Hard times on the Mallorca high streets. Shops are struggling and so far the sales have done little to revive takings. We shouldn't be surprised really, households are struggling as the cost of living crisis takes hold. So shops, especially the smaller retailers, are facing a nightmare scenario.
Open all hours
“The local authorities should allow more Sunday opening and flexible trading hours”
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2 comments
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While I agree that such restrictions are unnecessary and are a barrier to commercialism, it's worth considering that Sunday closings are a natural expectation of the historical influence of religion in politics. It's in Spain's DNA. Although that's changing fairly rapidly. Lots of stuff is now open on Sundays. And frankly, I'm happy about that. But there's another distant argument, which I personally find refreshing to some extent; the lack of rampant commercialism in Spanish society as compared to others such as the US. It's very noticeable when you travel to the US that there's a constant barrage of commercial interests pushing you to buy whatever they sell. Even drugs are sold on TV about every 10 minutes. There's a strip mall every kilometer or so. Massive stores. Billboards pasted everywhere. Buy this, buy that... And Americans spend fervently on things they really don't need. It's a national sport over there. How is this related to Sunday closings? Well it's a distant relationship rooted in the lack of commercialism in Spanish culture, which again, I personally find refreshing in many ways. The Spanish really don't care about stuff they don't need, and don't really care if you think they have "it" or not. And that keeps class envy rather muted. And that in turn tends to keep their feet on the ground. Still, it's a thing of the past, and time to start living in the 21st century. I'd just hate to see a major societal shift towards "keeping up with the Joneses". It's just not good for the soul. And wastes valuable resources.
Why the "authorities" restrict shop opening times is so so stupid, especially for those that work all week and can only shop at weekends as their working hours are the same as the opening times. Yet again another stupid law to stop people from living their life, having fun, eating (and using loos) on the beach, the list goes on and on.