Would you rather beautify the garden instead of a vacation trip? The Volksstimme asked in the Stendal district where the “vacation pay” went.
Stendal l The corona pandemic destroyed many vacation plans in 2020. That could mean that citizens in the Stendal district have more money in their wallets. Inquiries to banks and hardware stores show that more savings were made in 2020 and that customers made cashless payments more often. In addition, the gardens and living spaces were brought up to date.
Corona year: savings and loans
A survey conducted by Kreissparkasse Stendal, Commerzbank and Sparda-Bank confirms that customers have saved more in recent months. The amount of money on savings, daily and current accounts of Commerzbank customers in Stendal has increased significantly. The money supply had increased by 19 percent compared to the same period last year by the end of October 2020, says Michael Pohl, Head of the Commerzbank market division. Only Deutsche Bank could not confirm any increase in customer savings.
When it comes to saving, the answers of some passers-by in downtown Stendal differ. Because money is a sensitive issue, the respondents want to remain anonymous. Two say they have not saved since the beginning of the crisis. Another pedestrian says that she automatically has more money in her wallet because she can no longer go out to eat or engage in community activities.
Although more money was saved, customers did not automatically withdraw more money. The answers show that only Sparda-Bank recorded an increased withdrawal.
Corona year: cash or card payment
Instead, have customers borrowed more to fulfill their needs? Only Commerzbank in Stendal confirms a very positive development in the lending business. Michael Pohl answers that 30 percent more money has been raised, especially in the area of home financing. He attributes this increase not only to the Corona crisis, but also to the sharp rise in property and property prices.
Because less money was withdrawn, the four banks confirm that more cashless payments are being made. According to a survey by Commerzbank, 34 percent of those surveyed in Saxony-Anhalt said they used girocard or credit card more often than before the pandemic, says Michael Pohl. “Many customers who were previously skeptical are now also recognizing the advantages of online and mobile banking,” explains Pohl. The spokesman for the Deutsche Bank for Saxony-Anhalt also sees the hygiene aspect as a reason to pay cashless. “The corona pandemic in particular shows that mobile / contactless payment will become the new normal.”
Corona year: garden items are in demand
The majority of the Stendal residents surveyed, however, confirm that they still paid a lot in cash in 2020. They only pay larger amounts, such as refueling or new shoes, with the card. “Otherwise I’ll lose track,” explains a passerby.
Although the citizens in the district have kept their money together more, they did not leave their savings in their accounts forever. Many used the money to beautify their garden and house. A passer-by agrees: “We have redesigned our summer house.” Her husband built extra shelves for this, and an outdoor kitchen will soon be inaugurated.
Baumarkt draws conclusions
The fact that more has been beautified in the garden and house confirms the statement of the store management of the Hellwig hardware store in Stendal: In the spring, fences, lawn edging stones, paving stones and garden furniture sold well. The management justified this with the fact that the customers had preferred previously planned projects.
In the autumn, purchases of garden products returned to normal. Carpets, paints and wallpapers are currently in demand to beautify living spaces. Press spokeswoman Daria Ezazi from the Rewe Group, to which the toom hardware store belongs, also confirms the trend towards whipping up one’s own four walls.
Holger Wetzel, press spokesman for the Porta group of companies, does not currently provide any specific information on whether certain products have been particularly in demand since the crisis. The company would like to wait for the end of the year before it deals with evaluations and analyzes, Wetzel announced. The furniture store Roller did not respond to the people’s voice request.
Corona year: home office equipped
But not only the four walls were brought into shape, but also the technical equipment to be able to work in the home office. “Right at the beginning of the pandemic, our sales figures in the PC and laptops sector rose sharply,” says Holger Balkau, Deputy Branch Manager of Medimax in Stendal. In the case of printers, there would even have been delivery problems in the meantime. But if devices were available in the store, they would have sold again quickly, reports Balkau.
After many citizens had technically modernized and expanded their office, “the demand in the household electronics segment was high.” The citizens of Stendal and the surrounding area increasingly bought refrigerators, dryers and washing machines. Fully automatic coffee machines and cordless vacuum cleaners are popular among small appliances. Last but not least, televisions are one of the most popular products of this time. “We also observe that people are paying more and more attention to quality when purchasing new household appliances,” continues Holger Balkau.
Corona year: fewer cars bought
Despite the modernization of household appliances, the buying mood did not hit cars. People in the district didn’t buy more cars than they did before the Covid-19 pandemic. “The level has remained roughly the same and no unusual developments or upward or downward tendencies can be identified,” says Tanja Scherf, press spokeswoman for the Heinrich Rosier car dealership. This is also confirmed on request from other car dealerships in Stendal.
In the jewelry segment, the citizens did not spend more money either. A jewelry store in Stendal has this impression. There is no great rush for gold, says master goldsmith Detlef Roever. “Jewelry is always bought because it is a classic gift.” He does not have any higher sales than before the Corona crisis.
How long this crisis will last is uncertain. According to the Volksstimme survey, the fact is: In the 2020 pandemic, the citizens of the Stendal district have found a way for themselves to spend their “vacation pay” sensibly.
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