Popular Gera store glüXfühl” is closing – what are the reasons?

Popular Gera store glüXfühl” is closing – what are the reasons?

Today it is a sad certainty: the popular shop “glüXfühl” on Heinrich-Heine-Straße in Gera has closed its doors. The official closure took place on May 28th. Dunja Franke and Katja Fuhrmann, the entrepreneurs behind this shop, had to pull the emergency brake due to “economic necessity”. Gera, it turns out, is considered a challenging market in which many retailers are fighting for their survival. The two women tried various sales strategies, including attending markets, but did not have the desired success. Their product range ranged from teas and essential oils to smoothies and workshops. The last workshop will take place on June 26th.

What does the closure mean for the future of the affected entrepreneurs? Katja Fuhrmann is planning to move to Triptis, while Dunja Franke wants to start her new shop “Dein Raum” on Kantstrasse in Gera in July. In a happy twist, they have decided to go into coaching as commercial freelancers. Nevertheless, they are threatened with financial pressure because they are obliged to pay rent for the vacant shop for three more years.

The crisis in retail

The closure of “glüXfühl” is part of a larger problem: many retail companies in Thuringia are under enormous pressure. Andreas Schubert, spokesman for economic policy for DIE LINKE in the Thuringian state parliament, described the dramatic situation. He emphasizes that every day without financial aid increases the risk of bankruptcy. “The stationary retail sector and its employees urgently need to be supported,” said Schubert. The challenges are enormous, especially due to the corona pandemic, which has made the situation even worse for many businesses.

LEFT politician Lena Güngör also emphasizes the role of retail as an important employer. She demands that landlords should share in the costs of the crisis and that state aid must quickly benefit companies. A possible solution could be a nationwide image campaign for purchasing from local suppliers.

Challenges and opportunities

The situation in retail is closely linked to developments in recent years. According to a report by the Federal Institute for Building, Urban and Spatial Research (BBSR), current sales figures in stationary retail show gains, albeit below pre-pandemic levels. This is no coincidence, as the situation in city centers has changed due to the effects of online trading, the energy crisis and other factors. Despite increasing vacancy rates in central locations, there are ways to increase the attractiveness of city centers. This includes shopping opportunities, dining options and cleanliness.

In order to remain sustainable, innovative usage concepts are required. The appreciation of urban centers as places of encounter and consumption is seen as a crucial opportunity. Small businesses and stationary retailers must finally be brought back into focus in order to get through this crisis without structural breaks.

The challenges are great, but with a joint effort by politicians, retailers and citizens, a way out can perhaps be found. The journey from Gera to the new destinations of the entrepreneurs is not over yet, and with a bit of luck, the feeling of glüX will soon return in a new form.

For more information about retail and support options, visit Thuringia24, THE LEFT Gera and BBSR.