Belgians have to shop more physically again, otherwise many shops are in danger of disappearing. This is what the sector federation of shopping centers and retail parks BLSC (Belgian Luxembourg Council of Retail and Shopping Centers) says in an open letter on Wednesday. “Dare to enjoy a pleasant shopping trip now too,” it says. “But do it smartly and responsibly. Alone or with people from your bubble. And of course with a mouth mask. ”
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The corona pandemic forced stores to close for weeks and since the reopening, fewer people have come to the store, for fear of the virus or the restrictive measures. The 24 largest shopping centers, for example, had 28 percent fewer visitors in July than in the same month a year earlier, 11 percent fewer in August and 15 percent fewer in September.
Boost for e-commerce
At the same time, e-commerce has received a huge boost and BLSC understands that too. “Ordering your products online and having them delivered to your front door is not only very easy, it also gives you an extra feeling of security,” he says.
But that success also has a downside. “Several major brands are announcing that they will have to close stores, that jobs are on the slope or that they will have to scale back growth plans,” says BLSC. “Many of us – especially the smaller traders, innovative stores or starters – are talking water on our lips.”
“Dare to enjoy”
That is why the organization calls on people to go shopping again. “Even now, dare to enjoy a pleasant shopping trip”, it sounds. “Because the hard truth is that many of your favorite stores could be gone by the time we get out of this crisis.”
However, it remains extremely important to show “the necessary prudence, civic spirit and responsibility”. “Of course we are well aware that the corona numbers are on the rise again. The measures have rightly been tightened up and we as a country and as a society must try to get through as quickly as possible, ”says BLCS.
‘Shop & Win’
To motivate consumers to shop more physically again, BLCS is now launching the “Shop & Win” campaign. In 2,891 participating stores in more than sixty shopping centers and retail parks, vouchers will be issued from Saturday for three weeks with which a prize package can be won.
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