In Nîmes, the winter sales are struggling to generate enthusiasm

Dans les rues commerçantes, les Nîmois ont pu profiter du premier jour des soldes. Midi Libre – MIKAEL ANISSET

Les soldes viennent de démarrer. Mais, dans les rues nîmoises, l’enthousiasme des clients et des commerçants ne ressent pas particulièrement. En cause : les consommateurs sont désormais habitués à acheter toute l’année des produits à prix réduits.

“Buy one product: 30% off. Buy two products: 40% off”, advertises a jewelry store in the city center. A tempting offer for this first day of sales. But customers are few and far between, unlike the carefully labeled items with reduced prices. “Before, for the first day of sales, there were a lot of people in the stores. Customers came that day to take advantage of the products while they were still available”, recalls Élodie, the store manager, with a hint of nostalgia. “There is less enthusiasm for sales”, she observes.

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“Usual promotions”

Between private sales, Black Friday and other commercial operations, customers no longer wait for this period to be able to get a good deal.“You can buy a product at better prices outside of sales”, says Nathalie, a 55-year-old from Nîmes. A finding shared by other consumers. “Promotions have become commonplace, they are no longer rare during the rest of the year”, acknowledges Dominique who nevertheless took advantage of them to buy a pair of shoes that she needed. “Sales always serve a purpose. For the customer, it's always good to take, and then we mustn't discourage the retailers”, she continues.

A lack of enthusiasm on the part of retailers

And for good reason, this period has not necessarily been eagerly awaited by some shopkeepers. At the La Coupole shopping center, Madison, manager of a ready-to-wear store, does not hide her lack of enthusiasm. The reason ? “Sales are no longer of much use. There are discounts all year round, whether for private sales, Black Friday or thanks to the loyalty card. Then, there is the internet which is killing sales. It has been years since customers waited for the first day”, notes the young woman. “Given that there are sales every month, it no longer makes much sense”, agrees Élodie, manager of a jewelry store. The latter also organized private sales from December 31 to January 7, on the eve of the sales. “I do what everyone else does, otherwise I don't work”, she admits. And she continues: “In general, private sales work better than sales. But the years are not the same, especially recently, political instability has a big impact on consumption.”

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