In order to further develop the experiences of the Zurich city project "Retail in Transition", Stadtentwicklung Zürich led the project "Structural Change in the Retail Trade" of the Zurich Metropolitan Conference. The cooperation project, which was carried out together with IG Detailhandel and the Swiss Retail Federation, developed concrete measures and implementation proposals for the attention of the retail trade and the public sector.

Five key messages for proactively dealing with structural change in the retail sector have emerged:

1. Trying out innovation and new things: Structural change offers opportunities. The retail trade must recognize and use these by trying out new ideas and combinations.

2. Focus city and town centres: Centres of cities, municipalities and districts must be positioned in terms of content and spatially focused.

3. Adapting regulations: Greater consideration must be given to the impact of regulations and standards on the retail trade. Regulations must be adapted to facilitate new developments.

4. Be accessible to all: The controversial topic of mobility must be tackled with an open mind so that the retail trade remains accessible to everyone in the future. Urban logistics are becoming increasingly important.

5. Moving forward together: The structural change in the retail trade is complex and affects not only this sector, but also the public sector, landowners, tourism and other stakeholder groups. Only together and in open dialogue can the opportunities be seized.