How small retailers can compete against large platforms

Name: How small retailers can compete against large platforms
Start: 2026-09-18T10:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-09-18T12:00:00+02:00
Location: Nordico

Friday 18 September · 10:00Nordico · oberoesterreich

What's it about?

Brick-and-mortar retail is under pressure. In Austria, according to the Handelsverband, spending in distance selling will rise to 12.5 billion euros in 2025, and the online share of retail will climb to over 14 percent. Clothing and shoes, in particular, are strong online categories. At the same time, current studies show that many people, especially in the fashion sector, consciously continue to shop in physical stores: because they want to see, touch, and try on products, because advice and personal contact matter, and because retailers with a good combination of physical store and online shop appear particularly attractive. At the same time, expectations for convenience, service, assortment, and a form of experience that is not just staged but works in everyday life are increasing. Anita Huber-Katzengruber has been operating in precisely this area of tension for many years. Kleider machen Leute has existed since 2008, inthebox since 2018; the company sees both stores as meeting points for slow fashion. The offering is supplemented by workshops, pop-up stores, information services, color consulting, and capsule wardrobe formats. With linzlabyrinth, she has also built a network of 60 local businesses, demonstrating that brick-and-mortar retail is not just a sales area, but also shapes the city, atmosphere, and encounters. As part of the "Made in Linz" exhibition, we invite you to the Nordico Stadtmuseum Linz for a talk with Anita Huber Katzengruber, where we will address the following questions: What can small retailers do better than Amazon, Zalando & Co. today? Where does experience become a real added value and where a costly obligation? And how can one remain visible, relevant, and economically viable with limited resources? In this conversation about trade, attitude, and experience, we will illuminate: how small brick-and-mortar retailers can compete against large platforms today why assortment alone is often no longer enough and what role advice, trust, and community play how much experience customers actually want — and which of it truly has an impact how local presence, webshop, and digital visibility can be meaningfully combined why convenience is also crucial in brick-and-mortar retail what creative services help to turn a business into a relevant place We will discuss: what small stores can do that platforms cannot Experience versus everyday usability: Where is the right balance? Consulting, curation, and attitude as true differentiating factors Omnichannel with a small team: how much is realistic? what challenges retailers have to shoulder today — economically, organizationally, and emotionally why brick-and-mortar retail is strong precisely when it remains personal, clear, and credible This event is for… all those interested in how retail builds relevance today retailers, shop operators, and entrepreneurs creatives from branding, communication, interior, and retail design city makers, location developers, and marketing managers We look forward to: Anita Huber-Katzengruber, entrepreneur · networker · space activator Anita: "I am an entrepreneur from Linz and have been working for over 17 years to turn ideas into lively places. From a small fair fashion store, several locations, a webshop, and various projects have emerged. I am interested in how to revitalize vacant spaces, activate neighborhoods, and bring people together – economically sensible, with heart and attitude." Hard Facts When: September 18, 2026, 10:00 AM Where: Nordico Linz Format: Moderated Talk & Q&A