“
It's simple, normally I have ten clients a day.
Since the establishment of the curfew it has fallen to three or four and if there is confinement, I close,
”says Johnny.
Hairdresser for four years in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, he has no illusions.
In this district made up of many offices, strict confinement means the end of passage and therefore of customers.
For him, however, forcing the French to stay at home seems the best option.
“
If they put in a lockdown like in March, for a short time, and then they release people, that's fine.
On the other hand, if it is useless like the second, we are done
”.
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What worries this manager the most are the difficulties encountered in receiving state aid.
"
At the slightest problem they do not come, he
plague
, we have the impression that they help large companies more
."
Same observation for Georges, owner of a bistro, "
I did not receive the aid neither in November, nor in December and when I go on the site there is marked under treatment and no explanation
".
However, these aids are vital to face the burdens weighing on its establishment.
He who started in July has almost no cash.
"
We did three months of activity and since then we have been idling
".
And what a slowdown, "
in a month I make the turnover of a day
"!
The charges hardly change, starting with the rent, which particularly worries him, "
I have the right to ten thousand euros in aid, but my rent costs me six thousand alone
" sighs he.
Closed or not, he will have to pay for it.
Discouraged, he no longer even anticipates, "
I cannot pay myself any income, I will not be able to meet my deadlines and at 56 I cannot start another job
".
Containment: another difficulty for traders
The same goes for Christian, 64, manager of a bookstore, for whom the problems come from afar, “
I was already in a difficult situation with rent increases, now I only make 20% of my turnover.
".
He sees the crisis as an accelerator, which could precipitate the end of its establishment, "
in the event of hard confinement, I close permanently and I leave Paris
".
The fate of Sabrina's clothing store is also in question.
The balances are of no help to him "
our turnover has fallen by 80%, we are afraid of going bankrupt
" she blows.
With the risk of administrative closure she tries everything for everything, "
we are going to have sales on the sales
", but she doubts being able to sell her stocks, "
if there is confinement we will end up in the spring with the clothes winter which will be unsaleable
”.
Annoyed, she does not know if she will order the new collection, "
we do not even know if we will still be there
".
Hocine 72 years old will be there, "
because he has nothing else
".
His store is his whole life.
"
I am alone, I live here, I sleep in the back room
".
But confinement further undermines the morale of this shoemaker installed for ten years.
He lists “
for 4 years, there has been work in front of my house, and they are still not finished.
In addition, a new owner has just bought the whole building and has increased the rent
”.
For him confinement "
it is only one galley among others
".
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However, some manage to do well. This is the case with Paul who manages a delivery company.
"
Our business model is influenced by confinement,
" said the young man, who settled in June.
"
All our delivery people have certificates, so as long as we can deliver, it will be fine
."