Each year, with the approach of the end of year holidays, stores open on the last Sunday of the month to maximize their turnover. But between confinements and health restrictions, businesses, and in particular the smallest, have lost turnover and accumulated stocks. So to save the end of 2020, some have chosen to open on Sunday: the operation began in Fort-de-France, on November 29, followed by Lamentin, this Sunday, December 6.
The association of traders Emergence Lamentinoise had opted last weekend for an opening only in the morning until 1 p.m., for the shops of the village. “Usually we only open the last two Sundays in December, but this year, we have a lot of stocks, so we try to catch up a little on Sunday morning” explains Ziad Yousfi, manager of the Tip ready-to-wear boutique Top in the village of Lamentin. But at the Galleria, on the other hand, traders preferred to raise the curtain all day, in order to maximize the number of visitors on their shelves.
“The month of December is important because that’s where we manage to make a small number anyway, especially this year, when there was nothing: usually, we do fairs, exhibitions, etc. Even there, I had planned to leave for the Paris Fair, we couldn’t, due to the sanitary situation, so we have to seize the small opportunities ”confides Corentin Bisoli, the representative of the company of Other Flavors, including one Local produce stand is located on the ground floor of the Galleria.
This new organization has somewhat shaken up the habits of traders, but also of customers, still rare for this first Sunday opening in December.
“It’s a good idea for those who work all week, like that on Sundays, they can do their holiday shopping quietly … But there are many who were not aware that the center was open. Sunday, ”regrets Stéphanie, saleswoman in a shoe store at the Galleria.
Traders indeed regret the lack of communication around these exceptional openings, and hope that the information will circulate by next Sunday.
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