Faced with stricter health measures and the spread of the omicron variant, barely one in four traders expects better sales than in January 2021.
By Belga
EBetween restrictions linked to the health crisis and the growing success of online sales, traders were rather pessimistic on Sunday, on the eve of the winter sales, according to the Neutral Union for Independents (SNI), which is already calling to consider an extension of the sales.
Indeed, this Monday January 3 marks the beginning of the winter sales. They should normally end on January 31, 2022.
But faced with stricter health measures and the spread of the omicron variant, barely one in four traders expects better turnover than in January 2021, yet already in sharp decline compared to 2020, indicates the SNI in a press release. Retailers fear that the latest decisions of the Consultative Committee, especially in terms of two-person shopping, will create a new psychological barrier for customers. “And yet, it has already been proven by studies, including the Pasteur Institute, that businesses are not engines of contamination”, argues the union.
The union therefore considers it “necessary” to assess the possibility of extending the winter sales, as was the case in 2021.? “The balances are an expected moment to replenish the cash flow necessary for the pursuit of the activity”, while the trade suffers from turnover at half-mast for nearly two years, concludes the SNI.
– .
