Easter, along with Christmas, is one of the most important seasons in the retail world. Business during the Easter season is in full swing again this year at all SES shopping centers. As a result of the ongoing pandemic, brick-and-mortar retailers had to forego the high-turnover season last year, but this year, they are eager to make the most of it once again. The Easter Bunny is a major sales driver, especially in the sports, book, and toy sectors. The decorative items sector operating within the 17 centers across Austria has also reported good sales to date. In addition to sweets to fill Easter baskets, gifts, such as children's bicycles, backpacks, books, scooters, inline skates, toys, computer games, and consoles are in high demand. The Easter Bunny, after all, is known to be quite generous. In terms of table settings, demand for fine china is particularly strong. In the weeks leading up to Easter, sales of "Zehner" gift certificates are, on average, 20% to 30% higher than in months in which there is no seasonal focus, and the trend is upward.

“The mood among retailers is good across the board, and once restaurants are allowed to reopen their seating areas, in addition to their current takeaway offers, it will be even better,” said Christoph Andexlinger, Chief Operations Officer, SES. The beginning of March ushered in a noticeable pickup in Easter business, with footfall well distributed across each weekday. “In terms of pandemic mitigation, a return to the earlier opening hours framework would flatten shopping peaks and balance out footfall,” Andexlinger said.

Positive Atmosphere Creates Greater Shopping Enthusiasm
Special promotions and contests organized across the SES centers do as much to boost shopping enthusiasm as the atmospherically laid out spring meadows and gardens featured inside the malls. The latest spring fashions have been presented in a creative and tangible manner: Visitors are kept abreast of current trends by means of shop windows and digital fashion shows displayed on LED screens.

TÜV AUSTRIA-certified Hygiene Measures Also in Place for Easter Shopping
Hygiene measures are of the utmost importance this Easter shopping season; a higher degree of cleaning and disinfection is being carried out than usual. SES, including all of the shopping centers it manages, was the first company in the retail sector to be TÜV AUSTRIA certified for its hygiene safety and cleanliness with regard to center operations. The concept has helped minimize the impact of the current pandemic. Each shopping center, for example, is ventilated using up to 100% fresh spring air. Touch points, such as door handles and elevator buttons, as well as restroom facilities are cleaned and disinfected more frequently. A sufficient number of disinfectant dispensers have been made available, and distancing rules, face mask-wearing requirements, and hand disinfection are emphasized via a variety of communication channels.

The “ZEHNER” Gift Certificate
The “ZEHNER” gift certificate is also in high demand this Easter season among gift recipients of all ages. In the weeks leading up to Easter, gift certificates sales are, on average, 20% to 30% higher than in months in which there is no seasonal focus.

SES Center with Reliable Basic Supply Opens in Eastern Austria
Even though the partial shutdown in eastern Austria is scheduled to begin on Thursday, 1 April, the centers managed by SES in Vienna and Lower Austria, which feature thriving INTERSPAR hypermarkets, will still be open to customers during their regular opening hours. All retailers and service providers at every other SES center in the remaining provinces will be open; gastronomy operators will also offer an extensive range of take-away items.