However, those who make their way to the supermarket and the drugstore could find themselves in front of closed doors. Because here the majority stays closed. “The public holiday on December 8th is traditionally a strong shopping day in the Christmas business. It’s not for nothing that it’s also called the ‘fifth shopping Saturday’,” emphasized Margarete Gumprecht, head of the trade division at the Vienna Chamber of Commerce. The vast majority of Viennese dealers will make use of the opportunity to unlock, it said. This was the result of a broadcast by the chamber.
The fact that December 8th is a Thursday this year makes the industry representatives happy. “The traditionally strong third shopping weekend is optimal this year and attracts many visitors to Vienna for a long weekend,” said Gumprecht. Whether a retailer opens on St. Mary’s Day depends on many factors, she emphasized: “Of course there are additional costs for staff, for example, but at the same time sales are generated.” It is an individual company decision whether to open the business or not.
December 8: The day that would have liked to have been a shopping Saturday
Supermarkets and drugstores remain closed
Most grocers and drugstores have decided against this this year. The Rewe Group has announced that branches of Billa, Billa Plus, Penny and Bipa will remain closed nationwide if they are not locations with an operating obligation. There is such a thing in shopping centers or at train stations.
The discounters Hofer and Lidl have already announced that they will close all branches in Austria tomorrow. The drugstore chain dm also does not open most of its locations. Spar takes a different route. In any case, the Interspar markets are open on the holiday. This also applies to selected other locations of the supermarket chain.
Furniture store open
In the furniture trade, branches of the large chains – such as XXXLutz or Leiner – are open. It is also possible to visit hardware stores, for example Bauhaus or Hornbach. Shopping at sports retailers is also possible with a few exceptions.
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The GPA trade union was pleased with the development at retail companies such as Rewe, Hofer and Lidl. One sees oneself confirmed in one’s own demands, it said in a broadcast. At the same time, it is hoped that more and more companies will follow the trend. The working group Christianity and Social Democracy (ACUS) also spoke out on Wednesday against shop openings on St. Mary’s Day. December 8 must be preserved as a holiday and its meaning must be filled with new life, it was said.
Supplements and time off in lieu for employees are due for public holidays. According to the Chamber of Commerce, employees must be informed one month in advance if they are to be deployed on December 8th. You have the right to refuse employment on December 8 within one week of being informed. And they must not be disadvantaged because of this.
Shopping on the holiday: how passers-by think about December 8th
Retail in Austria has been allowed to open on December 8th for almost 20 years. Nevertheless, Christmas shopping on the day of the Immaculate Conception is still a hot topic. OÖN-TV in downtown Linz asked how passers-by felt about it.
How is trading doing on December 8th?
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