READ MORE: Grupo Herval will close one of its stores in the South Zone of Porto Alegre
Last week, the Herval announced that it will shut down the operation of 17 TaQi units until the end of this month. With this, the network will have 73 physical points in Rio Grande do Sul. It was 90.
The group claimed impacts from high interest rates, falling income and debt and “pessimism” of families, in addition to default, to take the measure, which seeks to preserve the rest of the operation, it said in the statement. Layoffs are likely to occur, said the company with an industrial and trade arm, including Iplace, with Apple products.
The point on Avenida Wenceslau Escobar, in the Tristeza neighborhood, was the first on the list to close its doors, in April. In place of the home appliances and construction materials banner that operated in Tristeza, an outlet will operate, which is already stamped on the red panel on the property’s facade. According to Herval, the store should open on June 2.
“It is an outlet for products by Herval Móveis e Colchões and ÉDEZ, with upholstery, wooden furniture, mattresses, box spring beds, wardrobes, dressers and bedside tables”, explained the group, in a note to the column.
Five people will work at the point, instead of almost 15 in the previous operation. The group says vacancies are being filled with employees from branches that have closed. Herval ruled out opening more outlets like this one.
Herval is not the only one admitting difficulties in maintaining operations
When the TaQi branch was closed, the chain claimed it was to optimize its presence in the region and maintain financial sustainability. The expectation is that the flow of customers will be directed to other branches, such as in the Hípica neighborhood, opened in 2022 on Avenida Edgar Pires de Castro, also in the South zone.