paris french retailers warned on friday that protests across the country against rising fuel taxes and president emmanuel macrons economic policies could derail the crucial christmas shopping season that starts with black friday discounts on saturday november 17 more than 280000 demonstrators took part in the protests all over the country some of them kept on protesting and blocking roads since then the protesters known as the yellow vests are planning to hold a large demonstration in paris this coming saturday jacques creyssel the head of the french retail federation fcd told rtl radio station that french retailers daily revenue fell 35 percent because of the saturday protests store footfall fell 47 percent that day as protesters blocked motorways sparking major logjams advt we have a true problem as some stores have been closed for a week now because of the blockades one week without revenue is dramatic for a company we are asking for free access for our staff and customers to the stores and the warehouses he said we are at the beginning of the christmas season today its black friday a crucial time for retailers if retailers cannot work and customers cannot shop its bound to have a major impact on employment he warned back friday the day after the thanksgiving holiday was so named because spending in the united states would surge and retailers would traditionally begin to turn a profit for the year moving from the red ink into the black the black friday discount sales day starts on november 23 and will be followed three days later by cyber monday reuters published on nov 24 2018 at 0835 am ist telegram facebook copy link be the first one to comment comment now comments comment now read comment 1 all comments post post find this comment offensive choose your reason below and click on the submit button this will alert our moderators to take actions reasons for reporting foul language defamatory inciting hatred against a certain community out of context spam others report join the community of 2m industry professionals subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights analysis download etretail app get realtime updates save your favourite articles scan to download app french retailers black friday cyber monday paris fcd thanksgiving christmas homenewsindustryfrench retailers warn antifuel tax protests could derail black friday