between health crisis and permanent promotions, traders are pessimistic
Imminent kick-off for winter sales. This year, they will be held from Wednesday January 12 to Tuesday February 8. In Toulouse, if traders obviously hope to see their sales increase, they have no illusions about the results of this 2022 edition.
There is always a flow phenomenon during the sales, but nothing like a few years back. There is an incessant accumulation of promotions by the large groups and the sales are less striking than before, ”explains Philippe Jalby, president of the association of traders Bourse-Jacobins.
A situation to which is added the health context and its consequences, among which telecommuting, compulsory up to three days a week in companies where it is possible. “The employees stay at home, do not have lunch in town, and therefore do not shop during their meal break, for example”, deplores Philippe Jalby.
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Mobilization linked to the vaccination pass
Another subject of concern for Toulouse professionals: social mobilization linked to the vaccination pass, which experienced a revival last weekend.
A lot of traders are very tense about this. We suffered a year and a half of demonstrations by yellow vests, then those against the health pass. Some Toulouse residents have become accustomed to not coming to the city center on Saturday afternoon for fear of violence, ”continues the president of the Bourse-Jacobins association.
A regulation to review?
A rather pessimistic situation for Toulouse traders, who are calling for a change in regulations.
Already, we must review the dates. In June, we sell summer clothes when the heat is already installed, and in winter we sell our warm items when we could hope to sell them “, regrets Philippe Jalby.
But professionals especially hope for a stricter framework for commercial offers which, according to them, bypass sales, such as Black Friday, and mainly acquired by major brands:
When we see that they are making -70% and that they are not yet selling at a loss, imagine the margin they take the rest of the year! It is necessary to legislate on the quality of the products, the working conditions or the ecological standards of these products “.
Despite this context, Philippe Jalby hopes to be able to count on consumer awareness. “It is also a choice of society. Cities whose centers have died are cities where it is sad to live. Is it worth it to save 3 euros to let a city center die?” Response within weeks …
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