2023-07-16 16:00:00
According to a Betchard, Tubize does not shine by its commercial importance. If we compare it to neighboring municipalities such as Braine-l’Alleud and Waterloo, the second Walloon municipality with the highest commercial dynamism, this is far from false. However, the Tubizian merchants, even if few in number, do not complain regarding the attractiveness of their town, especially during the sales period… although they remain cautious, especially with the future arrival of the TOM, the Tubize Outlet Mall.
First successful sales weekends in Waterloo: “people would rather put the price in a café than in a parking meter”
Maria is in charge of a children’s clothing store in the center of Tubize. The context of the sales is favorable to sales but she notes that “now that the first weeks of sales are over, we are putting prices at -50%. For a certain public, when there is not this markdown, it is less interesting”. The saleswoman also notes that it is more complicated for customers to come and do the sales. In the past, weekends were the ideal time for the sales, today this is less the case: “There aren’t really any suitable days anymore. We had customers until the end of the month. Now, following the 20th, people come less”.
“Now that the first weeks of sales have passed, we are putting prices at -50%. For a certain public, when there is not this markdown, it is less interesting”. ©Ennio Camiere
Same story for the commercial director of a shoe brand, located in Tubize: “the sales are working well, currently, we are in a situation comparable to last year. In June, the weather was nice and warm and sales of the summer collection were good”. The director is therefore satisfied with the mix between the clienteles, that for seasonal collections and that for markdowns. But the manager still notes a small problem specific to his municipality: “there is a lot of work in Tubize. It is more difficult in terms of attendance due to works and mobility”.
In this shoe brand, sales combine with sales of the seasonal collection. ©Ennio Camiere
Alderman for Commerce, Mourad Abdelali (DéFI), meanwhile, remains more measured on the sales: we hope it will boost sales”. But Alderman Betchard recalls that times are tough for traders and the self-employed, particularly with regard to double taxation for the self-employed.
The independents of Tubize doubly taxed: “why pay for waste that you do not produce”, indignant a Tubizien
The uncertainty of the TOM
Maria, like many local traders, is worried regarding the upcoming arrival of the TOM. Uncertainty hovers at many points, such as the competition between the outlet and the city centre. For this point Maria already has part of the answer concerning her: “the TOM will not have a children’s clothing store at the same price as us. Even if it’s markdown, we stay on products from another price range”. The alderman of Commerce was not yet in office when the installation of the TOM was decided. He mentions all the same that a preliminary investigation was made with the traders but that more should be done. For Mourad Abdelali, “no question of arriving at a Mons bis”, in other words, he does not intend to let local traders die in favor of a large commercial center.
To avoid reaching this point, the municipal majority agreed, on all of its members, to the creation of a mixed economic company (SEM). Its aim is to support local trade but does not neglect the TOM which will also be put around the table: “we are going to create a junction between the TOM and local businesses”. It only remains for the moment, it is too early to measure the impact of the TOM on the Tubizian businesses.
Dozens of outlet stores, 800 housing units, 6,000 m² of leisure, 9,500 m² of urban agriculture…: the “Tubize Outlet Mall” is emerging from the ground (VIDEO)
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