Four federations of downtown stores and shopping centers are asking the government to ban "Black Friday" and to restrict online sales "to only basic items" to limit competition when 200,000 stores have had to close their shops. doors to meet the requirements of the second containment.
In this column published in the Journal du Dimanche, the four signatory federations also ask to be able to reopen “non-essential” businesses from November 12.
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"The measures taken to curb the spread of the virus only increase the scandalous inequality of pre-existing treatment between physical merchants and web merchants, at the risk of the former and for the exclusive benefit of the latter," lament the Confederation of French traders (CDF), the French Federation of Merchant Associations (FFAC), the National Federation of Vitrines de France Town Centers (FNCV) and the National Council of Shopping Centers (CNCC).
For the first time according to them, these organizations agree, and this to denounce the favoritism enjoyed by platforms like Amazon or Alibaba at the time of the closure of businesses other than food or DIY.
The Black Friday sales period, at the end of November, and the preparation of Christmas gifts will be formidable: large online traders "are now redoubling their propaganda to attract customers, our customers".
"Taking Amazon as a scapegoat is not the solution"
This is why, according to them, it is necessary to decree "the immediate ban on Black Friday 2020".
In the less short term, we must also put an end to the “structural inequity” between the two types of businesses, particularly in terms of taxation and land use planning, with the “establishment of a moratorium on all businesses. new warehouse projects ”.
At the end of October, the Minister Delegate for Industry Agnès Pannier-Runacher assured that she had obtained from Amazon France the suspension of its pre-Black Friday advertising campaign.
"Taking Amazon as a scapegoat is not the solution: this player represents only 20% of online commerce in France," said Bruno Le Maire on Sunday in a separate interview in the JDD.
To encourage the digitization of small local shops, the government plans to list, from Tuesday, existing solutions on a dedicated site.
"Then, each business closed administratively - and which is not yet digitized - will be able to benefit from an aid of 500 euros" to have its commercial site, underlines the Minister of the Economy.
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As for reopening, without mentioning the date of November 12, Bruno Le Maire warns that “new health rules” will be needed.
He cites as examples a possible increase in the reception gauge, "today of 4 m2 per customer", or access to shops by appointment.
