Wednesday, November 18, in front of the senators, Bruno le Maire split a simple question: “Is next Friday the right date to organize a Black Friday?” My answer is no. “ The Minister of the Economy asked those involved in the distribution of “Shift” this great commercial clearance sale, which should be held on November 27. Without proposing an alternative date.
On social networks, the declaration did not fail to react. “And why not postpone Christmas?” “ iron users, who are impatient with the idea of buying game consoles and other household robots at half price.
“Is next Friday really the right date to organize a Black Friday? My answer is no and I hope they will also understand it” – Bruno Le Maire, Minister of the Economy #AFP pic.twitter.com/JEUPFepsnW
– Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) November 18, 2020
But the gesture is not anecdotal. Black Friday (Black Friday) has become in recent weeks the symbol of the struggle of small traders against the giants of online sales, to start by Amazon. This promotional operation imported from the United States generated 6 billion euros in sales last year, including 1 billion on the Internet. 62% of the French took the opportunity to get good deals, two-thirds of which was for their Christmas shopping.
While the government must decide in the coming days of the date of reopening of shops said to be non-essential, Bruno Le Maire ruled that the holding of Black Friday had “No sense in the present circumstances”. Does this mean that businesses will not be able to reopen on this date, as they demand? The Ministry of the Economy ensures that these statements in no way prejudge the upcoming calendar. In addition, unlike sales, Black Friday is a private initiative. The Minister cannot therefore demand that it be postponed.
Trade officials remain skeptical. “The best decision would be to reopen on November 27! “ loose Laurent Munerot, president of the U2P (Union of local businesses). “I would have preferred a call for cancellation, a few weeks before the winter sales …” abounds Francis Palombi, who presides over the Confederation of Traders.
Frédéric Duval, DG @AmazonFrance believes that the end of November remains a very important period in French purchasing acts: “I hope that all small businesses can open as quickly as possible” #blackfriday # le79inter pic.twitter.com/F84RHmbnOu
– France Inter (@franceinter) November 18, 2020
Just yesterday, Amazon France CEO Frédéric Duval touted Black Friday as “A very important moment in the preparation of Christmas”. And assured that the French will have “Need to save money”. It remains to be seen whether Bruno Le Maire’s plea will make him change his mind.
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