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Like many others, Gekås has been hit hard by the crown crisis. In April alone, they lost SEK 220 million compared to the same month last year, the company has 900 short-term employees, and occupancy in the camp is far from what it usually is.
But on election weekend, CEO Boris Lennerhov can at least see a slight glow in the compact darkness.
– Curiously, our hotel was completely full last night, 120 rooms. That surprises us, says Boris Lennerhov.
And certainly, the greatest number of visitors within department stores has been noticed. This is confirmed by various clients.
“Total chaos in Gekås”, one person describes the scenes that took place in the department store on Friday, for Halland News.
“I felt: what the hell”
One of the people who were also in the yellow department store on May 1 was Gothenburg citizen Sandra Jaconelli, 33:
– Immediately when we got to the parking lot we saw that it was full of cars. Then I felt: “What the hell.” When we got closer to the entrance we saw how many people there were and almost stopped at the entrance. Then I panicked a bit, he says and continues:
– I felt some discomfort, despite the fact that it is the same restrictions that it has had for a while. It felt like people had forgotten about the virus. There were several elderly people, who were at risk, who were there and did not seem concerned.
Another client, Joakim, agrees:
– Only when we entered the department store was there a decent queue. When we entered, it was completely broken. There were no tapes on the floor, there were only a few signals to keep the distance, and then they screamed into the speakers to wash their hands. Four out of five toilets were also closed, which only created more queues for the fifth. It was strange, says Joakim, who had traveled from Norrköping in the hope that there would be few visitors to the department stores.
He adds:
– When we went to the box, we queued for just over two hours. People only stood on one. With three meters to go, they had taped it to the floor, but by then people had already been standing packing herring.
CEO response: halve the ceiling
But for Boris Lennerhov, the image is quite different.
Crowded?
Not at all, think.
Gekås normally receives 7,500 visitors at the same time in department stores. Now, on his own initiative, he has reduced the ceiling to 3,700, he says. Friday was the first time since the crown pandemic hit the ceiling, and there was also a queue at department stores.
– There are significantly fewer people per square meter with us than in a supermarket on Fridays or Saturdays, because we always have large areas. I think clients are very good at keeping distance and respecting queues etc. But if you change it: if you don’t usually stay in Gekås, you think that compared to other stores, there are always a lot of people. I had that last Saturday too. Then we lost 55 percent against the same Saturday last year. Still, people reported that “it was very people.” What should I say I know we do everything we can.
When asked what steps Gekås has taken to minimize the risk of infection, in addition to attracting fewer customers at the same time, Boris Lennerhov responds that they have installed Plexiglas at cash registers, increased the distance between tables in the restaurant, and have available hands.
“People must assume their own responsibility”
In addition, on the speakers, customers are reminded every ten minutes to keep their distance.
– It would be a bit strange if you thought now that you would be yourself when you came. It is our own decision to halve the number of people admitted and we only have all the other boxes open to create spaces and air. This means that we can only sell in half and therefore it becomes a bit self-regulating. But people have to take their own responsibility, says Boris Lennerhov, and continues:
– I can see people come and put their arms over my shoulder and want to take a selfie. Obviously I wonder how it is in the boiler then. So I get very angry, because he is irresponsible for me and for me. That is pretty cruel.
Who is the moral responsibility that nobody gets sick? Yours or your clients’?
– I have a moral responsibility to take all the security measures that we can. When there are 3,700 clients, I and the security manager take a walk to see what it looks like. It is empty? No, it was not. Then we said that we maintain this limit. So it is the responsibility of each individual to make the decision to be with us.
No staff has been infected
Like Sandra Jaconelli, Boris Lennerhov points out that there are customers who are at risk of contracting the coronavirus who visit the yellow department stores in the Dutch woods.
– Which I think is really strange. It is for your own good.
Do you have personnel infected with the corona virus?
– None of our 1,200 employees has been found infected with the corona virus. Now it’s been two months, so we can’t have faced that badly. If it turns out that four or five of my employees have symptoms and get sick when they work, we can close the department stores the same day. It is also my responsibility: not to take any risk.
How do you see the criticism leveled at you that there has been congestion inside the department store?
– I think like this: humans are very different and some people are constantly worried about everything. When you get into such a crisis, it is very clear who are good leaders. Who is calm and steady instead of jogging and making everyone else nervous? The same goes for clients: some come with mouth guards and gloves, but some are at risk and have no preventive action.
– The more nervous you listen more. And I wonder: if you are that type, why go to Gekås? So it is better to stay home, if you are worried.
TV: Tegnell: the pandemic can last two more years
Older people should be protected for a long time.
