Brogle saves tradition: jeweler in Esslingen remains!

Brogle saves tradition: jeweler in Esslingen remains!

Esslingen's city center has experienced remarkable change in recent weeks, particularly with the rescue of one of the city's oldest jewelers. The traditional Brogle store, which filed for bankruptcy in May, could have celebrated its impressive 80th anniversary this year. Instead, there was talk of closing the business. But now there is a hopeful outlook: a family business from the region has invested in Brogle and is taking over the business under the new name “Brogle Selection Europe GmbH”. This was done by the Esslinger newspaper reported in detail.

Despite the difficult circumstances, many things remain the same as usual. The name, employees and contact persons remain the same. Managing director Florian Hermanns will continue to be at the helm of the company, while Sandra Brogle will be responsible for marketing and the own brand “Brogle selection”. The team of around 20 employees continued to work bravely during the insolvency proceedings. In addition, the store in Esslingen will continue to operate unchanged, and the online shop, which has been active since 2012 and sells jewelry mainly in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, is also to be further expanded.

Background to bankruptcy

The jeweler's bankruptcy should not be viewed in isolation. External factors such as the corona pandemic and the war in Ukraine are largely responsible for the decline in sales. Retail has also suffered greatly from the economic effects of the pandemic. Loud Statista The corona pandemic represents one of the greatest economic challenges since the Second World War. Restaurants, cultural and leisure facilities were particularly affected, while the city center often remained empty during the lockdowns.

Florian Hermanns describes the decline in customers and sales as gradual and emphasizes that many businesses ran into difficulties as a result of the first lockdown in spring 2020. Corona-related contact bans and home quarantine led to the closure of many economic sectors. Even though many companies were able to reopen from spring 2020 under strict hygiene and distance regulations, uncertainty in the industry remained high.

Looking into the future

The takeover of Brogle could be a ray of hope for the Esslingen economy. While some businesses are on the brink, this shows that with commitment and a good concept, traditions in the city center can be continued even in stormy times. It remains to be seen how the online shop will develop and what future prospects the new owner sees for the traditional store. The closure of the Cologne branch, which only opened in 2018, indicates that the new management wants to place a clear focus on strengthening the main business in Esslingen.

Strengthening local trade is particularly necessary in these challenging times - not only in Esslingen, but also in many other cities. Retail has an important role in our society and it is important to support this return to normality as much as possible. A good hand and a clear strategy could be crucial in ensuring that not only Brogle but also other local businesses find new ways to meet the challenges of the future.