According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, revenues from clothing and shoes fell by around 14 percent nationwide in 2020. With every further day of the lockdown, the existential danger grows and with it the risk that shops in the inner cities will never open again, according to the industry.
Stella Ahlers, CEO of Ahlers AG in Herford with brands such as Pierre Cardin, Baldessarini, Otto Kern and Pioneer, warns of the loss of jobs and tradition: “Our case is about 100 years of men’s fashion and almost 2000 employees, 480 of them in Germany . ”She expects political decision-makers to be“ responsible to take the right measures that neither harm nor weaken the individual citizen or the economy ”. At Ahlers, short-time work applies, with the exception of online business.
Angelika Schindler-Obenhaus, board member of Gerry Weber AG in Halle, calls for “compensation payments similar to those for gastronomy, also for industry and trade”. In addition, more Sunday openings would be helpful after the lockdown. “Overall, we demand a clear concept of when and how retailers can reopen, because we urgently need planning security!” At Gerry Weber, around 1200 branch employees have been on short-time work since mid-December. Like many others, the group currently only pays 50 percent of the basic rents. Legal certainty is needed for this too.
Silvia Bentzinger, managing director of the Bielefeld shirt and blouse manufacturer Seidensticker, clarifies: “The majority of retailers and companies will only be able to survive an extended lockdown if financial aid is provided quickly and unbureaucratically. Seidensticker secured its financing with a state guarantee. But it is also about the survival of stationary retailers in particular. “Otherwise there will be fewer retailers and brands after this lockdown. Smaller shopping cities will have to struggle to survive. Landlords of properties in shopping locations will have to get used to significantly lower rental income. ”At Seidensticker, too, short-time work has been increasing again since Monday.
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