How to help these traders who have seen their stocks of goods increase because of the virus, without hope of selling them, since their products are seasonal?
After several weeks of consultations and meetings, the last having lasted until late Monday evening with the federations, the Ministry of the Economy has ruled.
Four sectors will receive additional public support totaling € 200 million.
These are clothing, footwear, leather goods and sports stores.
They will receive 80% of the solidarity fund they received in November.
At the time, this aid was open to any business having lost 50% of its turnover.
"The choice of efficiency and speed"
This new boost is aimed at companies with less than 50 employees.
According to the Ministry of the Economy, which has yet to refine the figure, 35,000 companies should receive this new aid.
On average, they could receive a little less than 6,000 euros paid in one go and within two months.
"If it had been necessary to compensate in a more precise way, we should have immersed ourselves in the accounting of companies, justifies Bercy.
We made the choice of efficiency and speed based on the aid that was paid in November.
This is what seems most fair to us.
"
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As for the chosen perimeter, here too, Bercy assumes.
“These four sectors, such as jewelry and perfume, recorded at least 10% decline.
But jewelry and perfume do not have a problem of seasonality, argues the ministry.
It is mainly around this question that we have decided.
"
"Not insignificant" aid for small businesses
An announcement variously appreciated.
For Marc Sanchez, general secretary of the Syndicat des Indépendants, which mainly represents very small businesses, “this measure is positive, because that is what we were asking for.
While the spring-summer stocks, for a small business, can represent between 15 and 20,000 euros, an aid of 6,000 euros is not negligible ”.
Yohann Petiot, Director General of the Alliance du Commerce, is much less enthusiastic.
"This aid will support small businesses in city centers which have often been closed since March 20, while nothing is planned for stores in shopping centers which have been closed since the end of January," he regrets. .
For stocks, the off-sale liquidation solution
What about the stocks of the big brands affected by the closure of shopping centers?
"We plan to integrate this stock problem into the fixed cost system," Bercy specifies.
Announced in mid-January, this device provides for the support of the fixed costs of companies that are not covered by their revenues, their insurance or public aid.
The measure is due to come into force on Wednesday.
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Finally, the Ministry of the Economy does not completely rule out the idea of authorizing the liquidation of stocks outside the sales period.
This possibility would be added to the boost of 200 million euros.
"This idea appeals to large brands who remain profitable even with large discounts," says Bercy.
The small trader needs a full margin.
We could consider balances on a voluntary basis.
"