After the first week of Advent it is clear: The corona pandemic is having a bad impact on the Christmas business this year as well: the retail sector is reporting significant declines across Bavaria.
However, the situation was different in Munich.
In the state capital, business people are “cautiously satisfied”.
A quiet start to the Christmas business in 2021
Retail draws a cautious balance sheet throughout Bavaria
In Munich, however, there were many customers in the city center
Record sales in the billions
, cash registers ringing and customers in the best buying mood: Bavarian retailers are still a long way from all this during the Christmas business even in the second year of the corona pandemic: after the first weekend in Advent, the retailers draw a mixed balance.
In the inner cities there were 20 to 30 percent fewer people on the road than usual at this time.
"Some people already have a lockdown in their heads," says Bernd Ohlmann, spokesman for the Bavarian retail trade.
The situation in Munich was less drastic.
Here the business people are "cautiously satisfied".
Customers want to buy gifts right in the city center
That is the conclusion that Wolfgang Fischer
draws
after the
start of the Christmas business
. "Of course, we cannot build on times like before the pandemic," says the spokesman for the City-Partner association. But: positive factors came together over the weekend. This definitely includes the
discount campaigns
for so-called "Black Friday". “Fortunately, it doesn't just take place online,” Fischer remembers. Even more: Concern about delivery difficulties, some customers decide to go to the city center - and buy the gifts directly. This is also shown by the pedestrian counts on Kaufingerstrasse. “There were 45 percent more people out there on this Friday than in the week before,” explains Fischer.
Snowfall as a positive sales factor
Another factor that has had a positive effect on business: the first snowfall on Friday.
He inspires people to invest in winter sports items or warm clothing.
It is also important for the willingness to buy that the catering trade is still open.
Of course, the cancellation of the Christkindlmarkt is bitter for the trade and especially the stalls.
"Christmas shopping also includes drinking a mulled wine in between," emphasizes Bernd Ohlmann from the Bavarian retail trade.
In his opinion, the canceled Christmas markets have an impact on people's willingness to buy: Many would rather skip Christmas window shopping - because the Advent mood does not really want to arise.
In view of the corona situation, according to Fischer, one hope remains above all else: "That it will stay open until Christmas."
