Tag: new normal

Categories
Fashion

Black Friday Shopping 2021

To do the same thing over and over again while expecting a different outcome is insanity. Einstein

For the second Christmas in Berlin the city has been placed on Covid restrictions. Did it work last year? It’s according who you ask. Back to where we started from in 2021. The difference from 2020: 2G and 3G, show proof of vaccination and identification to enter shops.

  • Alexander Plaza Xmas Market
    Xmas Market
  • Galeria Kaufhaus
    Galeria Kaufhaus
  • 3G at the Train Station
    3G at the train station

On the busies day shopping days of the year the consequences of these new policies. The possible death of brick and mortar retail in Berlin. The make or break Christmas Buying Season can mean up to 50% of annual retail profits.

In the German capital, malls and retailers have struggled during the crisis, resulting with many chains closing branches and reducing hours.

This past Black Friday Saturday I visited local shopping areas and stores. The cold weather and rain would put off even the most devoted bargain hunter, add to the inconvenience waiting in line outside in gray 5 degree celsius weather.

Wet and Cold Wait

I drop in to the Alexander Platz anchor store Galeria Kaufhaus. Thankfully, I went to the old TopShop entrance to avoid the crowd. The line only took 2 minutes. After walking around for 30 minutes, I would not call the 5 floor location “wall to wall busy”.

  • A messenger and entertainment at the KaDeWe
    A messenger at the KaDeWe
  • Inside the KaDeWe
    Inside the KaDeWe
  • Outside the KaDeWe
    KaDeWe

Next, The boutique shopping district Hackersham Market. All the stores had the 2G sign in the windows, but not so many shoppers in the stores.

Jumping on the Sbahn, next stop KuDamn, the main shopping street in the West with all its posh stores.

The luxury department store KaDeWe had a long line, but this time, unlike last year, there was a bit of assurance the line would move fast mixed with entertainment the 2G line would move fast.

After entering, my first thought, where was the crowd? I expected a lot more for the Berlin’s shopping mecca. Making my way up stairs, the food floor was jammed, clearly visitors were more interested in a bite to eat than the 50% off fashion promotions.

As for or Mitte’s Galeries Lafeyette and Potsdamer Platz Mall of Berlin in the late afternoon, the throngs of buyers went missing.

Buying a Bottle
Buying a Bottle

Physical Christmas shopping will suffer these days, no doubt. I went shopping on the day the Omicron variant became a global headline.

This writer ended up buying a bottle Champagne.

Categories
Fashion Feature

The Pain & The Pleasure

KADEWE

AGAIN! Another reopening, in time for the summer. We have been through this before. A part of me thinks these lockdowns are a trail run for a societal behaviormodification program. But, a least the city opened again. Life is sort of normal. Whatever that means in 2021. 

I decided to meet a good friend at the KaDeWe department store for lunch. How middle class! I got to the front entrance. If only it could have been so simple. NOPE! I woke up early to get a Covid test valid for 24 hours.

Nice Service
Bags

A new app has taken the stores by storm, or holding it prisoner, LUCA. All shoppers have to scan the Google bar code before entering establishments. I did not get the memo. A tall handsome blonde security person told me I could not enter without the new tracking tool.

After a twenty minute ordeal of trying to download this tracking app, the door person told us we can show the negative notice and register inside. Really Pamela Anderson! Telling us this information AFTER all the trouble. OK!

Line one for the entrance registration took 3 minutes.

Up to the food floor. All the culinary sections were roped off, one way in or out. Getting to an area was the same as a mouse in a maze searching for the cheese in the center. We decided on the Kartoffelacker, known for potato plates. But first, we had to show our Covid Status, AGAIN! Then filled out another form. Thankfully, the restaurant service was exceptionally attentive. 

Champagne
Cakes
Another form
Another Form

After 90 minutes of food, wine and chatting we decided to do some shopping in the 7 floor cathedral of consumption. Down we went to the menswear area. Sadly, nothing was on sale. On the ground floor, heaven and fun. “Dream as if you’ll live forever”, James Dean said. Talking to the sales people at Fendi and Tiffany sales people. My shopping partner loves the Blue Box jeweler. 

Suddenly, I remembered an event that required a gift. Back upstairs for coffee. Guess what! AGAIN! Another form and we had to show the staff our status. 

Chanel Shopping
Chanel and Coffee

Thankfully, there is a stationary department on the 5thfloor with cards and pens. My life was saved. 

Would I go back to the KaDeWe during these times? 

