietly filling the gap.
Automated shops (self-service, 24/7, no staff) are rapidly gaining traction:
• 93% of consumers already know them
• Nearly 1 in 3 have used them (and every other person in generation Z)
• Over 50% are open to using them in the future
Why? Because they align perfectly with today’s consumer behavior:
✔ Always open
✔ Fast and convenient
✔ Low operational costs
This isn’t about replacing retail—it’s about rethinking access, space, and customer behavior. Retail isn’t dying; it’s evolving—faster than most expected.
👉 Read more about it here: https://www.krone.at/4099004
👉 and here:
https://www.5min.at/oesterreich/5202604070808/immer-mehr-leerstaende-in-oesterreich-automatenshops-als-loesung/
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