A superb 24 m high tree lights up the Forum des Halles.
More than 200,000 euros of garlands were placed in the 20,000 m2 of traffic areas of the best-placed shopping center in Paris, above the RER Châtelet, in the heart of the 1st arrondissement.
An essential investment to preserve the magic of Christmas, despite the fragile economic context, underlines Emile Sebbag, president of the 150 merchants of the place.
“The stakes are high.
The event
(Editor's note: to which the town hall of Paris also contributes)
is financed by our communication budget taken from rents.
We have been preparing it since February.
"
"We are all going to attack directly by lowering the prices"
The retailer representative, 62 years old, 37 of whom have been at the head of his L'Oreille Cassée boutique, a multi-brand brand, is happy to welcome the public once again this Saturday.
“In recent weeks, it was the desert.
With teleworking, zero flows in the RER, there was nobody.
It is time to bring it back to life.
May customers come back! ”
he says.
Moreover, for the occasion, he has not removed his sticker for All Saints' Day, which displays 40% discounts.
“It is true that it is not yet Black Friday, postponed by a week.
But none of us have a choice.
We need to get rid of our stocks and get cash.
We're all going to reopen with aggressive promotions.
It's a question of survival.
We are all going to attack directly by lowering the prices.
We are so late.
And we're just going to save the furniture, ”he announces, emphasizing staying within the nails of legality.
These promotions, he says, are "authorized as long as they are limited to 15 days, and on specific products".
A Christmas atmosphere, with 200,000 euros in garlands.
LP / E.-LM
The 2020 calendar has been cataclysmic.
“The year has already started with the transport strike and the failed Christmas 2019.
The context must quickly improve, ”explains Jérémy Desprets, boss of the Forum des Halles.
“We closed for three months in March, April and May.
Then in November.
This already represents 30% of dry losses while our charges have continued to run, "calculates Emile Sebbag, for whom the confinement and closing of shops in November remains" incomprehensible ".
“We had everything: the masks, the gels, the rules of distancing.
There was no reason to leave us closed. ”
2,800 jobs at stake
So do not miss the last weeks before the holidays.
“It hurts my heart.
The decorations have been there since the beginning of November.
It is already 15 failed days.
From November 15 to the end of January, this represents 50% of our turnover.
We are ready, ”he says, calling on customers to find their“ good habits ”.
“Parisians and suburban residents, who could previously spend the day here, will have three hours to enjoy the place.
They need to know which company they want.
Consumers must decide in which world they want to live: receive their packages in their mailbox or have social ties, meetings and advice in stores ”… he declines.
Here, no less than 2,800 jobs are at stake.
Already a long list of closures
However, the first confinement and the global crisis have already done harm.
The list of closures is already long, just at the Forum.
Tailor Costumes, made-to-measure tailoring is closed;
Aldo, the shoe store of a Spanish chain also.
Gap is the victim of a national shutdown.
André, Celio and Naf Naf, Catimini (children's clothing) and Accessorize are in receivership with an uncertain future… And the self-employed?
“We are in maximum losses.
For me, it's a lifetime of work.
Not only do I risk bankruptcy, but in addition, my business, at the moment, is worth nothing. ”
Then there is government aid.
His bank granted him the State Guaranteed Loan (PGE): “This will help me hold out for three months.
But after that we will have to reimburse ”.
Good news, however, Emile Sebbag and the other traders will meet up with their teams at 9 a.m. this Saturday instead of 10 a.m. at the Forum des Halles (the closing is maintained at 8:30 p.m.).
It's always good for morale… And for customers who want it, it is possible to book shopping slots in certain stores, via the Forum application, to avoid queues.
Paris Newsletter
Every morning, the news of your department seen by Le Parisien
I'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to enable you to receive our news and commercial offers.
Learn more
For more information: https://fr.westfield.com/forumdeshalles
