The weak Dutch domestic economy is still leading to worrying figures in non-food retail. Both in clothing and shoes is a big minus in the turnover in relation to the previous year. Consumer confidence and consumer spending show now and then an upward movement, but will remain strong negative. Since 2009, the purchasing power decline. Consumers operate (forced) by reservations. And the predictions are that this will continue for the time being.
So for the Dutch fashion sector there are heavy and difficult times. The sector in the Netherlands has seen the turnover considerably drop in the last few years ; from 11 billion to EUR 8 billion in the fashion retail. Currently there is also a large momentum in the this sector. Parties will disappear from the market, but at the same time there are new players in return. The last few years an offensive started into the Dutch market with various international chains. This caused a storm in the fashion sector, where the playing field is a lot of being challenged. Same time that playing field is further enhanced by the rapid emergence of online sales; also operating online webshops have successfully deployed the attack.
Many of the existing fashion companies in the Netherlands have not anticipated to this important changes and underestimate the impact. Bankruptcies and closures are the result. Some others can still change the stir. However, how to respond?
Parties struggling with their future. Sometimes things become even more complex when we realize that we are on the eve of perhaps even greater changes.
