From this weekend on there will be a large selection of Christmas products in the Geltinger village shop.
He has survived the troubled times and is defying the corona pandemic.
Gelting -
soaps, cookies, cards, beer and other gifts can be found on a separate table in the village shop.
Martin Goder, acting director, announced that it should be a little more just in time for the St. Nicholas weekend.
Since there cannot be a Christmas market outside on the village square due to the corona pandemic, it should at least be a little Christmas inside.
And if you can't sell there this year, you have such an alternative, adds team leader Eva Kirchner.
"It is important that we help each other a little."
The village shop also received support this year.
Before that, the cooperative business had a few difficulties.
In 2019, some employees and the former team leader left the store.
The search for personnel was difficult, the opening times had to be reduced in the meantime, which also had a financial impact.
Quiet returned under Kirchner's leadership (we reported).
“In January and February we had to fight, it was on the knife edge,” recalls the trained retail saleswoman.
Then the corona pandemic broke out.
“That almost helped us,” says Kirchner.
The people would have supported the village shop, they avoided larger supermarkets.
“Easter has never been as good as this year.” You can't throw money around, but be on the right track.
"Things are looking up."
This is confirmed by the acting board member Goder.
He would like to announce specific figures at the General Assembly.
It could not be carried out this year, but Goder is hoping for a possibility shortly before the end of the year.
Otherwise this would have to be done by mail.
“That would be a huge effort, and a debate would of course be much better.” Especially since the regular election of the supervisory board is pending and the management board is to be strengthened.
At the meeting he would also like to thank the members.
"Thank God, many have shopped well," says Goder, referring to the corona pandemic.
Although the village shop has done relatively well over the year, team leader Kirchner is not very optimistic about the Christmas business.
“The second lockdown made people very restrained and psychologically tense,” she observes.
She also appreciates that there are no large family dinners on Christmas Eve and the public holidays and that there is accordingly less shopping.
It is also a shame that the café, like all restaurants, has to remain closed.
"For example, we have a nice group of women who actually met every week and opened a bottle of champagne," says Kirchner.
The village shop also achieved good sales in the beer garden over the summer.
Kirchner doesn't want to complain.
“It doesn't hit us alone, and others are even worse off,” emphasizes the team leader.
The village shop could at least maintain normal business.
With regard to the employees, Kirchner says: “The way we are now set up, it fits very well.” The team currently consists of five part-time employees and five 450-euro employees.
In addition, a woman comes every week to volunteer to support the village shop.
“That's really great,” said Kirchner.
Many applicants dropped out after their trial work.
"It was too exhausting for many, they prefer to sit at the computer," says the team leader.
She cannot understand that.
"I look forward to work every day, it's like the purpose of my life." Kirchner particularly likes the contact with customers.
The store is important, especially for the elderly in town.
"I hope we can do well in this way over the next few years."
sw
