Huge Rush at Sale in Kika/Leiner Store in Vienna

While previously one could walk into the Kika/Leiner branch in Vienna West on Hadikgasse undisturbed, these days customers are finding a completely different situation. During the APA's local inspection on Thursday afternoon, a long queue had already formed in front of the entrance, with a security officer closely monitoring who was coming in and out.

"I'm not surprised by the large rush, given all the media reports," said an older woman waiting in line, more jokingly than annoyed, to the person in front of her. Since Wednesday, it has been clear that Kika/Leiner is bankrupt - the big sale, with 30 or 50 percent off in-stock items, has been running since Thursday.

Clearance Sale Following Kika/Leiner Bankruptcy Attracts Bargain Hunters

Once you've made it into the furniture store, you're immediately in the thick of things, in the decor and household department. There was still plenty of various Christmas decorations left, but the shelves with the high-quality bed linens were mostly empty. People prefer to grab more rather than less: "If you leave it, it's gone," a woman, who identified herself as a bargain hunter in a conversation with the APA, firmly stated.

However, what may not be as clear to many is how exactly the clearance sale works. The products sometimes have original prices, sometimes reduced prices, and sometimes no price at all. "What exactly do I deduct the thirty percent from?" a man asked an employee. "Every item that is not already reduced is part of the clearance sale," she tried to explain. "But there's no price on this," said the man, whose patience seemed to be wearing thin. "Take what you need, deduct thirty percent. Always the same question, I can't talk anymore," the employee replied, who was needed elsewhere. Only a few employees could be found in the store.

Things were less chaotic on the other floors, the interest in the furniture itself did not seem to be as high anymore. Only the restaurant at the very top was fully occupied. "I wanted to eat here one more time," said a lady who used to come by here regularly.

"Zipper System" in the Queues

The largest crowd was found - unsurprisingly - in front of the two open cash registers. Three long queues had formed, and just before the finish line, the "zipper system" applied. "It's like driving a car, sometimes you have to line up here, sometimes there," joked a woman. Some of the waiting people started to chat, the peculiar situation clearly awakened a sense of community. A former employee also apparently took advantage of the sale, the cashier was very pleased to see her. "You can't imagine what you've saved yourself here," she also told her.

In the parking lot, a gentleman was already wondering what will happen to the Kika/Leiner branch in the future. "It's a typical furniture store, what can you make out of it," he said to APA. "It will become a Lutz, or maybe a Hofer," a passing woman suggested. "Regardless, I am definitely affected that Austrian companies are gradually going bankrupt," the man concluded, "and I admire the employees who are still here."

Last Branches Closing, 1,350 Employees Then Without a Job

After the goods sale at Kika/Leiner, the insolvency administrator may close the remaining 17 locations in January or February. 1,350 employees of the furniture chain will then lose their jobs. The Kika/Leiner restructuring plan meeting scheduled for February 21, 2025, was cancelled due to the conversion into bankruptcy proceedings. Instead, the general examination meeting originally scheduled for January 17, 2025, was moved to this date.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.