Andra’s Business German A–Z: “Öffnungszeiten”. Just so you are prepared, and don’t end up feeling hungry.

Shop opening hours can greatly vary, although, so far, shops across Germany are not allowed to open on Sunday or on (regional) bank holidays. In the more conservative southern state of Bavaria, shops are allowed to be open between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., while in Saxony, people can (theoretically) grocery shop until 10 p.m.; that shopkeepers can keep their stores open around the clock in many other German states feels alien to me! If I want to buy toiletries or something to eat after 8 p.m., I need to head for the Munich central terminal or the nearest gas station. On the other hand, in some rural and neglected areas, especially in the east, people do not have any shops to go to any more, let alone train stations, post offices, or hospitals!

[And, as already mentioned in one of my last posts, when trying to meet someone at their offices,] remember that Saturday is not a working day in Germany; many companies also close early on Fridays. While I, as a freelancer, sometimes meet foreign visitors on a Saturday, only on very rare occasions do I accept any meetings for Sundays. Sunday is sacred to (most) Germans, irrespective of whether or not they go to church. 

When talking to decision makers in the manufacturing industries or in trade, it may happen that you are offered a meeting as early as 8 a.m.; especially in the manufacturing industry, many are reluctant to miss their (around 10 o’clock) breakfast break. With other industries, you can assume that office hours are generally from nine to five, and that people want to go for lunch sometime between 12 and 1 o’clock.

“Guten Appetit!” (Enjoy your meal)

Above are snippets from my new book (chapters “Regional Peculiarities” and “How to Arrange for (Sales) Meetings”. You want to learn more about Germany? Then try to grab a copy of Doing Business in Germany : A Concise Guide to Understanding Germans and Their Business Practices. Either ask your bookseller to order a copy for you (might take a few days, though), or look out for it on amazon.

About the author 

Andra Riemhofer is a German native and holds an applied science university diploma in Business Administration, along with an MA in Intercultural Communications and Cooperation. She has more than 20 years of work experience, and her books and other publications on German culture and India have been very well received. Working as a consultant, she helps international companies enter the German market and avoid the common pitfalls that typically arise from intercultural misunderstandings. Along with her hands-on intercultural support, she offers research, appointment-setting, handholding, and other sales-related services. Most of her clients are from the UAE, India, and Nordic countries. For further information on her portfolio and business philosophy, please log on to www.andra-ibf.com