An intermittent Black Friday distributed by region

10 minutes to 10 there are about 20 people. And just five minutes later there are suddenly 40 people. But the rival is close: also Zara A few of them have close to a hundred potential buyers with suitcases. “I’ll be the first to get in,” a man sneers, passing a few meters ahead of the group. “People are sick,” a woman says to her interlocutor on the other end of the phone. But those who wait don’t care much for criticism: The blinds have risen, so they are already searching among offers that can only reach 40% off today, according to the showcase.

But when both tails scatter, normalcy returns to take on Portal del Ángel. And although the word Black Friday is repeated everywhere Discounts that do not fall below 20% and up to 80%He seems close to winning the club, which doesn’t have much expectations these days. The passersby walk calmly, the shops breathe a sigh of relief, and the shop assistants look even more tumultuous than they first found them in the morning.

Of course, the day had only just begun, and it still seemed hard to believe that six hours later the landscape would change radically. Depending on the region of course. because this Black Friday is intermittent, progresses and begins in vigils and is celebrated with more or less intensity depending on the street, or even the street.. At five o’clock in the afternoon, the queen of the party, Portal del Àngel’s stores are full: not enough to definitively accept the consumption indicators for November, but enough to put the businessmen at ease.

tranquility in the surrounding

On the outskirts, calmness, normality and abundance in the businesses. Several associations that bring together small traders warned earlier in the month that the business is not for discounts. “We assume very high extra costs: we are very tight with margins to keep prices down,” they said. Spanish Confederation of Commerce. “We’re not here to discount, we’re more here to close,” he said. PIMEC Trade. The association, which said “We joined reluctantly and with minimum discount”, ended with resignation. Barcelona Trade. And that’s what those who do business in less populated areas are arguing this Friday: It’s over the strings to lower the price of its own kind.

But Black Friday reappears when you arrive at El Corte Inglés, which has concentrated so much action on the ground floor that it’s almost Christmas a matter of days

Printing is similar at Primark. A salute to businessmen who argue that such discount days are also good because of their results: If this competition were measured in bags, Irish low-cost clothing brand will be the clear winner. There are those who carry four in each hand. And that this chain never signed up for sales campaigns. “Black Friday has become one of the best weekends of the year, and people are waiting for this day to go shopping: they can buy more or less later, or even buy things that aren’t on sale,” they bet in that sense. Society Barcelona Open.

balance is still uncertain

In any case, the balance is still uncertain. First, because the good prospects of the big trade take the whole weekend into account. Second, because the hustle and bustle of people is not the hustle and bustle of bags. Third, because the concentration in the main shopping areas in central Barcelona has made the environment barely two streets (above, below, left and right). And fourth, for everything they put on the table Black Friday supporters and opponents This is the last few weeks: This could be purchases not made after Christmas. Low purchasing power of the buyer it may leave you no choice but to be more selective in your purchases, or how much higher prices may give you the wrong idea that sales have increased compared to last year.

At this moment – it’s all to keep up the optimism – one thing is clear, the Shein guard was right: today was like yesterday, but stronger. And everything seems to indicate that there will be even more tomorrow, namely Saturday.