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The trade association recommends Corona’s master plan. “Voluntary tests” instead of “free tests”. Avoid the fourth lock at all costs. The 800,000 euro limit for sales substitution should fall.
Vienna (OTS) – Bad news for physical retail in Austria: Health Minister Anschober announced today that the third lockdown for non-food retail, from December 26 to January 24, will be extended to 4 weeks, as the “free trials “planned by the The blockade will not come.
The extension of the blockade costs the trade one billion euros
“Due to the third lockdown, Austrian retailers lost sales of almost 4 billion euros. The extension of the lockdown from January 17 to 24 only resulted in a drop in sales of up to one billion euros. January is traditional for the El Commerce is an important sales month because after Christmas the population exchanges cash gifts and vouchers and exchanges goods, which makes the tense economic situation in our industry even worse., explains the managing director of the trade association Rainer will in a first opinion.
At least two-thirds of lost sales in retail are irretrievably lost. Seasonal inventory becomes de facto unsaleable. Furthermore, every 10th locked-in consumer is limited to buying essential goods and purchasing power is digitally migrating abroad.
So that 2021 does not end like 2020: the Corona master plan is crucial
“Now we are experiencing a collective popular depression. Local companies, employees and, in general, everyone in Austria need a medium and long-term perspective. A crown master plan must be urgently drawn up and made transparent. Only in this way can a sustainable ‘climate of trust’ emerge in this country and, therefore, an economic and social comeback, which makes it clear how to live with the virus and continue to do business in a predictable way. “ask for a sales spokesperson Rainer will.
To do this, the following four factors must be taken into account:
- Help has to come
Countless domestic companies have been struggling with liquidity bottlenecks for months, increasing with each additional lockdown. Companies need security in planning in fiscal, financial and accounting terms.
Revenue replacement has already proven its worth in the second lockdown and was the only instrument that could be quickly paid to interested companies. Since all other grants (including part-time work, fixed cost grants, compensation for losses) are more bureaucratic to apply and only end up in companies’ accounts with a considerable delay, the EUR 800,000 limit should be reduced and sales compensation must also be paid for the entire third lock. The originally planned limit until December 31. it is unacceptable, dealers cannot pre-finance more debt due to crisis of the crown.
In addition, the trade association demands equal and non-bureaucratic support for all companies indirectly affected by the closure. The federal government is now committed to taking this logical step and one pay fair compensation for the sales of indirectly affected companies. To do this, the lower limit as a payment condition must be reduced from 40 to 30 percent loss of sales. - “Try voluntarily” instead of “free trial”
The HV renews its requirement to establish positive incentives in the form of Austrian controls to motivate the population to “carry out tests voluntarily” (instead of “free tests”). All those who voluntarily take the test in January in this country and thus contribute to the health situation should receive a voucher of 50 euros as a thank you, which can be exchanged at local companies with operations in Austria. It would benefit everyone, consumers, health authorities, the national economy and ultimately politicians as well, as their goals can be achieved more quickly. - Living with the virus: enabling sustainable economic activity despite Corona
Avoiding a fourth crown lock should be the top priority this year. Therefore, the trade association recommends that the time factor also be included to a greater extent in addition to the minimum distance. A maximum stay in the store would be conceivable, for example, to further reduce the risk of infection, provided that the evidence from health authorities allows it. This should allow for sustainable economic activity despite the coronavirus to contain existential collateral damage and ensure job security. - Clear vaccination strategy for critical infrastructure
Aside from risk groups, critical infrastructure, which of course also includes the food trade as a local supplier to the population, requires immediate clarity and generally an understandable vaccination strategy for the Austrian trade. Here too, security planning is critical. The trade association has already started talks with the federal government.
Queries and contact:
Trade association
Gerald Kuehberger Magazine, MA
Press officer
Tel.: +43 (1) 406 22 36 – 77
gerald.kuehberger@handelsverband.at
www.handelsverband.at
