Shock for casting: Depot branch closes - 45 branches are already tight!

Shock for casting: Depot branch closes - 45 branches are already tight!

The closure of the depot branch in the Gießen Seltersweg is another sign of the continuing difficulties of the decorative retail chain. As the Giessener Gener will be closed at the latest at the latest at the latest, if the sale runs quickly. This closure is part of a more comprehensive strategy of Depot, which is in the context of bankruptcy last year.

in 2024 Depot started the drastic reduction in his branches. 45 branches have already been closed this year, while another 54 closings for April and May 2025 have been announced. Overall, Depot plans to give up around a third of his shops. The posters in the shop windows of the affected branches confirm these upcoming changes.

background of the closures

The operating costs and the increased competition from online trading are mentioned as the main reasons for the massive closures. In Hesse, where the closure of the Gießen branch takes place, branches in Frankfurt, Kassel and Fulda have already been closed. The empty shelves in the Gießen branch illustrate the situation that faces the retail industry.

The company is in the middle of a fresh start, with the focus on creative offers and strengthening online trading. These efforts are necessary to meet the increased expectations of customers after faster availability and a more comprehensive product range.

insolvencies in retail

The problems of depot are not isolated. As dhbw trade , retail has experienced a wave of bankruptcies in recent years. In 2023, 153 fashion companies in Germany reported bankruptcy. The trend continued in 2024.

known brands like Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof and The Body Shop had to take similar steps. The main causes of this bankruptcy wave are the sharp increased costs for rents, energy and personnel as well as changing consumer behavior of customers who are increasingly shopping online.

These developments and the closures of Depot show how challenging the current market situation for retailers is. Customer behavior and economic framework conditions force many companies to rethink and adapt their strategies.