Balances of summer end today on a mixed balance

Balances of summer end today on a mixed balance. Following a disappointing spring-summer season, the great period of summer rummage sale had yet started on hats wheel, on 25 June, stores having first applied to the large discounts (up to 70) without waiting for the traditional second and third markdowns which usually chant the calendar of the balances. But the enthusiasm of the French did not last long. Already in mid-July, the French Institute of fashion (IFM) noted that, for the first half of balances, sales of clothing and textiles declined from 3 to 5 over the same period of 2008: only stores and distribution channels were stable or rising, sales other niche distribution falling of the order of 3 for specialty chains and independent storesbetween -5 and 10 for the populaires stores, and -10 at least for the hypermarkets and supermarkets. In the end, this estimate appears to be confirmed. Thus for large distribution chains, Jean-Marc Génis, President of the Federation of clothing (FEH) signs, advance: "our members will complete the balances with stable volumes, but a turnover by withdrawal of the order of 1, because of the importance of remittances at the beginning of period.".A view shared by Jean-Michel Silberstein, General delegate of the national Council of shopping centres (CNCC).

In addition to the impact of the crisis on consumption, this mixed record can also be explained by the appearance of floating balances: a period of destocking of two additional weeks in the year, authorized pursuant to the LME came into force in early 2009 and left to the free choice of the dealer, except for the month preceding the balances of winter and summer. Applied last April by the half of the members of the FEH, floating balances, to which were added to the promotional campagnes certes had positive effects, such permit in mid season to a dealer to get rid of a stock of entry of the season. But they were also able to cannibalize advance the traditional period of the balances in summer.

"False good idea".

Moreover, yesterday declared AFP Charles Melcer, President of the Federation representing independent stores, "these floating balances withdrew the visibility to consumers who no longer know when buy." In total, Jean-Marc Génis in the FEH believes that floating balances are a "false good idea". Advocate for its part of this innovation, Jean-Michel Silberstein, the CNCC, but think that Parliament should register them over a fixed period and not to the free choice of the dealer, so that it becomes a collective event, and should take the opportunity to move back the date of the traditional soldes, July 14 in the summer and the third week of January in the winter.

In this climate of confusion, the traditional merchant must finally starting each day with fierce competition from the Internet sales. Shoes Spartoo site Announces thus elapsed pairs 280,000 during balances, or 210 from a year earlier. CEO of Spartoo, Boris Saragaglia note however that the average basket of the buyer user declined the order of 3 to 5. Even on the Internet, the client greenhouse belt.