STORY: French summer sales face low sales turnover after riots
DATELINE: July 13, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:13
LOCATION: LYON, France
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of stores
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (French): MARLENE, Manager of a clothing store
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (French): JEROME, Store manager
4. various of stores
   
STORYLINE:

The summer sales, which kicked off on June 28 in France, faced low sales turnover as violence broke out all over France after police fatally shot a 17-year-old teenager in Nanterre on June 27.

More than 1,000 businesses were vandalized during the riot according to the French Ministry of Economy.

The Trade Alliance suggested that the sales turnover witnessed a 2-percentage-point drop in the Ile-de-France region in the first few days of the summer sales, which is a crucial period for French stores to sell off their items in a month.

In the cities most affected, the turnover of shopping centers decreased significantly: minus 36 percent in Strasbourg, minus 17 percent in Marseille, minus 35 percent in Arras.

The first five days of the sales represent a very significant part of the turnover achieved during the sales. At least 25 percent of sales turnover is achieved during the first five days.

At the request of merchants, the summer sales have been extended by one week. It will end on August 1. Beyond the extension of sales, the government opened the door last week to deferrals and cancellations of social or tax contributions for companies affected by the riots.

SOUNDBITE 1 (French): MARLENE, Manager of a clothing store
"Nothing will replace the first Saturday of the sales. It's a huge day for us. There are two in the year, the summer sales and the winter sales. The new measures may catch up a bit, it won't make up for everything, but it may catch up a bit."

SOUNDBITE 2 (French): JEROME, Store manager
"There are many customers who told us that they had seen the city center closed and they did not want their city to be like this. We want them to understand that we need our customers. It's a bit of a cry for help."
   
Xinhua correspondents reporting from Lyon, France.
(XHTV)