Also hurts: the discontinuation of textile sales at “Carpe Diem” in lockdown.
© Carpe Diem
Harpstedt / Heiligenrode – Master hairdresser Dieter Augustin longs for a “timetable” that shows the way out of lockdown and back to normal. But it remains uncertain when hairdressing salons such as “Carpe Diem” in Harpstedt will be allowed to reopen. “Unfortunately there is no information,” complains Augustin.
According to the 60-year-old, the lockdown is basically justified. Health comes first. But how the state is currently dealing with the self-employed who are suffering from the crisis makes Augustin angry: “That Short-time allowance comes too late. It has only now been credited for the last month of the old year. Nothing is there for January, ”he criticizes.
Both Bridging aids don’t look any better. So far, “not a cent has flowed” for December. In addition: the application is extremely time-consuming, a real paperwork, and can only be done together with the tax advisor.
If bureaucratic hurdles are not dismantled quickly and the money does not flow faster, Dieter Augustin is convinced that a wave of Bankruptcies – also in the hairdressing industry.
Good experience in the first lockdown
At the first lockdown in spring 2019, the experience with state aid was significantly better. “That worked out well. The money flowed within four weeks, ”recalls the 60-year-old. Now for the second time over many weeks one Forced closure surviving without income drains on the substance; Augustine makes no secret of this. “I had to go to my personal deposits. Huge in fact. I sold an apartment out of necessity. Our two operations in Harpstedt and Heiligenrode incur monthly costs of at least 30,000 euros. That has to be paid for first. It is to be crazy. Thank goodness the Alfken family, as landlords in Harpstedt, admitted that I only have to pay half the rent for the shop at the moment. Incidentally, there was also such a concession for the salon in Heiligenrode, ”reports the master hairdresser. The workforce is on short-time work. redundancies It should be avoided as much as possible, especially since it would otherwise be extremely difficult to generate staff again after the return to normalcy.
I had to go to my personal deposits. Huge in fact.
Unfortunately I have Carpe Diem Augustin regrets that he also achieved noticeably less income from the accompanying sale of textiles due to the pandemic. “Recently, during the Inventory, I clapped my hands over my head when I realized what kind of inventory was still there. Because so many celebrations and events had to be canceled and no one could go out, we sold significantly less fashion for women and men in 2020. We got stuck on a lot of things. “
Some flee into illegal work
Nonetheless: in view of “40 years of self-employment”, salons like “Carpe Diem” (formerly: “The hairdresser”) are even doing comparatively well economically. Small businesses that have not existed for very long would have a harder time. “How are they supposed to do that? Where are they supposed to get the money from? ”Asks Augustin and admits:“ It’s really a catastrophe for them. ”
In view of the disastrous situation, the 60-year-old cannot approve, but understand, when companies that already have their backs to the wall look for a way out of illegal work in order to survive. That is ultimately due to what the state expects them to do.
Augustin knows of a number of colleagues who are “moaning”. Quite a few would have invested heavily in their salons in the interests of their customers. At “Carpe Diem” – as in the entire industry – there is plenty of money to implement the Hygienekonzepts been picked up. “If we do it, then it will do it correctly” was the courageous motto. Augustin: “We installed a ventilation system for better air exchange and even put in glass instead of Plexiglas walls.”
By Jürgen Bohlken
You want nothing more than to be able to go back to work: Dieter Augustin (2nd from left) with the workforce.
© Carpe Diem
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