Reduced sales compared to last year was the majority of traders during the winter discounts, which ends on February 28.

According to the findings of the ERC Pan -Hellenic research, 55% of traders said this year’s discount period was worse in relation to the previous one and only one in ten stated that went better While one element that will be more explored is that this year in January, for the first time, a negative movement was recorded and as a better period in terms of demand was the first fortnight of January.

As noted at a press conference of the ERC, the rise in turnover Observed in the first fortnight of February, it did not fill the void of January while the reasons for the negative move are estimated to be the uncertain international environment and the financial and tax liabilities of households.

In the meantime, traders involved in the survey appear divisive In terms of duration of discounts. 58% of participants said they would extend the discounts beyond their expiration on Friday in order to get liquidity while the majority of businesses, especially the smaller ones, demand a reduction in the duration of the discount period so that they have more flexibility in bidding. .

As far as the turnover of retailing in 2024, the general change in turnover were +2.4% (based on ELSTAT data). Excluding food and fuel, businesses that keep simplified books, namely smaller companies, showed a 1.8%turnover decline, while companies with duplicate books increased by 5.1%.

The categories of products that showed the largest sales increase were cosmetics (+12%), which is also attributed to tourism, products sold in outdoor markets (+7.9%) and used items (+7.7%), category that first appears formally in measurements. The largest turnover (-7.5%) was reduced by electrical appliances, which is also interpreted by the absence of subsidized electrical appliances market programs. While it was noted that it may also be an indication that consumers avoid investing in constant consumer goods, an element that can acquire more stable characteristics.

It is emphasized that, according to the survey, the majority of sales in winter discounts took place at natural shopswhich was interpreted by ERC analysts as Little business lag by the digital channels But at the same time, as it was pointed out, other research shows that consumers’ willingness to shop from physical stores is being rekindled by looking for offers and discounts.

Finally, a matter of particular importance is access to funding for this and in the coming period, the ERC, in collaboration with the Development Bank, is launching information across the country on the microcredit, while highlighting its importance to it. Branch its digital transformation.