“People were just waiting for the sales! We already had a lot of traffic on Thursday morning, rejoices Miriam, saleswoman in a multi-brand store in the Belle Étoile gallery. People take the opportunity to redo their wardrobe and often buy several items. Same story in another clothing store in Bertrange. “Compared to last year, it exceeds our expectations, we hope it will last,” slips Anthony. A leatherworker noted that alongside Luxembourgers, “many Belgians and French people made the trip”.
However, in the city center of the country's capital, traders are more mixed. “There are a lot fewer people than before, we see a lot of tourists walking around, but who don't necessarily buy,” relates Esada, 44, a saleswoman in a shoe store on the Grand-Rue. “We really have less attendance than last year. In the city, we depend a lot on the weather, and the shopping centers take a lot of customers. People prefer to be indoors, especially when it rains or snows,” notes Émilie, who works for a store on the same street.
A large majority of the retailers surveyed recognize that in order to meet customer demands, it is necessary to offer increasingly significant markdowns. “The Internet has taken a big place, to be attractive, you have to offer things that the sites do not offer,” concludes Anthony.
