Majorcan business associations dispute summer sales dates

THE two main small to medium-sized business associations of Majorca couldn't agree yesterday over what summer sales dates are most beneficial to local traders.

However both the Balearic Commercial Federation (Afedeco) and the Majorcan small traders association (Pimeco) agreed that a round-table discussion with Francesca Vives, regional Minister for Commerce was essential with a view to altering the summer sales dates for 2011.

Bartomeu Servera, the President of Afedeco, confirmed that there were indeed differences of opinion in the trade sector about whether the start date should coincide with 1st July, which is the one set for most other regions of the country, or whether it should be delayed a week to take advantage of the peak tourist season. Servera said that in any event, given the wide range of discounts and the range of stock still to be moved from the shelves at the beginning of the summer, Afedeco would be in agreement with bringing the date of the summer sales forward, as has indeed been proposed by the Minister herself.

Meanwhile, the President of Pimeco, Bernat Coll, claimed yesterday that moving the date of the sales by one week “wasn't going to solve anything.” He said he was in favour of putting the campaign back to the 1st August, precisely for the reason of making the most of the tourist presence on the island.

Major department stores, have, however, shown a preference for summer sales dates which fall in line with the rest of country so that advertising campaigns can be synchronised and benefits from them maximised.