Retailers across Germany said a government move to let only smaller stores reopen next week made little sense as bigger stores were just as able to maintain distance and hygiene rules.
The German government and regional state governors agreed on Wednesday that stores of up to 800sq m will be allowed to open next week, along with car and bicycle dealers and bookstores, though they must practice strict social distancing and hygiene rules.
The German retailers association (HDE) called on the government to reconsider, saying there was no reason for only a partial opening of stores as both large and small shops could respect the rules, adding the move was confusing for customers. “We need rules that are fair for all retailers and transparent for companies and customers,” HDE Chief Executive Stefan Genth said in a statement.
The Association of the German Furniture Industry (VDM) said the size of stores should not be the main factor in determining whether they can reopen but whether they can meet the rules on social distancing and hygiene.
VDM Managing Director Jan Kurth suggested an alternative would be to restrict one customer to every 100sq m of store space.
“Since smaller shops and individual branches are now being privileged for no apparent reason, the previously strong support among the population and the economy for the agreed corona measures threatens to wane,” Kurth said.
Retailers can skirt the new regulations by only trading in up to 800sq m of a bigger store, Lower Saxony premier Stephan Weil told journalists.
