In response to a schuhkurier inquiry, Görtz owner Bolko Kissling confirmed the termination of trade credit insurance by Euro Delkredere and referred to internal processes.
Affected manufacturers do not want to comment by name. However, some describe the situation as it appears from their perspective.
“It is clear that there needs to be reasonable insurance. Without them we wouldn’t be able to deliver,” emphasizes a supplier who has been working with Görtz for many years. Up until now, payments for delivered goods have always been received on time. However, reports from other manufacturers about unpaid deliveries or reports that suppliers had goods picked up from all Görtz branches are irritating. “Everything is very opaque at the moment, the information is confusing,” said the shoe supplier. “But there are still good locations in the Görtz portfolio. We have to consider very carefully how we will proceed if there is no longer any trade credit insurance.” The advance payment procedure that some other suppliers use carries risks. “In any case, as a shoe manufacturer we have to make advance payments, purchase components and finance production. The advance payment will only be made later, before the goods are delivered. So we have to decide now whether we want to take the risk next season or not.”
Another company made it clear to schuhkurier: “If we are to continue working with Görtz after the end of the protection provided by Euro Delkredere, there must be another type of protection.” Here the chain store is obliged to make sensible suggestions. In the coming weeks we will decide how to proceed. If no viable solution can be found, the collaboration will end at the end of this year. The representative of another shoe manufacturer describes that Görtz had promised an alternative solution in a letter, but had not yet become specific.
According to schuhkurier information, deliveries of goods from up to five shoe suppliers to Görtz have so far been insured via Euro Delkredere. The service company takes over central settlement while at the same time completely insuring the risk of insolvency for its customers. In response to a schuhkurier request, Euro Delkredere stated that it did not want to comment on the Görtz case due to confidentiality reasons, among other things.
One of the suppliers surveyed sees the latest reports about Görtz as problematic in a different context: He was not surprised that Euro Delkredere ultimately ended its cooperation with the shoe chain. “But the situation is bad for the perception of the entire industry.”
The Hamburg shoe chain is under pressure. The company recently faced allegations of failing to fulfill contractual obligations after taking over several branches in Austria. According to schuhkurier information, the center landlord ECE has also terminated 20 Görtz locations. Suppliers have already ended their collaboration because the goods delivered were not paid for. The Görtz online shop has no longer been accessible since July.
Meanwhile, the company is focusing on new concepts such as “Lifestyle” with a range of shoes and fashion and “Lounge” with a pre-selection of goods, the option to order and a local supply character. A new location with a “lifestyle” concept was opened in Bochum in September. According to Bolko Kissling, the first store opening of the announced “lounge” concept is also planned in Hamburg-Eppendorf on October 12th.