There are divergent opinions among dealers about the pre-Christmas Sunday opening of the trade.
Last week, the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Harald Mahrer, called for longer opening times and a Sunday opening for shops in view of the opening of retail. Among other things, this should prevent mass rushes in the Christmas business.
In the retail sector, opinions differ on this. While the furniture retail chain XXXLutz recently spoke out against opening a Sunday before Christmas, the rival chain kika / Leiner owned by Tyrolean real estate investor Rene Benko is in favor. The buyers would be better distributed, believes CEO Reinhold Gütebier.
Compared to the “Kurier” (Sunday edition) Gütebier said that he would like to open up “no ifs or buts” and thus supports the WKÖ boss' proposal. Overall, however, there is broad resistance to this.
A spokesman for the furniture retail chain XXXLutz recently told ORF that opening the store on Sundays would only bring about a shift in sales. Gütebier doesn't see it that way. In his opinion, a Sunday opening would certainly pay off economically.
