A Black Friday of rows for the big brands and "loose" for the small business

Black Friday is already the preamble to Christmas. With less than a month to go until Christmas Eve, there are many who take advantage of the sales on the last Friday of November to buy Christmas presents and some other whim. Large companies such as Inditex registered queues in some stores in Zaragoza minutes before the opening. However, the small business has not finished penetrating the buyers with this 'festival' of consumption.

Fashion, footwear, accessories and technology are the 'star' sectors of this 'Black Friday'. "The Christmas campaign for us begins with Black Friday. During the day there has been a lot of movement and we started with the offers from Monday so that customers could buy discounted products throughout the week. We hope to match and even exceed the 2019 sales", said Isabel Paricio, director of communication for El Corte Inglés in Aragón. In the Community, this company has increased sales -in physical stores and 'online'- by 11% compared to 2019. According to the OCU -Organization of Consumers and Users-, 77% of Spaniards will buy this year in the Black Friday, almost 50% more than last year.

For its part, small businesses are experiencing a "loose" day, with less influx than expected. "We are selling the same as any other day, maybe a little more but it is not very noticeable. I have the entire store reduced to 20% and that percentage is lost by the store owners because nobody gives us that discount. In reality this day is not very good for us because now people will not consume again until December 15", explained Manuel García, owner of 'La boutique shoes', a shoe store located in the central León XIII street.

In this establishment Patricia Martín, 26, who has a budget of 150 euros to spend this Friday, was trying on winter boots. "I bought two pants and a sweater at Zara and now I'm going to buy some boots here. The truth is that above all I've gone to look at bargains in the big chains and without a doubt, I'm going to take the opportunity to buy Christmas gifts too" , has pointed out the young woman, who has taken advantage of offers of up to 40%.

The crowds in the large establishments contrast with the few people who walk through the small shops. "When I was arriving at the store there was already a line at Zara and they had not opened. It is fatal for small businesses that large stores like these offer great discounts with large volumes of garments. It is impossible for small stores to sell a lot," they have pointed out from 'La Couture', a youth clothing company that has two establishments in the Aragonese capital.

Ana Sevillano is the owner of 'Parole', a women's fashion and advice store that since the beginning of the week has had the 'Black November' sign hanging at the entrance of her establishment. "We have had to advance the offers because in the month of November we have not sold practically anything. Today we see a little more movement but it is being weak and that is that the small business has not taken out clothes from other seasons. Without a doubt, we did not reach the pre-pandemic figures," he said.

The consumers

Daniel Madrid and Daniel Monreal, 22 and 20 years old, took advantage of this Friday morning to do some shopping and save some money. "We have bought a perfume and clothes. I have saved 12 euros on a sweater and 15 on a sweatshirt. I have also taken the opportunity to buy a mobile phone and a touch bracelet online," Monreal said after paying for the cologne at El Corte Ingles de Sagasta.

Margui Esquida was also in this establishment, recently arrived from Tafalla -Navarra- to visit her son. "I have taken the opportunity to come to buy and I have taken two leather bags and a coat and some boots for my son. In short, whims. As I am going to be a grandmother in a few months I have also bought a towel for the baby", he pointed out.

The OCU estimates that the average spending on Black Friday per person will be 208 euros, 41 euros more than what they spent last year on these dates.