Clothing stores, jewelers, toy stores… Non-essential shops will be able to reopen their doors from May 19, just unveiled Emmanuel Macron.
A late date that disappoints professionals in the sector.
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“
We are disappointed to reopen so late.
We really wanted it to be before Ascension weekend
, ”laments Emmanuel Le Roch, general delegate of the Procos specialist trade federation.
An extended 4-day weekend has significant economic value for traders.
"
Ascension week represents about 30 to 40% of our turnover for May
", analyzes Francis Palombi, president of the Confederation of French traders.
Professionals were hoping for a reopening for May 10.
“
It makes a difference of 8 days of resumption of activity.
It's a real blow
, ”bitterly regrets Monique Rubin, president of the National Federation of Markets in France.
Aid of 6,000 euros for unsold stocks
Despite this disappointment, finally setting a specific date is still a relief. “
We are happy to finally be able to reopen, we are impatient. But I hope that it will not be a reopening with drawers
”, specifies Francis Palombi. Indeed, the stages of deconfinement, with the exception of May 3, may be thwarted in certain departments with a particularly degraded health situation: where an incidence rate greater than 400 new patients per 100,000 inhabitants would be observed over several days, and accompanied by saturation of resuscitations. However, this is a braking measure which will therefore take place
a posteriori
of the openings, and in consultation with the local authorities.
The reopening of these businesses will be done with the respect of gauges and protocols adapted to each place and activity.
Before their closure, the distancing protocol consisted of 1 person per 8 square meters for businesses of less than 400 square meters and 1 person per 10 square meters for larger businesses.
“
This restriction represents a loss of 20 to 25% of turnover
,” says Francis Palombi.
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In terms of financial support, beyond traditional aid, clothing, shoe, sports and leather goods stores with less than 50 employees will benefit, at the end of May, from a flat-rate aid which represents 80% of the amount. of the aid received under the solidarity fund in November 2020, i.e. 6,000 euros on average per business. The goal is to offset the cost of unsold inventory from these stores. 35,000 businesses are concerned.