Fabian Kowalski

City centres are facing major challenges. As shopping areas are becoming increasingly dominated by large chains, more and more vacancies are emerging. The modern-day shopping experience takes place online. And retail isn’t the only victim – restaurants are also perishing. But digitalisation can help. City centres are being revitalised by new combinations of online and local retail, pop-up concepts are breathing new life into vacant premises, and digital networks are being created within the gastronomy sector. This networking is exemplified by the digital town of Ahaus, which has managed to enhance its appeal and start using vacant properties as showpieces.

I started off by training as a retail assistant in my hometown of Hameln at the age of 16. I then completed a work and study programme in business administration with Allianz Beratungs- und Vertriebs-AG in Mannheim. I last worked as a manager of various shopping centres for ECE Marketplaces GmbH. At the start of this year, I was appointed as a Digital Guide for Wirtschaftsförderung Münster GmbH, and I’m also responsible for making digitalisation more accessible in the towns of Borken and Coesfeld.