End of the traditional Base at Solingen after 15 Years
APRIL 2009
The intensive efforts by SILAG Handel AG with the City of Solingen to keep the traditional base of “Wuppertaler Str. 342” came to nothing.
”It pains me to have to give up what has been for us a historic base after more than 15 years”, said Board Spokesman S. Lapawa of the sad result of the protracted negotiations. ”SILAG Handel AG has felt itself firmly bound to Solingen since 1985. The “Wuppertaler Str. 342” complex, used at one time as a production site, later as headquarters and since 1994 successfully as a warehousing and sales space, grew along with us and Solingen“, said Lapawa.
Retail Associations and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce fought against the site with charges and complaints – even up to the highest administrative court.
”We would have been allowed to sell just household goods but not items relevant to the inner city, e.g. lawn mowers.”
“It is astonishing”, said the President of the Board of SILAG Handel AG, “the other companies and concerns in Solingen are allowed to run even grander and more extensive installations on the outskirts or even in industrial estates, although it is not about in-house productions – as the state says – but is composed of 98% trade goods. Despite limited conditions, DIY stores have been selling ranges of products that they really aren’t allowed to sell. The Administration is demonstrating that we are not being measured with the same yardstick. That is not fair!”
In spite of positive business development and expansion planning, SILAG Warehouse Sales at “Wuppertaler Str. 342” will reluctantly cease operations by the end of May and will be successfully continued beginning 25.06.2009 in 40764 Langenfeld. We will try to integrate the five warehouse workers and six retail sales personnel into the new Warehouse Sales building in Langenfeld in a socially responsible manner.