St. Johann's fashion retailer Adelsberger on challenges and confidence

St. Johann's fashion retailer Adelsberger on challenges and confidence

The fashion retailer reports on June 12, 2025Bernhard Adelsbergerfrom St. Johann about his experiences in the fashion business and the challenges of the last few years. In an interview with the PN (Pongauer Nachrichten), Adelsberger is optimistic about the future. He highlights the importance of community in his city, which helped him get through difficult times. His passion for fashion lives on in his fashion house in the center of St. Johann.

The general conditions for stationary retail are changing increasingly, which does not go unnoticed by Adelsberger. In January 2025, a comprehensive study on the future of fashion retail was presented, providing deeper insights into consumers' shopping behavior. This study, carried out by Federal Committee for Trade in Fashion and Leisure Articles of the WKÖ was commissioned to shed light on the preferences of consumers in Austria.

Shopping behavior is changing

The surveys, conducted in October and November 2024 among 1,000 people aged 16 to 75, reveal fascinating trends. The results on the use of stationary and online channels are particularly striking. For example, buy38% of respondentsClothing mainly in stationary stores, while40% bothuse – both physical stores and online platforms.

• Kleidung: 38 % stationär, 16 % online, 40 % beides.
• Schuhe: 44 % stationär, 16 % online, 28 % beides.
• Sportartikel: 27 % stationär, 17 % online, 23 % beides.
• Lederwaren: 50 % stationär, 20 % online, 30 % beides.

This data is particularly important for operators like Adelsberger, as the 8 percentage point decline in shopping hedonists since 2018 indicates a changing attitude towards shopping. Also buy61% of respondentsClothing less common than in 2018, which further increases the challenge for brick-and-mortar retailers.

The future of fashion retail

Another interesting aspect of the survey is attitudes towards online purchases.50% of online shoppershave already ordered from Asian online portals, with Temu being the preferred platform. However, are40% dissatisfiedwith complaint processing from these providers and express concerns about service quality and product quality.

According to Bernhard Adelsberger, older consumers are interested in purchasing from local retailers because they offer a higher guarantee (77%) and better quality (75%).51%of those surveyed say they prefer to buy from local retailers in order to support the Austrian economy.

Adelsberger assures that he recognizes consumer signals and wants to integrate them into his offering. In times when66%While consumers expect an identical range in stores and online shops, he promises to offer his customers a wide range of choices.

The challenges for the fashion retail sector are undisputed. sn.at notes that fairer conditions of competition for domestic trade are called for. So appealedCommander Günther Rossmanithin the study the abolition of the 150 euro duty-free limit and the responsibility of online platforms for compliance with EU standards.

Overall, it shows that the fashion industry is facing major challenges, but also offers opportunities when it comes to adapting to the changing needs of customers. Adelsberger wants to develop his business in line with new market developments and remains optimistic about the future.