Illustration of the summer sales 2019. -
LODI Franck / SIPA
Seven organizations representing traders denounced the government's decision to postpone the start of the winter sales to January 20, taken this Friday, citing the need to sell their stocks quickly.
These organizations "which represent the majority of trade activity and its jobs, had unanimously indicated their desire to maintain the balances on January 6," they indicate in a joint statement.
Balances that will allow businesses to "replenish their cash flow"
They "are worried about the economic and social consequences that this postponement could have in the event of cash flow difficulties at the beginning of January, after a month of November without turnover".
Maintaining the date of January 6 was "decisive" to allow businesses to sell their stocks which are "at an exceptionally high level" due to the closure of shops in November and a level of activity "more low ”in December, explain the Alliance du commerce, Procos, the French Franchise Federation, the Cooperative and Associated Commerce Federation, the Commerce and Distribution Federation, the National Council of Shopping Centers and the Sport Union and cycle.
Maintaining the launch of sales at the beginning of January should also allow businesses to "replenish their cash flow" and "preserve other commercial periods", especially Valentine's Day, while avoiding encroaching on school holidays.
Staggered sales to sell at the "right price"
As a result of the postponement, the seven professional organizations are asking the government "to immediately and automatically impose (...) the opening of shops on the first two Sundays of the sales", ie January 24 and 31.
Indeed, "very many mayors" have already adopted "their municipal decree to grant the opening of shops on January 10 and 17, with reference to the initial dates of the sales", they assure.
However, “regulatory obligations will not allow them to adopt a new amending decree”.
The Minister for SMEs Alain Griset announced on Friday that the winter sales would begin on January 20 instead of January 6, following a request for postponement from certain associations of traders.
The Confederation of traders of France (CDF) and the traders craftsmen of the metropolises of France (CAMF), representatives of small businesses, had asked the government on Tuesday for such a postponement.
They had deemed "vital" for businesses "to be able to sell at" the right price ", without price reduction, for several winter weeks in order to be able to replenish cash flow".
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