Handelswirtschaft

Handelswirtschaft is a field of study and practice that focuses on the planning, organization, and control of commercial activities in wholesale and retail trade. It analyzes how value is created and captured in distribution channels, from procurement and assortment management to sales and after-sales service, and how retailers interact with suppliers and customers.

In the German-speaking world, Handelswirtschaft is typically treated as a subfield of Betriebswirtschaftslehre (business administration), often called Handelsbetriebswirtschaftslehre (HBWL) or Handelswissenschaft. Universities and business schools teach it as a discipline that combines economics, marketing, logistics, and information technology with a strong practitioner orientation.

Core topics include procurement and supplier relationship management, assortment planning and category management, pricing and revenue management, store and category management, merchandising, consumer behavior, and sales, as well as logistics, inventory control, and supply chain design. The rise of e-commerce and omnichannel strategies has enlarged the scope to digital platforms, data analytics, and sustainability in retail.

Methods used in Handelswirtschaft are predominantly applied and quantitative, including forecasting, data analysis, optimization, simulation, and decision-support techniques. The field emphasizes managerial decision-making, efficiency, customer satisfaction, and competitive positioning.

Historically, Handelswirtschaft emerged from mercantile commerce and evolved with industrialization and the expansion of retail networks in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today it plays a central role in shaping product availability, pricing, and access to goods and services in modern economies.