Many dissatisfied traders - Gift cards are to fill the cash register - Many dissatisfied traders - Gift cards are to fill the cash register
Retailers in Thuringia have faced a mixed Christmas shopping season. While supermarkets saw busy stores and full car parks before Christmas Eve, many shops reported weaker sales than expected. Now, businesses are pinning their hopes on a post-holiday boost.
In the lead-up to Christmas, supermarkets across Thuringia experienced high footfall, with packed aisles and crowded parking lots. Yet, despite the last-minute rush, around two-thirds of retailers expressed dissatisfaction with their Advent revenues.
Toys emerged as the season’s top seller, while watches, jewellery, and books also performed relatively well. However, overall shopping enthusiasm remained subdued. The Thuringian Retail Association still expects a modest 1.5 percent year-on-year increase in turnover.
With Christmas now over, the association is looking to cash gifts and gift vouchers to drive sales in the coming weeks. Many retailers are counting on this post-holiday spending to make up for the slower-than-hoped-for festive period.
The retail sector in Thuringia is now focusing on the days after Christmas to recover lost ground. Gift money and vouchers could provide the needed lift, though the final figures will show whether the 1.5 percent growth forecast holds. For now, businesses remain cautious but hopeful.
