Space productivity continues slightly downward

Vienna-based Regioplan, the market research and consulting firm, gives the development of space productivity in the Austrian DIY industry a “remarkable” rating. Although the space productivity of the DIY stores is being held at a very low level, it has remained relatively constant, despite a massive deterioration in prices in the DIY ranges. This fact emerges from “Retail Top 20”, the firm’s survey of the retail sector in Austria. The consultants established that there has been a downward movement in space productivity within the industry over the past five years, triggered by expansionism and large-format concepts. The mean value calculated by Regioplan since 1998 is under € 2 000 per square metre.