The shop on the corner of Hauptstrasse and Sterngasse in Lohr was not empty for a long time. In August, the clothing company s.Oliver moved out of Würzburg, and the City Outlet Schweinfurt opened a branch there at Rambourfest. So far a normal process. However, the advertising community was surprised that the city management was paying for the “Lohrer Starthilfe”.
This program is actually intended for start-ups and is intended to make it easier to start your own business by providing rent subsidies for a maximum of two years. At least that’s what it says on the city of Lohr’s website. These criteria do not apply to the City-Outlet Schweinfurt. “I’m very happy for the Lohr location that owner Katja Otto is coming with the city outlet Schweinfurt, because she could have chosen another city – that alone speaks for our beautiful town.” Angelika Winkler, the chairwoman of the Lohr advertising association, emphasized this when asked by this editorial team.
A Schweinfurt colleague from the Bavarian Trade Association also reported to her that the City Outlet was accepted by the other owners there and was happy to get involved in the community. She was able to speak to Otto in person when she looked at the former s.Oliver store. She told her a lot about the proposed range and was very interested in the advertising community. “We invite you to a meeting and all other business people can get to know Katja Otto,” announced Winkler.
There are always overlaps in the range. But that can be regulated through good contact. According to Winkler, one should not forget that there was previously a textile shop in the prime location and that it is now being revived with textiles. So it’s actually not “new” competition, even if the reduced prices are a new market segment. What was met with incomprehension among the members of the advertising community “is the funding as part of the city management’s vacancy campaign,” emphasized the chairwoman. She belongs to its initiative group. At the meeting she spoke out against funding. Winkler explained that the city outlet would open the branch anyway, “so no funding is needed to attract it to Lohr”. Likewise, she did not find the business idea to be new or unique compared to existing stores.
However, the team from the City Management Initiative Group clearly voted yes. “In a vibrant democracy, I too am satisfied with that,” said Winkler. The colleagues were able to give good reasons for their decision, and in a team it is important to allow all opinions to be valid.
City manager Simone Neubauer explained that they are pleased that “after a long time, a new owner-managed textile company wants to settle in Lohr’s city center. That is not a given these days.” The city manager emphasized that every founder has a right to the same administrative procedure with the city of Lohr. It should not play a role in the decision by the initiative group whether a founder is “out of town” or wanted to come to Lohr anyway. “We treat everyone equally and fairly,” says Neubauer.
When selecting applicants, it is crucial, among other things, “that it is a viable and future-oriented business model with innovative approaches.” It should complement the existing offering and the existing mix of industries and contribute to strengthening the city center. The catalog of criteria also allows branches or moves from outside to the city center. There are also other examples of funding for established entrepreneurs as part of the “Lohrer Starthilfe”.
#Funding #startup #assistance #met #lack #understanding
