According to a study conducted by OpinionWay for FAIRE, 69% of the people of Nice favor local shops over large chains, and 65% fear for their future. But should we worry about the disappearance of local commerce?
On July 2, 2024, OpinionWay publishes a survey on the people of Nice and their relationship with local shops. 69% of those surveyed favor local shops over large chains whenever they can. This is mainly explained by unique and high-quality products. They are often artisanal or local, not found in large retail chains.
On the other hand, 65% are worried about the future of these businesses. But is there a real threat to these shops? We went to ask them the question.
A Renewal After Covid
According to Florian Cruset, a cheesemonger at Métin cheese shop, this attraction to local commerce has returned since the end of Covid: “We had a return to basics […] people are paying more attention to what they eat.” Although purchasing power has decreased due to rising prices, consumers have a desire for transparency regarding the products they buy. For local shops, the challenge is to adapt to different budgets. The products have undergone this increase to the point where some are no longer sold by local traders. This sometimes forces them to be ingenious: “Now we have to look for small producers to pay less and still maintain quality,” explains the cheesemonger.
The same observation applies to Liana Vitale, a saleswoman at Ricami Veronica, who notes an increase in customers since Covid: “I have a lot of people telling me they prefer to come to me, a small shop, instead of a supermarket.” However, tourist instability also affects these small businesses: “It’s true that it’s a bit scary; we’re at the beginning of the season and there aren’t many people,” confides France Hoffmann, owner of La Confiserie.
How to Help Traders?
In Nice, programs revitalizing the city center and supporting local shops are in place. Cultural events and campaigns encourage residents to prioritize shopping in local stores. However, they remain too few: “It doesn’t necessarily require financial investment directly to the store but publicity, street music, promotion; all this could help us,” explains Liana Vitale.
Local shops in Nice face various challenges such as competition from shopping centers and online commerce, high rents, and the desertification of the city center. To enhance their appeal, they might consider innovations in customer experience tailored to local needs. However, only 21% of residents believe that the shops in their neighborhood offer an innovative customer experience.
The new generation and this trend of consuming locally also help these traders. The fear of seeing one’s business close has always been present. Despite instability in local and tourist clientele, it has not increased among those affected.
