Barometer of Brussels retail districts 2024

Brussels, the capital of Europe and an economic and cultural crossroads, is a city of opportunities bringing together international brands, franchises and independent businesses. At hub.brussels, our aim is to diversify the commercial fabric of these businesses, by supporting big brands just as much as local businesses, and by guiding the public authorities in smart and informed commercial programming.

It is with this in mind that we publish our Barometer of Retail Districts each year, a key tool guiding (future) traders thanks to a detailed – and quantified – analysis of local trends.

Continuously updated, the Barometer immerses you in the world of 29 of Brussels’ commercial centres, carefully selected for their energy and strategic potential.

What does it contain?

• A map of sales outlets and an overview of the commercial mix of each district, updated every year thanks to our inventories on the ground.

E.g.: the number of bakeries/grocery stores/hairdressers in a district.

• A profile of the customer base based on surveys carried out on the ground which reveal who visits the district and what their consumption habits are.

E.g.: purchasing power, reasons for travel.

• An analysis of the pedestrian flow, thanks to sensors installed in our partner businesses.

E.g.: Foot traffic at the weekends/during the week, depending on the time of day.

• Results from panels of users who share their expectations and feelings about the local commercial offering.

E.g.: desires, recommendations, requests for the district.

New features for the 2024 edition

Brand networks under the microscope

For the first time, the Barometer is shedding light on the dynamics of the brands with at least 7 sales outlets. This analysis allows users to identify where the big brands are concentrated, such as on Rue Neuve or the Boulevard de Waterloo.

Enhanced shopper surveys

To better understand developments in purchasing behaviour, the Barometer now includes 10 key indicators, covering the types of businesses people are looking for, the gaps in the existing offering and purchasing habits. These insights improve support for future traders in their location strategy.

The “Top 5” topics

This edition offers a classification of the districts from the angle of several strategic criteria:

• Size of the district
• Supra-regional appeal
• Average daily footfall
• Presence of brand networks
• Attractiveness of personal equipment
• Footfall on Saturdays compared with weekdays
• Importance of Horeca and entertainment
• High expenditure
• Evening footfall

New districts to discover

• La Bascule (Ixelles-Uccle): undergoing a major transformation, ideal for attracting a mixed and dynamic audience.
• Brabant (Schaerbeek): a district with a strong potential for development.