Downtown Tampere retailers call retail an endurance sport, not a quick-profit business

A visit to street-level shops and conversations with Tampere Tunnetuksi ry and local entrepreneurs found downtown Tampere retailers are holding steady this year by adapting with events and livestream sales. The visits uncovered a mix of long-established businesses and newcomers relying on persistence and new tactics to attract customers. Those observations echo recent coverage: Tampere topped a spring downtown vitality ranking earlier this year and that the city centre drew a record 36.4 million visits in 2025 in a May report.

Riikka Töytäri, executive director of Tampere Tunnetuksi ry, said the city centre's situation looks good compared with other Finnish cities, and fewer commercial premises have stood empty this year. Shop managers emphasised active customer engagement and added value. Lotta Kraft, store manager at Paperikauppa Putinki, said the chain’s May 2025 Tampere opening has gone very well, and participating in local events such as Tampere Kuplii helps draw new audiences. Erika Hildén, third-generation owner of Hildén fashion house, said purchases have become more deliberate and called retail 'an endurance sport rather than a quick-profit business.' Minna Sorvoja of Koskilinnan kahvikauppa, a café and specialty shop in business since 1935, said sales this year look stronger than last and credited TikTok livestream selling, MobilePay orders and nationwide shipping with bringing new customers into the physical store. Töytäri said Tampere Tunnetuksi ry continues to work with businesses, property owners and the city to keep the centre lively and trusted by shoppers.