Weimar: Michael’s toy country closes after 33 years - discount up to 40%!

Weimar: Michael’s toy country closes after 33 years - discount up to 40%!

retail faces major challenges, and the closure of local business is an issue that not only ensures conversation in Weimar, but all over Germany. A particularly concise example is the toy business "Michael’s Toy Land", which soon closes after 33 years in the fallow country of local business. As hna.de she tells of increasing competitive pressure through online trading. An incident that illustrates the dilemma: a mother came into the shop to show a Lego game station that she had already ordered online. Steinhaus states that after deducting all costs at the end of the month there is hardly anything left and now describes your business as a hobby.

The pressure of online trade

The closure of Michael’s toy country is characteristic of a trend that can be observed in many cities in Germany. According to the trade association Germany (HDE), it is expected to conclude about 4,500 shops in Germany in 2023, which is called zdf.de . Just a few years ago, in 2015, there were around 370,000 shops in Germany; At the moment there are only about 300,000. This tendency not only leads to an increased vacancy in city centers, but also has an impact on the jobs - in the case of Rott, five employees are affected.

The causes are diverse. A crucial factor is online trading, which experienced a real boom during Corona pandemic and put many local business under pressure. Steinhaus reports of a delivery service that was introduced in pandemic, but it turns out that customers have not been enthusiastic about this type of shopping. The offer in stationary trade is often no longer sufficient to keep up with prices and availability on the Internet.

a look ahead

In the face of the closings, however, there is also hope. The HDE expects the retail trade to record growth again in early 2025 after two difficult years, provided that the correct incentives are set. HDE President Alexander von Preen has requested adjustments to the rental models to reduce the pressure on retailers. In Wipperfürth, empty shops have already been successfully revived through reduced rents.

During retail, the question remains, the question remains how the cities can breathe new life into their shopping points. Those responsible are required to do more for the attractiveness of their city centers. In this way, it will be necessary to promote private investments through tax benefits and incentives.

In the meantime, it remains to be seen how many other business owners can withstand the challenges. The developments in Weimar and Bodenfelde are only two of many examples that reflect the current state of retail.