GRTU survey: 36% of businesses registered an increase in sales in 2016

According to a GRTU business performance survey, 36% of businesses registered an increase in sales in 2016 when compared to 2015

GRTU President Paul Abela (right) said the new legislation on Sunday shopping should help businesses even more
GRTU President Paul Abela (right) said the new legislation on Sunday shopping should help businesses even more

36% of businesses registered an increase in sales in 2016 when compared to 2015, equal to the number of businesses that said sales were the same as the previous year, while 28% said they fared worse than in 2015, according to a business performance survey by the General Retailers and Traders Union (GRTU). 

The report surveyed 175 businesses across all industries, including retail, construction, IT, wholesale and accommodation. 

Marcel Mizzi, vice-president for finance and administration at GRTU, said that many of the businesses that registered an increase in sales in 2016 attributed it to the introduction of new products or services and to better consumer spending power. 

"Of these, worryingly, only 1% attributed their increase in sales to their decision to set up an e-commerce site," he said. 

Online shopping remains of low consideration to businesses, with only 22% currently selling online. 

Of those that do not offer e-commerce services, 37% believe their products cannot be sold online, while 24% insist their clients do not buy online. 

As for 2017, 41% of businesses expect it to be better than 2016, with only 15% believing it will be worse. 

GRTU President Paul Abela said the new legislation on Sunday shopping should help businesses even more, although the union would be contesting the €700 that remained compulsory for business that choose to open seven days a week.