Retailing

The National Confederation of Hellenic Commerce on Tuesday announced the shopping hours during the 2015 Easter period in Athens, Thessaloniki and Piraeus.

Sunday, April 5 - 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. (Athens and Thessaloniki) and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Piraeus)

Good Friday, March 10 - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The price that Greeks are called to pay under the pressure exerted on by lenders and while the negotiations having led to a stoppage of ECB funds, is quite heavy.

In an announcement released on Friday, the Athens Trade Association presented its proposals for the shopping hours during this year’s Easter period.

Specifically, the ATA suggested that the shops remain open from 09.00 a.m. up until 09.00 p.m on Wednesday, April 1 and Friday, April 3.

HomeMax is the new name of the Bulgarian business of Austrian hypermarket chain bauMax.

bauMax sold its network of eight stores in Bulgaria to local investor Haedus JSC in September 2014.

The ICSC European conference, hosted by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), will celebrate its 40th anniversary on 20 & 21 April at the Park Plaza Hotel on Westminster Bridge in London.

France's lower house of parliament approved a law on Feb. 14 letting shops open more often on Sundays, the latest measure in the government's pro-growth bill intended to lift the sluggish economy.

The bill will let shops open up to 12 Sundays a year from five currently, provided mayors allow it, workers agree to work voluntarily and are paid double their usual salary.

Winter sales will begin throughout Greece on Monday and will run through February 28, the Hellenic Retail Business Association (SELPE) said on Thursday.

SELPE also said that store owners will have the option to stay open for business on the first Sunday of the sales period, January 18, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

By Dimitra Manifava

Reduced disposable incomes and political turmoil have this year resulted in a further reduction to retail stores’ Christmas turnover, despite shops being open an additional Sunday compared with December 2013.

Bucharest is Romania's city with the most shopping malls, which are preferred by over 45% of Bucharesters for buying clothing and footwear, according to a survey into Romanians' clothes-buying habits, released on Tuesday for AGERPRES.

By Dimitra Manifava

Retail stores are set to open on the last Sunday of the year, December 28, as the multi-bill that the Development Ministry is about to table in Parliament in the coming days will provide for a law amendment to that effect.