Crisis as an Opportunity: Why We’re Opening New Stores During the Crisis
Contrary to what one might initially expect from a leather goods supplier, Gusti Leder's roots lie in e-commerce. That's where we grew and, essentially, where we still belong: Gusti Leder GmbH now generates approximately €12 million in annual revenue through online sales and provides 140 people with currently very secure jobs.
It was only three years ago that we decided to expand into brick-and-mortar stores. One of our goals in this endeavor is the gradual development and expansion of the Gusti Leder brand presence, increasing our brand awareness both online and offline, and ultimately making us less dependent on internet giants like Google, Amazon, and others.
Since then, we have opened 17 Gusti Leder stores across Germany, and we plan to open 15 more by the end of 2021 – despite the ongoing coronavirus crisis. This may sound paradoxical, ill-conceived, reckless and perhaps even a little crazy to many, but in the long run it is the right decision for the company, we are sure of that.