Turnover in this market is expected to increase by 7 to 10 percent in the next two years. The competition between independent shop owners and the 265 outlets of Dutch buying groups is strong. Dutch sporting goods retailers form a new breed of competitors in this market. They are becoming very popular outlets for buying new outfits for young children. In the future, smaller baby stores will focus more on gifts for children and the larger baby specialty stores will focus on competitive pricing or on offering a wide assortment.
Dutch shops are relatively small in size.
The shop's location is becoming more important for the retailer. Most of the baby and children apparel shops are located in city centers and shopping malls. A few megastores of 5000 square feet are located outside city centers. It is not expected that many more will move their shop outside the city. Dutch children are independent at an early age and decide more often what they want to wear.