Festive spending in China: will Covid-19 spoil this Christmas shopping season?
- Businesses across the country hoped to celebrate the first holiday in years without onerous Covid-19 restrictions in place
- A burst of infections is putting a damper on festivities, but entrepreneurs are displaying flexibility as they try to make the most of the season
Business owners in China are looking to spread some Christmas cheer as the country experiences the first holiday in years without onerous Covid-19 restrictions in place, but a burst of infections is putting a damper on festivities.
From flash sales to themed events, businesses in sectors across the country are striving to help citizens share the joy of the season, whether they choose to celebrate at home or in public, after Beijing scrapped all testing requirements abruptly and called on businesses to resume normal operations this week.
Restaurants and bars are advertising special Christmas menus for couples and big families, touting scrumptious steaks and seafood and fine wine to lure customers back, offering holiday discounts after sales slumped during the darker days of the pandemic. An Argentinian steakhouse in Beijing, for example, offers 32 per cent off wine this weekend, while a Shanghai eatery runs a 20 per cent discount until January 3.
“Surging infections across the city are preventing people from dining out,” said Zhu Zhengrong, the owner of the restaurant in Shanghai. “It is the worst time to run a catering business, but we still expect some young consumers will dine out to celebrate Christmas.”
In China’s tech hub, Shenzhen, brunch restaurant Auvers in Futian district has decorated its facade with 50 Christmas trees to tout its holiday specials.