Thursday 17th December 2020
"We ask for apology"
Douglas is bowing to lockdown
With a generous interpretation of the lockdown regulation, the perfumery chain Douglas evaluates some of its branches as drugstores and leaves them open for the time being. After harsh criticism, the company now closes its doors completely and apologizes.
Douglas is rowing back: The perfumery chain is taking back the opening of some branches, which was retained despite the lockdown. For many people, the decision to keep some branches open with drugstore ranges was not understandable, the company said.
"As of today, all our German branches will therefore remain closed until further notice," said the head of the largest German perfumery chain, Douglas, Tina Müller. According to a statement from the company, she asked "to apologize to those whom we have alienated or offended by our actions". "Our online shop will of course remain open," she emphasized.
On the first day of the nationwide lockdown, Douglas left almost a quarter of the branches open, referring to the federal and state resolution that allows the sale of drugstore items. The perfumery declared itself to be a drugstore overnight. A spokeswoman argued that the term was "not legally specified". Eventually, these branches would also sell personal care and hygiene products.
The Verdi union in Hesse then severely criticized Douglas. "Anyone who misinterprets the urgent lockdown and the permitted continuation of certain transactions in this way not only makes himself untrustworthy," said Bernhard Schiederig, head of the retail department at Verdi Hessen. The procedure is "in the strongest measure disreputable".
The federal and state governments had ordered the temporary closure of retail outlets in order to curb the spread of the corona pandemic. The food trade is not affected by this. Drug stores are also excluded.
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