Sales slump for fashion while other sectors see success

Summer sales figures this year have been slightly disappointing for the fashion sector, but encouraging for others, according to provisional estimates from the Union des Classes Moyennes (UCM) at the end of the last weekend of discounts.

While the fashion sector is a little disappointed and "feeling a bit down", other businesses are more positive and are doing better than in July 2024.

“Jewellers, opticians, leather goods shops… specialised shops have had a fairly good sales period, with turnover up on last year,” said UCM, which represents independent retailers.

UCM said the summer sales had a boost this year from the weather, which was much better than in July of last year.

But retailers surveyed in the fashion sector said the mood was overall disappointing, as opposed to the satisfaction reported by others.

“Several small clothing store owners point to competition from large retailers that slash prices all year round, thereby negating any advantage of waiting for the official July sales,” said Anne-Sophie Snyers, director of the UCM Study Centre.

“They also mention the influx of online deliveries from Asia, which are flooding our market.”