The corona pandemic also has positive side effects. For example, she helped to establish working from home. The fact that many employees no longer commute to the office every day benefits the local retail trade on the outskirts of large cities such as Munich and thus the district of Fürstenfeldbruck, which has the most commuters in the entire region. A study by the Ifo Institute in Munich recently confirmed this change in shopping behavior. Katrin Schmidt, Chairwoman of the Germering Business Association and owner of the Bookmark bookstore, also sees the result of the study, the trend towards strengthening trade in the suburbs. She noticed that with the end of the lockdown, more customers who used to do their errands in Munich were shopping in Germering. She attributes this to the change in working life caused by the home office. This was particularly noticeable in the higher customer frequency.
Katrin Schmidt, Chairwoman of the Germering Business Association and owner of the Bookmark bookstore
(Photo: Carmen Voxbrunner)
In the meantime, according to Schmidt, the increased customer frequency has declined again somewhat. She attributes this to the generally difficult economic situation, which is overshadowing the positive effects of working from home. As a result of the energy crisis and the war in Ukraine, people are insecure, which is why money is no longer so easy when shopping. Even if times have become more difficult for everyone, the bookseller refuses to agree to the usual general complaint mode. For them, it’s about making the best of this situation.
A shop for men’s fashion opens again in Germering
That means starting where there are deficits. And for Schmidt, this begins with the fact that many people would like to shop where they live, but unfortunately too few people know what they can get where in their immediate living environment. She finds that her new customers are often surprised that there is a bookshop in Germering. She therefore advises getting involved with local trade, finding out more and simply trying out what is on offer for customers in your city or community. If you look around, you may well be in for a surprise, for example that there has recently been a shop for men’s fashion in Germering again. On the one hand, she thinks that’s great. On the other hand, she points out that it has become more difficult for retailers to reach customers.
Christine Scholz is chairwoman of the advertising association Business World Puchheim and manager of a chocolate shop.
(Photo: Günther Reger)
Christine Scholz, Chairwoman of the advertising association Business World Puchheim and owner of a chocolate shop, also confirms that the trend towards working from home has done local trade in the commuter belt good. However, consumers and retailers alike are now faced with a new challenge. Both sides are unsettled because of the high energy prices and don’t know what to expect. “We sell luxury,” says the retailer, referring to her industry and the Christmas business, which is crucial for annual sales. Although people are saving more again, Scholz hopes that you can still treat yourself to a certain luxury.
According to the IHK for Munich and Upper Bavaria, the Ifo study shows a probably irreversible development. The strong increase in online shopping and working from home and the associated shift in consumption from metropolitan centers to residential areas in the outskirts could change the appearance of cities in the long term. The attractiveness of the city centers will no longer be measured so much by consumption, but above all by the event and experience character, i.e. more concerts and festivals. In the suburbs and residential areas, this development means that consumption is increasing there and trade is profiting. So IHK spokesman Florian Reil on SZ request. This trend can primarily strengthen smaller traders on the periphery.
Bernd Ohlmann, press spokesman for the Bavarian Trade Association, describes the current situation of the entire trade as drastic. Instead of long-term trends, the Türkenfelder focuses on the currently difficult situation in retail. In view of the energy crisis, the Ukraine war, the disrupted supply chains, the lack of staff and rising prices, he currently sees “endless problems” for retailers. Because customers are keeping their money together and the cheap private labels are currently booming in the food trade, many were anxious about the Christmas business that was about to begin. According to Ohlmann, the hopes of retailers in the coming weeks are that people will at least treat themselves to something special when shopping at Christmas.
Sales are not a problem for Udo Klotz, the managing director of the AEZ stores. The voices. The challenge is what ultimately sticks for the retailer in view of the high cost pressure and the trend towards special offers.
Ganimete Halimi and Frank Röhner, the two managing directors of the Fuchsweber fashion house
(Photo: Günther Reger)
“The situation is talked about worse than it is,” says Frank Röhner. He is managing director of the Fürstenfeldbruck fashion house Fuchsweber and deputy district chairman of the retail association. He advises taking the situation seriously, but not getting discouraged, and says: “We are positive about the future.” Röhner justifies his optimism with the fact that there will be a lot of celebrations again and people want to have fun. Dealers like him and his team would enjoy selling beautiful things and creating interest in fashion. He relies on the shopping experience mentioned by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. So on the connection of events such as fashion shows or events in the city of Fürstenfeldbruck as an incentive to get to know the offer and to shop later. The managing director is satisfied that the trend towards working from home has brought him one or two new customers.
“The situation will blow up in our ears in retail,” fears Barbara Magg, head of economic development in the district office. Less money from consumers for small and large luxuries in combination with exorbitantly increasing energy costs will pose major challenges for the retail trade in the coming months. The lack of planning security has already led to the first inquiries about which aid programs can be expected in the near future. Magg has had to pass here so far. “We have not yet received any concrete information on the promised rescue packages,” she says with regret.
District master craftsman Franz Höfelsauer
(Photo: Carmen Voxbrunner)
Franz Höfelsauer is a district master craftsman and chairman of the Fürstenfeldbruck trade association. Worries outweigh him, too. He sees a great potential for conflict for trade and commerce in the lack of workers and the high energy costs. Reil from the IHK describes the current situation in the retail trade more diplomatically than the district master craftsman. He speaks of a reluctance to consume due to the expected drop in income and high inflation.
Corona not only strengthened local trade, but also goes hand in hand with a trend towards sustainable consumption. The pandemic also led to consumers restricting their consumption behavior and relying more on the repair of items.