One of the main reasons for this is the online world. As a consequence of this development, large online store providers are recording a growing share of sales in online retail, while the sales of owner-managed bricks-and-mortar retailers in particular are stagnating or declining.

In order to link real inner-city offers with the online world, retailers and advertising associations as well as some cities and municipalities are increasingly pushing the implementation of online initiatives at a local level, often in the form of so-called online marketplaces. In short, they are trying to combine the advantages of online retail with those of bricks-and-mortar retail and thus support local retailers.

Against this background, the City of Salzgitter's Economic Development Agency (WIS) has worked out the opportunities and risks of a local online marketplace in and for Salzgitter. Based on the findings already available and information still to be obtained, a concept for implementation will be drawn up by mid-May 2016, in which the results of the following procedural steps will be presented:

• Together with the advertising associations, a decision will be made on a suitable online marketplace operator.
• Together with the advertising associations, WIS clarifies whether the different requirements and framework conditions for implementing the project (e.g. training) can be ensured, depending on the provider.
• WIS determines the necessary financing requirements for the development and long-term operation, including personnel and marketing.
• WIS and the advertising associations update the binding willingness to participate in the project on the basis of the expressions of interest already received from retailers in Salzgitter.

A decision will then be made on how to secure funding for the project on the basis of the concept drawn up.