As consumers in Greece are gearing up to make their purchases of discounted products on Black Friday on Nov. 29, the Athens Commercial Association announced adjustments to store operating hours to accommodate increased demand. These changes extend through the weekend, from Friday, Nov. 29, to Sunday, Dec. 1.
The President of the Athens Commercial Association encourages consumers shopping during Black Friday and Cyber Monday (Dec. 2) to support Greek small and medium-sized businesses, in an effort to boost local commerce.
As he stated, “These businesses fight daily for survival and are always close to their customers.” He emphasized that the discounts that appear in stores are the result of hard preparation and great effort aimed to satisfy the consumer, whose disposable income has been drastically reduced due to recent years’ price increases.
Sunday Shopping Allowed
Retailers are also allowed to open on the Sunday following Black Friday, Dec. 1, as part of the extended shopping schedule. The association clarified that stores may operate on Sundays throughout Dec., excluding Dec. 8. Recommended hours for Sunday openings are from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Thessaloniki Joins Extended Shopping Hours
In Thessaloniki, the Commercial Association following Athens’ initiative, announced that stores could also open on Sunday, Dec. 1, to cater to Black Friday shoppers. Retailers in the northern city were similarly advised to maintain operating hours between 11:00 am and 6:00 pm.