Categories
Feature

Failure into Failure

The systemic failure of many European leaders is not glaring. Last year this time Chancellor Merkel with a her scientist background basked in the glow of keeping Germany safe during the initial stages of the Covid-19 outbreak. Whereas Donald Trump chose to deny, then bluster his way through the crisis. The German leaders calm path through looked to be the wining strategy. What a difference a year makes. 

Suddenly, the technocratic Merkel feels lost, out of touch with the desperate reality. The EU’s largest country is struggling to get a grip on the pandemic. Policies have gone off the rails, from the vaccine rollout, fail tracking apps, to never ending lock downs, Berlin’s plan is murky. As confidence in Germany’s weakening leader takes grip, the question now becomes what is next? Clearly, someone in charge needs to devise a new approach to the always shifting course of the pandemic.

Titanic

Remember the scene from James Cameron’s Titanic? The mighty passenger cruiser hit an iceberg, passenger and crew are in panic while the captain wonders about in a state of shock. Germany is not at this point, but the country cannot take being unsinkable for granted. With politicians giving endless deer in the headlight press conferences, the population is losing faith. Exasperated by the fact that after 12 months of lockdowns, nothing has changed, voters are turning on the CDU. The latest poll places the big tent conservative party only 2 points ahead of the Green party, at 25%.

I have to hand it to the 66 year old head of state, a master tactician to the end. A policy u-turn, an apology, TV appearance, what does she offer? Noting new, but repackaging the same old failed plans with new words. Even her most ardent supporters would have to start asking, “Is Angela Merkel up for the job?” After 16 years in office, a new way of thinking is needed, fast.

Meanwhile, German national elections happen in 6 months. It’s going to be a long summer.

Categories
Feature

Black Mirror is REAL!

Walking down the Berlin’s most commercial Boulevard on Saturday during the midday. After three months in lockdowns, this is the surreal result. In the old times the side walks would be bustling with shoppers, people hanging out, restaurants teeming. This year, no! As the New Normal grips the world, this once prominent location feels abandoned. Lost in a bygone time, stores are closed, shop locales permanently shuddered. I hope this is not a glimpse of physical retail’s future. Dystopian, a scene from the television show Black Mirror. 

Imagine,,, walking on a cold, lonely street with no people, no place to sit. All because you have a shopping appointment at an exact time. Pretty Bleak.

  • Wittenberg Platz Metro Station
  • Wittenberg Platz
  • Dead Bikini Shopping Area
  • Saturday at 12

  • Ku'damm Berlin
  • Closed Scotch and Soda
  • Closed Primark
    Primark Closed
  • Across from the Apple Store

A third lock down is on the horizon.

Categories
Fashion

Click and Meet Berlin

Today I got a message from the KaDeWe regarding my Click and Meet experience. How do I out it? Horrible. If I ever wanted to feel what it was like to live in the U.S.S.R circa 1972. I had a taste of it on Saturday at 1:00, standing outside in the cold wet weather waiting in a long line to go shopping in Berlin’s luxury department store. 

After three months of closure, German retailers reopened on the March 8th. Finally, a place to go other than a discount supermarket. But, there is a catch. Spontaneous shopping is no more. A relic not fitting in today’s world. As we can read, Merkel and crew are grasping by finger nails to the Covid situation, but had to bow to economic pressure.

Click and Collect means making an online shopping appointment online for one hour. I made three wanting to see what was on sale. As my friend said, “ they will have to pay us to take their unsold merchandise”. Stores have 3 seasons of unsold merchandise. Snazzing myself up a bit for a shopping day. Be careful what you wish for. I had to wear a Ffp2 mask for the 35 minute metro journey to City West. 

Appointments

I arrived at my first appointment, the flagship Peek and Cloppenberg store. Normally, the six door grand entrance buzzes with customers rushing in and out. This time you have to check in through one door with security staff all asking if you have an appointment. I did, but the awkward sensation of being asking to shop, strange. Not a lot of people shopping in the store at 11:00. The end result, I bought nothing.

An eerily silent KuDamm at 12:30 on a Saturday.

Having a bit of time, I went next door to KaDeWe for my next appointment one hour early. Not a long line, perhaps I could get in early. Not happening! Security enforced the appointment times, 1:00 meant 1:00, no early entrances.

  • Standing in a long line
  • Inside the KaDeWe
  • Wet and Cold in front of the KaDeWe

Wondering around a dead Kudamm, no cafes, no random shopping cause I made no appointments. Rain, cold, wet with no where to go for for seventy-two minute wait.

