“Athens is a model city, I would like foreigners to copy from us”
Calculations, additions, subtractions. This is the daily life of a shopkeeper from the time he turns on the lights until he lowers the blinds to return home. Expenses run in a reality that cannot be characterized easily. Numbers may not always tell the truth but we should give them the importance they deserve.
“The commercial world is experiencing a special situation. On the one hand, we see that normality is gradually returning to our lives, and thus to the market. On the other hand, continuous shocks after the health crisis limit disposable income”he says Stavros Kafounis. We met its president Trade Association of Athens and vice-president of the National Confederation of Hellenic Commerce and also vice-president of EBEA, in his studio Newsbeast, in the center of the capital. We asked him if the tourists who landed in “Eleftherios Venizelos” and then stay in Athens, “let go” of what was expected before leaving for a Greek island. “Unfortunately, with the first – rough – data we have in our hands, June does not seem to capitalize accordingly on sales in stores”Mr. Kafounis explains to us.
The president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce spoke to us about Athens, which should be a 12-month destination, but also about the two-speed shops that exist in the market. “Those who can digitize, modernize and follow the modern trend. Small shops had, have and will have a future”. When the discussion turned to commerce, cleanliness and crime, Mr. Kafounis was clear: “We didn’t solve any of the three. We have improved the side of the trade. We are working with the Municipality on cleanliness, there are improvements but we are far from our goal. The issue of security is perhaps the biggest pain point of all. That’s what we need to focus our attention on.”.
The capital has a lot to show and the president of ESA would like other big cities abroad to copy practices from us. “Athens is a complete package, it has many things to show. Even for us. So many millions of tourists wouldn’t come just for the Acropolis, the Plaka and the traditional dishes”.
Listen to the interesting discussion with Stavros Kafounis on the Newsbeast podcast
Timetable
0:47 The mixture that is considered extremely dangerous for the smooth functioning of the market in Athens.
1:59 The problem of rents in commercial housing
2:56 Many tourists come to Athens. Are bullish indices capitalized on by stores?
3:36 Athens should become a 12-month destination.
4:29 Two-speed shops and how the difference between them can be reduced.
6:45 The historic center is a solid value to invest in. Are there any areas of Athens that will rise in the near future and may star in order to become poles of attraction for new products?
7:44 Trafficking, cleanliness, crime. What has been done well, what could be done better?
8:45 Discounts: The hope and outlook for the entire commercial world.
10:14 What could we copy from the big cities abroad and adapt to the Athenian reality?
Newsbeast Podcast
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Lefteris Potamianos: “The region of Attica that can star in real estate and the emerging islands of the market”
Olympia Anastasopoulou: “The growing market of travelers that the Ministry of Tourism wants to bring to Greece”