Because of the corona virus, many shops in the Miesbach district are now closed. They don't know when they will open again. Quite a few worry about their existence.
District - Claudia Koller has decorated her shop window. Spring and summer goods will soon arrive at the Riepl shoe store in Schliersee. The managing director does not know whether she can sell them. Because customers are not allowed to enter their shop until further notice. Like many other retailers across Germany, Koller had to close its store last night due to the measures to contain the corona virus - for the time being indefinitely. "Now that people are shopping again," says Koller. "Madness."
The Schuhhaus Riepl is just one example of many shops in the district that are heading into an unprecedented sales crisis these days. They all have two hearts in their chests: they understand that everyone must do their part to slow down the pandemic as much as possible. And at the same time they fear nothing less than their existence.
"The situation is precarious," says Koller. It is almost impossible to ever be able to compensate for the losses. “People don't automatically buy two pairs of shoes afterwards.” The costs would continue to run. Thanks to approved vacations and overtime cuts, the employees in their shoe store should not fear any restrictions for the time being, the managing director explains. Nobody knows what it will look like in a few weeks.
Installation service continues
It is a little easier for Andreas Händl from Wörnsmühl. He also had to close his electronics market, but he can continue to work on his installation and service orders. A second mainstay that will benefit him very much these weeks. "We are living on it now," says Handel.
When making customer appointments, he makes sure not to shake hands and otherwise stay away. "As long as I can touch cables and door handles, I can work," says the specialist. Nevertheless, he called people beforehand. It could also be that someone is under quarantine at home. His wife tries to intercept the sale of “white goods”, ie washing machines, dryers, etc., as far as possible with telephone advice. "Unfortunately we can't show anything," says Handel.
This also applies to the Riepl shoe store - and it is even worse. The fitting that is so important when buying shoes is no longer possible. In order not to lose customers, Koller has hung up their contact details in the shop windows. "We want to show that we continue to exist." In the conversation, a solution can certainly be found. But one thing people shouldn't do, Koller appeals: switch to online trading.
Call via social media
Markus Baumgartner knows only too well that this danger is great. The owner of Betten Thoba in Miesbach has therefore published a call on Facebook (“Betten Thoba Miesbach”): “Together for Miesbach”.
The goal is easily explained. "We need to make people aware that they don't forget the local dealers," he warns. “It is nice to stroll through a city center with beautiful shop windows, but that is not a matter of course. If these businesses disappear, it will be difficult to close these gaps. “The crisis is also an opportunity if you are creative. "You have to think together about an order hotline and a delivery service."
What gives him hope: His call on Facebook has already been shared over 100 times. "That's something," says Baumgartner. Help is also important from the regulatory authorities who order the closures. "I don't understand that the Hage hardware store in Miesbach may be open, but the electronics store next door must close."
Uncertainty is great
It is a similar story with Heinz Lindner, who sells tobacco and magazines on the town square in Miesbach. Does he have to close too? "Honestly, I don't know," he says. "Nobody could tell me that." That's why he wants to open today too. Newspapers and magazines are important for the supply of daily life. He does not want to leave the fact that his business is still dispensable - after all, you can also shop in the supermarket or at the gas station. "We are a specialist shop," emphasizes Lindner. "We have over 2500 titles on offer." And unlike in the supermarket, you can order titles from him. "That is why customers from the Tegernsee valley come to us."
The 74-year-old classifies the risk of infection in his shop as low. "We have a maximum of two customers because we are so fast. That is less than in the supermarket. ”He is also not worried about himself and his wife. "We haven't had the flu in the past ten years."
