Pforzheim. The Northern Black Forest Chamber of Commerce and Industry advocates a clear perspective for companies through an opening strategy of the federal and state governments. Politicians must act now. “Many retail businesses in the Northern Black Forest region have been pushed into an existential emergency because of the lockdown in the corona pandemic. Politicians are now challenged, ”appeals IHK General Manager Martin Keppler to show regional companies a reliable way out of the shutdown.
Because the economic pressure threatens to destroy numerous livelihoods in retail – despite the Corona aid, which must flow even faster and more comprehensively for retail, according to Keppler. “This is shown by the dramatic calls, letters and emails that we receive every day,” explains the IHK boss. It should not be the case that retailers only receive financial aid with a delay and thus come under extreme cost pressure. As a defining industry, retail must be supported with leisure and cultural facilities as well as services and gastronomy in order to liven up the inner cities. It is undisputed that health protection for employees and customers must be the focus of an opening strategy. Even in the first lockdown, the trade had already developed and implemented extensive and exemplary hygiene concepts to reduce contact, which have proven themselves, says Keppler. In the opening strategy, these can be supplemented with further measures – for example with the option of making personal appointments or “personal shopping” as a way of managing customer flows in a Corona-compliant manner. There are also opportunities to influence the number of customers in public spaces.
Other parts of the opening strategy must be an effective vaccination strategy and more testing. “The falling incidence figures represent the basis for an urgently needed opening perspective for retail,” Keppler concludes.
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