Finally, 13:00. Walking up to the KaDeWe, a long, long, line. I asked two guys, “All of you have an Appointment?” “Yes!” I walked to the back of the line after asking security how long of a wait. The five minute reply was met with scepticism.

I met a woman waiting to enter. Asking her opinion of the situation, the response, “CASTROPHE!”

Finally, people moved towards the door. Heading up the escalators, mens area first floor. Busy, busy, shoes on sale at half price. Tempting. In the end, I left the menswear floor empty handed.

Wondering up the famed food area, really crowded. My standard buys are the cakes and bread from Lenotre. Then, a wonder around to the Champagne area. Nothing on sale in the sparkling wines section.

On To The Next One

After thirty five minutes, enough. The feeling was lost. A cordoned off luxury store, a timetable to shop, not for me, exit, left door.

  • My Appointment Number
  • Not in the mood
  • Front Entrance

My last Click and Meet appoint, the most French spot in Berlin, Galeries Lafayette. Arriving early, I managed to get in however I had to take a number. The sales were ok, but the far from crowded store had a sort of Twilight Zone feel. I kept asking myself, “Why Do I need to buy this?”

The food section, my favourite, I bought baguettes, cheese and a brioche, leaving the store through the side door.

An honest opinion of the Click and Meet plan, another knife in brick and mortar retail. The government wants us to shop online.

Categories
Feature

7 Days 7 Restaurants

I think the one occasion many of us during the lockdowns is the ability to go out for dinner. Let’s keep hope alive. When this is all over start the celebrations. Everyone should plan today for the day of the liftings. Make a list of seven restaurants, then go a different one every night.

Categories
Feature

Empty on Christmas

Normally, the last weekend before Christmas stores bustle. During this season retailers earn as much as 50% of their yearly income. Not this year, all is closed because of the latest lock down. I visited a neighborhood mall. Three more stores have permanently closed. Brick and mortar retail will have fewer and fewer locales after this season.

Categories
Travel

Not So Outrageous Now,,

I received a press release of the product ViraShield by tech start up Pictar. If I had gotten this mail 18 months ago I would have laughed. Or thought to myself, “an EasyJet Safety Bag”. For those moments during budget traveling when you need to have a tight happy zone. Outrageous!

2020 has made me rethink about life, especially travel. Sooner or later I have to get on a train or plane again. My worry is real. Newspaper stories about travellers infected during travel then isolated on arrival became common.

At $89.00 the ViraShield could be money well spent. A way to prevent an expensive unintended 10 to 14 day quarantine.

It’s light, reusable and adjustable. Producers claim it is resistant to droplets. Because of the 360° design, the users body is protected at all times.

Is this future of travel? Would I travel with the ViraShield? This year proved not ruling out anything.

  • Covered on an airplane
  • Portable for easy travel

The writer has not taken a train, bus or plane in months.

Categories
Feature

Black Friday in 2020

I ventured out on Saturday to check on the stores on Black Friday. In Alexander Platz the normal Christmas hustle and bustle was there but not overwhelming. Covid 19 worries kept many people away from the stores.

Categories
Feature

Partial,, Lockdown PT2

Berlin, like the rest Europe, entered another lockdown today. Will this work? The air of growing uncertainty cannot be ignored.  Supposedly for only 30 days, then the curve will be under control.   Bars, restaurants and gyms have closed.  Citizens are understandably a bit  frustrated by the backward step handling of the Corona Virus.  Once Merkel garnered international praise for her calm handling of the pandemic.  Today Covid-19  has marched past Chancellor. Her once precision decision making skills seems reactionary. 

At least Germany is not France.  The 450 mile/724 kilometres traffic jam of Parisians fleeing the capital made global headlines.   Is this a new form of Gallic public defiance?  The French have become weary of Macron’s decrees. Or to put it simply, “The masses no longer have faith in the leader”.   Uneasy is the head that wears the crown. 

Patience has run out in Spain and Italy. Riots continue to shake their respective cities.  The governments of the two Latin countries are behaving as parents in a store with uncontrollable children.  But the children no longer believe the parents have their best interest at heart.  Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez veers from one pronouncement to another.  He is losing control. 

The UK will enter a new lockdown on Thursday.  Prime Minister Johnson is one step away from open political revolt. There will be no praise for the British head’s fumbling.   The very “Britisness” of the system worked against him. 

And it is only November.