The city centre shows the direction of Boden’s development

In the new reports Handelskartan – Så handlar Boden, produced by Svensk Handel and HUI, and Attraktiva platser 2025, developed by Fastighetsägarna MittNord together with HUI, Boden receives a more in-depth basis for understanding retail development, the business mix, and the flow of people in the city centre. The reports provide an overall picture of how retail, workplaces and movement patterns are changing – and serve as a strategic foundation for the continued development of the city centre during a period of industrial expansion.

31 per cent of retail takes place in the city centre

Total retail turnover in Boden amounted to SEK 1,936 million in 2024. Of this, SEK 591 million was generated in the city centre – corresponding to approximately 31 per cent of the municipality’s retail trade. This is ten percentage points higher than the corresponding figure for other medium-sized cities in Sweden.

Turnover increased by 3.5 per cent in the municipality and by 4.5 per cent in the city centre. At the same time, the number of retail businesses declined, particularly in the city centre.

This development reflects a national trend in which city centres are shifting from being primarily retail areas to increasingly accommodating workplaces and services.

More offices – new flows and new challenges

The report Attraktiva platser shows that offices are currently the largest business sector in Boden’s city centre. Since 2018, retail has lost twelve businesses, while the number of office-based operations has increased.

Around 1,450 people work in the city centre, while approximately 830 both live and work there. The commuting index is 174, indicating a clear inflow of workers during daytime hours.

This creates strong flows during office hours – but also raises an important question: how do we ensure life and activity in the city centre even after 5 p.m.?

A key actor in this work is the collaboration platform Boden Tillsammans, where the municipality, property owners, businesses and other local stakeholders work together to strengthen the city centre. Through coordinated activities, joint marketing and long-term development efforts focusing on content and place development, the platform helps create the conditions for a more vibrant city centre – throughout the day and across the seasons.

– We have seen a positive effect since Boden Tillsammans was established. We are actively working to respond to the changes and create life and activity after office hours, says Anki Granström, coordinator of Boden Tillsammans.

She believes that breadth is crucial in a city where consumer purchasing patterns are changing.

– We need to fill the city centre with things that create life. That includes more cultural events, initiatives such as Walk and Eat, and further developing our winter and summer hangouts. Things that attract people to the city centre and have a positive effect on retail.

2024 – the first clear impact of the expansion

2024 was also the first year in which the ongoing industrial establishment began to be clearly felt in everyday life.

By the end of the year, just over 700 people were living in temporary accommodation in the municipality. At the same time, more than 1,000 people were working at the industrial site to build the new facility. During 2025, the development has accelerated significantly, and at its peak around 4,000 people have been working on the site.

Tourism and international markets

Tourism consumption amounted to SEK 489 million in 2023, corresponding to approximately 250 full-time jobs.

The largest international markets are Norway, Denmark, Finland, the United States and Germany. At the same time, markets such as Poland, Spain, Japan, Latvia and Switzerland are growing.

– What we see is that a large share of the money generated within the tourism sector stays in the municipality through subcontractors, local suppliers and service companies. The effects spread throughout the local business community.

A foundation for the next step

For Boden Tillsammans, the reports provide a concrete tool for continued development work.

– This gives us the opportunity to better understand our customers’ purchasing patterns, trends and changes. It is strong material to build on as we continue to develop retail in Boden, says Anki Granström.