One of the shopping days with the highest turnover before Christmas turns out to be a flop this year. While the dealers whine, those willing to buy criticize the inconsistent approach of the business people. And something else is becoming clear: Online trading is becoming more and more of a problem for the domestic economy.
What many retailers had feared has happened: December 8th, also known as the Christmas shopping holiday, was not as opulent as hoped. This was already apparent on Thursday morning in the large shopping centers in Carinthia. Many traders were still hoping for a strong afternoon. But the merchants were once again disappointed. “Just look around. Unfortunately, the glamor of December 8th, when there was a lot of shopping, is gone,” said a passer-by at the “Krone” local inspection in downtown Klagenfurt. Inflation and unequal opening as a brakeThose who decided to go shopping anyway were disappointed in some cases. “Half the shops are closed. It doesn’t pay off to drive into town to do some shopping,” says a customer in a large shopping center, annoyed. While some went out with full wallets to buy gifts, others just came to stroll. The unanimous tenor: “The surge in prices means that no large purchases are possible when shopping.” Due to the high personnel costs and the increased energy prices, the shutters remained down this year, even in smaller shops. “If I weren’t in the shop myself today, I would also consider whether it wouldn’t be better to allow it,” says Sabine Legat, who runs a small boutique in a Klagenfurt shopping center. Empty shops, full Christmas markets A completely different picture presented itself at the Carinthian Christmas markets. “There was a good frequency here,” says Raimund Haberl, divisional chairman for trade in the Carinthian Chamber of Commerce. The weather is also likely to have influenced shopping behavior on this year’s shopping holiday. “When the sun is shining, people obviously prefer to go for a walk or go skiing.” “It’s making it more and more difficult for us to survive,” says a jewelry dealer resignedly. Even if the balance sheet on December 8th was rather mixed, the dealers don’t want to give up hope just yet. You are now concentrating fully on the last two Advent weekends.
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