A shock announcement that says a lot about the trade crisis.
The black streak continues for shopping centers. For several years, purchasing habits have been evolving at high speed, leaving behind increasingly empty aisles. Between the success of second-hand with Vinted, the meteoric rise of Shein and the rise of e-commerce, consumers are changing their reflexes. Even the once essential addresses are faltering. In Paris, the Bercy 2 shopping center has become one of its symbols.
In Rennes, the Alma shopping center, long considered the largest in Brittany, is not immune to this transformation. For regulars, the change is already palpable: fewer visitors, sometimes almost silent in the middle of the week. The recent announcement of the imminent disappearance of one of its locomotives acts like an electric shock. Behind the windows, concern is growing. Employees, traders and customers are gradually seeing their points of reference disappear.
Spring. The name is obvious and causes amazement. The brand, long considered one of the driving forces of the Alma shopping center, will close its Rennes store as part of a plan to cut 229 jobs nationwide. On site, around fifty employees are directly affected. “There were days when it was ghostly”confides an employee to France Bleu, describing attendance in free fall. On the customer side, incomprehension dominates. “It’s sad, what will become of them?” asks a regular, also quoted by France Bleu. On the shelves, where we found brands like The Kooples or Hugo Boss, the atmosphere is now suspended. Partner brands fear losing an important showcase in the region.
A decision which is part of a broader context of transformation of the sector. According to FashionNetwork, the clothing market is going through a period of turbulence, between falling consumption and new customer expectations. The group is thus refocusing its activities, with fewer points of sale. The objective: to adapt to consumers who now favor the comfort of digital or good second-hand deals.
In Rennes, the closure of Printemps already leaves a void. Beyond the lost jobs, a whole consumption habit is gradually disappearing. Stroll between the departments, discover the collections, take the time to choose… Simple gestures which also seem to belong to another era.
