According to a survey conducted by Geocartographia, 61
percent of the general public would not patronize sales
outlets that open for business on Shabbos. Thirty-seven
percent would boycott these businesses for religious reasons
and the rest for social and financial reasons.
The survey also reveals that 52 percent of the general public
is opposed to opening sales outlets on Shabbos, while 44
percent is in favor. Another four percent gave no answer.
The survey results were presented at a conference for sales
outlet managers, manufacturers and salesmen organized by the
Israeli Center for Management in cooperation with the Top
Sales Club. Held at the Dan Panorama Hotel in Tel Aviv the
conference was facilitated by Top Sales Club Chairman Amos
Shapira.
Another Geocartographia survey commissioned by the Union of
Food Industrialists found that consumers spent 1.9 percent
less on food last year. The average household spends NIS
1,808 ($395) per month and NIS 464 ($102) per person. The
typical religious family spends NIS 1,997 ($435) per month on
food, 19 percent more than secular families, which are
smaller and spend just NIS 1,681 ($365).
The large supermarket chains command 49 percent of buying
power, down 3 percent compared to last year.
Chareidi supermarkets and co-ops drew 7.5 percent of the
total purchases, compared to 5.5 percent last year. Local
supermarkets attracted 8.1 percent of all sales. Russian
supermarkets and co-ops drew 6.7 percent. Neighborhood
grocery stores and mini-markets attracted 15 percent and open
markets 9.1 percent. Factory outlet stores drew 0.8 percent.
Households do their shopping at 3.2 points of sale. The
higher the income level the more consumers tend to buy at
large stores located outside of the city. Lower-income
consumers tend to buy more at open markets.
An interesting figure presented at the Israel Center for
Management conference: 52 percent of the public feels sales
outlets are not forthright and use unfair commercial ploys as
part of efforts to persuade consumers to buy. Only 26 percent
expressed trust in the sales outlets.
According to Central Bureau for Statistics figures, sales at
the large sales networks increased over the past four months
by 2.4 percent, compared to an increase of 7.6 percent in the
previous quarter.
