11 January 2005

BRUSSELS – The first week of the January sales has been pronounced a success by Belgian retailers.

The Belgian federation of small, medium and large businesses (Fedis) says that clothes and shoe shops in particular are very satisfied with the start of the sales period.

Fedis believes the good results may in part be due to the sales beginning this year in the last week of the Christmas holidays.

Mild weather conditions over the past few days have also had a positive impact.

Retailers are optimistic about the remaining weeks of the sales as this is when the biggest reductions can be found.

[Copyright Expatica 2005]

Subject: Belgian news