Stores eager for new system

The market is eager to see all brick-and-mortar stores reopen as early as possible, even if it is with the shopping by appointment system - dubbed "click inside" - that the government appears to be leaning towards at this stage. This may be the only way for retailers to contain massive turnover losses from the months-long lockdowns.

Merchants are asking that the new system go into force as soon as possible, for another reason as well, namely the start of the winter sales on January 11, where apparel stores tend to get the most attention from consumers.

Shopkeepers are looking forward to the "click inside" system, which allows purchases to be made inside a store but only after making an appointment. The aim of this system is to ration the number of people allowed inside a store, to prevent long queues from forming outside and to bolster demand in sectors that found it...