On Monday, Munich's Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter canceled the 2021 Oktoberfest due to the pandemic.
The traditional costume shops, like the traditional costume gallery in Mammendorf, are hit hard.
Mammendorf - In the Mammendorfer Trachtengalerie there would actually be a lot going on in normal times, even if the Oktoberfest is still a long way off.
Maypoles, folk festivals, weddings - the Hillebrands business has been a popular destination for festive clothing for 40 years.
Lots of dirndls and lederhosen are lined up on an area of 1070 square meters in the industrial park.
But Corona has already left its mark here - the latest bad news is the Oktoberfest cancellation.
Oktoberfest cancellation due to Corona: traditional costume business breaks away main source of income
Boss Manuela Hillebrand was prepared for it.
She only bought around ten percent of the usual amount of goods.
But still: "The fact that the Oktoberfest does not take place again hits us hard." The main source of income disappears, 80 percent of annual sales.
What hurts Hillebrand the most: She had to fire a large part of the employees.
52 employees became 17. Due to the seasonal business, around three quarters of the employees are 450 euros.
Because of the short-time working conditions, they could no longer be employed.
Despite everything, Hillebrand is from the “optimistic faction”, as she says.
"We will try everything to hire the employees again."
Lockdown consequences for traditional business: "Benefit from the fact that we do not mainly focus on fast-moving trends"
Financially, too, she is not yet very worried.
“We benefit from the fact that we don't rely mainly on fast-moving trends,” she explains.
The costume is timeless, as the customers prefer.
The warehouses are well stocked and you don't have to throw everything away for the next year because it is no longer in fashion.
Purchasing expenses have thus been drastically reduced.
As a traditional company, you didn't need a lot of advertising.
Hillebrand relies on state aid to cover the fixed costs.
"Dear one more year now and then dispense healthy and gscheid celebrate next year." For it shall clearly
even
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