Shopping around the clock, even on Sundays, without the need for staff at the checkout: smart stores - automated mini-markets without staff - could be a solution. According to the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) in Heilbronn, there are currently 13 smart stores in Saxony and 723 nationwide. "There is currently a new store opening almost every day," said Prof. Stephan Rüschen from the (DHBW).
According to a YouGov survey commissioned by the German Press Agency, more than a third of respondents (35 percent) believe that (more) Sundays open for business would help the retail sector economically. However, the day of rest is sacred to many, at least in a figurative sense.
Smart stores resolve the contradiction, emphasized Rüschen. On the one hand, the Sunday rest enshrined in the German constitution could be preserved. On the other hand, people would also have the opportunity to shop on Sundays - which would enhance the local supply, especially in rural areas.
