In the current context, it is difficult to find a retailer exploding its turnover, even during the holiday season. Ambient gloom, drop in purchasing power, lousy weather, there are many reasons to explain an end to the year perhaps less good than previous years.
“There is less traffic, even if as far as we are concerned, the average basket is increasing, assure François and Amélie, Irish counter. There was also one less weekend in December, Christmas was not in a very good place. However, we had very good October and November, we had a great start to December and it declined. On the other hand, on the 24th, we took a slap in the face, while the two previous days had been less strong. »
François Séjourné, from Comptoir Irish, has noticed for many months that there is less traffic in the city center. The number of empty cells does not help the situation.
© (Photo NR, Sébastien Gaudard)
“The Ferris wheel was a real flow generator”
Manon Repinçay, manager of Quatre May since July 2024, does not yet have enough perspective to compare to previous years. But she still specifies that she has “achieved the objective I set for myself when opening. Sales were spread out well over the previous months, I also performed well in November. »
Established in Blois since July, Manon Repinçay is satisfied with the first months of activity, with a good month of December to punctuate 2024.
© (Photo NR, Sébastien Gaudard)
Because if last-minute buyers are still there, more and more customers are getting ahead before spreading out their spending. This is also what Sandrine Hougardy observed at Pasadena, also president of Vitrines de Blois. “We generally worked very well in November and over the December holidays, but between December 5 and 20, we didn't have the impression of being a few days away from Christmas. I also think that the Ferris wheel, which was installed last year on the Place de la Résistance, was missed, it was a real generator of flow. »
A mini-funfair that raises questions
Some managers also question the choice of setting up a mini-fairground on Place Louis-XII, where the Christmas spirit was not easy to detect; or even the blocking of the city center at the start of the afternoon of December 7, for a parade which ultimately did not even take place.
The Caf'Thé experiences constant activity throughout the year, even if Christmas remains an opportunity to finish your gifts in the delicatessen.
© (Photo NR, Sébastien Gaudard)
The main problem comes from the many cells in the city center which remain empty, even if the situation is not unique to Blois. Retailers are calling for real in-depth work to make customers want to come back to the city center. “With better signage for example”suggests Ludivine, from Caf'Thé, where the year was generally good and sales were well spread.
With the arrival of the sales, from Wednesday January 8, operations should be put in place to encourage buyers to return to the city center.
