Within the urban context spatial production of the urban experience is a growing antipole to digital practice. Against this background local stationary retailers have to cope with a potent paradigm shift:

• What is the influence of e-commerce on local stationary retail, public space and urban structure? To what extent can current planning instruments be adapted (legal provisions)?
• Considering the “6-e” concept (embrace, engage, empower, employ, encourage and enjoy), how can the city be re-invented?
• Which role play local governance processes in an effective town center management?

The growing use of the internet in terms of communication between companies on the one hand, as well as between companies and consumers on the other hand, poses new challenges for business strategies and models (e.g. merchandise logistics and presentation, payment scheme, sales approach).

• Which forms of retail are most affected by e-commerce and could adapt to the paradigm shift (approaches to town centre resilience)? Which organizational supports and innovations facilitate this process?
• Which effects of e-commerce influence the existing retail-cooperation?
• Which new approaches and tools may do participatory place marketing projects most effective and efficient?

Future sales areas have to meet alternating requirements. They might transform into exhibition space. Apart from that, town centres and structures will change under the influence of e-commerce.

• In what way will the interplay between physical and virtual consumer behavior have an impact on public spaces in town centres?
• How does e-commerce influence store design and disposal of goods, in terms of the changing role of local stores and the use of stores for marketing purposes?
• How does the cultural framework of the city and its historical heritage influence retail development in the city?

Spatially relevant transaction costs will be reduced due to the fact that direct supply organized by producers shortens distribution chains. On the contrary, in the field of transport of goods, the “atomization” of sendings provokes increasing delivery rates, high portions of returns and rising traffic volumes.

• In which way can the (public) transport economies be used for the parcel distribution system?
• How can existing city logistic structures (especially the last mile zone) adapt to current and future challenges when it comes to a growing importance of e-commerce?

Consumers are getting increasingly hybrid. E-commerce might reinforce this trend by amplifying decision options as well as using new technologies and the social media.

• What is the influence of new technologies (the social media, wayfinding tools, retail apps etc.) on new retail concepts and shopping behavior in shopping areas?

What is the impact of the internationalization of higher education and the use of new technologies on retail system development in the city?