Worry, anger and incomprehension: The extension of the lockdown angered the Tölz retail trade.
Politicians want to limit the damage with “click & collect”.
But industry representatives see the instrument as just a drop in the hot stone.
Bad Tölz - Peter von der Wippel is a man of clear words: "This lockdown cannot be surpassed in terms of idiocy and dilettantism," says the owner of Sport Peter in Tölzer Marktstrasse.
The first lockdown had already shown that this was not a suitable instrument for reducing the number of infections.
“After all, retail and hospitality are not the drivers of the pandemic.” Nevertheless, the extension of the standstill did not surprise him.
“I even expect a third lockdown.
Because politics has no idea about the economy. "
The collection of goods ordered online or by telephone from the store is now permitted - unlike before Christmas - but for von der Wippel "click & collect" is little more than "occupational therapy".
His sports shop has many advice-intensive products.
"And picking up the goods at the back door isn't a shopping experience either." Von der Wippel is now trying to make the best of the situation and advising his customers via video.
Customer advice via video switch
Unlike restaurateurs, he doesn't get any compensation for his losses.
The state only reimburses retailers for part of their fixed costs, depending on the size of the decline in sales.
Anyone who has less than 30 percent loss of sales does not get any help.
“Whoever survives the lockdown will survive it without this help.
And if you don't survive it, you won't survive it either, ”says von der Wippel.
Florian Lipp sees it the same way: “I worked it out with the tax advisor.
For December, for example, we will receive zero point zero euro help, ”says the owner of the Tölzer department store Rid, who is the sixth generation to manage the company with branches in Weilheim and Penzberg.
"Click & collect" does not increase sales, but it does satisfy demand: "We offer this as customer service because many people want the goods to be picked up."
Lipp only generates one to two percent of its sales online.
The lockdown worries him, even if his company will probably survive it: “The inner-city retail trade is bleeding incredibly.
Let's see what our inner cities look like when the spook is over. "
Perfumery Wiedemann has sent a large part of its 170 employees in 23 branches on short-time work.
A small part gives advice over the phone and sends goods.
"It is a relief that from Monday the collection of goods from the shop is also allowed in Bavaria, since we have a high demand for self-collection, especially in the small towns," says boss Christian Wiedemann.
The company, based in Bad Tölz, has also been selling its products online since November.
“We're not generating huge sales yet because the shop is still relatively unknown.
Nevertheless, I am happy to be represented online now, as every turnover is good for us during the lockdown. "
You can read everything about the current situation of the coronavirus in the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district here.
BayWa Bau- und Gartenmärkte GmbH in Bad Tölz now also offers the option of collecting previously ordered goods yourself.
"It would be better if we could open as normal," says team leader Helmut Günther.
“People just want to come in, look at the goods, see alternatives and get advice.” Only five employees are currently on duty, around 30 on short-time work.
Dealers have to tackle reserves due to a lack of income
August Maerz from the Lenggries fabric and hat shop and his wife Theresia have to tackle their reserves due to a lack of income.
“The lockdown is the stupidest thing you can do, dilettantism in perfection,” the 60-year-old annoys.
“You can only shake your head about the intellectual bulky waste that politics produces.” These include the current option to collect the goods from the store: “It should have been possible before Christmas.
But then it was banned, incomprehensibly. "Politicians have no idea about business and trade:" Or did the Amazon lobby make the decision? "The whole year was bad for the costume industry because weddings and other celebrations could not take place.
“Who will buy a nice G'wand to sit in front of the TV?” Asks Maerz.
Many business owners consider lockdown a political failure
Renée Obermeir, who runs two boutiques in Tölzer Marktstrasse with “Blue Flamingo”, is just as angry: “In the summer, Jens Spahn said that there will be no more retail lockdowns because they are not driving the pandemic.
I relied on that and made a binding order for spring and summer fashion for 2021. ”As usual in the fashion industry, months in advance.
“The cost of goods is higher than the cost of personnel.
Nobody reimburses me for it. ”Obermeir also sells online, but that currently accounts for no more than five percent of sales.
"We are a local business, not Zalando."
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Renée Obermeir now also sells children's fashion online.
© Arndt Pröhl
Obermeir considers the lockdown to be a political failure: "The politicians cannot do anything other than distribute lockdowns," says the American.
“They haven't come up with any hygiene concepts for local public transport, no effective protection for old people's and nursing homes.” In contrast, retail has become creative.
“We have developed good concepts.” Which are now worthless: “I'm not allowed to let six customers in in the children's fashion store, meanwhile 2000 people romp about sledding.” Will there still be Blue Flamingo in summer?
"I dont know."
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