Sales of handbags are a cause for concern
The stationary leather goods trade, which suffered greatly from the consequences of the corona pandemic in 2020 and 2021, was able to continue its race to catch up in the first half of 2023. According to estimates by the BTE, sales in leather goods stores in the first six months are on average around five percent higher than in 2022. Many companies have now reached pre-Corona levels again and in some cases have even slightly exceeded them.
The luggage sector was particularly in demand, benefiting from the desire to travel. Business with school and leisure items as well as small leather goods was largely stable. On the other hand, sales of handbags are often a cause for concern, as many customers have recently refrained from purchasing them. An exception is the luxury market, which enjoys stable or even increasing demand despite price increases.
Since all Corona restrictions were lifted in spring 2022, stationary leather goods retailers have regained market share and, according to BTE estimates, are currently once again the most important sales channel for handbags, suitcases and small leather goods. In contrast, online retail, which at least temporarily accounted for over half of sales in 2020/2021, has slipped back into second place. Other important sales channels for leather goods are fashion stores, department stores and - in the aggressively priced area - hypermarkets and food discounters.
Nevertheless, the leather goods retailer is currently by no means worry-free. Because sales are almost unchanged compared to 2019, there are sometimes high cost increases - for example in energy, rent and personnel. Problems are also caused by the excessive bureaucracy, the shortage of skilled workers and, in some cases, the declining attractiveness of one's own location and the unregulated company succession. As a result, the number of companies in the leather goods trade has been falling continuously for years and, according to the last sales tax statistics from 2021, there were only 964 in total with a net turnover of almost 1,1 billion euros. For comparison: in 2019 there were still 1.201 companies.
According to BTE estimates, the market volume for leather goods in 2022 was around 2,5 billion euros. This number includes all sales channels.
