"It's good that we were allowed to open": Christmas business in the district went better than expected

Created: 12/29/2021, 3:21 PM

From: Josef Ametsbichler

Passers-by walk past a shop window decorated for Christmas.

© Sebastian Kahnert / dpa

A few days after Christmas, the retail sector in the Ebersberg district is cautiously optimistic about the future, despite Corona.

There was no real total failure.

District

- Magnus Kipfelsberger (58), head of three Intersport specialty stores of the same name in the region, raves when he talks about the Christmas business and the number of customers between the years.

“We are completely overwhelmed,” he says.

"It's going extremely well." The early first snow in the Ebersberg district triggered a hello-wake effect among customers:

“People want to go skiing and cross-country skiing.” Accordingly, not only new skis but also accessories such as helmets and gloves are in great demand.

"It was all just lying around for two years", speculates Kipfelsberger, why many winter sports enthusiasts treat themselves to new equipment.

2G does not change the number of customers either

His three shops in Ebersberg, Markt Schwaben and Trudering could have weathered the corona crisis and the associated closings thanks to a high proportion of regular customers.

“The customers were back immediately,” he says gratefully.

The branch in Grafing has not changed anything about that: most of them have switched to Ebersberg.

Thanks to this solidarity, previous sales losses could be compensated for - he didn't have to cancel a single order, says Kipfelsberger.

The 2G restriction that is now in force does not change that.

"That has absolutely no effect," says the sports manager of the number of customers.

Only the control effort is high.

But after a certain nervousness prevailed at first, Kipfelsberger sums up the current situation: "We are thrilled that it is going so well."

Retailers who do not benefit from the seasonal effect are more cautious

Many retailers in the district, which can benefit less from the seasonal effect, are likely to be more cautious.

For example, Grafinger Julius Kindl, who sells fashion, underwear and textiles in his two Grafingen shops.

"Depending on the circumstances, it works," says the businessman (72).

about its Christmas sales.

"It's good that we were allowed to open."

Customer response to bathrobes, socks, nightwear and men's shirts - all Christmas classics - was, however, subdued.

“People think twice about going shopping,” observes Kindl.

The corona closings and 2G controls are tailwind for online retail.

But Kindl also observes: “Others are happy that they can still shop in the store.” Trying on, advice, exchanges - and unlike in a big city department store, no crowds.

The Christmas business as a total failure also existed

Delivery bottlenecks played a role this year, says the Grafingen fashion retailer: Goods that were actually intended for the Christmas business don't arrive until January or even spring.

Sports specialist Kipfelsberger is also still waiting for winter sports deliveries.

At the same time he says: "The season is just getting started."

The Christmas business as a total failure - that also existed.

He has not sold a single bike since November, reports Stefan Graf (54) from the “E-Bike Center” in Pliening.

But that is due to the fact that he is new to the place and bicycles are not a classic Christmas item.

He expected the doldrums.

“It takes time for word to get around,” he says - and about his battery-powered goods: “The boom is continuing.” Graf is like many other retailers too: He's waiting and hoping for spring.

Read more news from the Ebersberg region here.

By the way: Everything from the region is also available in our regular Ebersberg newsletter.