The Carinthians are not very impressed by the high inflation and the tense economic situation. On St. Mary’s Day, tens of thousands stormed the shopping centers and shops in city centers. Business representatives are extremely satisfied.
Shortly before the shops opened, many shoppers were already standing in front of the closed shop doors. And hours later, thousands of Carinthians were still shopping in the malls and stores. “The frequency was right,” says Raimund Haberl of the Carinthian Chamber of Commerce. And in any case, St. Mary’s Day was significantly better for the local economy than last Saturday, which cannot really be counted due to the snowfall.
Shopping centers full, shopping streets almost empty
While the crowds in the shopping streets in the city center remained limited, the shopping centers were almost bursting at the seams. “Our expectations have really come true. It was a real family shopping day,” says Richard Oswald from Atrio in Villach.
And while the large shopping centers are happy with the crowds, criticism comes from the smaller shops in the city centers. For example, in Klagenfurt, some retailers did not even open their stores on December 8. “This situation is not only annoying for the cityscape. There should be more people uniting,” says Jutta Hammerer from the BonBon boutique on Alter Platz.
Special offer attracts customers
For many Carinthian retailers, the run-up to Christmas is an important source of income. But the traditional offering, with the exception of technology stores, is no longer sufficient. “You have to attract customers with special offers,” says Sabine Legat from the Daily Fashion boutique in Klagenfurt. Because the entrepreneur specializes in special goods. “Ball dresses and festive clothes for Christmas parties are especially popular. I make sure that most of my goods consist of individual pieces. And that appeals to customers.”
Despite the predominantly positive mood among local retailers, one thing remains the same as every year: a single day will not save the Christmas business, because: “Retailers really need the good Christmas business.”
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
