Small traders are clamoring to be able to open on Sundays during the month of January to avoid deepening their losses and to dispose of unsold products in 2020.
Many businesses are suffering a “significant decline in turnover” and their concern “grows as the support measures are reduced”, alerted Monday the association of federations Conseil du commerce de France (CDCF), asking to open Sunday in January.
“We are strongly counting on the State to support companies in the sector, and not only the smallest because several networks of retailers are close to the final cessation of activity”, explains the CDCF, which brings together some thirty professional federations of the trade.
In a press release, he asks in particular to “be able to open every Sunday in January”, via a renewal of the collective derogatory procedure decided on November and December to “spread out” the end-of-year races.
Decrease in turnover of more than 20%
According to the CDCF, and “despite a good recovery in consumption linked to Black Friday and end-of-year purchases, the turnover” of so-called non-essential traders “remains below their forecasts”, with for some a sales decline of more than 20% over the year in clothing, footwear, beauty-perfumery and jewelry. Inventories also remain very high, according to the CDCF.
“Many traders could decide to permanently lower their curtain to avoid deepening their losses and perpetuate an insurmountable economic situation,” said William Koeberlé, president of the French Commerce Council, in the statement.
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