Modern time “Waterloo” for businessmen in Athens and Thessalonik

"Numb" market

 

Things look rough for this year and the game is almost lost, commercially-wise for the year 2011.

Christmas shopping this year was down by 30% compared to the same period in 2010, something which could be an indicator of what is to follow within the New Year and of how many more shops might close.

Both the capital, Athens and Thessaloniki, in the north, have done very badly in the commercial field. Especially in Athens, many were the voices that blamed the Municipality, characteristically saying that they lacked support and the needed preparations for this shopping period.

However, the shining example seems to be Piraeus mainly thanks to the actions taken by the local Mayor, Vassilis Michaloliakos who thought of creating a special venue in the city centre of his town including an ice skating arena.

In any case, commercial connoisseurs are talking of a business fold waves, in particular, within the first month of 2012 as a result of the low sales in December 2011.