THE summer sales in Axarquia have begun very slowly, without much improvement in purchases compared to the rest of the year. According to a Torre del Mar shop assistant, Sandra Jimenez, “this year’s sales are going very badly; all people do is look for the best deals”. As usual, the economic crisis seems to be to blame for the unusually sluggish sales campaign. Despite prices going down up to 70 per cent, and sales beginning on a Sunday, “customers just can’t spend as much any more.”
A shop owner in Rincon de la Victoria complained that even with the discounts, people are not willing to pay what is on the price tags. “I’ve had people trying to haggle over items that had already gone down 20 per cent.” Most small businesses are struggling to stay open, because even their usual clientele cannot continue spending as much as they used to. However, more expensive items including party wear and exclusive clothing are selling slightly more in certain establishments. Shop assistants attribute this modest increase to the early drop in prices during this year’s campaign.
