2023-12-22 12:08:10
1/3 of customers buy some of the gifts “last minute”. Higher voucher volumes at least give hope for good business in January. Next KV negotiation date on December 27th.
Vienna (OTS) – This year’s Christmas business is weak for many shops in Austria, and unfortunately as forecast. According to a recent flash survey by the trade association (n=225), almost two thirds of retailers are dissatisfied with the situation so far. Almost a third are rather satisfied and only 6% of companies look back on the past few weeks with great satisfaction. The trade association expects a decline in X-Mas sales of around 200 million euros for the entire month of December.
Weak Christmas business: customer frequency high, shopping carts smaller compared to the previous year
“This year’s Christmas business is going slowly for retailers in Austria and therefore not as hoped for the majority of retailers. Although we measured consistently good customer frequencies in December, the shopping baskets have become significantly smaller. Austrians spend on average per capita this year 360 euros for gifts, last year it was 395 euros. That’s why almost two thirds of domestic retailers are not satisfied with the sales,” says Rainer Will, managing director of the independent and non-partisan trade association.
Retail is hoping for last-minute shoppers and voucher business
But: Almost a third of Austrians only buy their gifts (some) last minute in the last few days before Christmas Eve. Domestic retailers are responding to this strong demand and will be opening their doors in many places until 6:00 p.m. tomorrow, December 23rd. Flower shops are allowed to stay open until 7:30 p.m. and confectionery shops until 8:30 p.m. The Christmas tree shop is open until 8:00 p.m. in many locations.
“Retailers are likely to achieve the additional December sales of 1.25 billion euros forecast by WIFO for the Christmas business. However, we are almost 200 million euros behind the previous year. The high volume of vouchers gives us at least hope for good business in January. Vouchers “This year, due to the inflation crisis, monetary gifts are more popular than ever before. This also gives your loved ones a degree of freedom,” says Will.
Top sellers at Christmas: vouchers in first place, ahead of toys and sweets
The preferred goods purchased at retail this Christmas include vouchers (41%), toys (30%), sweets (28%), cash (27%) and cosmetics (26%). What is remarkable and now clearly noticeable is that almost a tenth of the population (8%) has completely stopped buying gifts.
In the December industry comparison, electrical and furniture retailers as well as domestic online retailers were particularly disappointed this year. However, the food and book stores are somewhat satisfied.
December 22nd and 23rd are the busiest shopping days for grocery stores
In the food retail sector, December 22nd and 23rd are particularly crucial for the sale of fresh products this year. Up to 40% higher sales are expected here than on average shopping days. According to the RollAMA data, falling food prices have been noticeable in recent quarters, among other things.
“The stationary Austrian retail sector is now fulfilling the wishes of last-minute shoppers. Around a third of consumers do at least some of their Christmas errands and additional purchases in the last week before Christmas Eve. We hope for many regional purchases, so that Adding value in the country remains, that helps everyone,” summarizes Rainer Will, spokesman for Austrian trade.
10% of Christmas business occurs between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
Traditionally, business shifts more towards stationary retail in the very last shopping days before Christmas. Around 10% of Christmas business is generated between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. From December 27th, cash gifts will be redeemed, products will be exchanged and the voucher business will be booming until well into January 2023.
New KV negotiation date on December 27th
As far as the ongoing KV negotiations are concerned, the employers were always open to discussions. Therefore, the now 7th round of talks was agreed on December 27th. “In this context, the trade association points out the difficult economic situation with over 1,000 retail bankruptcies and the recent, gloomy WIFO economic forecasts for the current and the next two years. We all have to face the economic realities in order to maintain employment relationships “To be able to preserve it,” concludes Rainer Will.
Questions & Contact:
Trade Association
Mag. Gerald Kühberger MA
Press spokesman
+43 (01) 406 22 36 – 77
[email protected]
Mag. Manuel Friedl
Senior Communications Manager
+43 (01) 406 22 36 – 80
[email protected]
www.handelsverband.at
1703246902
#Weak #Christmas #business #high #frequency #small #shopping #carts #retailers #satisfied #sales #Hope #final #sprint
