The holidays have barely ended when the sales arrive. Some traders in downtown Narbonne remain with their heads above water and hope for a recovery despite a difficult context for everyone. Hearts up!
From Wednesday January 8 to Tuesday February 4, the 2025 winter sales will offer their discounts. After Black Friday on November 29, when it is forbidden to sell at a loss, then the end-of-year holiday gifts, bank accounts have reduced considerably, hence the interest in doing business… and hopefully those who were offered gift cards or vouchers were patient enough to wait until at least January 8th.
In the city center of Narbonne, like everywhere else, we are preparing for these semi-annual sales. At the start of the month and year, at Labau, Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, the pace is rather calm. Laurence Medevielle expects a more sustained pace from the start of the school year, despite the obvious: “People are worn out, have consumed a lot recently. With these fixed dates, we are shooting ourselves in the foot because these sales are too close to Christmas. On the other hand, we are obliged to follow the websites, the chain stores will not wait until we, small independents, are ready.” These celebrations were not as favorable as last year to complete a good result here and with most of the neighbors, but the descendant of Labau sugarcoats it: “We still had people, let's not complain. The craze for sales is fading, we have to deal with it. There are so many promotions everywhere, all the time, that customers no longer find their way. “ So, Laurence, who takes the opportunity to salute the municipal police for their local work, hopes that “young people, instead of ordering on the internet, find the desire to come to the store, to try, to find social connections, like our loyal customers, some of whom I have become close with”.
Between the less than ideal situation, purchasing habits on a screen… retailers are trying to recapture the time when we needed to touch the material before buying. Very often, moreover, it is these same fans of on-site purchases who do not hesitate to proclaim that the city center of Narbonne is dead even though they do not spend a cent there. At the Quintana jewelry store, where there will not be any particular sales, “we're trying to hold on. Afterwards, overall, the end of year holidays went well even if it was better during the previous ones. Maybe people have less Christmas spirit, less enthusiasm. My national colleagues say the same thing and I don't think this first quarter is better. In any case, we are not heading in the right direction..
Rue Droite, at the BD & Cie bookstores, the sales don't concern books. On the other hand, the holidays were more or less good for the cash drawer. Laurent Estrella judges in any case: “It was, we avoided the breakage. Between everything that is increasing and these hypermarkets which are stuffing themselves like pigs, the publishing world is still avoiding the worst.”
The Independent – PHILIPPE LEBLANC
Rue Jean-Jaurès, at Cobra, Nathalie Lecina is on the starting blocks in 2025 as the boutique celebrates 40 years of existence. She prefers to leave the parties behind: “It was very complicated at the start. The Spaniards, in large numbers, had stolen all the parking spaces… to eat, drink, but not necessarily consume in our businesses. Then, we sensed people disillusioned and paying attention to the rack Anyway, it could have been worse and we are not unhappy. The sales no longer mean anything with all the promotions that exist everywhere. brand prices.” Fortunately her husband predicts that this year is going to be good. It seems that he was rarely wrong…
