Politicians are increasingly stepping on the Corona brake, and that is causing unrest in the retail sector in Miesbach.
Shops are currently allowed to open during Advent, but accompanying activities are not allowed.
So it is important to lure people into the parlor of the district town in other ways.
Miesbach
- The high sales spurt of the financial year begins with the pre-Christmas season for retailers. But the light-heartedness of past years has been lost in the wake of the corona pandemic. So the hope of the Miesbacher business people to finally be able to provide a festive atmosphere around the market square with the Christmas glass has been dashed again. After all: the shops are allowed to open.
"We hope that we will be able to open continuously this year," says Florian Brunner, Chairman of the Miesbach Community Advertising Association (GWM).
“Our hands are tied for bigger campaigns.” If no events are allowed, the pre-Christmas mood has to be created differently.
“We are therefore focusing on the lighting,” explains Brunner.
But that is not so easy, because the consequences of the pandemic will not pass the tradespeople by either.
Atmospheric lighting
The city of Miesbach also relies on lighting, with the city center and churches festively illuminated from Thursday to Sunday.
In addition to various promotions in the individual shops, there is also again the Advent raffle, with prizes worth over 4,000 euros to be won.
Also there is the Christmas forest, where the shops can draw attention to their shops with small packages.
"This is supposed to point to Christmas in a nice way," explains Brunner.
A trump card up your sleeve
Nevertheless, it is a difficult situation for the store operator, which Brunner also found for himself: "Of course you don't want to stir up fears, but you can't rule anything out." Should there still be a lockdown and the stores had to close again you have another trump card up your sleeve: the pick-up station. GWM and its members had already considered such a central collection point for goods ordered by telephone last year. Unfortunately, there was no official approval for this. “But I'm still convinced of this idea,” emphasizes Brunner. “This could work very well in the week before Christmas in particular.” With access restrictions, there are milder means than locking completely. "Better restrictions than nothing."
Brunner is not afraid that the pandemic will make customers more accustomed to online shopping: “Sure, some have rediscovered online, but the pandemic has also made many people realize that they value service and advice.
You can also tell that without something is missing.
Because without the trade, the city center is dead and no longer worth living. "
ddy
