"Businesses in danger. To sell". Here is the sign that can be read on the display cases of several hundred merchants of toulouse since Wednesday. It is the "collective of traders angry 31", a group of about 700 traders and artisans of Toulouse, which is at the origin of this initiative is symbolic. The objective is to raise the alarm after nine weekends of events of the "yellow vests" in the city centre. According to a recent press release by the group, the financial situation of many businesses is catastrophic, layoffs have already taken place and "the deposit balance will multiply". "The survival of businesses is at stake", explained the traders.

According to a survey of the chamber of commerce and industry, Toulouse, Haute-Garonne (ITC 31), conducted between 11 and 21 December with the local economic actors, 97% of the traders have found "a decrease of their customer base." 22% of respondents indicate a loss of revenue of over 50%, and 25% feel even have lost 40% to 50%". The mayor (LR) of Toulouse Jean-Luc Moudenc, has recently asked the Élysée palace and the Region of measures to support traders affected by the movement of the "yellow vests".

"We are the first to be affected because the malls and Amazon, are themselves not affected"

Vincent (chocolate maker in Toulouse)

Among these traders angry, there is Vincent, a chocolatier from the city centre of Toulouse. He defines himself as a "passionate". "We are, what we want is for you to work in safety as anyone and do not suffer acts of violence every Saturday", he explains in Figaro . Every Saturday, the city center of Toulouse is, in effect, a theatre of violence, because of thugs who have infiltrated the movement of the "yellow vests", especially in the late afternoon. "Because of the climate of violence, the external clients does not come any more, I lose about 50% of my turnover", explains Vincent, who usually has about 70% of tourists among its customers.

"The 'yellow vests' may not have thought they touched before all the merchants and local artisans," says the trader. Before continuing: "We are the first impacted as the commercial centres, and Amazon themselves, are not affected." According to him, "the movement 'kills' merchants of toulouse and promotes globalization". "They do the opposite of what they want," he said. He wished to clarify that the traders are not "against the 'yellow vests'". "We just want to Saturdays where you can move normally and work," he continued. Before concluding on a positive note: "We're in a city that was doing very well until the beginning of the movement, there is an extraordinary dynamics in Toulouse".

" yellow Vests ": what are the costs ? - Look on Figaro Live

Everywhere in France, small-scale traders shout their ras-le-bol

Property-lès-Saint-Avold, Moselle, several small bosses were recently alarmed to see their revenues melt due to blockages. They, too, have decided to put it symbolically their businesses by selling to show their dissatisfaction for this Friday.

Several shops of Mosel have set up a "for sale" to protest against the blockades of the "yellow vests". The Figaro.fr

The situation is also complicated in many cities, such as Bordeaux. According to a recent survey by the Chamber of commerce and industry (CCI) of Bordeaux-Gironde, the movement of the "yellow vests" has affected the activity of 93% of the merchants in Bordeaux during the last three Saturdays of December and first of January. "This decrease is highly marked, as 77% of business leaders have declared a fall in turnover greater than 20%, and nearly 25% of the heads of company a decline of more than 50% in Bordeaux," says the LATTER.

At the end of last week, the merchants of bordeaux had launched a "cry of alarm" to the "yellow vests" do not block the center of Bordeaux on the Saturday, in order to save their businesses, with the balances and to avoid the closure of those that do not have cash. "We're here to push this cry of alarm to (...) What it should be, it is another thing to block Bordeaux", was said during a press conference Christian Baulme, president of the Round of the neighbourhoods which comprises of 1,200 shops on some 5,000 of the city. According to him, "10% of the stores of Bordeaux are in danger of disappearing".

Lyon also, "we no longer see the end of the tunnel", explained to AFP Clement Knight, director of My Peninsula, an association that brings together 240 retailers, traders, craftsmen and businesses in the city centre. In the East, the businesses most affected are those situated in peripheral areas, near dams prepared by the "yellow vests," according to the Chamber of commerce in Nancy. On the eve of the act 10 of the "yellow vests", many small traders fear further violence and "Saturday" for their cash.

Date Of Update: 19 January 2019, 00:00