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The Federal Council’s shopping compromise: the range limitation for the major distributors, here the Migros Wynecenter in Buchs AG, …
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… applies two weeks longer. Dresses will only be available at Migros or Coop again from May 11th.
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Keystone
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A compromise that annoys the little one. Commercial director Bigler would have preferred to open the shops again next Monday, April 27: “The traders are fighting for jobs, maintaining their business.”
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The same applies to a visit to the furniture store.
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The little ones are extremely angry with the big ones – and with the Federal Council. Because he has no hearing for all the small electrical shops, stationery and fashion shops in the retail trade, who now have to keep the scroll bars down for two weeks longer – and are not allowed to sell goods. While the big ones will be able to make additional money with garden centers and hardware stores from next week.
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“All retail business should have opened next week,” complains director Hans-Ulrich Bigler (62) about the Federal Council. “Our opening concepts have been on the table since Easter.” Every day counts for the little ones. «Desperation, bewilderment and fear prevail in the retail trade. The traders are fighting for jobs, maintaining their operations. »
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Federal Council makes it easy
The Federal Council only reacted to the outcry from small retailers. Because the frustration was deep with them when the Federal Council announced last week that the previous range restrictions in the grocery stores should be lifted by April 27. Large distributors such as Migros and Coop could suddenly have sold clothes, toys, cosmetics or birthday cards again, while the specialist shops would have had to keep their doors closed.
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Nothing will come of it now, the Federal Council will respond with the simplest solution: The range will remain in place until all stores are allowed to reopen – according to the current schedule on May 11th. “We found that this led to a lot of uncertainty and raised many questions,” said SP Federal Councilor Alain Berset (48) justifying the withdrawal. If the large distributors are allowed to offer everything and the small ones are not allowed to do anything, this would also lead to distortions of competition, he says.
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Bigler sees it differently: “The restriction of the range is less harmful than the restriction of competition that the little ones have to wait another two weeks.” And then the politician Bigler breaks out: «In this crisis we have a problem with the lack of separation of powers. There is no government control by parliament! »
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People have to get out of short-time work
Not only the small ones are angry, medium-sized businesses are also disappointed. Severin Pflüger (42) is the managing director of the Association of Swiss Branch Companies. He represents companies like Dosenbach, Ikea, Qualipet or Orell Füssli. All specialist stores that now have to remain sealed for longer. “Two weeks is a hell of a long time. A lot of money is lost there, ”complains Pflüger.
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And not just for the stores, but also for the entire value chain that is behind it. So something with the producer or the forwarder. “It damages the whole economy.” And last but not least, there is a lack of income for all people who are committed to short-time work in these industries and who can still only draw 80 percent of their income Tiller.
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The big guys take it easy
Everyone is outraged – except the major distributors. Coop is pleased to be able to offer our customers the entire range again from May 11th. And Migros is «happy that we can open the specialist stores on Monday as planned». Both can live well with the extension of the range restriction by two weeks.
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In this regard, Dagmar Jenni (52), Managing Director of the Swiss Retail Federation, would have liked even more clarity: «We would have liked the Federal Council to have defined everyday goods more clearly. So that the discussions in the cantons finally stop, whether candles, cleaning sponges or batteries belong to it or not. »
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