What is proximity trading?

Located in the lower buildings or in the center of our neighborhoods, retailers account for no less than 14.3% of companies in Spain (DIRCE data of 1 January 2016). So how can we define this type of business so loved by the Spanish citizen?

Proximity stores are retail commercial areas, often small or medium-sized, that offer products or services intended for daily or regular consumption. They are mainly independent business, but there are also franchises and retail chains.

The food sector is strongly represented, mainly by the bakery, fruits and vegetables,butchers, fishmongers and grocery stores. We also find everyday consumer goods stores such as pharmacies, tobacconists and kiosks. Finally the local commerce also includes shops with more occasional visits, such as clothing, jewlery, perfumery, optician or hairdressing shops. Therefore, local commere covers a wide range of products and services in various sectors of activity. In everyday language, we can refer to the “small shopkeeper”, the “neighborhood store” or the “independent store”. All these terms define, at least partially, local commerce.