Open Sunday: hopefully the knot will burst

Trade association - Open Sunday: hopefully the knot will burst

The trade association is hoping that Berliners will be keen to shop on Sundays open for business on 1 Advent. "Traditionally, we generate at least the same turnover as a full working day on Advent Sundays - but with significantly shorter opening hours. That's why they are so important for us," said Nils Busch-Petersen, Managing Director of the Berlin-Brandenburg Retail Association, to the German Press Agency. After a difficult year, he hopes that "the knot will now burst with consumers".

On Sunday, the 1st Advent, many stores and shopping centers in Berlin will open their doors from 1 to 6 pm. In some towns in Brandenburg, including Falkensee and Brandenburg an der Havel, stores will also remain open on this Sunday.

Especially during the Christmas period, open Sundays give people the opportunity to go shopping in peace, said Thomas Lengfelder, Managing Director of Dehoga Berlin. Such days also offer an additional incentive for a city trip. In view of the Christmas season, there is still sufficient capacity in hotels and accommodation establishments.

The 1st Advent falls in December this year. "That means people all have their salaries. The spending mood is also somewhat higher," said Busch-Petersen from the trade association. Christmas business is slowly picking up after a very sobering and difficult year overall.

Nevertheless, it is not possible to detach oneself from the difficult overall trend. "After the overlapping crises, the consumer climate initially plummeted and we are still a long way from recovering sufficiently," said Busch-Petersen. "We assume that it will take us a lot of effort to even come close to 2019."

In Berlin's retail sector, inflation-adjusted sales fell by two percent in the third quarter compared to the same period last year, according to the Berlin-Brandenburg Statistical Office. Electronics, DIY and home improvement stores as well as furniture stores were particularly affected, with a 7.4% drop in sales compared to the previous year. According to the statistics, the hospitality industry also recorded a price-adjusted drop in sales of 9.9 percent.

Press release from the Berlin-Brandenburg Statistical Office

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Despite the challenges posed by inflation, the Retail Trade Association in Berlin-Brandenburg remains optimistic for the upcoming Advent Sundays, as stated by Nils Busch-Petersen to the German Press Agency.
While many retailers in Brandenburg towns like Falkensee and Brandenburg an der Havel will join Berlin in opening on 1 Advent, the retail sector in Berlin has seen a 2% decrease in inflation-adjusted sales in the third quarter, according to the Berlin-Brandenburg Statistical Office.
In view of the increased consumer desire to buy during the Christmas period, especially on Advent Sundays, the trade association believes it is an opportunity for retailers to generate revenue and potentially even surpass turnover from full working days.
The German Press Agency reported that open Sundays in retail have been beneficial for tourism, with Thomas Lengfelder from Dehoga Berlin stating that these days offer an incentive for city trips, especially during the Christmas season.
The trade association and retailers are hoping that this year, with people having their salaries and a higher spending mood, open Sundays during Advent will contribute significantly to the retail trade, which has been affected by the challenging year.
During the Advent period, the gastronomy sector will also benefit from the additional shopping hours, as people looking to buy gifts or Christmas decorations often visit restaurants and cafes, thereby supporting the local economy and satisfying their adventurous desires.

Source: www.stern.de