Filenews 6 February 2021 - byAdamos Adamou
With health protocols, but also with significant discounts to attract consumers, retail is preparing to roll out on Monday. The expectations of the business world are high and it is optimistic that the offers that will be made will stimulate market movement in order to limit the damage that has accumulated. We recall that retail stores for about a month do not accept people and operate only those that have the ability to sell online, while those housed in the malls do not operate since the beginning of December.
Speaking to "F", the Secretary General of the Cyprus Retail Association (PASYL) Marios Antoniou said that the information he receives from the members of the Association, as well as from other companies, is that the discounts that will exist from Monday will be significant and in some cases will exceed 50% since there is a large unsold quantity of stock that has been paid for and must "leave", in its expression. As he explained, all shopkeepers now hope to strengthen their liquidity, which is necessary, since the restrictions combined with the resumption of instalment payments and the taxes to be settled have accumulated many obligations. In order to meet these obligations and cover operating costs such as rents and more, all businesses are expected to reopen with offers, he added. He also said there would be discounts not only on clothing and footwear, but also on electronics and appliances and other products.
Return with test
According to PASYLE's G.G., all stores are preparing to open on Monday in compliance with the health protocols, since no one wants a setback and a new lockdown. Mr Antoniou said he expected around 33,000 retail workers to return to work on Monday, who must have undergone a rapid test. Then, he said, every businessman and shopkeeper is responsible so that on a weekly basis 20% of his staff has this rapid test. Regarding the health protocols, he said that compared to the previous period, there are no changes outside the obligation of shops beyond 1000 sq.m. to ensure that the entrance to the stores will be configured at one person per 15 sq.m. instead of one person per 10 sq.m. that applies to smaller stores. It is noted, of course, that visits to the shops will take place after sending SMS, since restrictions on movement continue.
Call for responsibility
On the occasion of the reopening of retail trade from Monday 8 February, the KEVE, in yesterday's announcement, stressed the need to show maximum responsibility and strict observance of distancing and personal hygiene measures by all businesses, workers and consumers. Thus, as the Chamber notes, "we will contribute to keeping all sectors and professions running while creating the conditions for other sectors of the economy to reopen".
According to the CDC, until the vaccination program of the Ministry of Health can cover a significant percentage of the population, personal hygiene protection measures and strict adherence to the rules of distancing are the only weapon against the spread of the virus. "In order to be able to keep communicability indicators low and to further reduce the number of cases, thus allowing the gradual reopening of the whole economy and businesses, whose strengths have been almost zero, we must all show a high sense of responsibility and not create the conditions to return to an expanded lock-down," concludes the CDC.
