Heilbronn (dpa/lsw) - According to Economics Minister Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, retailers can become more future-proof by digitizing offers. "My goal is for our inner cities to remain liveable and attractive in the future," said the CDU politician, according to her ministry on Wednesday during a visit to Heilbronn and Neuenstadt am Kocher (Heilbronn district).
Owner-managed retail stores are also under pressure in the southwest. One reason is the growing competition from online trading. The industry also suffered from the consequences of the corona pandemic. Among other things, the well-known fashion house Kaiser in Freiburg is giving up.
As a positive example, Hoffmeister-Kraut named a household goods store in Heilbronn that had set up an online shop and a test kitchen. In a shoe store, employees can electronically determine whether shoes are in stock in their own warehouse and at up to 6,000 other retailers.
The ministry promotes investments in digital projects, said the department head. "If we want to continue to have attractive city centers in Baden-Württemberg with a broad mix of uses in the future, we have to ensure that our retailers have a good future," said Hoffmeister-Kraut.
