The Epicenter shopping center in Barjouville and its hypermarket received more calls than usual, Saturday January 30, 2021. “Customers wanted to know if we were open and if they could come. I think they were afraid of the closure, ”explains Pascal Dupas, the director, who sees a slight peak in consumer purchases last week. “We did not have a storage phenomenon like in March, but people were certainly afraid of running out and feared a possible re-containment,” he comments.
Fill up
The wait for government announcements had “a small effect on customers, from Friday January 29, but also this Saturday January 30, 2021, where people feared another speech by the President of the Republic of Emmanuel Macron, after that of the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, ”observes Jean-Philippe Gournay, director of Hyper U in Vernouillet. Customers, in fear of further confinement, came to consume and refuel.
“We have seen a surplus of activity, but that does not completely compensate for the loss of activity of minus 10 to minus 15%, observed for several weekends. “
Jean-Philippe Gournay
(Director of Hyper U in Vernouillet)
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From 8 to 10m² per customer, the businesses of Eure-et-Loir do their accounts to adapt
“I’m not afraid of a rush on so-called basic necessities”
Same observation at the Intermarché des Trois-Ponts, in Chartres. Director Luc Contrepois had organized his orders with a view to possible “anticipatory purchases”.
“On Saturday I saw well-filled carts pass by, but only reasoned and reasonable. The holidays are approaching and if the children have to stay home longer than expected, the parents anticipate the shopping. “
Luc Contrepois
(Director of the Intermarché des Trois-Ponts in Chartres)
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But he remains confident: “Since the first confinement, we have taken a step back. I’m not afraid of a rush for so-called essentials. “
“No shopping center will close in Eure-et-Loir” assures the prefect, during a visit to a hypermarket
“Do these errands as a hobby or as a family walk”
This fear of shoppers of running out affects the mood in the store. Customers are more tense than usual. There is not this aspect “doing these errands as a hobby or as a family walk, as we can usually observe on Saturdays,” notes Jean-Philippe Gournay.
Buying habits are also changing. “We sell a lot more fresh products in the catering or fishmonger section. Customers clearly want to treat themselves, because they can no longer go to restaurants. We throw away much less fresh produce than in previous years. “
Closing shopping centers: the government’s strange way of calculating
Marion Bérard and Claire Béguin
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