In Toulouse, more than disappointing summer sales
Yet eagerly awaited, these summer sales have disappointed Toulouse merchants. The customers were indeed not at the rendezvous.
“We have never seen such bad summer sales,” laments Philippe Léon, the president of the Federation of craftsmen, traders and professionals of Toulouse. As a reminder, they took place this year from Wednesday June 22 to Tuesday July 19.
In difficulty for several years now, in particular because of the demonstrations of the Yellow Vests and the Covid-19, the Toulouse traders hoped to get their heads out of the water a little thanks to these summer robberies. But their wish was not granted. “Compared to 2019, which was already not a brilliant year since there were still the yellow vests, we are at -20 or even -30% in turnover”, indicates Philippe Léon.
Sales undermined by the heat wave in Toulouse
If the sales have not had the success proposed, it is for several reasons. “Locally, we had a particularly severe heat wave. People preferred to stay at home in the heat,” notes Philippe Léon. Haute-Garonne was indeed on orange heatwave vigilance for several days in July.
Sales on the Internet have also taken precedence over the points of sale that customers have deserted this summer. “A third of them went to the store, a third on the Internet and the last third did both. Customers have never bought so much on the Web”, underlines the president of the Federation of artisans, traders and professionals of Toulouse.
Review summer sale template
Inflation may also explain the poor balance of these balances. “Consumers are becoming squirrels. They spend less,” notes Philippe Léon. Beyond these current issues, it is the same model of the summer sales which is to be reviewed according to the president of the Federation.
“They start in June, so at the start of the season. Traders must therefore solder before even making numbers, ”he says. For Philippe Léon, the summer parades would rather take place at the end of August. “There are fights to change the date of the sales. It’s a struggle every year. But small traders are not heard, ”denounces the president of the Federation.