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The chaos of snow in Swiss cities could save merchants from onslaught by bargain hunters. Although many stores have asked for one with great discounts.
Because several specialty stores will be closed from Monday through the end of February, some stores are holding an advance sale. The target of consumers: fashion chains. Queuing in front of the store is the order of the day on Friday morning, for example at C&A in Winterthur ZH, as well as at C&A in Zurich-Oerlikon in the afternoon. Up to 70 percent off is stamped in bulk in the window.
The mega sale enters the last round
Fashion stores in particular are suffering from the Corona crisis. Many are now trying to take stock at the last minute. “The price reduction is extreme this year,” a Zara saleswoman on the Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich tells VIEW. “With 100 francs today you can achieve a lot here. Individual pieces are heavily discounted. “
It looks similar with Jelmoli. Due to the closure of certain departments on Monday, such as food, cosmetics and hairdressing, Zurich’s department stores attract bargain hunters with a 15 percent discount on products that have already been reduced.
Nearby sports retailer Och Sport offers a 15 percent discount on ski wear, mid-season. Fashion store Vero Moda is spontaneously adding knitwear to its list of discounts due to closing on Monday. A cashmere sweater now costs only 60 francs instead of 100 francs.
Snow masses cloud the hope of a great rush
The snow chaos worries retailers. Will that keep customers away? “We expect big crowds, but the weather can make things difficult,” says the manager of the Zara Home branch. She is ready for that. The security personnel at the door, as in almost all stores now, keep an overview. Control how many people enter the store. Additionally, customers must sanitize their hands upon entering the branch.
Smaller stores also expect to increase sales on Saturday. “Last week I noticed more people coming,” says Daniel Kerner (47), manager of the Ludwig Reiter shoe store in central Zurich. “But we can’t afford big discounts like the big box stores with cheap, mass-produced products in China. We would cut ourselves into our own flesh and suffer losses immediately. “
Limit damage with discounts
At Manor’s 60 department stores there is currently a 20 percent discount on items that have already been discounted, says spokesman Fabian Hildbrand. “The sudden decision by the Federal Office of Public Health is like a total brake on retail and upstream supply chains. We try to contain the damage. “
Manor does not expect a “crowd despite sales activities.” Since the strengthening of the measures on December 22, the number of customers in stores has decreased by 20 percent. However, as a precaution, the security personnel at the entrances have been increased. “Like Advent and Black Friday, security personnel regulate admission,” Hildbrand says. This does not lead to disturbances.
As of Monday, you can still buy perfumery, stationery, children’s clothing, underwear and household items in the Manor department store with an integrated supermarket, around 30 stores, in addition to the usual food, hygiene and cleaning items, lists Hildbrand. That corresponds to about 25 to 30 percent of the normal non-food supply.
Click and Collect is also offered online at 30 Manor branches, for example at the Zurich train station, that is, ordering online on the computer and picking up on site after notification.
Despite the weekend sale, sales will plummet in the coming weeks. The renewed closure of stores that do not sell products of daily use means a monthly loss of sales of about 3.2 billion francs in Switzerland, the Swiss Federation of Retailers estimates the damage to retailers.
