In 2021, turnover grew by 0.2 per cent in the city centre of Boden. This is a more modest development than in comparable cities, which on the other hand had a much tougher time in 2020. This year’s Cityindex Boden report, conducted by Fastighetsägarna and HUI Research, shows that.

Trade in the country’s city centres recovered well after the 2020 pandemic year. For the city centre of Boden, the development was slightly positive. Clothing retailers fared the best, increasing turnover by 9.4% after being hit hard by restrictions and reduced visitor flows during the pandemic. Home and leisure stores increased for the third consecutive year, by 0.3 per cent. The increase in daily consumer goods was also 0.3 per cent.

It has been tougher for the hotel and restaurant industry – from a positive development of 3.7 per cent in 2020 to minus 1.9 per cent in 2021. However, the biggest challenge has been faced by commercial services. The category includes different types of operators, such as hairdressers and beauty salons, and together they have lost 7.3%.

– 2020 was an incredibly tough year for retailers in city centres, with turnover falling by an average of almost 20%. Boden coped well with the challenges and lost only one percent. Even though turnover is not yet at the same level as before the pandemic, we are seeing a recovery in most sectors,” says Anna Forsman, Business Policy Manager at Fastighetsägarna MittNord.

The Cityindex shows that the average purchase development in the city centre of Boden has been better than in other comparable cities. The average purchase trend measures the average turnover generated by visitors to the city centre. The measure shows how much better or worse the city centre is at converting its visits into a higher turnover.

– The city centre is the showcase of the entire municipality and should be a place where residents and visitors socialize, shop and enjoy experiences. The pandemic challenged us and there the trade was very quick and did a fantastic job of converting their businesses and the residents were buying into the local trade. The municipality and individual companies contributed with Handla Nära gift cards for their employees, says Thomas Fägerman, CEO and business developer at Boden Business Park.