Retail Gravity Models, Shopping Habits and Shopping Centres: The Case of the Brno Agglomeration (a Contribution to the Study of Daily Urban Systems)

Economic and social changes since the year 1990 in the Czech Republic have been reflected in the shopping habits of the population. Not only is the 'standard' form of everyday shopping for basic provisions at corner shops now typical, but so is daily visits to specialised retail chain stores or shopping centres. Such daily shopping trips are often combined with commuting to work and school or travelling for other services and have become an important factor in the daily lives of residents. This phenomenon has led to the formation of stronger links between inhabitants within a daily urban system. The primary intensity is observed not in the core periphery link but rather between the periphery of the agglomeration and suburban zones where most of the big shopping malls and hypermarkets are located. Frequently this is not a daily but rather an irregular or weekend activity. These places are thus becoming special centres (secondary cores) of retail business, services, and leisure time activities competing with the city centre itself. This article presents an analysis of the influence of spatial, socio-demographic and psychographic factors on the intensity and variability of the commute for foodstuffs and other shopping in shopping centres. The retail gravity model, shopping habits and shopping behaviour are analysed on the basis of field surveys of the inhabitants from communities located in the hinterlands of Brno.