“This contrasts sharply with last year, when sales figures were still slightly positive (+ 1%)”. “People do not dare to consume,” observes Christine Mattheeuws of the SNI, despite reductions of around 50 to 70%. “The losses were somewhat slowed down by the easing of the bubble in two-person stores, but that did not make up for the spring. This measure came far too late and was too limited. It only worked very hard. slightly improved the bad numbers. “
After the sales periods, the new autumn and winter collection is emerging. “75% of traders want to keep the unsold for another occasion. No less than two-thirds of them will use the inventory for new discount days, including round prices during the first half or even all of September. last year, only 51% of them mentioned this possibility. A more limited number of traders than last year will donate their unsold items to a charity (exempt from VAT) or resell them to a mark-down, a store of second-hand or wholesaler “, raises the survey carried out among 882 traders in the fashion sector.
Another highlight: 73% of retailers bought less for their new collection than last year. “There are several reasons for this. Traders have not been able to make enough money yet and have become more cautious for fear of a second lockdown,” said SNI. “Six in 10 merchants cannot pay for the entire new collection. Most can pay a maximum of 75% of it. And this despite the fact that they have bought less.”
Finally, there are many voices among retailers to postpone winter sales to January 15 or early February, depending on sales during the fall. “One in 5 businesses already fears having to go out of business before the end of the year, this shows that the easing of measures (possibility of two-person shopping without time limit) has arrived too late and that this rule is far too limited. Additional measures, such as a reduction in VAT to 6%, are necessary, “says the SNI.
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