The summer sales started calmly in Bagnols-sur-Cèze

Rue de la République, les vitrines sont aux couleurs des soldes. C. C. – Midi Libre

That's it, the first vacationers are arriving. Downtown merchants welcome their loyal customers and open every Thursday evening from July to August.

Signs "Sales" on signs, indicating promotions  of – 10% up to – 50% … Thursday June 27, at the start of the second day of sales in the city center of Bagnols, the merchants interviewed spoke of a fairly calm period. Some testify that the sales are no longer as attractive as before. "I don't have a lot of sales in summer because everyone has promotions all year round" declares Daniel Le Roux of the Mode de Vie boutique. Françoise, from the Ego’cintrique thrift store, defines it as "promotions among promotions. People don’necessarily wait for sales".

Changes in the way of consuming and an unwelcome electoral context

Covid, inflation, businesses closing, online commerce, mass distribution… "There have been fewer people for several years with the usual to buy online" attest the shopkeepers of the La Botte Rouge shoe store.

The electoral context also brings a certain apprehension among customers and uncertainty about the future: "With the elections, people are afraid of ;purchase", says Corinne Le Roux from the Mode de vie store.

A regular clientele and a desire to energize the city

The summer sales still remain a fairly good period for traders, with vacationers passing through the city. "We feel the summer season, there are tourists who come to the shop" assures Françoise. However, these are the "regular" who form the bulk of the troops at the start of the sales : "I’have my loyal customers" says the manager of the Acte II boutique, "the clientele does not change" shares Eve, from the Baby Junior store. A desire to revitalize the city emerges. The merchants announce "The Nocturnes des commerce" this summer: "We will open every Thursday evening in July and August, until 9 p.m., to show that Bagnols remains lively and that the traders play the game" explains Imene Sebhi, manager of La Perle d’Or. Thursday, the day when Place Mallet hosts free concerts in the summer, as part of the Cèz’Tivales.