For traders in downtown Alès, this Wednesday June 26 represents the first day of summer sales. An event that returns every year but with less and less noise.
For traders like Bruno Collet, owner of the Bastide boutique, there is always “hope but it’s difficult. Our private sales cannibalize sales.” An observation also shared by Sandrine Martinez, manager of the clothing store L’instant des marques…: “We are forced to adapt to big brands setting up private sales. Nowadays, summer has barely set in when there are already sales.”
Sales all year round?
On the consumer side, the sales no longer really attract. On the other side of the street, Enola Brousse, a young 17-year-old passerby, admits to shopping but not in Alès. “There is not much choice, the prices are higher and it takes a lot more time unlike online sales.” Furthermore, she adds that “It’s not very practical to buy in Alès because you have to travel by car from store to store unlike the Montpellier shopping centers.”
Midi Libre – YANIS LAWSON
For Sandrine Perez, a 57-year-old customer, the sales are “randomly. As there are sales all year round we don’t necessarily wait for the date, if there are opportunities I will buy”.
Midi Libre – YANIS LAWSON
For Bruno Collet, “The heroic days of waiting in line are over. Before everything was done in one shot for the deal of the year, today there are promotions all the time.” A feeling shared by Caro, the manager of Quadrishop. “I do the sales every season on the American model (winter, spring, summer and autumn) and I don’t sell everything. I have a fairly loyal customer base who don’t buy everything online, but it’s complicated to compete knowing that brands put their products and sales online before we receive them in stores.”
“Alès no longer attracts at all”
According to Sandrine Martinez, promotions present all year round encourage customers to overconsume and lose them. “They no longer really know when they are getting a good deal.” A problem already highlighted by Dolorès Laroche, a customer of the Bastide store, who says she does not go on sales because “we are in a world of overconsumption. I try to buy less and less, only when necessary”.
Midi Libre – YANIS LAWSON
A final problem was highlighted by Yamina and Fatima, two retired passers-by. For Yamina, “Business is done all year round, especially since life is expensive”. Fatima points out for her part that the town of Alès is no longer attractive. “I’m going to do the sales in Nîmes. Alès is a city made for retirees and even retirees are fed up.”
