He is on the brink of ruin: Tattoo star Randy Engelhard (43). The lockdown meant that he had to close his tattoo shop for weeks.
Zwickau – “I’m not just speaking for myself here, but for many of my colleagues, friends and self-employed,” says Tattoo-Star Randy Engelhard (43). He is known from various Television shows, also likes to leave his signature on the skin of celebrities such as the presenter and model Sophia Thomalla (31) and, like so many others, is currently fighting for the survival of his business.
–
For tattoo artist Randy Engelhard (43), his existence is at stake (archive picture). © Uwe Meinhold
The tattoo artist has been running a shop in Zwickau for years, where he puts works of art on his customers’ skin. “In the meantime we have come to terms with the fact that we cannot open despite all the hygienic measures,” says Randy.
“And we are happy to do our part to contain the pandemic by closing the store for weeks and months if need be, but we are left completely alone by the state with the situation.”
Because so far no financial aid has reached him. “For the time being, there was only one discount from the November aid for us from the amount that was once calculated, we are still waiting for the short-time work allowance applied for for our employees and we have not yet seen any aid for December,” said the family man.
“The fact that there is a problem here and there in the offices is understandable. But I and many others with whom I have spoken in the last few days are on the verge of ruin. The banks do not defer the loans because it means that we yes, get help from the city. But we don’t notice anything. ”
–
Engelhard is now looking for help directly from Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (45, CDU).
“Perhaps he can make us plausible about how we should survive the next few weeks. Otherwise it will soon look sad in our inner cities. No small business owner will last long. Most of the reserves will have been used up by 2020.”
Even during the first lockdown, tattoo studios – including Randy Engelhard’s – remained closed. Even then, the Zwickauer’s business was on the verge of ruin. Because unlike hairdressers, tattoo studios were not allowed to reopen in a timely manner.
“The fact that none of the promised help arrives where it is urgently needed hits us hard. We really hope for an answer from the responsible authorities or simply for the referral that we and others are entitled to.”
–
