BTE, BDSE and BLE expect fewer sales
The textile (BTE), shoe (BDSE) and leather goods (BLE) trade associations welcome the federal governments' easing recommendations, which have already led to corresponding approvals for larger trading areas of over 800 square meters in all federal states. “This means that the objectively incomprehensible discrimination against large textile, shoe and department stores is finally over,” says BTE Managing Director Rolf Pangels.
However, Pangels is not entirely satisfied with the implementation. “We would have liked to have had approvals nationwide this weekend,” criticizes the BTE boss. After all, huge amounts of unsold trousers, jackets and shoes from the spring season are piling up in retail warehouses. And in addition, the new summer goods are currently being delivered. “That’s why every day counts at the moment, so that the immense goods problem in the fashion industry doesn’t become even more dramatic.”
However, the BTE managing director is not expecting a rush of customers: “We have registered significantly below-average customer frequency in the federal states where larger fashion stores have already been allowed to open completely.” Distance and hygiene rules could therefore be adhered to without any problems.
BTE, BDSE and BLE assume that customer frequencies and sales will not reach the previous year's values in the next few weeks. After all, many customers still lack the opportunity to buy a new outfit. “As long as larger celebrations and festivals are restricted or even banned and millions of people work from home or are even on short-time work, we expect significant losses,” reports Pangels. “We hope that when the restaurants open up, some normality and shopping experience will return to the cities.”
