Advent lull in retail?

Not all Murnau tradespeople are pessimistic

Created: 12/02/2022 11:33 am

Invites you to stroll and shop: the Murnau pedestrian zone.

Due to inflation and the pandemic, many retailers are uncertain about their earnings in the run-up to Christmas.

©Andreas Mayr

The Christmas business is extremely important for retailers.

The Tagblatt asked around at Murnau dealers.

Murnau

- "The mood to buy hasn't kicked in yet" - that's how Guntram Gattner sums it up.

The owner of the bookstore of the same name in Murnau's pedestrian zone has mixed feelings about this year's Christmas business.

He is skeptical whether the time of the year with the highest sales will be successful.

Other Murnau business people, on the other hand, are optimistic about the coming weeks.

In 2022, the prerequisites for a flourishing pre-Christmas period in brick-and-mortar retail are certainly not optimal.

Although the pandemic has receded into the background, the after-effects of the corona virus can still be felt in retail today.

At the time, many customers preferred to conveniently do their Christmas shopping online – often from the large mail order companies.

This habit has continued this year, resulting in dwindling sales for downtown stores.

The fact that no protective measures are currently required changes little.

The second major problem for retailers is inflation, which is currently putting consumers off their feet.

When money is running low for the necessary basic groceries, some people think twice whether they still have enough money for large Christmas presents.

Despite the slightly lower inflation rate, there will be no change in the tense financial situation of many customers.

Gattner is skeptical

Gattner emphasizes that he cannot predict the Advent business in a crystal ball - but he is generally rather skeptical.

Compared to last year, the turnover on this first weekend in Advent was "almost exactly the same to the heller".

The Black Friday offers are also not very promising for the book trade due to the statutory book price fixing.

Gattner is a member of the Association for Economic Development, an interest group of Murnau retailers.

He reports that some of his colleagues are “rather cautious” about the Advent business.

"The bad weather certainly also plays a role here, since there's not much going on in the market."

Christian Echter, who runs his fashion shop in the heart of the pedestrian zone, says the opposite.

"We got off to a strong start with the first weekend in Advent," reports the businessman.

He noticed that many customers came from the Garmisch-Partenkirchen area in particular - which is probably due to the better transport connections through the new tunnel near Oberau.

Day tourists also frequented his shop.

"We feel a strong appreciation from the customers, because most of them don't feel like shopping online and cheap goods without advice." So far, there have been no signs of a loss in sales.

There is also little to worry about in terms of energy prices in their houses, since they have recently been extensively modernized in terms of energy.

Echter is convinced

Confidence in the toy store

The Wölfel toy shop on the Untermarkt is also looking forward to the Christmas business with optimism.

"We are super optimistic," summarizes employee Regina Niggemann.

Sales were very good, especially on the first weekend in Advent.

The fact that the toy shop sells cribs is of course also an advantage.

The customers in the toy shop are in a good mood.

But Niggemann also notes that their buyers are a little better off financially because of the high-quality goods.

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Of course, a final balance sheet cannot yet be drawn up for the 2022 Christmas business.

Pandemic, inflation and online competition do not make it easy for Murnau retailers.

Nevertheless, there is hope: the slight drop in inflation and wage increases could still boost the buying mood of customers.

Aaron Jungwirth

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