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Friday, March 29, 2024

The malls “woke up”, but they also need focus

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The malls

With the lifting of the measure for visits to shopping malls, the public returned to the shops and consumption. Malls recorded a significant increase in sales for the month of February and there are several days left. Usually, February is a month of reduced sales, but this year is very different, as the restrictions in the Christmas and New Year holidays preceded and consumers have accumulated needs to meet now that the measures have been relaxed. In addition, the good discounts offered by most stores, as well as the reduction of the number of coronavirus cases, encouraged the attendance at the malls.

However, there is a significant gap before returning to normalcy. The catering part, in the malls, is under-operated, as customers are not allowed to dine inside the restaurants, even with strict protocols. The managers in the commercial stores ask, through “F”, to remove this restriction as well, so that the retail trade can cover as much as possible the big losses that preceded.

Satisfaction for sales but…

In terms of traffic and sales, the three major malls have seen a significant increase, after the restart on 8/2/21. However, this is not enough to fill the gap and losses from sales expected in December, which traditionally brought huge revenue due to holidays.

“Talking to the store managers we see that they are quite satisfied with the sales. They are higher compared to the corresponding period last year. This, of course, does not make up for the losses from December sales, which are traditionally high. There is an increase at this time, but it does not cover the loss from previous months “observes George Pissis, marketing manager of The Mall of Cyprus and The Mall of Engomi.

At My Mall Limassol the traffic recorded is at good levels. “People are aware of the health issues and the need to take action. The traffic was light at this weekend. On weekdays I think we have gone back to the levels of 2019. Every day we are close to 9,000 visitors in total and on weekends 15-16,000 thousand “. He adds that, based on the restrictions in the shopping center of Limassol, up to 2,866 people are entitled per hour inside the mall, due to the square meters of space, however so far, after the lifting of the restrictions, they have not exceeded 1,500 people per hour.

According to Giorgos Georgiou, general manager of Nicosia Mall, the discounts offered by the stores also seem to have given a big boost to the traffic inside the shopping centers. “The exceptional discounts gave a huge boost. At least in Nicosia Mall large turnovers were recorded. But it is not enough. Here we are, any revenue is a breath of fresh air for the stores. December and January are lost. Traditionally, February is a month with low sales, but this year, it is at quite high levels, due to the restrictions that preceded. “On the one hand, people wanted to shop because of discounts and on the other because of accumulated needs.”

However, Mr. Georgiou notes that the retail trade has been irreparably affected and some companies may close in the near future. “The first problems of business survival will appear around May. The damage done will not be visible in the shops now. Most stores have stock. I take it for granted that 10-15% of the companies in the retail trade will be lost “, comments Mr. Georgiou.

Vacuum in focus and entertainment

However, there is a large gap between professionals and consumers in the restaurants of the malls, which currently operate only with take away, as the restrictive measures do not allow consumers to dine or dine on the premises. focus.

“Revenues at the mall's restaurants are low. And with high operating costs “comments the general manager of Nicosia Mall, George Georgiou.

Another part is the cinemas inside the big malls, which can not function for various reasons. “The cinema does not work. This for many reasons. There is a lack of content from the producers and at the same time, with the ban on the traffic at 9 o'clock, it means that the two evening screenings cannot take place. There are also the restrictions of 50 people inside the premises, which also causes difficulties “, as observed by Mr. Pissis, marketing manager of The Mall of Cyprus and The Mall of Engomi.

What is the demand now, for better days

As Mr. Pissis comments on the current situation, “it is important to open the restaurant in the malls. It is good that we have several intensive checks by the Police. The majority of people show compliance. We definitely do not want to have lock down again. The help of the Police is important. Of course, it affects the fact that there are only 2 SMS available and that there is a restriction on travel “. He adds that “in the next period, what is crucial for the stores is to make some sales, to gain liquidity, to create stocks for the purchase of summer stock. We hope that in the future the other restrictions will be lifted and the situation will improve. “

For his part, Mr. Georgiou estimated that “things are going very smoothly. But you do need a restaurant and a place to relax. They are necessary. We call on the government, as the number of cases decreases, to find ways to open other businesses, even under strict protocols. I see no reason not to open restaurants, video arcades, gyms or conservatories one by one. Dine-in restaurants with strict protocols can also be opened. It will be a difficult year for the market, both for employees and for businesses. The economy suffered a huge blow. “Now our concern is to reduce the losses as much as possible,” said Mr. Georgiou.

“We are feeling better when we see the declining numbers of cases. “The main concern is to open restaurants and entertainment venues now”, concludes Mr. Hatzimitsis.

There is safety and compliance

Heat measurements at the entrances, antiseptics, counting people inside the malls and information, are among the basic practices followed to protect the public. In the malls these images seem to have come to stay long enough.

“We are very satisfied in every way. Stores, employees and consumers follow the recommendations of the Ministry of Health. We observe that the cases have a declining course. This confirms our position that the shopping centers are not responsible for the spread of the coronavirus “, Mr. Georgiou emphasizes.

The same is the opinion of Mr. Hatzimitsis, who states that “what matters to us are the measures, which are respected. The measures taken inside the malls are more than any other place. Measures are taken that are not followed anywhere else. We asked for more policing “and he adds that” from the day we opened there was no problem or overcrowding. The impression that malls are potential sources of infection is not real. Seeing the number of cases decrease, with the malls open, we are happy because it turns out that the malls are not responsible. I hope we continue like this “.

Source: www.philenews.com

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