Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship

The Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) has identified serious irregularities in the functioning of the banking system in Greece, noting that, in addition to charging high interest rates, Greek banks are not fulfilling their essential role, that of granting loans.

“Without the pleasant surprise for the market, Black Friday 2024.” This is highlighted in a statement from the Institute of Commerce and Services of the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (INEMY-GSEVEE), based on the findings of their survey, conducted for the ninth year, on a random nationwide sample of 400 retail businesses that offered discounts as part of “Black Friday.

Stores will open on Sunday, in line with Easter holiday arrangements.

Merchant associations advise small retail shops to operate from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., while the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship suggests extending hours to 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias referred to the importance of Greek tourism for the growth of trade and commerce, while addressing a Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) event on Wednesday.

The wound from the 10-year economic crisis on household incomes in Greece is hard to heal, both because of the intensity and duration of the crisis, and because it was followed by two more: the pandemic and inflation.

Uncertainty in the market led to one in three retailers running promotions or discounts even over the festive period, but more than one in four businesses had higher sales this holiday season, compared with the same period in 2021, according to a study by the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE), which was released on Friday, regarding the activity of commercial stores

Faced with the necessary evil of taking action against the pandemic, the market is once again facing the reassurances from the government focusing mainly on a categorical "no" to the possibility of a lockdown.

The retail market is particularly unhappy with the third lockdown that begins Thursday in Attica, stressing that neither the full closure of the market since November nor the partial reopening of stores afterward proved efficient against the pandemic and the recession.

The government wishes to maintain the new reality of working from home, but to also ensure the protection of in-house staff in the economically vital production sector from the Covid-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis today told representatives of management and labour in a teleconference.

Just 7 percent of enterprises, mainly small and medium-sized ones, saw their turnover go up in this year's winter sales, which formally ended last Saturday. Nevertheless, most of them are still providing special offers in a bid to get rid of their winter merchandize.