Weimar loses after 33 years: toy store goes forever!

Weimar loses after 33 years: toy store goes forever!

Another chapter is closing in Thuringian retail: The toy store “Michael’s Toyland” will close its doors in the “Atrium” shopping center in Weimar at the end of the year. After 33 years of successful business, owner Michael Rott looks back positively on the past few years, but the reasons for the closure are sobering. Declines in sales during the corona pandemic and increasing online trading have taken a toll on the popular business. Rott is using the last few weeks to offer a sale with a 40 percent discount on its range, which includes family games, fidget spinners and homework books. His loyal regular customers, which include many kindergartens, will certainly welcome a possible donation of unsold items. Five employees will also lose their jobs as a result of the closure, which adds to the sad occasion.

But Weimar is not the only fate that feels the challenges of retail. Tanja Steinhaus is also planning to close her toy shop in Bodenfelde, which has existed for 32 years. After 12 years in management, she is faced with increasing competitive pressure from online retail. An example from her everyday life that illustrates the problem: A mother came into the store to look at a Lego play station that she had already ordered online. Despite the expert advice that she and her employee Bärbel Vogt offer, sales remain below expectations. “It’s as if the business was just a hobby,” says Steinhaus, as often there isn’t even the minimum wage left at the end of the month.

The challenges of retail

What is going on is symptomatic of the entire industry: retail in Germany is facing massive challenges. According to current reports, sales of over 88 billion euros are now generated in online retail, which is largely at the expense of stationary providers. The corona pandemic accelerated this trend significantly and caused sales to fall in many segments. Small, owner-managed shops in particular are coming under pressure, while large chains are holding a growing market share. The economic situation of many retailers remains tense and a trend towards an increased concentration on fewer suppliers can be observed.

What is particularly problematic is that the number of smaller companies in retail is constantly decreasing. “Department and department stores have basically reached the end of their relevance” – that’s how you could summarize the current state of affairs. Their market share has decreased dramatically, and consumers' willingness to pay has also changed. This change, coupled with the increasingly dominant online trade, is confronting stationary retailers with enormous difficulties.

How will small, traditional shops survive in this new world? One thing is certain: local retail is facing difficult times, and many business owners are having to find creative solutions to meet the growing challenges. In the meantime, the community remains in demand, maintaining loyal customer loyalty and finding common ways to preserve the treasures of the analog world. One thing is beyond discussion: the loss of another toy store hurts not only the operators, but also the entire community.

For everyone who values ​​the small businesses in their neighborhood, now is the time to show their colors and support local commerce!