The retail trade is grimacing: a big week before the end of the winter sales period, the balance sheet does not look very encouraging, according to a survey carried out by the neutral union of independents (SNI).
Eight out of ten traders fear having a lower level of sales this month than last year. And four out of ten merchants admit to having sold only 20 to 40% of their collection following nearly three weeks of sales. Despite reductions of around 50% in many stores, sales have not really taken off.
Many traders are therefore always faced with a large stock, which they nevertheless have to sell in order to be able to buy and make enough space for the summer collection. “The sales remain important for many, but it is not the great rush that one might hope for because of the current atmosphere of crisis. Many people look twice before spending, sales or not. Add to that rather bad weather that pushes them to stay at home or to go to shopping centers but not to city centers“, analyzes the SNI.
To eliminate these large stocks, the union therefore expects merchants to offer very significant discounts during the last days of the sales.
