Dreary Weather Slows Down Christmas Shopping in Thuringia - Thuringia’s shops bet on Advent Sundays to boost holiday sales
Thuringia’s shops have begun their busiest time of year with extended Sunday openings. The region’s laws allow stores to open on either the first or second Sunday of Advent. This year, many towns split their shopping days across both weekends to attract more customers. On the first watch of Advent, smaller towns and some cities welcomed shoppers. Retailers in Saalfeld reported a steady flow of visitors, though Bad Langensalza saw fewer people than expected. Gloomy weather may have kept some customers away. Thuringia’s shops are counting on strong sales over the next two Sundays. The extra opening days aim to boost revenue during the most important trading period of the year. Success will depend on weather conditions and whether shoppers turn out in greater numbers than they did for the first Advent date.
