After several weeks of questioning, the start of the summer sales should be set for June 30.
This proposal was made by Bruno Le Maire this Thursday morning at the microphone of France Inter.
“It is wiser, especially in view of the current upturn in consumption, not to excessively postpone the date of the sales.
(…) I propose that they be postponed to June 30, ”argued the Minister of the Economy and Finance.
. @ BrunoLeMaire: "I propose that the #sales be postponed to June 30" # le79inter pic.twitter.com/OcAuWNYYOq
- France Inter (@franceinter) May 27, 2021
"It seems to me that we should not shift them too much to take advantage of this surge in consumption by the French," he added, emphasizing a "proposal" and not an announcement, which must be confirmed by the French government. Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Economy, in charge of Small and Medium Enterprises Alain Griset.
According to our colleagues from Franceinfo, it would be done now.
In 2020, "the result had not been convincing"
The issue of sales is a crucial issue for many businesses, while many have stocks left over from several seasons, due to the Covid-19 epidemic.
As the question had already arisen for the winter sales, associations of traders have expressed their wish to see the sales delayed this summer.
The goal ?
Sell the items without a markdown longer, while most businesses have just reopened.
An argument already mentioned this winter, during which the sales had been postponed by 15 days.
"It is essential for us", argued then in our columns the general delegate of the Confederation of the traders of France (CCF), Bénédicte Boudet-Corric.
Read alsoSummer sales 2020 in Paris: attendance at half mast, sales at the lowest
The National Clothing Federation (FNH), which brings together independent downtown merchants, is also of this opinion, against the chains and large brands that were in favor of maintaining it on June 23.
"We must give ourselves time to sell our collections at the right price," said the FNH.
Territorial differentiation not mentioned
For Bruno Le Maire, a more marked shift in sales could have been harmful.
"What I see is that (...) last year they were postponed to mid-July, the result was not convincing," argues the minister.
At a time when household consumption is rebounding with the reopening of shops, the minister estimated that not shifting the sales too much would make it possible to "take advantage of this rebound in French consumption".
Bruno Le Maire did not mention the track put forward last week by Prime Minister Jean Castex, according to which the government was studying the possibility of introducing a territorial differentiation for the sales period.
